List of amphibians and reptiles of Saint Kitts and Nevis explained

This is a list of amphibians and reptiles found on the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a two-island nation in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles. The islands are separated by a narrow strait that is only 3.2 km wide and 15 m deep, and thus the two islands have very similar faunas.

Amphibians

There are two species of amphibian recorded on Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Frogs (Anura)

Tropical frogs (Leptodactylidae)
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Eleutherodactylus johnstonei Lesser Antillean Whistling Frog, Coqui Antillano, Johnstone's Whistling Frog Least Concern.[1]
True toads (Bufonidae)
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Bufo marinus Cane Toad, Giant Neotropical Toad, Marine Toad Least Concern. Introduced.

Reptiles

Including marine turtles and introduced species, there are 14 reptile species reported on Saint Kitts and 12 species on Nevis.

Turtles (Testudines)

Tortoises (Testudinidae)
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Geochelone carbonaria Red-Footed Tortoise Presence on Saint Kitts questioned; not present on Nevis.
Scaly sea turtles (Cheloniidae)
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Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle Endangered.
Chelonia mydas Green Turtle Endangered.
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle Critically Endangered.
Leathery sea turtles (Dermochelyidae)
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Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle Critically Endangered.

Lizards and snakes (Squamata)

Geckos (Gekkonidae)
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Hemidactylus mabouia House Gecko Introduced. Not recorded on Nevis.
Sphaerodactylus sabanus Saba Least Gecko Regional endemic.
Sphaerodactylus sputator Island Least Gecko Regional endemic. Highly abundant.
Thecadactylus rapicauda Turnip-Tailed Gecko Rare.
Iguanas and Anolids (Iguanidae)
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Anolis bimaculatus Panther Anole Regional endemic. Relatively common and widely distributed up to 300 m in elevation.
Anolis schwartzi Schwartz's Anole, Watts' Anole Taxonomy as separate species unclear; alternately described as a subspecies of A. wattsi. Regional endemic. Common and widespread.
Whiptails (Teiidae)
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Ameiva erythrocephala St. Christopher Ameiva Regional endemic; scarce.
Worm snakes (Typhlopidae)
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Typhlops monastus Montserrat Worm Snake, Regional endemic; populations found on Saint Kitts and Nevis are of subspecies T. m. geotomus.
Colubrids (Colubridae)
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Alsophis rufiventris Red-bellied Racer, Orange-bellied Racer, Saba Racer Endangered. Regional endemic.

References

Note: All records of species that listed above are supported by Malhotra & Thorpe 1999, unless otherwise cited.

Notes and References

  1. [Conservation status]