List of reptiles of Singapore

Updated on Oct 29, 2023

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There are about 110 species of reptiles in Singapore. 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.

Family Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)

Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) - Sungei Buloh

Family Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) - Vagrant

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) - Singapore Strait

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) - Singapore Strait

Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Turtle)

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) - Vagrant

Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina sensu lato) - Escapee

Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii sensu lato) - Escapee

Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)

Malayan Softshell Turtle (Amyda ornata)

Forest Softshell Turtle (Dogania subplana)

Asian Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) - Indeterminate

Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) - Introduced

Family Carettochelyidae (Pig-nosed Turtle)

Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) - Escapee

Family Geoemydidae (Asian Terrapins)

Painted Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) - Indeterminate

Malayan Box Terrapin (Cuora amboinensis)

Asian Leaf Terrapin (Cyclemys dentata)

Spiny Terrapin (Heosemys spinosa)

Giant Asian Pond Terrapin (Heosemys grandis) - Introduced

Malayan Flat-shelled Terrapin (Notochelys platynota)

Malayan Giant Terrapin (Orlitia borneensis) - Introduced?

Black Marsh Terrapin (Siebenrockiella crassicollis) - Introduced?

Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle (Mauremys sinensis) - Escapee

Family Testudinidae (Tortoises)

Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys) - Escapee

Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) - Escapee

Family Emydidae (American Terrapins)

North Antillean Slider (Trachemys decussata) - Escapee

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) - Introduced

Florida Cooter (Pseudemys concinna floridana) - Escapee

Family Gekkonidae (Geckos)

Fox-faced Gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus)

Peninsular Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis peninsularis)

Singapore Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus majulah)

Banded Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus pulchellus) - Doubtful

Peninsular Bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus semenanjungensis)

Peter's Forest Gecko (Cyrtodactylus consobrinus) - Bukit Timah

Four-clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata)

Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) - Introduced

Spotted House Gecko (Gekko monarchus)

Large Forest Gecko (Gekko smithii)

Frilly Gecko (Hemidactylus craspedotus)

Flat-tailed Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus)

Brooke's House Gecko (Hemidactylus brookii) - Indeterminate

Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Indo-Pacific Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) - Indeterminate

Lowland Dwarf Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus)

Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)

Brown's Flap-legged Gecko (Luperosaurus browni) - Pulau Tekong

Horsfield's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon horsfieldii) - Indeterminate

Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli)

Family Agamidae (Agamids)

Earless Agamid (Aphaniotis fusca)

Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)

Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor) - Introduced

Fimbriate Flying Lizard (Draco fimbriatus) - Indeterminate

Spotted Flying Lizard (Draco maculatus) - Indeterminate

Black-bearded Flying Lizard (Draco melanopogon)

Five-banded Flying Lizard (Draco quinquefasciatus)

Common Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatranus)

Family Dactyloidae (Anoles)

Brown Anole (Norops sagrei) - Introduced to Gardens by the Bay

Family Iguanidae (Iguanas)

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) - Introduced, Jurong Hill, Jurong Bird Park, Sungei Tengah

Family Scincidae (Skinks)

Olive Tree Skink (Dasia olivacea) - Central Catchment/Pulau Ubin

Brown Tree Skink (Dasia grisea) - forests

Mangrove Skink (Emoia atrocostata) - mangrove

Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata) - gardens/forests

Striped Sun Skink (Eutropis rugifera) - forests

Striped Tree Skink (Lipinia vittigera) - forests

Garden Supple Skink (Lygosoma bowringii) - gardens/forests

Malayan Swamp Skink (Tytthoscincus cf. sibuensis) - streams in freshwater swamp forest, Central Catchment

Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)

Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) - Forests

Dumeril's Monitor (Varanus dumerili) - Nee Soon Swamp Forest

Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) - Rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, mangroves, coasts

Brahminy Blind Snake (Indotyphlops braminus)

Striped Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops lineatus) - Indeterminate

White-belled Blind Snake (Typhlops muelleri)

Family Cylindrophiidae (Asian Pipe Snakes)

Red-tailed Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis ruffus)

Family Xenopeltidae (Sunbeam Snakes)

Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)

Family Pythonidae (Pythons)

Malaysian Blood Python (Python brongersmai) - Extinct

Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)

Family Acrochordidae (File Snakes)

Banded File Snake (Acrochordus granulatus)

Family Colubridae (Colubrids)

Speckle-headed Whip Snake (Ahaetulla fasciolata)

Malayan Whip Snake (Ahaetula mycterizans)

Oriental Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)

Dog-toothed Cat Snake (Boiga cynodon)

Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila)

White-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapiezii) - Swamp forests

Jasper Cat Snake (Boiga jaspidea) - Central Catchment/Pulau Tekong

Red-bellied Reed Snake (Calamaria albiventer) - Indeterminate

Gimlett's Reed Snake (Calamaria gimletti) - Indeterminate

Variable Reed Snake (Calamaria lumbricoidea)

Pink-headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli)

Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi)

Twin-barred Tree Snake (Chrysopelea pelias)

Common Malayan Racer (Coelognathus flavolineatus)

Copperhead Racer (Coelognathus radiatus) - Indeterminate

Striped Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis caudolineatus)

Blue Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis cyanochloris) - Bukit Timah

Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus)

Haas' Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis haasi) - Central Catchment

Red-necked Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis kopsteini)

Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus)

Malayan Bridle Snake (Dryocalamus subannulatus)

Keel-bellied Whip Snake (Dryophiops rubescens)

Orange-bellied Ringneck (Gongylosoma baliodeira)

Rainbow Tree Snake (Gonyophis margaritatus) - Indeterminate

Red-tailed Racer (Gonyosoma oxycephalum)

Tricoloured Ringneck (Liopeltis tricolor)

House Wolf Snake (Lycodon capucinus)

Banded Wolf Snake (Lycodon subcinctus)

Brown Kukri Snake (Oligodon purpurascens)

Striped Kukri Snake (Oligodon octolineatus)

Barred Kukri Snake (Oligodon signatus)

Striped Racer (Orthriophis taeniurus) - Indeterminate

Dwarf Reed Snake (Pseudorabdion longiceps)

Keeled Rat Snake (Ptyas carinata)

White-bellied Rat Snake (Ptyas fusca)

Indochinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros)

Banded Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa) - Indeterminate

Black-headed Collared Snake (Sibynophis melanocephalus)

Malaysian Brown Snake (Xenelaphis hexagonotus)

Family Homalopsidae (Mud Snakes)

Keel-bellied Water Snake (Bitia hydroides) - Indeterminate

Cantor's Water Snake (Cantoria violacea)

Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerberus schneiderii)

Rainbow Water Snake (Enhydris enhydris) - Introduced?

Crab-eating Water Snake (Fordonia leucobalia)

Yellow-lipped Water Snake (Gerarda prevostiana)

Puff-faced Water Snake (Homalopsis buccata)

Blackwater Mud Snake (Phytolopsis punctata)

Family Natricidae (Keelbacks and Mock Vipers)

Peter's Keelback (Amphiesma petersii) - Indeterminate

Blue-necked Keelback (Macropisthodon rhodomelas)

Painted Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pictus)

Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus) - Indeterminate

Southern Chequered Keelback (Xenochrophis flavipunctatus) - Introduced?

Spotted Keelback (Xenochrophis maculatus)

Triangle Keelback (Xenochrophis trianguligerus)

Striped Keelback (Xenochrophis vittatus) - Introduced

Family Pareatidae (Slug-eating Snakes)

White-spotted Slug Snake (Pareas margaritophorus) - Introduced

Smooth Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas laevis)

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

Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus) - Indeterminate

Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus)

Blue Malayan Coral Snake (Calliophis bivirgatus)

Spotted Malayan Coral Snake (Calliophis gracilis) - Indeterminate

Banded Malayan Coral Snake (Calliophis intestinalis)

Equatorial Spitting Cobra (Naja sumatrana)

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Yellow-lipped Sea Krait (Laticauda colubrina) - Southern Islands, Labrador

Horned Sea Snake (Acalyptophis peronii)

Marbled Sea Snake (Aipysurus eydouxii) - Straits of Johor, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong

Stoke's Sea Snake (Astrotia stokesii)

Beaked Sea Snake (Enhydrina schistosa)

Blue-banded Sea Snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus)

Striped Sea Snake (Hydrophis fasciatus)

Kloss' Sea Snake (Hydrophis klossi)

Short Sea Snake (Lapemis curtus)

Small-headed Sea Snake (Microcephalophis gracilis)

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamis platurus)

Family Viperidae (Vipers)

Mangrove Pit-viper (Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus) - Sungei Buloh, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin

Hagen's Pit-viper (Parias hageni) - Indeterminate

Wagler's Pit-viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) - Bukit Timah, Central Catchment

References

List of reptiles of Singapore Wikipedia

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