This is a list of amphibians and reptiles found in the British overseas territory of Anguilla, located in the Lesser Antilles chain in the Caribbean. It comprises the main island of Anguilla, and many much smaller islands and cays that have no permanent human population.
There are two species of amphibian on Anguilla, both of which were introduced.
| Tree frogs ( Hylidae ) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Osteopilus septentrionalis | Cuban tree frog | Least Concern. [1] Recently introduced, mostly through shipping containers; now "firmly established" on Anguilla. [2] |  |
| Tropical frogs ( Leptodactylidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Eleutherodactylus johnstonei | Lesser Antillean whistling frog, coqui Antillano, Johnstone's whistling frog | Least Concern. Recently introduced. |  |
Including marine turtles and introduced species, there are 19 reptile species reported on Anguilla. Two are endemic and are restricted to small, uninhabited satellite islands: Censky's Ameiva ( Pholidoscelis corax ) and the Sombrero Ameiva ( Pholidoscelis corvina ).
| Tortoises ( Testudinidae ) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Geochelone carbonaria | Red-footed tortoise |  | |
| Scaly sea turtles ( Cheloniidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Caretta caretta | Loggerhead turtle | Endangered. No reliable reports of nesting in Anguilla. [3] |  |
| Chelonia mydas | Green turtle | Endangered. Recorded nesting in Anguilla, principally on Dog Island and the Prickly Pear Cays. |  |
| Eretmochelys imbricata | Hawksbill turtle | Critically Endangered. The principal nesting turtle species in Anguilla, with important sites on the main island, Dog Island, and the Prickly Pear Cays. A year-round forager. |  |
| Leathery sea turtles ( Dermochelyidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Dermochelys coriacea | Leatherback turtle | Critically Endangered. Rare in Anguilla. Recorded nesting on the main island and Scrub Island. |  |
| Geckos ( Gekkonidae ) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Hemidactylus mabouia | House gecko | Introduced. |  |
| Sphaerodactylus parvus | Regionally endemic. Highly abundant. Formerly described as subspecies of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis chiefly found in the Greater Antilles until elevated to species level in 2001. [4] | ||
| Sphaerodactylus sputator | Island least gecko | Regional endemic. Highly abundant. |  |
| Thecadactylus rapicauda | Turnip-tailed gecko | ||
| Iguanas and anolids ( Iguanidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Anolis carolinensis | Green anole, Carolina anole, red-throated anole, American anole, American chameleon | Recent introduction; native mainly to southeastern United States. [5] |  |
| Anolis gingivinus | Anguilla anole, Anguilla Bank anole | Regional endemic. Widespread and common on the main island and its satellites. | |
| Iguana delicatissima | Lesser Antillean iguana, West Indian iguana | Vulnerable. Regional endemic. Restricted to the Little Bay area. Only about 50 individuals were believed to remain on Anguilla in 1999. [6] |  |
| Iguana iguana | Green iguana, common iguana | Colonized Anguilla due to either Hurricane Luis or Marilyn in 1995, by floating on natural rafts from Guadeloupe; has apparently since sustained a breeding population on Anguilla, possibly threatening the native I. delicatissima. [7] |  |
| Whiptails ( Teiidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Pholidoscelis corax | Censky's ameiva | Endemic. Restricted to the tiny islet of Little Scrub, off the coast of Scrub Island. | |
| Pholidoscelis corvina | Sombrero ameiva | Endemic. Restricted to Sombrero Island. | |
| Pholidoscelis plei | Anguilla Bank ameiva | Regional endemic. Common; found on the main island of Anguilla and most of its satellites. |  |
| Skinks ( Scincidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Mabuya mabouya [8] | Regional endemic. |  | |
| Worm snakes ( Typhlopidae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Ramphotyphlops braminus | Brahminy blind snake, flowerpot blind snake | Presence on Anguilla recently discovered. Widely distributed in the tropics, but limited in the Lesser Antilles. |  |
| Colubrids ( Colubridae ) | |||
| Species | Common name(s) | Notes | Image |
| Alsophis rijgersmaei | Leeward Island racer | Endangered. Regional endemic. Found on main island and Scrub Island. | |
The Guadeloupe ameiva was a species of Teiidae lizards that was endemic to Guadeloupe. It is known from specimens collected by early European explorers. The fossil record shows that it once ranged across Guadeloupe, La Désirade, Marie-Galante, and Îles des Saintes, but in most recent times it was restricted to Grand Ilet, just offshore of Petit-Bourg. It was last recorded in 1914. Its extinction likely occurred when this area was decimated by a hurricane in 1928. The Guadeloupe ameiva was reported as a ground-dwelling lizard. It fed on plants and carrion.
The Martinique giant ameiva was a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is believed to have been endemic to Martinique, though at least one scholar disputes this, instead placing it on Les Iles de la Petite Terre within the Guadeloupean archipelago. It is known only from museum specimens collected by early European explorers. Its extinction may have been caused by a hurricane, or through the introduction of predatory species to the island.
The Saint Lucia whiptail, also known commonly as the Maria Islands whiptail, the Saint Lucian whiptail, and Vanzo's whiptail, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is indigenous to the Caribbean.
The Barbados racer, also commonly known as the tan ground snake, was a species of colubrid snake that was endemic to Barbados.
The Dominican ground lizard or Dominican ameiva is a species of lizard. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Dominica, an island noted for its intact and abundant reptile population, where it is most commonly found in dry coastal woodland.
The Sombrero ameiva is a lizard species in the genus Ameiva. It is endemic to Sombrero, a small, uninhabited island in the Lesser Antilles under the jurisdiction of Anguilla.
Censky's ameiva, also known as the Little Scrub Island ground lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is indigenous to the Caribbean.
Pholidoscelis plei, known commonly as the Anguilla Bank ameiva or the Caribbean ameiva, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is found on the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy in the Lesser Antilles. Its coloration and markings vary between each island population. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
The Montserrat ameiva is a lizard species in the genus Pholidoscelis. It is found on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in the Lesser Antilles.
Anolis gingivinus, also known as the Anguilla Bank tree anole, Anguilla bank anole, and Anguilla anole, is a species of anole lizard that is endemic to the Caribbean Lesser Antilles islands of Anguilla and its satellites, such as Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy.
Note: All species listed above are supported by Malhotra & Thorpe 1999, unless otherwise cited.