List of reptiles of Qatar explained

Qatar is a nation situated eastwards of the Arabian Peninsula of which it is considered a part of. Upwards of 30 reptile species[1] have been recorded as living in the country. Most of the country is arid, with a presence of dunes in the far south, close to neighbouring Saudi Arabia.[2]

Qatar possesses three forms of environment in which reptiles can be observed - Arid, urban, and marine. The country is relatively even in height and low, as its highest natural point is only 103 metres above sea level.[3] There are several species that are considered dangerous,[4] thus an exclamation mark (!) will be used to highlight a species that may cause harm to humans, and a skull if the animal is responsible for at least one human fatality

Sea turtles

Order: TestudinesFamily: Cheloniidae

Cheloniidae is a family of sea turtles with cosmopolitan distribution. The family contains seven species in five genera. Two of these species have been recorded in Qatar.[5] [6]

Common nameBinomial nameCarapace lengthMassGlobal statusGlobal trend DistributionImage
Green turtle Chelonia mydas align=center style="background: #cc6402"Primarily aquatic. May be found at coasts or islands where it comes to nest.175px
Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata) align=center style="background: #cb3331"Primarily aquatic, and most likely to nest in Fuwayrit given its soft sand175px

Leatherback turtle

Order: TestudinesFamily: Dermochelyidae

Dermochelyidae is a family of turtles which historically had 7 species. Currently, only one species still exists - the leatherback turtle. It is the largest member of its order, and the third-largest reptile in terms of average mass..[7] Though uncommon, it has been reported in the country.[8]

Geckos

Order: SquamataFamily: Gekkonidae

Gekkonidae is a large family of cosmopolitan lizards. It is a remarkably diverse family with upwards of a thousand species.[9] Bearing specially-designed pads on their toes, geckos are granted effective adhesion to several surfaces. Vernacularly known as “بريعصي [10] ", there are at least 10 species in Qatar.

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Big-headed gecko Stenodactylus slevini align=center style="background: #006666"A nocturnal lizard. It inhabits compact dry environments with shrubs.175px
Northern house gecko Hemidactylus flaviviridis align=center style="background: #006666"This nocturnal lizard favours urban environments, inhabiting homes as well as abandoned ruins where it may find insect prey. Individuals can be found hiding in crevices or under surfaces.175px
Baluch stone gecko Bunopus tuberculatus align=center style="background: #006666"Like other nocturnal lizard, the stone gecko inhabits arid and rural regions. During the day, it prefers to hide under rocks and is active at night, searching the habitat for food.175px
Keeled rock gecko Cyrtopodion scabrum align=center style="background: #006666"Prefers to hide out in uninhabited towns and buildings during the day.175px
Arabian sand gecko Trigonodactylus arabicus align=center style="background: #006666"Hides in burrows during the day. It is strictly ground-dwelling and may be found in open deserts or at dunes in the south and Doha during nighttime
Gulf sand gecko Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis align=center style="background: #006666"Found in mainland Qatar as well as the offshore islands in which it was first observed. It prefers soil and soft sand and may be encountered in beaches.
Heyden's gecko Hemidactylus robustus align=center style="background: #006666"Found on the mainland, it tolerates a wide variety of habitat. Hiding during the day, it can be found in fields, sparse semi-deserts and urban environments.
Persian leaf-toed gecko Hemidactylus persicus align=center style="background: #006666"Endemic to Halul island, has not been found in the mainland. Found elsewhere in the Persian Gulf175px

Agamids

Order: SquamataFamily: Agamidae

Agamidae is a large family of Old World lizards distributed across a multitude of habitats. Globally, the family contains approximately 350 species [11]

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Jayakar's agama Agama flavimaculata align=center style="background: #006666"Diurnal and found in open rocky areas. In breeding season, males acquire extreme colour changes as the head becomes blue and the tail red.175px
Sinai agama Pseudotrapelus sinaitus align=center style="background: #006666"Similar to the Jayakar's agama in both behaviour and shape.175px
Toad-headed agama Phrynocephalus arabicus align=center style="background: #006666"This species is diurnal and prefers soft sand, as is found in the dunes at Doha.175px
Giant spike-tailed agama Uromastyx aegyptia align=center style="background: #cbcc02"Prefers open desert throughout the country, particularly arid regions with dense sand, allowing it to burrow175px

Skinks

Order: SquamataFamily: Scincidae

Scincidae is a family of lizards, commonly known as skinks. It is one of the biggest families in the entire order, bearing well over 1,500 species.[12] They are primarily terrestrial and insectivorous

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Eastern sandfishScincus mitranus align=center style="background: #006666"A diurnal lizard, this species is found in the south of the countries exclusively inhabiting dunes, as it dives under the sand when a threat is perceived.175px
Ocellated skinkChalcides ocellatus align=center style="background: #006666"Inhabits overgrowth and meadow-like environments in Qatar. May be found in parks as a result.175px
Golden grass-skinkHeremites septemtaeniatus align=center style="background: #006666"Possibly introduced, this skink exclusively inhabits man-made habitats like gardens and lawns in the country

Monitors

Order: SquamataFamily: Varanidae

Varanidae is a family of highly predatory and venomous lizards in the old world. There are about 45 species,[13] one of which is found in Qatar.

True Lizards

Order: SquamataFamily: Lacertidae

Lacertidae is a family diverse family of lizards, of which the entire suborder derived its name[14]

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Fringe-toed sand lizardAcanthodactylus boskianus align=center style="background: #006666"Found in coastal plains, oases and cultivated regions. Diurnal.175px
NiduaAcanthodactylus scutellatus align=center style="background: #006666"Prefers open desert and shrubbery.175px
Short-nosed desert lizardEremias brevirostris align=center style="background: #006666"Found nationwide in scrubs, as well as wide sandy areas.
Arnold's fringe-fingered lizardAcanthodactylus opheodurus align=center style="background: #006666"Inhabits arid desert with shrubbery, particularly because females deposit eggs in holes dug under bushes.175px
Schmidt's fringe-fingered lizardAcanthodactylus opheodurus align=center style="background: #006666"Found in more sandy areas, especially dunes near the capital Doha175px
Hadramout sand lizardMesalina adramitana align=center style="background: #006666"N/AFound in more sandy areas, especially dunes near the capital Doha175px

Palaearctic worm-lizard

Order: SquamataFamily: Trogonophidae

Trogonophidae is a family of amphisbaenians. They do not possess any limbs and engage in a primarily underground lifestyle. [15]

Colubrids

Order: SquamataFamily: Colubridae

Colubridae is the largest family of snakes, with over 230 species.[16] They are primarily constrictors, however there are some species that possess venom.

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Glossy-bellied racerPlatyceps ventromaculatus align=center style="background: #006666"This non-venomous snake prefers both desert and man-made environments especially to hide.175px
Afro-Asian sand snakePsammophis schokari align=center style="background: #006666"?Mildly venomous, or prefers areas with vegetation and avoids barren desert.175px
False cobra Malpolon moilensis align=center style="background: #006666"Found further from urban environments, preferring to inhabit open desert and barren outcrops.175px
Crowned leaf-nosed snakeLytorhinchus diadema align=center style="background: #006666"This small non-venomous snake lives all across the country, preferring soft sand and gravel plains.175px
Diadem ratsnakeSpalerosophis diadema align=center style="background: #006666"Mildly venomous snake, found in sandy habitats and open desert in Qatar, as well as savannahs elsewhere.175px
Dwarf crowned racerEirenis coronella align=center style="background: #006666"A non venomous snake that inhabits temperate environments. In Qatar it prefers man-made agricultural habitats.175px

Sea snakes

Order: SquamataFamily: Hydrophiinae

Hydrophiinae is a family of snakes, most of which are highly venomous.[17] They inhabit coastal environments and are specially adapted for an aquatic lifestyle

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Blue-banded sea snake [18] Hydrophis cyanocinctusalign=center style="background: #006666"?A highly venomous snake that inhabits shallow waters in the indo-pacific.175px
Persian Gulf sea snake Hydrophis lapemoides align=center style="background: #006666"Common in the Indian Ocean. May be found in coastal waters and reefs
Yellow banded sea-snake (!) [19] Pelamis pelaturus align=center style="background: #006666"?Perhaps the largest sea snake, it inhabits shallow water in the Indo-pacific.
Yellow-bellied sea snake .[20] Pelamis platurus align=center style="background: #006666"Very flattened and adaptable when it comes to marine environments; may be found in deeper water.175px

Vipers

Order: SquamataFamily: Viperidae

Viperidae is a family of highly venomous snakes found throughout the majority of the mainland continents. It is a relatively diverse family with more than 200 species.[21]

Common nameBinomial nameLengthGlobal statusTrendHabitat and distributionImage
Arabian horned viper (!) [22] Cerastes gasperettiialign=center style="background: #006666"Distributed through the peninsula, this viper prefers vegetated habitats with soft sand in which it partially buries itself.175px
Saw-scaled viper [23] Echis carinatus align=center style="background: #006666"Found in man-made habitats as well as deserts from the Indian subcontinent to the Arabian peninsula175px

Boas

Order: SquamataFamily: Boidae

Boidae is a family of nonvenomous constricting snakes that inhabit tropical and semi-tropical regions. There are over 40 [24] species in the family

Elapids

Order: SquamataFamily: Elapidae

Elapidae is a family of highly venomous snakes with non-retractable fangs. It includes the well-known cobras. There are over 300 [25] species in the family

Notes and References

  1. Web site: species.
  2. Web site: South.
  3. Web site: height . https://web.archive.org/web/20120621223007/http://www.qatartourism.gov.qa/discover/index/1/175 . 21 June 2012 . dead.
  4. Web site: threat.
  5. Web site: sea turtle.
  6. Web site: Fuwairit.
  7. Web site: Magnitude.
  8. Web site: Qatar leatherback.
  9. Web site: Geckos.
  10. Web site: Bre3sy.
  11. Web site: Species agamidae.
  12. Web site: Skink species.
  13. Web site: Species Varanidae.
  14. Web site: Lizard names.
  15. Web site: Trogonophidae.
  16. Web site: Colubridae species.
  17. Web site: Hydrophiinae venom.
  18. Web site: BB seasnake venom.
  19. Web site: YB seasnake venom.
  20. Web site: Yellow-bellied Sea-Snake (Hydrophis platurus). www.reptilesofecuador.com.
  21. Web site: YB seasnake venom.
  22. Web site: AH viper venom.
  23. Web site: SS viper venom.
  24. Web site: Boidae species.
  25. Web site: Elapidae species.
  26. Web site: Walterinnesia morgani death.