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
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 name | Binomial name | Carapace length | Mass | Global status | Global trend | Distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 sand | 175px | ||||
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]
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Gulf | 175px | |||
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 burrow | 175px | |||
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern sandfish | Scincus 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 skink | Chalcides 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-skink | Heremites septemtaeniatus | align=center style="background: #006666" | Possibly introduced, this skink exclusively inhabits man-made habitats like gardens and lawns in the country | ||||
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.
Order: SquamataFamily: Lacertidae
Lacertidae is a family diverse family of lizards, of which the entire suborder derived its name[14]
| Common name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fringe-toed sand lizard | Acanthodactylus boskianus | align=center style="background: #006666" | Found in coastal plains, oases and cultivated regions. Diurnal. | 175px | |||
| Nidua | Acanthodactylus scutellatus | align=center style="background: #006666" | Prefers open desert and shrubbery. | 175px | |||
| Short-nosed desert lizard | Eremias brevirostris | align=center style="background: #006666" | Found nationwide in scrubs, as well as wide sandy areas. | ||||
| Arnold's fringe-fingered lizard | Acanthodactylus 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 lizard | Acanthodactylus opheodurus | align=center style="background: #006666" | Found in more sandy areas, especially dunes near the capital Doha | 175px | |||
| Hadramout sand lizard | Mesalina adramitana | align=center style="background: #006666" | N/A | Found in more sandy areas, especially dunes near the capital Doha | 175px | ||
Order: SquamataFamily: Trogonophidae
Trogonophidae is a family of amphisbaenians. They do not possess any limbs and engage in a primarily underground lifestyle. [15]
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glossy-bellied racer | Platyceps ventromaculatus | align=center style="background: #006666" | This non-venomous snake prefers both desert and man-made environments especially to hide. | 175px | |||
| Afro-Asian sand snake | Psammophis 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 snake | Lytorhinchus diadema | align=center style="background: #006666" | This small non-venomous snake lives all across the country, preferring soft sand and gravel plains. | 175px | |||
| Diadem ratsnake | Spalerosophis 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 racer | Eirenis coronella | align=center style="background: #006666" | A non venomous snake that inhabits temperate environments. In Qatar it prefers man-made agricultural habitats. | 175px | |||
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-banded sea snake [18] | Hydrophis cyanocinctus | align=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 | |||
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 name | Binomial name | Length | Global status | Trend | Habitat and distribution | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian horned viper (!) [22] | Cerastes gasperettii | align=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 peninsula | 175px | |||
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
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