Reptiles of the
Sulu Islands [Philippines]

Related checklists:  Philippines - Jolo

Bibliography of the reptiles of Sulu Islands Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Sulu Islands Introduced species
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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. www.repfocus.dk (Compilation date: April 14th, 2023).

Checklist
General remarks: The list includes only formally described species. Newly discovered, but still unnamed species are excluded. However, unnamed species or species unassigned to species level are included, if they are the only representatives of their genus in the region. Species counts exclude extinct and introduced species. Doubtful records, typically older voucher specimens of uncertain origin, have been excluded if considered questionable, as are records based on sources considered unreliable or controversial.
Note: Your comments to the checklist (omissions, errors, etc.) are welcomed, preferably if they are provided with reliable references. If possible, please attach a pdf file of the relevant reference to an email addressed to:
Crocodilians (Crocodylia)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Genus Crocodylus (Typical Crocodiles)
 
Crocodylus mindorensis

Philippine Freshwater Crocodile

Alcala 1986 Trutnau & Sommerlad 2006 Wermuth & Mertens 1977

Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Agamidae (Agamas and Dragons)
Genus Bronchocela (Long-tailed Agamas)
 
Bronchocela cristatella

Malayan Green Crested Agama

Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Hallermann 2005 Rooij 1915 Taylor 1922
Genus Draco (Gliding Dragons)
 
Draco bimaculatus

Two-spotted Gliding Dragon

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995 McGuire & Alcala 2000 McGuire & Kiew 2001 Wermuth 1967
 
Draco guentheri

Southern Philippine Gliding Dragon

McGuire & Alcala 2000 McGuire & Kiew 2001
 
Draco reticulatus

Reticulated Gliding Dragon

Gaulke 1995
Genus Hydrosaurus (Sail-tailed Agamas)
 
Hydrosaurus pustulatus

Philippine Sail-tailed Agama

Gaulke 1992
 Family Dibamidae (Blind Skinks)
Genus Dibamus (Oriental Blind Skinks)
 
Dibamus leucurus

White-tailed Blind Skink

Gaulke 1992 [as argenteus]
 
Dibamus novaeguineae

Indo-Australian Blind Skink

Gaulke 1995 Greer 1985
 Family Gekkonidae (Typical Geckos)
Genus Cyrtodactylus (Australasian Bent-toed Geckos)
 
Cyrtodactylus annulatus

Mindanao Banded Bent-toed Gecko

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1978 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Welton, Siler, Diesmos & Brown 2009 [as "cf. annulatus"]
 
Cyrtodactylus jambangan

Jambangan Bent-toed Gecko

Welton, Siler, Diesmos & Brown 2010 Welton, Siler, Linkem, Diesmos & Brown 2010
Genus Gehyra (Four-clawed Geckos)
 
Gehyra mutilata

Common Four-clawed Gecko

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995
Genus Gekko (Tokays)
 
Gekko gecko

Tokay

Brown & Alcala 1978 Gaulke 1995
 
Gekko intermedius

Philippine Gliding Gecko

Brown, Ferner & Diesmos 1997 [as Ptychozoon intermedium]
 
Gekko monarchus

Spotted House Gecko

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1978 Gaulke 1995
Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)
 
Hemidactylus frenatus

Asian House Gecko

Brown & Alcala 1978 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996
 
Hemidactylus platyurus

Flat-tailed Gecko

Brown & Alcala 1978 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996
Genus Hemiphyllodactylus (Slender Geckos)
 
Hemiphyllodactylus insularis

Philippine Slender Gecko

Brown & Alcala 1978 [as typus] Gaulke 1995 [as typus] Zug 2010
 
Hemiphyllodactylus typus

Indo-Pacific Slender Gecko

Gaulke 1995
Genus Lepidodactylus (Scaly-toed Geckos)
 
Lepidodactylus aureolineatus

Golden-lined Scaly-toed Gecko

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1978
 
Lepidodactylus lugubris

Common Mourning Gecko

Brown & Alcala 1978 Eliades, Brown, Huang & Siler 2021 Gaulke 1995
Genus Luperosaurus (Flap-legged Geckos)
 
Luperosaurus joloensis

Jolo Flap-legged Gecko

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1978 Brown, Supriatna & Ota 2000 Gaulke 1995
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Brachymeles (Indo-Malayan Slender Skinks)
 
Brachymeles schadenbergi

Southern Philippine Slender Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995 Siler & Brown 2010 Siler, Jones, Diesmos, Diesmos & Brown 2012
  *
Brachymeles suluensis

Bubuan Slender Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 [as gracilis] Siler, Jones, Diesmos, Diesmos & Brown 2012 Taylor 1918
  *
Brachymeles vermis

Southern Limbless Slender Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995 Siler & Brown 2010 Siler, Jones, Diesmos, Diesmos & Brown 2012
  *
Brachymeles vindumi

Jolo Slender Skink

Siler & Brown 2010 Siler, Jones, Diesmos, Diesmos & Brown 2012
Genus Emoia (Emo Skinks)
 
Emoia atrocostata

Pacific Mangrove Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 Brown 1991 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996
 
Emoia caeruleocauda

Pacific Blue-tailed Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995
Genus Eutropis (South Asian Sun Skinks)
 
Eutropis indeprensa

Mindoro Sun Skink

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1996
 
Eutropis multifasciata

Many-lined Sun Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995
 
Eutropis rudis

Three-keeled Sun Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996
Genus Lamprolepis (Malay Archipelago Tree Skinks)
 
Lamprolepis smaragdina

Emerald Tree Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Greer 1970 McCoy 1980 Mertens 1929
Genus Lipinia (Indo-Pacific Striped Skinks)
 
Lipinia quadrivittata

Black-striped Slender Tree Skink

Brown & Alcala 1956 Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995
Genus Pinoyscincus (Philippine Forest Skinks)
 
Pinoyscincus coxi

Agusan Forest Skink

Alcala 1986
 
Pinoyscincus jagorii

Samar Forest Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995 Ross & Lazell 1990
Genus Sphenomorphus (Indo-Pacific Forest Skinks)
 
Sphenomorphus fasciatus

Philippine Banded Forest Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006
 
Sphenomorphus variegatus

Philippine Black-spotted Forest Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995
Genus Subdoluseps (Asian Agile Skinks)
 
Subdoluseps bowringii

Short-legged Agile Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Geissler, Nguyen, Phung, Van Devender, Hartmann, Farkas, Ziegler & Boehme 2011 Siler, Heitz, Davis, Freitas, Aowphol, Termprayoon & Grismer 2018
Genus Tropidophorus (Stream Skinks)
 
Tropidophorus misaminius

Misamis Stream Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980
Genus Tytthoscincus (Dwarf Leaf-litter Skinks)
 
Tytthoscincus atrigularis

Zamboanga Leaf-litter Skink

Brown & Alcala 1980 Brown, Linkem, Diesmos, Balete, Duya & Ferner 2010
  *
Tytthoscincus biparietalis

Sulu Leaf-litter Skink

Alcala 1986 Brown & Alcala 1980 Brown, Linkem, Diesmos, Balete, Duya & Ferner 2010 Gaulke 1995
 Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
 
Varanus cumingi

Mindanao Water Monitor

Boehme 2003 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Koch, Auliya, Schmitz, Kuch & Boehme 2007 Koch, Gaulke & Boehme 2010
 
Varanus palawanensis

Palawan Monitor

Gaulke 1995 [as marmoratus] Gaulke 1996 [as marmoratus] Koch, Auliya, Schmitz, Kuch & Boehme 2007 [as marmoratus] Koch, Gaulke & Boehme 2010
 
Varanus rasmusseni

Sulu Islands Monitor

Gaulke 1995 [as marmoratus] Koch, Auliya, Schmitz, Kuch & Boehme 2007 [as marmoratus] Koch, Gaulke & Boehme 2010 Sy & Quemado 2014

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Colubridae (Typical Snakes or Colubrids)
Genus Ahaetulla (Oriental Whip Snakes)
 
Ahaetulla prasina

Short-nosed Whip Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1967 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Rooij 1917 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014
Genus Boiga (Australasian Cat Snakes)
 
Boiga cynodon

Dog-toothed Cat Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1968 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Orlov & Ryabov 2002
 
Boiga drapiezii

White-spotted Cat Snake

Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Calamaria (Oriental Reed Snakes)
 
Calamaria gervaisi

Philippine Reed Snake

Inger & Marx 1965 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
  *
Calamaria joloensis

Jolo Reed Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1995 Inger & Marx 1965 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 
Calamaria lumbricoidea

Variable Reed Snake

Alcala 1986 Inger & Marx 1965 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 
Calamaria virgulata

Blunt-tailed Reed Snake

Alcala 1986 Inger & Marx 1965 Iskandar & Colijn 2001
Genus Chrysopelea (Flying Tree Snakes)
 
Chrysopelea paradisi

Paradise Flying Tree Snake

Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1964 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Mertens 1968
Genus Coelognathus (Oriental Rat Snakes)
 
Coelognathus erythrura

Philippine Rat Snake

Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1979 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Schulz 1996
 
Coelognathus philippinus

Palawan Rat Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 [as erythrura] Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1979 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Schulz 1996
Genus Dendrelaphis (Bronzebacks)
  *
Dendrelaphis flavescens

Yellow-banded Bronzeback

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 [as terrificus] Gaulke 1992 [as caudolineatus] Gaulke 1994 [as terrificus] Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 [as caudolineatus] Iskandar & Colijn 2001 [as terrificus] Leviton 1968 [as terrificus] Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Rooijen & Vogel 2012
 
Dendrelaphis marenae

Philippine Painted Bronzeback

Gaulke 1994 [as pictus] Gaulke 1995 [as pictus] Iskandar & Colijn 2001 [as pictus] Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Vogel & Rooijen 2008
 
Dendrelaphis philippinensis

Mindanao Stripe-tailed Bronzeback

Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Rooijen & Vogel 2012
Genus Gonyosoma (Oriental Green Rat Snakes and Rainbow Tree Snake)
 
Gonyosoma oxycephalum

Red-tailed Green Rat Snake

Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Schulz 1996
Genus Liopeltis (Ringneck Snakes)
 
Liopeltis tricolor

Malayan Ringneck Snake

Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Lycodon (Oriental Wolf Snakes)
 
Lycodon capucinus

Island Wolf Snake

Gaulke 1992
 
Lycodon dumerilii

Mindanao Wolf Snake

Alcala 1986 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Lanza 1999 Leviton 1965 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Oligodon (Kukri Snakes)
 
Oligodon meyerinkii

Sulu Kukri Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 
Oligodon notospilus

Palawan Kukri Snake

Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Rhabdophis (Asian Keelbacks)
 
Rhabdophis auriculatus

White-lined Keelback

Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton 1970 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 
Rhabdophis lineatus

Philippine Striped Keelback

Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Sibynophis (Oriental Black-headed Snakes)
 
Sibynophis geminatus

Striped Black-headed Snake

Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1993 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 [as m. melanocephalus] Iskandar & Colijn 2001 [as melanocephalus] Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 
Sibynophis melanocephalus

White-lipped Black-headed Snake

Gaulke 1995
Genus Tropidonophis (Indo-Australian Keelbacks)
 
Tropidonophis dendrophiops

Mindanao Keelback

Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Malnate & Underwood 1988
 Family Cyclocoridae (Philippine Burrowing Snakes, etc.)
Genus Cyclocorus (Triangle-spotted Snakes)
 
Cyclocorus nuchalis

Southern Triangle-spotted Snake

Alcala 1986 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1965 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Oxyrhabdium (Philippine Burrowing Snakes)
 
Oxyrhabdium modestum

Philippine Bandless Burrowing Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke & Operiano 2006 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1957 Leviton 1964 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.)
Genus Calliophis (South Asian Coral Snakes)
  *
Calliophis suluensis

Sulu Islands Striped Coral Snake

Alcala 1986 Brown, Smart, Leviton & Smith 2018 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Vogel 2006
Genus Ophiophagus (King Cobra)
 
Ophiophagus hannah

King Cobra

Alcala 1986 David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1964 Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 Family Elapidae [part 2: marine species] (Sea Snakes)
Genus Hydrophis (Typical Sea Snakes)
 
Hydrophis atriceps

Black-headed Sea Snake

Alcala 1986 [as H. fasciatus] Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014
 
Hydrophis cyanocinctus

Blue-banded Sea Snake

Smith 1926
 
Hydrophis platurus

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Smith 1926
Genus Laticauda (Sea Kraits)
 
Laticauda colubrina

Yellow-lipped Sea Krait

Heatwole, Busack & Cogger 2005 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Rooij 1917 Smith 1926
 
Laticauda laticaudata

Blue-lipped Sea Krait

Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Smith 1926
 
Laticauda semifasciata

Erabu Sea Krait

Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Smith 1926
 Family Homalopsidae (Australasian Mud Snakes)
Genus Cerberus (Dog-faced Water Snakes)
 
Cerberus schneiderii

South East Asian Dog-faced Water Snake

Gyi 1970 [as C. rynchops] Iskandar & Colijn 2001 [as C. rynchops] Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 Family Lamprophiidae (House Snakes, etc.)
Genus Psammodynastes (Asian Mock Vipers)
 
Psammodynastes pulverulentus

Dusky Mock Viper

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton 1983 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 Family Pareidae (Oriental Slug Eaters)
Genus Aplopeltura (Blunt-headed Slug Eater)
 
Aplopeltura boa

Blunt-headed Slug Eater

Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Poyarkov, Nguyen, Pawangkhanant, Yushchenko, Brakels, Nguyen, Nguyen, Suwannapoom, Orlov & Vogel 2022 Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014
 Family Pythonidae (Pythons)
Genus Malayopython (Malayan Pythons)
 
Malayopython reticulatus

Reticulated Python

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999
 Family Typhlopidae (Typical Blind Snakes)
Genus Ramphotyphlops (Western Pacific Blind Snakes)
 
Ramphotyphlops olivaceus

Olive Blind Snake

Hahn 1980 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999
  *
Ramphotyphlops suluensis

Sulu Islands Blind Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Gaulke 1996 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Parias (Malay Archipelago Pitvipers)
 
Parias flavomaculatus

Yellow-spotted Pitviper

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Gaulke 1995 Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 Gumprecht, Tillack, Orlov, Captain & Ryabov 2004 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1964 Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018
Genus Tropidolaemus (Temple Pitvipers)
 
Tropidolaemus subannulatus

North Philippine Temple Pitviper

Gaulke 1994 [as wagleri] Gaulke 1995 [as wagleri] Gaulke 1996 [as wagleri] Golay, Smith, Broadley, Dixon, McCarthy, Rage, Schatti & Toriba 1993 [as wagleri] Gumprecht, Tillack, Orlov, Captain & Ryabov 2004 [as wagleri] Leviton 1964 [as wagleri] Leviton, Brown & Siler 2014 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 Vogel, David, Lutz, Rooijen & Vidal 2007
 Family Xenopeltidae (Asian Sunbeam Snakes)
Genus Xenopeltis (Asian Sunbeam Snakes)
 
Xenopeltis unicolor

Common Asian Sunbeam Snake

Alcala 1986 Gaulke 1994 Gaulke 1995 Iskandar & Colijn 2001 Leviton 1963 Leviton 1983 Leviton, Siler, Weinell & Brown 2018 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Orlov 2000

Turtles (Testudines)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Cheloniidae (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles)
Genus Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)
 
Caretta caretta

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Sagun, Ramoso & Mejino 2005
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Sagun 2004
 Family Geoemydidae (Eastern Pond Turtles)
Genus Cuora (Asian Box Turtles)
 
Cuora amboinensis

Southeast Asian Box Turtle

David, Pauwels, Lays & Lenglet 2006 Diesmos, Brown, Alcala & Sison 2008 Fritz & Freitag 2008 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1995 Schoppe & Das 2011
Genus Cyclemys (Asian Leaf Turtles)
 
Cyclemys dentata

Common Leaf Turtle

Diesmos, Brown, Alcala & Sison 2008 Fritz & Freitag 2008 Fritz & Havas 2006 Fritz, Gaulke & Lehr 1997 Fritz, Guicking, Auer, Sommer, Wink & Hundsdoerfer 2008 Gaulke 1992 Gaulke 1995 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Heosemys (Forest Turtles)
 
Heosemys spinosa

Spiny Turtle

Diesmos, Brown, Alcala & Sison 2008 Fritz & Freitag 2008 Fritz & Havas 2006 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021