List of reptiles of Singapore

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Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus at Sungei Buloh
Green Crested Lizard
Green Crested Lizard Bronchocela cristatella at Bukit Batok
Water Monitor
Water Monitor Varanus salvator at Sungei Buloh
File snake
File Snake Acrochordus granulatus, a marine file snake
Blue Malayan Coral Snake
Blue Malayan Coral Snake Calliophis bivirgatus at Venus Drive

There are about 110 species of reptiles in Singapore.[1] Most of them are small or rarely seen. But there are a few which are large or prominent. The largest reptiles which can be found in Singapore are the Estuarine Crocodile and the Reticulated Python. The ones most commonly seen in urban areas are the house geckos (typically called house lizard by the lay-person) and the Changeable Lizard. The introduced Changeable Lizard has pushed the local Green Crested Lizard into forested areas.

In gardens and parks, one can often see Common Sun Skinks, the introduced Red-eared Sliders and Flying Lizards.

Water Monitors are common in rivers and mangrove. One other monitor that can be found in Singapore is the Clouded Monitor, which is a forest species. It is smaller than the Malayan Water Monitor, has slit nostrils and is paler in colour. In 2008, the Dumeril's Monitor was rediscovered in the swamp forest of Singapore. This goes to show that there can still be surprises in the forests of Singapore.

Equatorial Spitting Cobras can still be found in desolated urban areas of Singapore. The bigger King Cobra is much rarer. The closely related Banded Krait sometimes show up as road kills. There are also 2 coral snake and 9 sea snake species.

List of reptiles

Order Crocodylia (Crocodilians)

Family Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)

  • Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) - formerly widespread, recent sightings in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji, Lim Chu Kang, Woodlands Waterfront, Sembawang, Pasir Ris, Changi

Family Gavialidae (Gharials)

Order Testudines (Turtles, Tortoises, Terrapins)

Family Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)

Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Turtle)

Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)

Family Kinosternidae (Mud Turtles)

Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)

Family Carettochelyidae (Pig-nosed Turtle)

Family Geoemydidae (Asian Terrapins)

Family Testudinidae (Tortoises)

Family Emydidae (American Terrapins)

Family Chelidae (Side-necked Turtles)

Order Squamata (Lizards and Snakes)

Family Eublepharidae (Eyelid Geckos)

Family Gekkonidae (Geckos)

Family Agamidae (Agamids)

Family Dactyloidae (Anoles)

  • Brown Anole (Norops sagrei) - introduced, breeding population in Gardens by the Bay, individuals spotted in Bishan, Tanah Merah, Punggol, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Family Iguanidae (Iguanas)

  • Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) - introduced, breeding populations in Jurong Hill, Jurong Bird Park, Sungei Tengah, Choa Chu Kang, escapees occasionally seen elsewhere

Family Scincidae (Skinks)

  • Olive Tree Skink (Dasia olivacea) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Pulau Ubin
  • Brown Tree Skink (Dasia grisea) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Mangrove Skink (Emoia atrocostata) - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mandai Mangroves, Pulau Tekong
  • Many-lined Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata) - common and widespread
  • Striped Sun Skink (Eutropis rugifera) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Striped Tree Skink (Lipinia vittigera) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Garden Supple Skink (Lygosoma bowringii) - common and widespread
  • Short-limbed supple skink (Lygosoma quadrupes) - possibly introduced - Singapore Botanic Gardens
  • Singapore Swamp Skink (Tytthoscincus temasekensis) - Central Catchment Nature Reserve

Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)

  • Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong
  • Dumeril's Monitor (Varanus dumerili) - Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) - common and widespread in habitats close to water

Family Typhlopidae (Blind Snakes)

Family Cylindrophiidae (Asian Pipe Snakes)

Family Xenopeltidae (Sunbeam Snakes)

Family Pythonidae (Pythons)

Family Acrochordidae (File Snakes)

Family Colubridae (Colubrids)

Subfamily Sibynophiinae

  • Black-headed Collared Snake (Sibynophis melanocephalus) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Western Catchment, Kranji, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong

Subfamily Natricinae

Subfamily Calamariinae

Subfamily Ahaetullinae

  • Speckle-headed Whip Snake (Ahaetulla fasciolata) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Botanic Gardens
  • Malayan Whip Snake (Ahaetula mycterizans) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Oriental Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) - common and widespread
  • Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata ) - introduced, individuals seen at Shenton Way, Gardens by the Bay, Lim Chu Kang
  • Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi) - common and widespread
  • Twin-barred Tree Snake (Chrysopelea pelias) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Pulau Ubin
  • Striped Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis caudolineatus) - common and widespread
  • Blue Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis cyanochloris) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Haas' Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis haasi]]) - Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Kopstein's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis kopsteini) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
  • Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus) - common and widespread
  • Keel-bellied Whip Snake (Dryophiops rubescens) - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Western Catchment, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong

Subfamily Colubrinae

Family Homalopsidae (Mud Snakes)

Family Lamprophiidae (Mock Vipers)

Family Elapidae (Cobras, Coral Snakes, Kraits, Sea Snakes)

Family Pareidae (Slug-eating Snakes)

Family Viperidae (Vipers)

See also

References

  1. ^ "List of reptile species present in Singapore". National Parks Board.

External links