Endangered Reptiles - Causes and Preservation

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 3 August 2021
Update Date: 12 May 2024
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Endangered Animals!
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Reptiles are tetrapod vertebrates that have existed for 300 million years and whose most striking feature is the presence of scales covering your entire body. They are distributed all over the world, with the exception of very cold places, where we will not find them. Furthermore, they are adapted to live both on land and in water, as there are aquatic reptiles.

There is a wide variety of species in this group of reptiles, such as lizards, chameleons, iguanas, snakes and amphibians (Squamata), turtles (Testudine), crocodiles, hawks and alligators (Crocodylia). All of them have different ecological requirements according to their lifestyle and place where they live, and several species are very sensitive to environmental changes. For this reason, today a large number of reptiles are threatened with extinction and some could be on the verge of disappearing if conservation measures are not taken in time.


If you want to meet the endangered reptiles, as well as the measures being taken for its preservation, continue reading this article by PeritoAnimal and we will tell you all about them.

endangered reptiles

Before we present the list of endangered reptiles, we emphasize that it is important that you know the difference between endangered animals and those that are already endangered in the wild. Those that are threatened still exist and can be found in nature, but are at risk of to vanish. In Brazil, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) classifies the animals in this group as animals in a vulnerable situation, in danger or in critical danger.

The endangered animals in the wild are those that are only found in captivity. The extinct ones, in turn, no longer exist. In the list below, you will know 40 endangered reptiles according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).


Ganges gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

This species is within the order Crocodilia and is native to northern India, where it inhabits marshy areas. Males can reach about 5 meters in length, while females are usually a little smaller and measure about 3 meters. They have an elongated, slender snout with a rounded tip, whose shape is due to their fish-based diet, as they cannot consume much larger or stronger prey.

The Ganges gharial is in critical danger of extinction and currently there are very few specimens, being on the verge of extinction. due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting and human activities linked to agriculture. It is estimated that around 1,000 individuals still exist, many of them non-breeding. Despite being protected, this species continues to suffer and its populations are decreasing.

Grenadian gecko (Gonatodes daudini)

This species belongs to the order Squamata and is endemic to the islands of São Vicente and the Grenadines, where it inhabits dry forests in areas with rocky outcrops. It measures about 3 cm in length and is a species that is in critical danger of extinction mainly due to the hunting and illegal trade of pets in addition. As its territory is very restricted, the loss and destruction of their environments they also make it a very sensitive and vulnerable species. On the other hand, poor control over domestic animals such as cats also affects the Grenadines gecko. Although its range is under conservation, this species is not included in international laws that protect it.


Irradiated turtle (Astrochelys radiata)

Of the Testudines order, the irradiated turtle is endemic to Madagascar and currently also inhabits the A Reunion and Mauritius islands, because it was introduced by humans. It can be seen in forests with thorny and dry shrubs. This species reaches about 40 cm in length and is very characteristic for its high carapace and yellow lines that give it the name "radiated" due to its disposition.

Currently, this is another of the reptiles in critical danger of extinction due to poaching for sale as pets and for their meat and fur destruction of its habitat, which has led to an alarming reduction in their populations. Because of this, it is protected and there are conservation programs for its creation in captivity.

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Like the previous species, the hawksbill turtle belongs to the order Testudines and is divided into two subspecies (E. imbricata imbricata andE. imbricata bissa) which are distributed in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans, respectively. It is a highly endangered species of sea turtle, as it is much sought after for its meat, mainly in China and Japan, and for illegal trade. In addition, catching to extract its carapace has been a widespread practice for decades, although it is currently penalized by various laws in different countries. Other factors that put this species at risk are human activities in areas where it places its nests, as well as attacks by other animals on them.

Pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus)

Belonging to the order Squamata, this is a chameleon that is found within the so-called pygmy chameleons. Spread across eastern Africa, it occupies scrub and forest environments, where it is located in the branches of low shrubs. It is a tiny chameleon, which reaches 5 cm in length, which is why it is called pygmy.

It is cataloged in critical danger of extinction and the main cause is the hunting and illegal trade to sell it as a pet. Furthermore, their populations, which are already extremely small, are threatened by changes in their habitat to farmland. For this reason, the pygmy chameleon is protected thanks to the conservation of natural areas, mainly in Tanzania.

Boa de Santa Lucia (Boa constrictor orophias)

This species of the order Squamata is a snake endemic to Saint Lucia Island in the Caribbean Sea and is also on the list of most endangered reptiles in the world. It lives in wetlands, but not close to water, and can be seen both in savannas and cultivated areas, in trees and on land, and can reach up to 5 meters in length.

This species was already considered extinct in 1936, due to the large number of mongooses, such as meerkats, which were taken to the region. These animals are known precisely for their ability to kill venomous snakes. Currently, the Santa Lucia Boa is in danger of extinction due to the illegal trade, as it is captured by its skin, which has very striking and characteristic designs and is used in the leather goods industry. On the other hand, another threat is the conversion of the land where they live to cultivated areas. Today it is protected and its illegal hunting and trade is punishable by law.

Giant gecko (Tarentola gigas)

This species of lizard or salamander belongs to the order Squamata and is endemic to Cape Verde, where it lives on the Razo and Bravo islets. It is almost 30 cm long and has a color in brown tones typical of geckos. In addition, their diet is very peculiar, as it depends on the presence of seabirds when feeding on their pellets (balls with remains of undigested organic material, such as bones, hair and nails) and it is common for them to occupy the same places where they nest.

It is currently classified as endangered and its main threat is the presence of cats, which is why they were almost extinct. However, the islets where the giant gecko is still present are protected by law and are natural areas.

Arboreal Alligator Lizard (Abronia aurita)

This reptile, also of the order Squamata, is endemic to Guatemala, where it lives in the highlands of Verapaz. It measures about 13 cm in length and varies in color, with green, yellow and turquoise tones, with spots on the sides of the head, which is quite prominent, being a striking lizard.

It is classified as endangered due to destruction of its natural habitat, mainly by logging. In addition, agriculture, fire and grazing are also factors that threaten the arboreal alligator lizard.

Pygmy lizard (Anolis pygmaeus)

Belongs to the order Squamata, this species is endemic to Mexico, specifically to Chiapas. Although not much is known about its biology and ecology, it is known that it inhabits evergreen forests. It has a color between gray and brown and its size is small, measuring about 4 cm in length, but stylized and with long fingers, characteristic of this genus of lizards.

This anole is another of the reptiles in danger of extinction due to transformation of the environments where you live. It is protected by law under the category of “special protection (Pr)” in Mexico.

Dark Tancitarus Rattlesnake (Crotalus pusillus)

Also belonging to the order Squamata, this snake is endemic to Mexico and inhabits volcanic areas and pine and oak forests.

It is threatened with extinction due to its very narrow distribution range and the destruction of its habitat due to logging and the transformation of land for crops. Although there are not many studies on this species, given its small distribution area, it is protected in Mexico in the threatened category.

Why are there reptiles threatened with extinction

Reptiles face various threats around the world and, as many of them are slow to develop and long-lived, they are very sensitive to changes in their environment. The main causes that cause their populations to decline are:

  • Destruction of its habitat for land destined for agriculture and livestock.
  • Climate changes that produce environmental changes in temperature levels and other factors.
  • The hunt for obtaining materials such as fur, teeth, claws, hoods and illegal trade as pets.
  • the contamination, from both seas and land, is another of the most serious threats that reptiles face.
  • Reduction of their land due to the construction of buildings and urbanizations.
  • Introduction of exotic species, which causes an imbalance at the ecological level that many species of reptiles are unable to tolerate and produces a decrease in their populations.
  • Deaths from being run over and other causes. For example, many species of snakes are killed because they are considered poisonous and out of fear, therefore, at this point, environmental education becomes a priority and urgency.

How to prevent them from disappearing

In this scenario where thousands of reptile species are in danger of extinction around the world, there are several ways to conserve them, so by taking the measures we will detail below, we can help in the recovery of many of these species:

  • Identification and creation of natural areas protected where endangered reptile species are known to inhabit.
  • Keep rocks and fallen logs in the environments where reptiles inhabit, as these are potential refuges for them.
  • Manage the exotic animal species that prey on or displace native reptiles.
  • Disseminate and educate about endangered reptile species, as the success of many conservation programs is due to people's awareness.
  • Avoiding and controlling the use of pesticides on agricultural land.
  • Promote knowledge and care of these animals, mainly about the most feared species such as snakes, which are often killed by fear and ignorance when thinking that it is a poisonous species.
  • Do not promote illegal sale of reptile species, such as iguanas, snakes or turtles, as they are species most commonly used as pets and must live in freedom and in their natural environments.

See also, in this other article, a list of 15 animals threatened with extinction in Brazil.

Other endangered reptiles

The species we mentioned above are not the only reptiles threatened with extinction, so below we present a list of more threatened reptiles and their classification according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN):

  • Volcano Lizard (Pristidactylus volcanensis) - Endangered
  • Indian turtle (Chitra indicates) - Endangered
  • Ryukyu Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda japonica) - Endangered
  • Leaf tailed gecko (Phyllurus gulbaru) - Endangered
  • Blind snake from Madagascar (Xenotyphlops grandidieri) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Chinese crocodile lizard (shinisaurus crocodilurus) - Endangered
  • Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Endangered
  • blue iguana (Cyclura Lewis) - Endangered
  • Zong's Scaled Snake (Achalinus jinggangensis) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Taragui lizard (Taragui homonot) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Orinoco Crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Minas snake (Geophis fulvoguttatus) - Endangered
  • Colombian dwarf lizard (Lepidoblepharis miyatai) - Endangered
  • Blue Tree Monitor (Varanus macraei) - Endangered
  • Flat-tailed turtle (flat-tailed pyxis) - In critical danger of extinction
  • aran lizard (Iberocerta aranica) - Endangered
  • Honduran Palm Viper (Bothriechis Marchi) - Endangered
  • Mona Iguana (Cyclura stejnegeri) - Endangered
  • Tiger Chameleon (Tigris Archaius) - Endangered
  • Mindo Horned Anolis (Anolis proboscis) - Endangered
  • Red-tailed lizard (Acanthodactylus blanci) - Endangered
  • Lebanese slender-fingered gecko (Mediodactylus amyctopholis) - Endangered
  • Chafarinas smooth-skinned lizard (Chalcides parallelus) - Endangered
  • Elongated turtle (Indotestu elongata) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Fiji Snake (Ogmodon vitianus) - Endangered
  • Black turtle (terrapene coahuila) - Endangered
  • Chameleon Tarzan (Calumma tarzan) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Marbled lizard (Marbled gecko) - In critical danger of extinction
  • Geophis Damiani - In critical danger of extinction
  • Caribbean Iguana (Lesser Antillean Iguana) - In critical danger of extinction