TOP EDGE Reptiles
Black-breasted Leaf Turtle
Geoemyda spengleri
The black-breasted leaf turtle is one of the smallest species of the family Geoemydidae, with individuals having a carapace (shell) length less than 11 cm!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Ryukyu Leaf Turtle
Geoemyda japonica
The striking Ryukyu leaf turtle is one of two species comprising the genus Geoemyda.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Southern Even-fingered Gecko
Alsophylax laevis
Only a few specimens of the southern even-fingered gecko have been collected in the last decade despite intensive survey efforts.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Chapman’s Pygmy Chameleon
Rhampholeon chapmanorum
Chapman’s pygmy chameleon is an incredibly small lizard that reaches a maximum length of only 6.2 cm!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Mount Inago Pygmy Chameleon
Rhampholeon bruessoworum
The Mount Inago Pygmy Chameleon is a very small species of chameleon that reaches lengths of just 4-5cm! It is a very rare species which has only ever been found in one patch to date.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Central Haitian Curlytail
Leiocephalus endomychus
Central Haitian Curlytail is a Hispaniola endemic is only known from a collection of 15 records taken in 1976 and it has not been reported since then.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Mount Namuli Pygmy Chameleon
Rhampholeon tilburyi
The Mount Namuli Pygmy Chameleon is an incredibly small species with an size range of just 3.3-5 cm!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Burmese Peacock Softshell
Nilssonia formosa
The Burmese Peacock Softshell is a very rare species of turtle which is endemic to Myanmar.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Cantor’s Giant Softshell
Pelochelys cantorii
Cantor’s giant softshell is an exceptionally large freshwater turtle, with individuals known to reach over 1 metre in length and weigh more than 100 kilograms! Sadly, these extraordinary turtles are on the brink of extinction.
Conservation Attention
Medium
Euphrates Softshell Turtle
Rafetus euphraticus
The Euphrates softshell turtle is a large species of turtle, with a total carapace length of around 67 cm.
Conservation Attention
Good
Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle
Chitra indica
The narrow-headed softshell turtle is an incredibly large species of turtle, often reaching more than 110 cm in carapace length!
Conservation Attention
Low
Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle
Palea steindachneri
Due to the high demand for wattle-necked softshell turtle meat, conservation efforts may not be successful in its native range. The future of this unique species may depend on introduced populations in Hawaii, USA.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Rothschild’s Skink
Paracontias rothschildi
Rothschild’s skink is one of several species in the genus Paracontias which, diverged from all other living species more than 30 million years ago!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Samana Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus samanensis
The Samana least gecko is part of the infraorder of geckos which includes some of the smallest reptiles in the world, reaching around only 1.5 – 6 cm in length.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Cochran’s Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus cochranae
Cochran’s least gecko is part of the infraorder of geckos which includes some of the smallest reptiles in the world, reaching around only 1.5 – 6 cm in length.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Sierra Curlytail Lizard
Leiocephalus onaneyi
The Sierra curlytail lizard is an incredibly rare species with only 7 specimens collected between 1973 and 2010!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Uroplatus pietschmanni
Uroplatus pietschmanni
Leaf-tailed geckos of the genus Uroplatus have spectacular camouflage, remaining motionless on forest branches during the day before becoming active hunters after dark.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Morne Dubois Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus nycteropus
Little is known about Morne Dubois least gecko as it has not been recorded since it was described in 2009 despite subsequent surveys.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Lauhachinda’s Cave Gecko
Gekko lauhachindai
Lauhachinda’s cave gecko is thought to occur in only one area that is less that 10km² in size. Living in caves in karst areas in central Thailand.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Paragehyra gabriellae
Paragehyra gabriellae
This gecko is one of four species in its genus, all of which are endemic to Madagascar.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Cnemaspis anaikattiensis
Cnemaspis anaikattiensis
This species has only recently been described and is only known from just one locality in the Anaikatti Hillis.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Lapierre Curlytail Lizard
Leiocephalus rhutidira
This Hispaniola endemic is only known from the original set of specimens from which it was described in 1978 and has not been recorded since.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Cap-Haitien Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus lazelli
The Cap-Haitien least gecko is only known from the original set of specimens from which the species was identified in 1960. Despite additional survey efforts this species has not been found again, leading to fears that the Cap-Haitien Least Gecko may already be extinct.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Tokashiki Gecko
Goniurosaurus kuroiwae
The Tokashiki gecko is restricted to several islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan, with several subspecies found on different islands.
Conservation Attention
Low
Atalaye Curlytail Lizard
Leiocephalus pratensis
Apart from a single record in 1966, this Hispaniola endemic species has not been collected since 1929. Worryingly, a number of older records suggest it may have been relatively common in the early 20th century.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Doumergue’s Fringe-fingered Lizard
Acanthodactylus spinicauda
This species is extremely rare and was only recently rediscovered in 2015; the previous record of the species was from 1901!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Xenosaurus platyceps
Xenosaurus platyceps
Unlike most reptiles which lay eggs externally, Xenosaurus platyceps is viviparous; the mother will give birth to live young which have developed inside her body!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Culebra Giant Anole
Anolis roosevelti
The Culebra giant anole has not been since 1932! This incredibly rare species is known from just eight specimens and, despite extensive surveys across its historical range, this species has not been found since.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
TerreNueve Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus sommeri
The TerreNueve least gecko is incredibly rare and is hardly encountered; therefore there is very little data on their population size and trends.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Neiba Agave Sphaero
Sphaerodactylus schuberti
The Neiba Agave sphaero is incredibly rare and is hardly encountered; therefore there is very little data on their population size and population trends.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Haitian Striped Sphaero
Sphaerodactylus williamsi
The Haitian striped sphaero is only known from one specimen. Worryingly, despite surveys at and around the area it was first found, no other specimens have been found since!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Marche Leon Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus elasmorhynchus
The Marche Leon least gecko is only known from one specimen collected in 1966, and despite additional surveys no other specimens have been found since!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Martin Garcia Threadsnake
Mitophis asbolepis
The Critically Endangered Martin Garcia threadsnake is a very small snake with dark coloured skin and tiny eyes. This strange and rare species is endemic to the Sierra Martín García in the Dominican Republic and very little is known of its biology.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Hispaniolan Tailspot Sphaero
Sphaerodactylus epiurus
The Hispaniolan tailspot sphaero is only known from the place it was originally described (type locality), and the area of its total range is only around 12 km2.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Ptychoglossus danieli
Ptychoglossus danieli
This species is only known from only four specimens collected in 1994, and one specimen incidentally collected in 2004 on an entomological survey.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Barbados Leaf-toed Gecko
Phyllodactylus pulcher
The Barbados Leaf-toed gecko has very high predation rates, with a study in 2015 finding 94% of individuals were in a stage of tail regeneration!
Conservation Attention
Medium
Poum Striped Gecko
Dierogekko poumensis
The Poum Striped Gecko is endemic to Province Nord, where it is only known from the Poum massif. It has a species range of only 18 km2!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
La Palma Giant Lizard
Gallotia auaritae
The La Palma Giant lizard, found on the island of La Palma, was thought extinct until recent sightings and photographs of giant lizards on the northern part of the island were discovered.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Cebu Small Worm Skink
Brachymeles cebuensis
The Cebu small worm skink is a tiny legless skink, reaching a maximum length of only 7.4 cm.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Black-eyed Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus nigriocularis
Cyrtodactylus nigriocularis is a member of the gecko family Gekkonidae which diverged from other reptile groups 65 million years ago; about the time dinosaurs went extinct!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Kinyongia mulyai
Kinyongia mulyai
This chameleon is known only from a very small, highly fragmented area of forest on Mount Nzawa.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Acanthodactylus harranensis
Acanthodactylus harranensis
Acanthodactylus harranensis is named after the area where it was discovered; the ruins of the ancient city of Harran in Turkey. It has a total known range of approximately 3.6 km2.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Haitian Border Threadsnake
Mitophis leptipileptus
The Critically Endangered Haitian border threadsnake is a slender, silvery snake with tiny eyes. This strange and extremely rare species is endemic to the La Selle Massif region of Haiti and, despite significant effort, has not been recorded since 1984 and may now be extinct.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Leatherback
Dermochelys coriacea
The leatherback is the world’s largest turtle and can weigh over 900 kilograms!
Conservation Attention
Good
Banded Toed Gecko
Saurodactylus fasciatus
The Banded Toed Gecko is a Moroccan endemic and has a fragmented distribution between the Atlas and Rif Mountains.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Tenerife Speckled Lizard
Gallotia intermedia
The Tenerife Speckled Lizard is a recently discovered species, first described in 1996!
Conservation Attention
Medium
Temiah Rock Gecko
Cnemaspis temiah
The Temiah rock gecko is known from a single location in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia around 4 km²!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Phelsuma masohoala
Phelsuma masohoala
Before 2016, this elusive species was only known from the holotype and two museum specimens of unknown origin.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Samana Threadsnake
Mitophis calypso
The Critically Endangered Samana threadsnake is a small, pink snake with minute eyes.
Conservation Attention
Very Low
Calumma tarzan
Calumma tarzan
This chameleon, endemic to a tiny area of Madagascar, is named after the fictional character Tarzan!
Conservation Attention
Very Low
