Reptiles of
Western Sahara  [disputed territory: claimed by Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]

 

Bibliography of the reptiles of Western Sahara Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Western Sahara Introduced species
Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates
Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. www.repfocus.dk (Compilation date: 14th April, 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)
  EX
Crocodylus suchus

West African Crocodile

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Lescure 2014

Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Agamidae (Agamas and Dragons)
Genus Agama (Typical Agamas)
 
Agama bibronii

Atlas Agama

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
Genus Trapelus (Afro-Asian Ground Agamas)
 
Trapelus boehmei

Moroccan Plain Agama

Berre 1989 [as mutabilis] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 [as mutabilis] Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 [as mutabilis] Wagner, Melville, Wilms & Schmitz 2011 [as mutabilis (s.s.)]
Genus Uromastyx (Western Spiny-tailed Agamas)
 
Uromastyx dispar

South Saharan Spiny-tailed Agama

Bons & Geniez 1996 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wilms & Boehme 2001 Wilms 2001 Wilms, Boehme, Wagner, Lutzmann & Schmitz 2009
  *
Uromastyx occidentalis

Giant Spiny-tailed Agama

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Mateo, Geniez, Lopez-Jurado & Bons 1998 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wilms 2001
 Family Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons)
Genus Chamaeleo (Typical Chameleons)
 
Chamaeleo chamaeleon

Mediterranean Chameleon

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Glaw 2015 Klaver & Boehme 1997 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 Family Gekkonidae (Typical Geckos)
Genus Hemidactylus (Half-toed Geckos)
 
Hemidactylus angulatus

West African House Gecko

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
Genus Stenodactylus (Afro-Asian Thin-toed Geckos)
 
Stenodactylus mauritanicus

Mauritanian Thin-toed Gecko

Arnold 1980 [as sthenodactylus] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Loveridge 1947 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 [as sthenodactylus]
 
Stenodactylus petrii

North African Thin-toed Gecko

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Stenodactylus sthenodactylus

Elegant Thin-toed Gecko

Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
Genus Tropiocolotes (Afro-Asian Desert Dwarf Geckos)
 
Tropiocolotes algericus

Algerian Dwarf Gecko

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Ribeiro Junior, Tamar, Maza, Flecks, Wagner, Shacham, Calvo, Geniez, Crochet, Koch & Meiri 2022 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wilms, Shobrak & Wagner 2010
 
Tropiocolotes tripolitanus

Tripoli Dwarf Gecko

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Loveridge 1947 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Minton, Anderson & Anderson 1970 Ribeiro Junior, Tamar, Maza, Flecks, Wagner, Shacham, Calvo, Geniez, Crochet, Koch & Meiri 2022 Schleich, Kastle & Kabisch 1996 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Szczerbak & Golubev 1996 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 Wermuth 1965
 Family Lacertidae (Typical Lizards)
Genus Acanthodactylus (Fringe-toed Lizards)
 
Acanthodactylus aureus

Golden Fringe-toed Lizard

Arnold 1983 Brito, Rebelo, Crochet & Geniez 2008 Crochet, Geniez & Ineich 2003 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Salvador 1982 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Acanthodactylus boskianus

Afro-Arabian Fringe-toed Lizard

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Salvador 1982 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Acanthodactylus busacki

South Moroccan Fringe-toed Lizard

Brito, Rebelo, Crochet & Geniez 2008 Crochet, Leblois & Renoult 2015 [as "cf. busacki"] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Salvador 1982 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Tamar, Geniez, Brito & Crochet 2017 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Acanthodactylus dumerilii

Lesser Fringe-toed Lizard

Crochet, Geniez & Ineich 2003 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Salvador 1982 [as dumerili X exiguus] Schleich, Kastle & Kabisch 1996 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
Genus Mesalina (Afro-Asian Desert Lizards)
 
Mesalina adrarensis

Mauritanian Desert Lizard

Pizzigalli, Crochet, Geniez, Martinez-Freiria, Velo-Anton & Brito 2021
 
Mesalina guttulata

Common Small-spotted Desert Lizard

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 
Mesalina pasteuri

Sahara Desert Lizard

Brito, Rebelo, Crochet & Geniez 2008 Geniez & Geniez 1995 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
 
Mesalina rubropunctata

Red-spotted Desert Lizard

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Mesalina simoni

Moroccan Small-spotted Desert Lizard

Pizzigalli, Crochet, Geniez, Martinez-Freiria, Velo-Anton & Brito 2021
Genus Timon (Ocellated Lizards)
 
Timon tangitanus

Moroccan Ocellated Lizard

Berre 1989 [as lepidus] Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
 Family Phyllodactylidae (Leaf-toed Geckos)
Genus Tarentola (Wall Geckos)
 
Tarentola annularis

Egyptian White-spotted Gecko

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Joger 1984 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Schleich, Kastle & Kabisch 1996 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
 
Tarentola boehmei

Moroccan Wall Gecko

Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 
Tarentola chazaliae

Helmeted Gecko

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Loveridge 1947 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Wermuth 1965
 
Tarentola hoggarensis

Hoggar Wall Gecko

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Joger 1984 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Tarentola mauritanica

Moorish Wall Gecko

Geniez, Escatllar, Crochet, Mateo & Bons 1999 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Tarentola panousei

Dra Wall Gecko

Koppetsch & Boehme 2022
 
Tarentola parvicarinata

Small-keeled Gecko

Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Trape 2012
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Chalcides (Cylindrical Skinks)
 
Chalcides delislei

Central Saharan Three-fingered Skink

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012
 
Chalcides ocellatus

Mediterranean Ocellated Skink

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 
Chalcides polylepis

Many-scaled Cylindrical Skink

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 
Chalcides sphenopsiformis

Senegal Sand Skink

Carranza, Arnold, Geniez, Roca & Mateo 2008 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
Genus Scincus (Sand Fish)
 
Scincus albifasciatus

White-banded Sand Fish

Arnold & Leviton 1977 Berre 1989 [as scincus] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Hartmann 1989 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
 Family Sphaerodactylidae (Least Geckos, etc.)
Genus Quedenfeldtia (Moroccan Day Geckos)
 
Quedenfeldtia moerens

Southern Moroccan Day Gecko

Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008
Genus Saurodactylus (Lizard-toed Geckos)
 
Saurodactylus harrisii

Guelmime Lizard-toed Gecko

Berre 1989 [as S. mauritanicus] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 [as S. brosseti] Javanmardi, Vogler & Joger 2019 Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012 [as S. brosseti]
 Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
 
Varanus griseus

Desert Monitor

Bayless 2002 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Mertens 1963

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Colubridae (Typical Snakes or Colubrids)
Genus Dasypeltis (African Egg Eaters)
 
Dasypeltis sahelensis

Sahel Egg Eater

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 [as scabra] Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Venchi & Sindaco 2007 [as scabra]
Genus Hemorrhois (Palearctic Whip Snakes)
 
Hemorrhois algirus

Algerian Whip Snake

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Papenfuss 1969 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Villiers 1975
Genus Lytorhynchus (Awl-headed Snakes)
 
Lytorhynchus diadema

Crowned Awl-headed Snake

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Mediani, Fahd, Chevalier & Brito 2015
Genus Macroprotodon (False Smooth Snakes)
 
Macroprotodon cucullatus

Eastern False Smooth Snake

Busack & McCoy 1990 [as brevis] Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 [as brevis] Wade 1988
Genus Spalerosophis (Diadem Snakes)
 
Spalerosophis diadema

Common Diadem Snake

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Venchi & Sindaco 2007
 
Spalerosophis dolichospilus

Mograbin Diadem Snake

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
Genus Telescopus (Afro-Asian Cat Snakes)
 
Telescopus tripolitanus

North African Cat Snake

Crochet, Rasmussen, Wilms, Geniez, Trape & Boehme 2008 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 [as guidimakaensis] Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Venchi & Sindaco 2007 Wilms, Wagner & Spawls 2021
 Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.)
Genus Naja (Typical Cobras)
 
Naja haje

Egyptian Cobra

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Spawls & Branch 1995 Trape, Chirio, Broadley & Wuster 2009
 Family Lamprophiidae (House Snakes, etc.)
Genus Boaedon (Afro-Arabian House Snakes)
 
Boaedon fuliginosus

Common African House Snake

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013
Genus Malpolon (Montpellier Snakes)
 
Malpolon moilensis

Moila Snake

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 
Malpolon monspessulanus

Western Montpellier Snake

Berre 1989 Geniez, Cluchier & Haan 2006 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013
Genus Psammophis (Old World Sand Snakes and Grass Snakes)
 
Psammophis schokari

Arabian Sand Snake

Berre 1989 Brito, Rebelo, Crochet & Geniez 2008 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Kramer & Schnurrenberger 1963 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
 Family Leptotyphlopidae (Thread Snakes)
Genus Myriopholis (Many-scaled Thread Snakes)
 
Myriopholis algeriensis

Algerian Thread Snake

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Venchi & Sindaco 2007
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Bitis (African Adders)
 
Bitis arietans

Common Puff Adder

Crochet, Leblois & Renoult 2015 Geniez & Geniez 1995 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013
Genus Cerastes (Horned Vipers)
 
Cerastes cerastes

Sahara Horned Viper

Berre 1989 Crochet, Leblois & Renoult 2015 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Spawls & Branch 1995
 
Cerastes vipera

Sahara Sand Viper

Crochet, Leblois & Renoult 2015 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Spawls & Branch 1995 Villiers 1975
Genus Daboia (Daboias)
 
Daboia mauritanica

Moorish Viper

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019
Genus Echis (Carpet Vipers)
 
Echis leucogaster

White-bellied Carpet Viper

Berre 1989 Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004 Martinez del Marmol, Harris, Geniez, Pous & Salvi 2019 McDiarmid, Campbell & Toure 1999 Spawls & Branch 1995

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

Brongersma in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Brongersma in Bjorndal (ed.) 1982 King & Burke 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)
 
Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

King & Burke 1989
 Family Testudinidae (Tortoises)
Genus Centrochelys (African Spurred Tortoise)
  EX
Centrochelys sulcata

African Spurred Tortoise

Geniez, Mateo, Geniez & Pether 2004