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