This is a list of the reptile species recorded in Lesotho. There are 17 reptile species in

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

, of which 0 are critically endangered, 0 are endangered, 0 are vulnerable and 2 are near-threatened. This list is derived from the

Reptile Database The Reptile Database is a scientific database that collects taxonomic information on all living reptile species (i.e. no fossil species such as dinosaurs). The database focuses on species (as opposed to higher ranks such as families) and has entrie ...

which lists species of reptile and includes those reptiles that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those currently used by The Reptile Database as of 22 September 2011 and supplemented by the Common Names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Reptile Database article was available. The following tags are used to highlight specific species' conservation status as assessed by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

Order:
Squamata Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, ...
(Snakes & Lizards)

*Family:

Gekkonidae Gekkonidae (the common geckos) is the largest family of geckos, containing over 950 described species in 64 genera. Members of the Gekkonidae comprise many of the most widespread gecko species, including house geckos (''Hemidactylus''), tokay ge ...

(Geckos) **Genus: Afroedura *** Inland Rock Gecko '' Afroedura karroica'' *** Drakensberg Gecko '' Afroedura nivaria'' *Family:

Cordylidae Cordylidae is a family of small- to medium-sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa. They are commonly known as girdled lizards, spinytail lizards, or girdle-tail lizards. Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae ...

(Spinytail Lizards) **Genus:

Cordylus The genus ''Cordylus'' (Sauria: Cordylidae) includes a wide variety of species of small to medium spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed lizards or girdled lizards. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous (live-bearing, without s ...

*** Lang's Crag Lizard '' Cordylus langi'' *** Drakensberg Crag Lizard '' Cordylus melanotus'' **** sub-Species Cordylus melanotus subviridis *Family:

Lacertidae The Lacertidae are the family (biology), family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at least 300 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group o ...

(True Lizards) **Genus: Pedioplanis *** Burchell's Sand Lizard ''

Pedioplanis burchelli ''Pedioplanis burchelli'', known commonly as Burchell's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to Southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''burchelli'', is in honor of William John Burchell ...

'' **Genus:

Trachylepis ''Trachylepis'' is a skink genus in the subfamily Mabuyinae found mainly in Africa. Its members were formerly included in the "wastebin taxon" ''Mabuya'', and for some time in '' Euprepis''. As defined today, ''Trachylepis'' contains the clade ...

*** Montane Speckled Skink '' Trachylepis punctatissima'' **Genus:

Tropidosaura ''Tropidosaura'' is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa. Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second Impression. Sanibe ...

*** Cottrell's Mountain Lizard ''

Tropidosaura cottrelli ''Tropidosaura cottrelli'', also known commonly as Cottrell's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''cottrelli'', is in honor of South African ...

'' NT *** Essex's Mountain Lizard ''

Tropidosaura essexi ''Tropidosaura essexi'', also known commonly as Essex's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''essexi'', is in honor of South African herpetolo ...

'' NT *Family:

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...

**Genus:

Dasypeltis ''Dasypeltis'' is a genus of colubrid snakes. It is one of only two taxonomic groups of snakes known to have adapted to feed exclusively on eggs (the other being the genus '' Elachistodon''). ''Dasypeltis'' are non-venomous and found throughout ...

*** Common Egg-eater ''

Dasypeltis scabra ''Dasypeltis scabra'', known as the common egg eater, egg-eating snake or rhombic egg eater, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Africa. Geographic range ''Dasypeltis scabra'' is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It can also be found in Saudi A ...

'' *Family:

Lamprophiidae The Lamprophiidae are a family of snakes found throughout much of Africa, including the Seychelles. There are 89 species as of July 2022. Biology Lamprophiids are a very diverse group of snakes. Many are terrestrial but some are fossorial (e.g. ...

**Genus:

Lycodonomorphus ''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being ...

*** Common Brown Water Snake ''

Lycodonomorphus rufulus ''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being ...

'' **** sub-Species Lycodonomorphus rufulus mlanjensis **Genus:

Montaspis The cream-spotted mountain snake (''Montaspis gilvomaculata'') is a snake in the family Lamprophiidae . It is found in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country ...

*** Cream-spotted Mountain Snake '' Montaspis gilvomaculata'' **Genus: Prosymna *** Sundevall's Shovel-snout '' Prosymna sundevalli'' **Genus: Psammophylax *** Spotted Skaapsteker '' Psammophylax rhombeatus'' *Family:

Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydoceph ...

**Genus: Hemachatus *** Rinkhals '' Hemachatus haemachatus'' **Genus:

Naja ''Naja'' is a genus of venomous elapid snakes commonly known as cobras (or "true cobras"). Members of the genus ''Naja'' are the most widespread and the most widely recognized as "true" cobras. Various species occur in regions throughout Afric ...

*** Western Barred Spitting Cobra ''

Naja nigricincta ''Naja nigricincta'' is a species of spitting cobra in the genus ''Naja'', belonging to the family Elapidae. The species is native to the deserts and drier regions of southern Africa. The species is largely nocturnal, and is often found while cro ...

'' **** sub-Species Naja nigricincta woodi *** Cape Cobra ''

Naja nivea The Cape cobra (''Naja nivea''), also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert re ...

'' *Family:

Viperidae The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs tha ...

(Adders & Vipers) **Genus:

Bitis ''Bitis'' is a genus of venomous vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involve inflating and defl ...

*** Mountain Adder ''

Bitis atropos The berg adder (''Bitis atropos'') is a venomous viper species endemic to mountainous regions in southern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Taxonomy The specific name, ''atropos'', refers to the Greek mythological goddess Atrop ...

References

* *

Order: Squamata Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, ... (Snakes & Lizards)

References

See also

Order:
Squamata Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, ...
(Snakes & Lizards)