List of reptiles of Kerala
This is a list of reptile species found in the Kerala, India.
Order: Crocodilia (crocodilians)
Suborder: Eusuchia
Family: Crocodylidae (crocodiles)
Genus: Crocodylus
Crocodylus porosus (saltwater crocodile / കായൽ മുതല)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Crocodylus palustris (mugger crocodile / മഗ്ഗർ മുതല)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Order: Testudines (turtles)
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Geoemydidae (pond, river and wood turtles)
Genus: Melanochelys
Melanochelys trijuga (Indian black turtle / കാരാമ)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
Genus: Vijayachelys
Vijayachelys silvatica (Cochin forest cane turtle / ചൂരലാമ)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Front view
Family: Cheloniidae (sea turtles)
Genus: Chelonia
Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle / പച്ചക്കടലാമ)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Hatchling
Genus: Eretmochelys
Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill sea turtle / ചുണ്ടൻ കടലാമ)
- Dorsal view
- Ventral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Lepidochelys
Lepidochelys olivacea (olive ridley sea turtle / ഒലീവ് റിഡ്ലി കടലാമ)
- Lateral view
- Nesting
- Hatchling
Family: Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtles)
Genus: Dermochelys
Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback sea turtle / തോൽപ്പുറകൻ കടലാമ)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Crawling
- Hatchling
- Oesophagus showing spines to retain prey
Family: Testudinidae (tortoises)
Genus: Geochelone
Geochelone elegans (Indian star tortoise / ഇന്ത്യൻ നക്ഷത്ര ആമ)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
Genus: Indotestudo
Indotestudo travancorica (Travancore tortoise / കാട്ടാമ)
- Lateral view
Family: Trionychidae (softshell turtles)
Genus: Nilssonia
Nilssonia leithii (Leith's softshell turtle)
- Head
Genus: Lissemys
Lissemys punctata (Indian flapshell turtle / വെള്ളാമ)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Front view
Genus: Pelochelys
Pelochelys cantorii (Cantor's giant softshell turtle / ഭീമനാമ)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Front view
Genus: Chitra
Chitra indica (Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle / ചിത്രയാമ)
- Lateral view
- Skeleton
Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae (lizards)
Genus: Calotes
Calotesdd calotes (common green forest lizard / പച്ചയോന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Calotes grandisquamis (large-scaled forest lizard / കാട്ടുപച്ചയോന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Head
- Head
Calotes nemoricola (Nilgiri forest lizard / നീലഗിരി ഓന്ത്)
- Lateral view
Calotes versicolor (oriental garden lizard / ഓറിയന്റൽ ഗാർഡൻ ലിസാർഡ്)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
- Male in breeding season
Genus: Monilesaurus
Monilesaurus ellioti (Elliot's forest lizard / മുള്ളോന്ത്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
- Head
- Female
Monilesaurus rouxii (Roux's forest lizard)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Draco
Draco dussumieri (southern flying lizard / പറയോന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Otocryptis
Otocryptis beddomei (Indian kangaroo lizard / കങ്കാരു ഓന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
Genus: Psammophilus
Psammophilus blanfordanus (Blanford's rock agama / കൂനൻ പാറയോന്ത്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
- Breeding color
Psammophilus dorsalis (peninsular rock agama / പാറയോന്ത്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Female
Genus: Salea
Salea anamallayana (Anaimalai spiny lizard / ആനമലയോന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Head
Salea horsfieldii (Horsfield's spiny lizard / നീലഗിരി മലയോന്ത്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Sitana
Sitana ponticeriana (fan-throated lizard / ചങ്കനോന്ത്)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Ventral view
- Breeding colors
Family: Chamaeleonidae (chameleons)
Genus: Chamaeleo
Chamaeleo zeylanicus (Indian chameleon / മരയോന്ത്)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Family: Gekkonidae (geckoes)
Genus: Cnemaspis
Cnemaspis beddomei (Beddome's day gecko)
Cnemaspis gracilis (slender day gecko/ പൊന്നൻമരപ്പല്ലി)
Cnemaspis indica (Indian day gecko / ഇന്ത്യൻ മരപ്പല്ലി)
Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis (Kottiyoor day gecko)
Cnemaspis littoralis (coastal day gecko)
- Lateral view
Cnemaspis monticola (mountain day gecko)
Cnemaspis nairi (Ponmudi day gecko)
Cnemaspis nilagirica (Nilgiri day gecko)
Cnemaspis ornata (ornate day gecko)
Cnemaspis sisparensis (Sispara day gecko)
Cnemaspis wynadensis (Wyanad day gecko)
Genus: Geckoella
Geckoella collegalensis (Kollegal ground gecko)
- Lateral view
Genus: Gehyra
Gehyra mutilata (four-clawed gecko)
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Hemidactylus
Hemidactylus anamallensis (Anaimalai gecko)
Hemidactylus brookii (Brooke's house gecko)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Head
Hemidactylus frenatus (common house gecko)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
Hemidactylus leschenaultii (Leschenault's leaf-toed gecko)
Hemidactylus maculatus (spotted leaf-toed gecko)
- Dorsal view
Hemidactylus prashadi (Bombay leaf-toed gecko)
- Dorsal view
Hemidactylus reticulatus (reticulate leaf-toed gecko)
- Dorsal view
Hemidactylus triedrus (termite hill gecko)
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
Family: Lacertidae (lacertas)
Genus: Ophisops
Ophisops beddomei (Beddome's snake-eye/lacerta)
- Dorsal view
Ophisops leschenaultii (Leschenault's snake-eye/lacerta)
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Family: Scincidae (skinks)
Genus: Chalcides
Chalcides pentadactylus (five-fingered skink)
- Illustration
- Illustration
Genus: Dasia
Dasia subcaeruleum (Boulenger's tree skink)
Genus: Eutropis
Eutropis beddomii (Beddome's skink)
Eutropis bibronii (Bibron's seashore skink)
Eutropis carinata (golden skink / അരണ)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
Eutropis clivicola (mountain/Inger's skink)
Eutropis macularia (bronze grass skink)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Kaestlea/Scincella
Kaestlea beddomii (Beddome's ground skink)
Kaestlea bilineata (two-lined ground skink)
Kaestlea laterimaculata (side-spotted ground skink)
Kaestlea palnica (Palni ground skink)
Kaestlea travancorica (Travancore ground skink)
- Dorsal view
Genus: Riopa
Riopa albopunctata (white-spotted supple skink / വെൺപൊട്ടൻ പാമ്പരണ)
Genus: Lygosoma
Lygosoma punctata (white-spotted supple skink / പാമ്പരണ)
- Dorsal view
Genus: Ristella
Ristella beddomii (Beddome's cat skink)
Ristella guentheri (Günther's cat skink)
Ristella rurkii (Rurk's cat skink)
- Claw pattern
Ristella travancorica (Travancore cat skink)
- Dorsal view
- Head
Genus: Sphenomorphus
Sphenomorphus dussumieri (Dussumier's forest skink / കാട്ടരണ)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
Family: Varanidae (monitor lizards)
Genus: Varanus
Varanus bengalensis (Bengal/Indian monitor / ഉടുമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Head
- Head (juvenile)
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Acrochordidae (file snakes)
Genus: Acrochordus
Acrochordus granulatus (marine file snake / കായൽ പാമ്പ്)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
Family: Colubridae (colubrid snakes)
Genus: Ahaetulla
Ahaetulla dispar (Gunther's vine snake / മലമ്പച്ചോലൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Ahaetulla nasuta (green vine snake / പച്ചിലപാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Ahaetulla perroteti (Western Ghats bronzeback / ചോലപ്പച്ചോലൻ)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Ahaetulla pulverulenta (brown vine snake / തവിട്ടോലപ്പാമ്പ്)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Argyrogena
Argyrogena fasciolata (banded racer / വള്ളിച്ചേര)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Boiga
Boiga beddomei (Beddome's cat snake)
- Head
Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lanka cat snake / കാട്ടുവലയൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Boiga dightoni (Pirmad cat snake / പീരുമേടൻ പാമ്പ്)
Boiga forsteni (Forsten's cat snake / കരികുരിയൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
Boiga nuchalis (collared cat snake / വളയൻ പൂച്ചക്കണ്ണിപ്പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
Boiga trigonata (common cat snake / പൂച്ചക്കണ്ണൻ)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Front view
Genus: Chrysopelea
Chrysopelea ornata (golden tree snake / നാഗത്താൻപാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Coelognathus
Coelognathus helena (trinket snake / കാട്ടുപാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Dendrelaphis
Dendrelaphis ashoki (Ashok's bronzeback / വരയൻ വില്ലൂന്നി)
Dendrelaphis chairecaeos/chairecacos (southern bronzeback / നൽവരയൻകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)
- Head
Dendrelaphis girii (Giri's bronzeback / കാട്ടുകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
- Head
Dendrelaphis grandoculis (large-eyed bronzeback / മലകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
- Head
Dendrelaphis tristis (common bronzeback / വില്ലൂന്നി)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Head
- Front view
Genus: Liopeltis
Liopeltis calamaria (calamaria reed snake / ചെന്നിവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)
Genus: Lycodon
Lycodon aulicus (Indian wolf snake / വെള്ളിവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Melanistic form
Lycodon nympha (bridal snake)
- Dorsal view
Lycodon striatus (barred wolf snake / വരവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)[citation needed]
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Lycodon travancoricus (Travancore wolf snake / തിരുവിതാംകൂർ വെള്ളിവരയൻ)
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Ventral view
- Head
Genus: Oligodon
Oligodon affinis (western kukri / മലഞ്ചുരുട്ട)[citation needed]
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Head
Oligodon arnensis (banded kukri / വരയൻ ചുരുട്ട)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Head
Oligodon brevicauda (shorthead kukri / കുട്ടിവാലൻ ചുരുട്ട)[citation needed]
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Head
Oligodon taeniolatus (streaked kukri)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Head
Oligodon travancoricus (Travancore kukri / തെക്കൻ ചുരുട്ട)[citation needed]
Oligodon venustus (Jerdon's kukri / ഒരച്ചുരുട്ട)[citation needed]
Genus: Ptyas
Ptyas mucosa (Indian rat snake / ചേര)
- Illustration
- Lateral view
- Courtship
- Head
Genus: Rhabdops
Rhabdops olivaceus (olive forest snake / മോന്തയുന്തി പാമ്പ്) [citation needed]
Genus: Sibynophis
Sibynophis subpunctatus (Duméril's black-headed snake / എഴുത്താണി ചുരുട്ട) [citation needed]
- Dorsal view
Family: Erycidae/Erycinae (sand boas)
Genus: Eryx
Eryx conicus (Russell's boa / ഇരുതലൻ മണ്ണൂലി)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Eryx johnii (Indian sand boa / വലിയ മണ്ണൂലി)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Eryx whitakeri (Whitaker's sand boa)
- Dorsal view
- Head
Family: Elapidae (elapid snakes)
Genus: Bungarus
Bungarus caeruleus (common krait / വെള്ളിക്കെട്ടൻ)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
Genus: Calliophis
Calliophis beddomei (Beddome's coral snake)
Calliophis bibroni (Bibron's coral snake / എഴുത്താണി വളയൻ)
- Lateral view
- Head
Calliophis melanurus (Indian coral snake / എഴുത്താണി മൂർഖൻ) [citation needed]
Calliophis nigrescens (black coral snake / ഇരുളൻ പവിഴപ്പാമ്പ്)
- Ventral view
Genus: Hydrophis
Hydrophis curtus (short sea snake)
Hydrophis cyanocinctus (annulated sea snake / നീലവരയൻ)
- Illustration
Hydrophis ornatus (ornate reef sea snake / ചിറ്റുളിപ്പാമ്പ്)
Hydrophis platurus (yellow-bellied sea snake / മഞ്ഞക്കറുപ്പൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
Hydrophis schistosus (hook-nosed sea snake / വലകടിയൻ കടൽപാമ്പ്)
- Illustration
Genus: Naja
Naja naja (Indian cobra / ഇന്ത്യൻ മൂർഖൻ)
- Head
- Head
Genus: Ophiophagus
Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra / രാജവെമ്പാല)
- Illustration
- Head
Family: Gerrhopilidae (worm snakes)
Genus: Gerrhopilus/Typhlops
Gerrhopilus beddomii (Beddome's worm snake)
Gerrhopilus thurstoni (Thurston's worm snake / അമ്മിഞ്ഞിക്കുടിയൻ പാമ്പ്)
Gerrhopilus tindalli (Tindall's worm snake)
Family: Homalopsidae (mud snakes)
Genus: Cerberus
Cerberus rynchops (dog-faced water snake / ആറ്റുവായ്പ്പാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
Genus: Dieurostus
Dieurostus dussumierii (Dussumier's water snake / ചെളിക്കൂട)
- Lateral view
Genus: Gerarda
Gerarda prevostiana (Gerard's water snake / പച്ചാറ്റുവായ്പ്പാമ്പ്)
Family: Natricidae/Natricinae (Keelbacks)
Genus: Atretium
Atretium schistosum (split keelback / പച്ചനീർമണ്ഡലി)
- Dorsal view
- Head
Genus: Amphiesma
Amphiesma stolatum (buff striped keelback / തെയ്യാൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Head
- Head
- Eggs
Genus: Hebius
Hebius beddomei (Nilgiri keelback)
- Head
- Head
Amphiesma monticola (hill keelback / കാട്ടുനീർക്കോലി)
- Dorsal view
- Head
- Head
Genus: Rhabdophis
Rhabdophis plumbicolor (green keelback / പച്ചനാഗം)
- Illustration
- Lateral view (adult)
- Dorsal view (juvenile)
- Lateral view (juvenile)
- Head
Genus: Fowlea
Fowlea piscator (checkered keelback / നീർക്കോലി)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Family: Pythonidae (pythons)
Genus: Python
Python molurus (Indian python / മലമ്പാമ്പ്)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
- Eggs
Family: Typhlopidae (blind snakes)
Genus: Grypotyphlops
Grypotyphlops acutus (beak-nosed blind snake)
Genus: Indotyphlops
Indotyphlops braminus (brahminy blind snake)
Family: Uropeltidae (shieldtails)
Genus: Teretrurus
Teretrurus rhodogaster (Wall's shield tail)
Genus: Melanophidium
Melanophidium bilineatum (two-lined black shieldtail)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
Melanophidium punctatum (Beddome's black shieldtail)
- Illustration
Melanophidium wynaudense (Indian black earth snake)
Genus: Platyplectrurus
Platyplectrurus madurensis (Travancore Hills thorntail)
Platyplectrurus trilineatus (lined thorntail)
Genus: Plectrurus
Plectrurus aureus (Kerala burrowing snake)
Plectrurus guentheri (Günther's burrowing snake)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
Plectrurus perrotetii (Nilgiri burrowing snake)
- Dorsal view
Genus: Rhinophis
Rhinophis fergusonianus (Cardamom Hills earth snake)
- Illustration
Rhinophis sanguineus (red-bellied shieldtail)
- Illustration
Rhinophis travancoricus (Travancore shieldtail)
Genus: Teretrurus
Teretrurus sanguineus (purple-red earth snake)
Genus: Uropeltis
Uropeltis arcticeps (Thirunelveli earth snake)
Uropeltis beddomii (Beddome's earth snake)
Uropeltis ceylanica (Kerala shieldtail)
- Illustration
- Illustration
Uropeltis ellioti (Elliot's earth snake)
Uropeltis grandis (violet shieldtail)
Uropeltis liura (Günther's earth snake)
- Illustration
Uropeltis macrorhyncha (Anaimalai earth snake)
Uropeltis maculata (spotted earth snake)
Uropeltis myhendrae (Boulenger's earth snake)
Uropeltis nitida (southern earth snake)
Uropeltis ocellata (Nilgiri shieldtail)
Uropeltis petersi (Peter's shieldtail)
Uropeltis pulneyensis (Palni shieldtail / പഴനിപ്പാമ്പ്)
- Illustration
Uropeltis rubrolineata (red-lined shieldtail / കുങ്കുമവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)
Uropeltis rubromaculata/rubromaculatus (red-spotted shieldtail / കുങ്കുമപ്പൊട്ടൻ പാമ്പ്)
- Lateral view
Uropeltis woodmasoni (Wood-Mason's earth snake / കരടിയിരുതലയൻ പാമ്പ്)
Family: Viperidae (vipers)
Genus: Daboia
Daboia russelii (Russell's viper / അണലി)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Head
Genus: Echis
Echis carinatus (saw-scaled viper / ചുരുട്ടമണ്ഡലി)
- Illustration
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
Genus: Hypnale
Hypnale hypnale (hump-nosed viper / മുഴമൂക്കൻ കുഴിമണ്ഡലി)
- Lateral view
- Dorsal view
- Dorsal view
- Head
Genus: Trimeresurus
Trimeresurus gramineus (bamboo pit viper / മുളമണ്ഡലി)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Head
Trimeresurus macrolepis (large-scaled pit viper / ചട്ടിത്തലയൻ കുഴിമണ്ഡലി)
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Head
Trimeresurus malabaricus (Malabar pit viper / ചോലമണ്ഡലി)
- Dorsal view
- Lateral view
- Lateral view
- Front view
- Head
Trimeresurus strigatus (horseshoe pit viper / ലാടമണ്ഡലി)
Family: Xenodermatidae (narrow-headed snakes)
Genus: Xylophis
Xylophis captaini (Captain's wood snake / കുഞ്ഞിത്തലയൻ പാമ്പ്)[citation needed]
Xylophis perroteti (Perrotet's mountain snake)
- Lateral view
- Head
Xylophis stenorhynchus (Günther's mountain snake / ഒരക്കുള്ളൻ പാമ്പ്)[citation needed]
See also
- Wildlife of Kerala
- List of Odonata of Kerala
- List of butterflies of Kerala
- List of amphibians of Kerala
- List of birds of Kerala
- List of mammals of Kerala
References
- Palot, M. J. (2015). "A checklist of reptiles of Kerala, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (13): 8010–8022
- Indian snake checklist
- Daniel, J. C.(2002). The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566099-4
External links
Media related to Reptiles of Kerala at Wikimedia Commons