10 Most Common Species of Reptiles Found in India

Biodiversity of India supports variety of Reptiles,birds and wild animals, list of reptile species found exclusively in India subcontinent are big four highly venomous species of snakes,three largest species of crocodiles,one of the biggest monitor lizard and different species of Turtles,Terrapin and Tortoise.

Difference Between Chameleon and Garden Lizard

Snakes

India host to a wide variety of snakes, four venomous snake species responsible for most snake bite in India are called as big four Indian snakes.King Cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, found in South Indian forest along with Western ghats.

Krait
Russells Viper
Indian Cobra
King Cobra
Saw Scaled Viper
Indian Rock Python

Crocodiles

Indian waterways habitat includes lakes and rivers are home to three primary species of Crocodiles, The Mugger crocodile is India’s most common crocodile species,Critically Endangered is one of the longest of all living crocodilians.

Mugger
Gharial
Saltwater Crocodile

Turtles

Turtles are marine reptiles with special cartilaginous shell acting as a shield. There are number of medium sized freshwater turtles,tortoise and terrapin found in India.Indian black turtle is the only
terrapin species found in freshwarer lakes and rivers of India.

Indian Pond Terrapin
Indian Flapshell Turtle
Indian Star Tortoise
Red Crowned Roofed Turtle
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)

Bengal monitor lizards are known as Indian monitor, mostly distributed over the Indian Subcontinent. This large lizard is arboreal,terrestrial and have few predators, Water Monitor lizards another most common monitor lizards found in India Sunderbans National Park.

Indian Gecko – Termite Hill Gecko (Hemidactylus triedrus)

Dense Indian forest is home to many species of small nocturnal and arboreal gecko,Tokay gecko, forest gecko,Indian golden gecko and house gecko are few of them. Some of the species of Gecko are restricted to Eastern Ghats and Western ghats of India.

Indian Chameleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus)

Indian Chameleon is the only one species of chameleons found in the Indian subcontinent. Chameleons are very attractive in color, usually in shades of green or brown and move very slowly arboreal.

Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Oriental Garden Lizards are the most common species of agamid lizard found every where in India. These color changeable lizards eat mainly insects and small vertebrates.

Dragon Lizard – Fan Throated Lizard (Sitana ponticeriana)

Most of the species are lizards found in India are member of Agamid Lizards, also called as dragon lizards. Fan Throated Lizards and Southern Flying Lizard are two most unique species of dragon lizard found in India.

Indian Skink (Sphenomorphus indicus)

Skinks are most diverse family of lizards, Frequently found in India subcontinent. Golden skink is the most species of Indian Skink inhabits evergreen, moist deciduous and plantation forests.

Spiny Tailed Lizard (Saara hardwickii)

The Indian Spiny Tailed Lizard also called as Saara hardwickii is one of the big member of agamid lizard, found only in the Thar desert region of India. These lizards are found extensively in the Jaisalmer, Barmer and Churu districts in Rajasthan and attract local peoples,raptors and predators.

Other known species of reptiles found in India also includes

• Laungwala Toad Headed Agama
• Long Tailed Grass Lizard
• Satpura Leopard Gecko
• Annandale Dragon
• Andaman Forest Skink

This article is intended to provide you information about the list of Indian reptiles, that includes Snakes, lizards, gecko and only one species of chameleons found in the Indian subcontinent.

Roux’s forest lizard
Elliot’s forest lizard

Calotes Ellioti or Elliot’s Forest Lizard is one of the species of agamid lizard,endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. This small agamid lizard is restricted to rainforests of Western Ghats.

Anaimalais Salea (Salea Anamallayana)

Anaimalais Salea mostly found on the Anaimalai Hills, bushes, hedges and in gardens. Anaimalais and Nilgiri Salea are two species of agamid lizard endemic to southern Western Ghats

Nilgiri Forest Lizard (Calotes nemoricola)

Nilgiri Forest lizards are found in Nilgiri Hills,Coorg and Agumbe rainforest, they are endemic to the Western Ghats of India.

Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes)

Common green forest lizards are found in Shevaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu and dense forests of the Western Ghats. Calotes calotes are also agamid lizard with green coloration and stripes on back.

Large Scaled Forest Lizard (Calotes grandisquamis)

Calotes grandisquamis is an arboreal forest lizard, found only in the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats. The large scaled forest lizard distributed from Agumbe to Agasthyamalai Hills.

Southern Flying Lizard (Draco dussumieri)

Southern Flying Lizard is found in the Western Ghats of South India, completely arboreal and glide to adjoining trees. Like other males lizards, they have more colourful patterns to display and only species of flying lizard found in India.