This is a List of reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by family and order. It lists all families and species of reptiles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The list below follows Broadley, D.G. 1998: The reptilian fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), and The Reptile Database.
See Sources below.
Total 336 species of reptiles, in 109 genera, in 22 families, in 5 orders, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, some of which are presumed to occur in DRC, because they have been found in neighboring areas, but have not yet been found in DRC (see comment after name).
Total 10 species, in 4 genera, in 1 family, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Family Amphisbaenidae – Amphisbaenid or legless lizards, 10 species, in 4 genera:
Dalophia gigantea (PERACCA, 1903)
Dalophia luluae (DE WITTE & LAURENT, 1942)
Monopeltis adercae DE WITTE, 1953
Monopeltis guentheri BOULENGER, 1885
Monopeltis kabindae DE WITTE & LAURENT, 1942
Monopeltis remaclei DE WITTE, 1933
Monopeltis scalper (GÜNTHER, 1876)
Monopeltis schoutedeni DE WITTE, 1933
Monopeltis vanderysti DE WITTE, 1922
Zygaspis quadrifrons (PETERS, 1862)
Total 3 species, in 3 genera, in 1 family, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Family Crocodylidae – true crocodiles, 3 species, in 3 genera:
Crocodylus niloticus LAURENTI, 1768
Mecistops cataphractus (CUVIER, 1825)
Osteolaemus tetraspis COPE, 1861
Total 120 species, in 35 genera, in 8 families, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Family Agamidae -, 4 species, in 2 genera:
Acanthocercus atricollis (SMITH, 1849)
Agama agama (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Agama anchietae BOCAGE, 1896
Agama armata PETERS, 1855
Family Chamaeleonidae -, 20 species, in 4 genera:
Chamaeleo anchietae BOCAGE, 1872
Chamaeleo dilepis LEACH, 1819
Chamaeleo gracilis HALLOWELL, 1844
Chamaeleo laevigatus (GRAY, 1863)
Chamaeleo quilensis BOCAGE, 1866
Chamaeleo roperi (BOULENGER, 1890)
Kinyongia adolfifriderici (STERNFELD, 1912)
Kinyongia carpenteri (PARKER, 1929)
Kinyongia xenorhina (BOULENGER, 1901)
Rhampholeon boulengeri STEINDACHNER, 1911
Rhampholeon spectrum (BUCHHOLZ, 1874) Possibly in (W) DRC
Trioceros bitaeniatus (FISCHER, 1884)
Trioceros chapini (DE WITTE, 1964)
Trioceros cristatus (STUTCHBURY, 1837) Possibly in (W) DRC
Trioceros ellioti (GÜNTHER, 1895)
Trioceros ituriensis (SCHMIDT, 1919)
Trioceros johnstoni (BOULENGER, 1901)
Trioceros oweni (GRAY, 1831)
Trioceros rudis (BOULENGER, 1906)
Trioceros schoutedeni (LAURENT, 1952)
Family Cordylidae -, 4 species, in 2 genera:
Chamaesaura anguina (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Chamaesaura macrolepis (COPE, 1862)
Cordylus angolensis (BOCAGE, 1895) Possibly in (S) DRC
Cordylus tropidosternum (COPE, 1869)
Family Gekkonidae -, 21 species, in 5 genera:
Cnemaspis dickersonae (SCHMIDT, 1919)
Cnemaspis quattuorseriata (STERNFELD, 1912)
Elasmodactylus tuberculosus BOULENGER, 1895
Hemidactylus brookii GRAY, 1845
Hemidactylus echinus O’SHAUGHNESSY, 1875
Hemidactylus fasciatus GRAY, 1842
Hemidactylus longicephalus BOCAGE, 1873
Hemidactylus mabouia (MOREAU DE JONNÈS, 1818)
Hemidactylus muriceus PETERS, 1870
Hemidactylus pseudomuriceus HENLE & BÖHME, 2003 Possibly in (W) DRC
Hemidactylus richardsonii (GRAY, 1845)
Lygodactylus angolensis BOCAGE, 1896
Lygodactylus angularis GÜNTHER, 1893
Lygodactylus capensis (SMITH, 1849)
Lygodactylus depressus SCHMIDT, 1919
Lygodactylus fischeri BOULENGER, 1890 Possibly, but not reported, in (W) DRC
Lygodactylus gutturalis (BOCAGE, 1873)
Lygodactylus picturatus (PETERS, 1871)
Pachydactylus capensis (SMITH, 1846)
Pachydactylus katanganus DE WITTE, 1953
Pachydactylus punctatus PETERS, 1854
Family Gerrhosauridae -, 5 species, in 2 genera:
Gerrhosaurus bulsi LAURENT, 1954
Gerrhosaurus major DUMÉRIL, 1851
Gerrhosaurus multilineatus BOCAGE, 1866
Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus HALLOWELL, 1857
Tetradactylus ellenbergeri (ANGEL, 1922)
Family Lacertidae -, 13 species, in 7 genera:
Adolfus africanus (BOULENGER, 1906)
Adolfus jacksoni (BOULENGER, 1899)
Adolfus vauereselli (TORNIER, 1902)
Gastropholis echinata (COPE, 1862)
Gastropholis tropidopholis (BOULENGER, 1916)
Heliobolus nitida (GÜNTHER, 1872)
Holaspis guentheri GRAY, 1863
Holaspis laevis WERNER, 1895
Ichnotropis bivittata BOCAGE, 1866
Ichnotropis capensis (SMITH, 1838)
Ichnotropis chapini SCHMIDT, 1919
Latastia johnstonii BOULENGER, 1907
Poromera fordii (HALLOWELL, 1857)
Family Scincidae -, 49 species, in 12 genera:
Afroablepharus seydeli (DE WITTE, 1933)
Eumecia anchietae BOCAGE, 1870
Feylinia currori GRAY, 1845
Feylinia elegans (HALLOWELL, 1852) Probably in DRC
Feylinia macrolepis BOETTGER, 1887 Possibly in (N, W) DRC
Lacertaspis reichenowi (PETERS, 1874)
Lacertaspis rohdei (MÜLLER, 1910) Possibly in (W) DRC
Lepidothyris fernandi (BURTON, 1836) Possibly in (S) DRC
Lepidothyris hinkeli WAGNER, BÖHME, PAUWELS & SCHMITZ, 2009
Lepidothyris striatus (HALLOWELL, 1854) Possibly in (W) DRC
Leptosiaphos aloysiisabaudiae (PERACCA, 1907)
Leptosiaphos blochmanni (TORNIER, 1903)
Leptosiaphos dewittei (LOVERIDGE, 1934)
Leptosiaphos graueri (STERNFELD, 1912)
Leptosiaphos hackarsi (DE WITTE, 1941)
Leptosiaphos hylophilus LAURENT, 1982
Leptosiaphos luberoensis (DE WITTE, 1933)
Leptosiaphos meleagris (BOULENGER, 1907)
Leptosiaphos rhodurus LAURENT, 1952
Lygosoma guineensis (PETERS, 1879) Probably in DRC
Lygosoma sundevalli (SMITH, 1849)
Melanoseps ater (GÜNTHER, 1873)
Melanoseps occidentalis (PETERS, 1877)
Mochlus afer (PETERS, 1854)
Panaspis breviceps (PETERS, 1873)
Panaspis burgeoni (DE WITTE, 1933)
Panaspis cabindae (BOCAGE, 1866)
Panaspis helleri (LOVERIDGE, 1932)
Panaspis kitsoni (BOULENGER, 1913)
Panaspis quattuordigitata (STERNFELD, 1912)
Panaspis tancredi (BOULENGER, 1909)
Panaspis wahlbergi (SMITH, 1849)
Sepsina angolensis BOCAGE, 1866
Sepsina bayoni (BOCAGE, 1866)
Sepsina tetradactyla PETERS, 1874
Trachylepis acutilabris (PETERS, 1862)
Trachylepis affinis (GRAY, 1838) Possibly in (W) DRC
Trachylepis albilabris (HALLOWELL, 1857)
Trachylepis buettneri (MATSCHIE, 1893)
Trachylepis ivensii (BOCAGE, 1879)
Trachylepis maculilabris (GRAY, 1845)
Trachylepis megalura (PETERS, 1878)
Trachylepis perrotetii (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839)
Trachylepis planifrons (PETERS, 1878)
Trachylepis polytropis (BOULENGER, 1903)
Trachylepis pulcherrima DE WITTE, 1953
Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (LICHTENSTEIN, 1823)
Trachylepis striata (PETERS, 1844)
Trachylepis varia (PETERS, 1867)
Family Varanidae -, 4 species, in 1 genus:
Varanus albigularis (DAUDIN, 1802)
Varanus exanthematicus (BOSC, 1792)
Varanus niloticus (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Varanus ornatus (DAUDIN, 1803)
Total 181 species, in 59 genera, in 7 families, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Family Atractaspididae -, 28 species, in 7 genera:
Amblyodipsas katangensis DE WITTE & LAURENT, 1942
Amblyodipsas polylepis (BOCAGE, 1873)
Amblyodipsas rodhaini (DE WITTE, 1930)
Amblyodipsas unicolor (REINHARDT, 1843)
Aparallactus capensis SMITH, 1849
Aparallactus lunulatus (PETERS, 1854)
Aparallactus modestus (GÜNTHER, 1859)
Aparallactus moeruensis DE WITTE & LAURENT, 1943
Atractaspis aterrima GÜNTHER, 1863
Atractaspis battersbyi DE WITTE, 1959
Atractaspis bibronii SMITH, 1849
Atractaspis boulengeri MOCQUARD, 1897
Atractaspis congica PETERS, 1877
Atractaspis corpulenta (HALLOWELL, 1854)
Atractaspis irregularis (REINHARDT, 1843)
Atractaspis reticulata SJÖSTEDT, 1896
Chilorhinophis gerardi (BOULENGER, 1913)
Hypoptophis wilsoni BOULENGER, 1908
Polemon bocourti MOCQUARD, 1897
Polemon christyi (BOULENGER, 1903)
Polemon collaris (PETERS, 1881)
Polemon fulvicollis (MOCQUARD, 1887)
Polemon gabonensis (DUMÉRIL, 1856)
Polemon notatus (PETERS, 1882)
Polemon robustus DE WITTE & LAURENT, 1947
Xenocalamus bicolor GÜNTHER, 1868
Xenocalamus mechowii PETERS, 1881
Xenocalamus michellii MÜLLER, 1911
Family Boidae -, 4 species, in 2 genera:
Calabaria reinhardtii (SCHLEGEL, 1848)
Python natalensis SMITH, 1840
Python regius (SHAW, 1802)
Python sebae (GMELIN, 1789)
Family Colubridae -, 98 species, in 36 genera:
Bothrolycus ater GÜNTHER, 1874
Bothrophthalmus brunneus GÜNTHER, 1863 Possibly in (W) DRC
Bothrophthalmus lineatus (PETERS, 1863)
Buhoma depressiceps (WERNER, 1897)
Chamaelycus christyi BOULENGER, 1919
Chamaelycus fasciatus (GÜNTHER, 1858)
Chamaelycus parkeri (ANGEL, 1934)
Chamaelycus werneri (MOCQUARD, 1902) Possibly in (W) DRC
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (LAURENTI, 1768)
Dasypeltis atra STERNFELD, 1912
Dasypeltis fasciata SMITH, 1849
Dasypeltis scabra (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Dendrolycus elapoides (GÜNTHER, 1874)
Dipsadoboa duchesnii (BOULENGER, 1901)
Dipsadoboa shrevei (LOVERIDGE, 1932)
Dipsadoboa unicolor GÜNTHER, 1858
Dipsadoboa viridis (PETERS, 1869)
Dipsadoboa weileri (LINDHOLM, 1905)
Dispholidus typus (SMITH, 1828)
Duberria lutrix (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Duberria shirana (BOULENGER, 1894)
Gonionotophis brussauxi (MOCQUARD, 1889)
Grayia caesar (GÜNTHER, 1863)
Grayia ornata BOCAGE, 1866
Grayia smithii (LEACH, 1818)
Grayia tholloni MOCQUARD, 1897
Hapsidophrys lineatus FISCHER, 1856
Hapsidophrys smaragdina (SCHLEGEL, 1837)
Helophis schoutedeni (DE WITTE, 1942)
Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia (GÜNTHER, 1864)
Hormonotus modestus (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)
Hydraethiops melanogaster GÜNTHER, 1872
Lamprophis fuliginosus (BOIE, 1827)
Lamprophis lineatus (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)
Lamprophis olivaceus (DUMÉRIL, 1856)
Lamprophis virgatus (HALLOWELL, 1854)
Limnophis bangweolicus MERTENS, 1936
Limnophis bicolor GÜNTHER, 1865
Lycodonomorphus bicolor (GÜNTHER, 1893)
Lycodonomorphus leleupi (LAURENT, 1950)
Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus LAURENT, 1954
Lycophidion capense (SMITH, 1831)
Lycophidion hellmichi LAURENT, 1964
Lycophidion irroratum (LEACH, 1819)
Lycophidion laterale HALLOWELL, 1857
Lycophidion meleagris (BOULENGER, 1893)
Lycophidion multimaculatum (BOETTGER, 1888)
Lycophidion ornatum PARKER, 1936
Mehelya capensis (SMITH, 1847)
Mehelya guirali (MOCQUARD, 1887)
Mehelya laurenti DE WITTE, 1959
Mehelya nyassae (GÜNTHER, 1888)
Mehelya poensis (SMITH, 1849)
Mehelya stenophthalmus (MOCQUARD, 1887)
Meizodon coronatus (SCHLEGEL, 1837)
Meizodon regularis FISCHER, 1856
Natriciteres bipostocularis BROADLEY, 1962
Natriciteres fuliginoides (GÜNTHER, 1858)
Natriciteres olivacea (PETERS, 1854)
Natriciteres variegata (PETERS, 1861)
Philothamnus angolensis BOCAGE, 1882
Philothamnus bequaerti (SCHMIDT, 1923)
Philothamnus carinatus (ANDERSSON, 1901)
Philothamnus dorsalis (BOCAGE, 1866)
Philothamnus heterodermus (HALLOWELL, 1857)
Philothamnus heterolepidotus (GÜNTHER, 1863)
Philothamnus hoplogaster (GÜNTHER, 1863)
Philothamnus hughesi TRAPE & ROUX-ESTEVE, 1990
Philothamnus irregularis LEACH, 1819
Philothamnus nitidus (GÜNTHER, 1863)
Philothamnus ornatus BOCAGE, 1872
Philothamnus semivariegatus (SMITH, 1840)
Prosymna ambigua BOCAGE, 1873
Prosymna meleagris (REINHARDT, 1843)
Psammophis angolensis (BOCAGE, 1872)
Psammophis jallae PERACCA, 1896
Psammophis lineatus (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)
Psammophis mossambicus PETERS, 1882
Psammophis phillipsi (HALLOWELL, 1844)
Psammophis sibilans (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Psammophis subtaeniatus PETERS, 1881
Psammophis zambiensis HUGHES, 2002
Psammophylax acutus (GÜNTHER, 1888)
Psammophylax tritaeniatus (GÜNTHER, 1868)
Psammophylax variabilis GÜNTHER, 1893
Pseudaspis cana (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Rhamnophis aethiopissa GÜNTHER, 1862
Rhamnophis batesii (BOULENGER, 1908)
Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus (REINHARDT, 1843)
Rhamphiophis rostratus PETERS, 1854
Scaphiophis albopunctatus PETERS, 1870
Telescopus semiannulatus SMITH, 1849
Thelotornis capensis SMITH, 1849
Thelotornis kirtlandii (HALLOWELL, 1844)
Thrasops flavigularis (HALLOWELL, 1852)
Thrasops jacksonii GÜNTHER, 1895
Toxicodryas blandingii (HALLOWELL, 1844)
Toxicodryas pulverulenta (FISCHER, 1856)
Family Elapidae -, 15 species, in 4 genera:
Dendroaspis angusticeps (SMITH, 1849)
Dendroaspis jamesoni (TRAILL, 1843)
Dendroaspis polylepis GÜNTHER, 1864
Elapsoidea guentherii BOCAGE, 1866
Elapsoidea laticincta (WERNER, 1919)
Elapsoidea loveridgei PARKER, 1949
Elapsoidea semiannulata BOCAGE, 1882
Naja annulata (PETERS, 1876)
Naja christyi BOULENGER, 1904
Naja haje (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Naja melanoleuca HALLOWELL, 1857
Naja mossambica PETERS, 1854
Naja multifasciata (WERNER, 1902)
Naja nigricollis REINHARDT, 1843
Pseudohaje goldii (BOULENGER, 1895)
Family Leptotyphlopidae -, 6 species, in 3 genera:
Guinea sundewalli (JAN, 1862) Possibly in (N, W) DRC
Leptotyphlops conjunctus (JAN, 1861)
Leptotyphlops emini (BOULENGER, 1890)
Leptotyphlops kafubi (BOULENGER, 1919)
Leptotyphlops nigricans (SCHLEGEL, 1839)
Myriopholis perreti (ROUX-ESTÈVE, 1979) Possibly, but not reported, in (W) DRC
Family Typhlopidae -, 17 species, in 4 genera:
Afrotyphlops angolensis (BOCAGE, 1866)
Afrotyphlops congestus (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1844)
Afrotyphlops lineolatus JAN, 1864 Probably in (E) DRC
Afrotyphlops punctatus (LEACH, 1819)
Afrotyphlops schmidti (LAURENT, 1956)
Afrotyphlops steinhausi WERNER, 1909
Letheobia caeca (DUMÉRIL, 1856)
Letheobia gracilis (STERNFELD, 1910)
Letheobia graueri (STERNFELD, 1912)
Letheobia kibarae (DE WITTE, 1953)
Letheobia rufescens (CHABANAUD, 1916)
Letheobia sudanensis (SCHMIDT, 1923)
Letheobia wittei (ROUX-ESTÈVE, 1974)
Megatyphlops mucruso (PETERS, 1854)
Megatyphlops schlegelii (BIANCONI, 1847)
Rhinotyphlops praeocularis (STEJNEGER, 1894)
Rhinotyphlops stejnegeri (LOVERIDGE, 1931)
Family Viperidae -, 13 species, in 3 genera:
Atheris hispida LAURENT, 1955
Atheris katangensis DE WITTE, 1953
Atheris nitschei TORNIER, 1902
Atheris squamigera (HALLOWELL, 1854)
Bitis arietans (MERREM, 1820)
Bitis gabonica (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)
Bitis nasicornis (SHAW, 1802)
Causus bilineatus BOULENGER, 1905
Causus defilippii (JAN, 1862)
Causus lichtensteinii (JAN, 1859)
Causus maculatus (HALLOWELL, 1842)
Causus resimus (PETERS, 1862)
Causus rhombeatus (LICHTENSTEIN, 1823)
Total 22 species, in 8 genera, in 5 families, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Family Cheloniidae -, 1 species:
Chelonia mydas (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Family Dermochelyidae -, 1 species:
Dermochelys coriacea (VANDELLI, 1761)
Family Pelomedusidae -, 13 species, in 2 genera:
Pelomedusa subrufa (BONNATERRE, 1789)
Pelusios bechuanicus FITZSIMONS, 1932
Pelusios carinatus LAURENT, 1956
Pelusios castaneus (SCHWEIGGER, 1812)
Pelusios chapini LAURENT, 1965
Pelusios gabonensis (DUMÉRIL, 1856)
Pelusios nanus LAURENT, 1956
Pelusios niger (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1835) Probably in DRC
Pelusios rhodesianus HEWITT, 1927
Pelusios sinuatus (SMITH, 1838)
Pelusios subniger (LACÉPÈDE, 1789)
Pelusios upembae BROADLEY, 1981
Pelusios williamsi LAURENT, 1965
Family Testudinidae -, 5 species, in 2 genera:
Kinixys belliana GRAY, 1831
Kinixys erosa (SCHWEIGGER, 1812)
Kinixys homeana BELL, 1827
Kinixys spekii GRAY, 1863
Stigmochelys pardalis (BELL, 1828)
Family Trionychidae -, 2 species, in 2 genera:
Cycloderma aubryi (DUMÉRIL, 1856)
Trionyx triunguis (FORSKÅL, 1775)
