List of reptiles of Metropolitan France

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Metropolitan France refers to the area of France located on the European continent, including mainland France and Corsica. It is home to 20 native species of lizards, 13 species of snakes and 3 species of terrestrial and freshwater turtles. 3 species of marine turtles are regularly present in the region, while 3 other have a transient presence. Introduced species include the Italian wall lizard, the pond slider and the common snapping turtle.

Contents

Lizards

Native lizard species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Fitzinger's algyroides
Algyroides fitzingeri 2.JPG 		Algyroides fitzingeri
(Wiegmann, 1834)		 Algyroides genus range Map.png LCLC [1]
Slow worm
Anguidae.jpg 		Anguis fragilis
Linnaeus, 1758 		Anguis fragilis distribution (countries only).png LCLC [1] [2]
Italian slow worm
Anguis veronensis from the vicinity of Nice by Fabien Piednoir.jpg 		Anguis veronensis
Pollini, 1818		 Anguis veronensis distribution (countries only).png DDNE [1]
Bedriaga's rock lizard
Archaeolacerta bedriagae Corse.jpg 		Archaeolacerta bedriagae
(Camerano, 1885)		 Archaeolacerta bedriagae distribution map.svg NTNT [1]
Western three-toed skink
Benny Trapp Chalcides striatus Spanien.jpg 		Chalcides striatus
(Cuvier, 1829)		 Chalcides striatus range Map.png LCLC [1]
European leaf-toed gecko
Benny Trapp Europaischer Blattfinger.jpg 		Euleptes europaea
(Gené, 1839)		LCNT [1] [3]
Mediterranean house gecko
Konstantinos Kalaentzis - Hemidactylus turcicus (A7).jpg 		Hemidactylus turcicus
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Mapa Hemidactylus turcicus.png LCLC [1]
Aran rock lizard
Benny Trapp Iberolacerta aranica.jpg 		Iberolacerta aranica
(Arribas, 1993)		 Iberolacerta aranica range Map.png ENEN [1]
Aurelio's rock lizard
Benny Trapp Iberolacerta aurelioi.jpg 		Iberolacerta aurelioi
(Arribas, 1994)		 Iberolacerta aurelioi range Map.png ENEN [1]
Pyrenean rock lizard
Lezard des Pyrenees.jpg 		Iberolacerta bonnali
(Lantz  [ fr ], 1927)		 Iberoloacerta bonnali range Map.png VUNT [1]
Sand lizard
Lacerta agilis male 2014 G1.jpg 		Lacerta agilis
Linnaeus, 1758 		LacertaAgilisIUCN.svg NTLC [1]
Western green lizard
Dortebachtal Smaragdeidechse.jpg 		Lacerta bilineata
Daudin, 1802		 Mapa Lacerta bilineata.png LCLC [1]
Columbretes wall lizard
Catalan Wall Lizards (Podarcis liolepis) (40588664815).jpg 		Podarcis liolepis
(Boulenger, 1905)		LCLC [1]
Common wall lizard
Podarcis muralis near Entella river 006.jpg 		Podarcis muralis
(Laurenti, 1768)		 Mapa Podarcis muralis.png LCLC [1]
Tyrrhenian wall lizard
Podarcis tiliguerta 1 MHNT.jpg 		Podarcis tiliguerta
(Gmelin, 1789)		 Podarcis tiliguerta distribution map.svg LCLC [1]
Algerian psammodromus
Psammodromus algirus - 01.jpg 		Psammodromus algirus
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Psammodromus algirus range Map cutted.png LCLC [1]
East Iberian sand racer
Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus (43624970374).jpg 		Psammodromus edwarsianus
(Dugès, 1829)		NTLC [1]
Common wall gecko
Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica)(found by Jean NICOLAS) (34844955103).jpg 		Tarentola mauritanica
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Tarentola mauritanica range map IUCN.png LCLC [1]
Ocellated lizard
Jewelled Lizard (Timon lepidus) male found under a stone by Jean NICOLAS (14166347788).jpg 		Timon lepidus
(Daudin, 1802)		 Mapa Timon lepidus.png VULC [1] [4]
Viviparous lizard
Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) in the Aamsveen, The Netherlands.jpg 		Zootoca vivipara
(Lichtenstein, 1823)		 Vivaprous lizard range.png LCLC [1]

Introduced species

The Italian wall lizard is believed to have been introduced in Corsica in antiquity. [5] It is a more recent introduction in other parts of Southern France. [6]

Non-native lizard species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Italian wall lizard
Podarcis siculus near Entella river 086.jpg 		Podarcis siculus
(Rafinesque, 1810)		 Mapa Podarcis siculus.png NALC [1]

Snakes

Snake species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Smooth snake
Schlingnatter.jpg 		Coronella austriaca
Laurenti, 1768		 CoronellaAustriacaIUCNver2020-1.png LCLC [1] [7]
Southern smooth snake
BennyTrapp Coronella girondica.jpg 		Coronella girondica
(Daudin, 1803)		 Coronella girondica distribution.png LCLC [1]
Green whip snake
Viridiflavus-Lorraine-IMG 4974.jpg 		Hierophis viridiflavus
(Lacépède, 1789)		 Mapa Hierophis viridiflavus.png LCLC [1]
Montpellier snake
Culebra bastarda (Malpolon monspessulanus), Niguella, Zaragoza, Espana, 2017-05-24, DD 07.jpg 		Malpolon monspessulanus
(Hermann, 1804)		 Malpolon monspessulanus range Map.png LCLC [1] [8]
Iberian grass snake Natrix astreptophora
(Seoane, 1885)		 Natrix astreptophora distribution map (cropped).png [9]
Barred grass snake
BennyTrapp Natrix helvetica.jpg 		Natrix helvetica
(Lacépède, 1789)		 Natrix helvetica distribution map (cropped).png [9]
Viperine water snake
Viperine water snake (Natrix maura).jpg 		Natrix maura
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Mapa Natrix maura.png NTLC [1]
Ladder snake
Rhinechis scalaris cropped.jpg 		Rhinechis scalaris
(Schinz, 1822)		 Rhinechis scalaris dis.png LCLC [1]
Asp viper
Asp Viper (Vipera aspis) female (found by Jean NICOLAS) (35565228091).jpg 		Vipera aspis
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Vipera aspis dis.png LCVU [1] [10]
Common European adder
Benny Trapp Vipera berus.jpg 		Vipera berus
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Vipera berus distribution.svg VULC [1] [11]
Meadow viper
Benny Trapp Vipera ursinii.jpg 		Vipera ursinii
(Bonaparte, 1835)		 Vipera ursinii distribution.png ENVU [1]
Baskian viper
BennyTrapp Vipera seoanei Nordiberische Kreuzotter Pyrenaen Grenzgebiet Frankreich Spanien.jpg 		Vipera seoanei
Lataste, 1879		 Vipera seoanei dis.png VULC [1]
Aesculapian snake
Zamenis longissimus.jpg 		Zamenis longissimus
(Laurenti, 1768)		 Zamenis longissimus dis.png LCLC [1] [12]

Turtles

Native turtle species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Loggerhead sea turtle
Loggerhead sea turtle.jpg 		Caretta caretta
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Cypron-Range Caretta caretta.svg DDEN [1]
Leatherback sea turtle
Leatherback sea turtle Tinglar, USVI (5839996547).jpg 		Dermochelys coriacea
(Vandelli, 1761)		 Dermochelys coriacea map.svg DDCR [1]
European pond turtle
European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) crossing the road ... (52075448721).jpg 		Emys orbicularis
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Emys orbicularis distribution.svg LCNT [1]
Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Lepidochelys kempii.jpg 		Lepidochelys kempii
(Garman, 1880)		 Lepidochelys kempii distribution map.jpg DDCR [1]
Spanish pond turtle
Mauremys leprosa 02 by-dpc.jpg 		Mauremys leprosa
Schweigger, 1812		 Mauremys leprosa range Map.png VUNE [1]
Hermann's tortoise
Testudo hermanni hermanni Mallorca 02.jpg 		Testudo hermanni
Gmelin, 1789		 Testudo hermanni range map.jpg VUNT [1]

Transient species

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has been sporadically reported in the French Mediterranean Sea. [13] The olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) was observed for the first time in Metropolitan France in 2017, on the Atlantic coast near the Isle of Oléron. [14]

Transient turtle species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Green sea turtle
Green turtle swimming over coral reefs in Kona.jpg 		Chelonia mydas
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Green turtle nesting sites 2.svg NAEN [1]
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys-imbricata-Kelonia-2.JPG 		Eretmochelys imbricata
(Linnaeus, 1766)		 Hawksbill turtle range map.png NACR [1]
Olive ridley sea turtle
Lepidochelys-olivacea-Kelonia-1.JPG 		Lepidochelys olivacea
(Eschscholtz, 1829)		 Lieux pontes tortue olivatre.png VU [14] [15]

Introduced species

The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) was introduced in France through the pet trade, having been imported in large numbers starting in the 1980s. It has since been reported in nearly all French departments, and acts as a competitor to the native European pond turtle, with which it shares an ecological niche. [16] After import of pond sliders was banned in 1997, the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was commercialized in France, with former pets being released in the wild. Nests and juveniles have been reported in the departments of Gard, Haute-Garonne, Gironde and Loire-Atlantique. [17]

Non-native turtle species of Metropolitan France
Common nameScientific nameRangeIUCN status
(France)		IUCN status
(worldwide)		Refs.
Common snapping turtle
Snapping Turtle Heinz.png 		Chelydra serpentina
(Linnaeus, 1758)		LC [17] [18]
Pond slider
Red-eared Slider Thailand.JPG 		Trachemys scripta
(Thunberg and Schoepff, 1792)		NALC [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmethead gecko</span> Species of lizard

The helmethead gecko, also known commonly as the helmeted gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is native to the northwestern coast of Africa, where it is present in Mauritania, Morocco, and Western Sahara. The environment in which this gecko lives is sandy and rocky desert with sparse vegetation, in a zone near the coast where the humidity is high.

<i>Vipera seoanei</i> Species of snake

Vipera seoanei is a venomous viper species endemic to extreme southwestern France and the northern regions of Spain and Portugal. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western three-toed skink</span> Species of reptile

The western three-toed skink is a species of lizard with tiny legs in the family Scincidae. It is found in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and parts of northwestern Italy. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens. It was first described 1829 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier. The generic name comes from the Greek "chalcides" meaning 'copper' and the specific name is derived from the Latin "striatus" meaning 'streak'.

<i>Uromastyx alfredschmidti</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx alfredschmidti, commonly known as the ebony mastigure, Schmidt's mastigure, or Schmidt's spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is indigenous to North Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European leaf-toed gecko</span> Species of lizard

The European leaf-toed gecko is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. It is found in coastal regions of France, Italy and Tunisia and on Mediterranean islands. Its natural habitats are rocky areas and rocky shores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oudri's fan-footed gecko</span> Species of lizard

Oudri's fan-footed gecko, also known commonly as the Algerian fan-fingered gecko and Oudri's fan-fingered gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Maghreb region of northwestern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Böhme's gecko</span> Species of lizard

Böhme's gecko, also commonly known as the Morocco wall gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is native to western North Africa, where it is found in rocky areas such as cliffs and walls as well as ruins of buildings and urban areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrenean rock lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Pyrenean rock lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Pyrenees, where it occurs at high altitudes and is only active in summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green whip snake</span> Species of snake

The green whip snake or western whip snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.

<i>Macroprotodon cucullatus</i> Species of mildly venomous colubrid snake

Macroprotodon cucullatus, commonly known as the false smooth snake, is a species of mildly venomous colubrid snake endemic to the Mediterranean Basin.

Acanthodactylus busacki, called commonly Busack's fringe-fingered lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to northwestern Africa.

<i>Acanthodactylus orientalis</i> Species of lizard

Acanthodactylus orientalis is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Western Asia.

Acanthodactylus taghitensis is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to northwestern Africa.

Mesalina pasteuri, also known commonly as Pasteur's lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to North Africa.

Chalcides boulengeri, also known commonly as Boulenger's feylinia and Boulenger's wedge-snouted skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the Maghreb region of North Africa.

Chalcides delislei, also known commonly as Delisle's wedge-snouted skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to northern Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 "La Liste rouge des espèces menacées en France" (PDF). uicn.fr. September 2015.
  2. ↑ Agasyan, A.; Avci, A.; Tuniyev, B.; et al. (2021). "Anguis fragilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T47113126A744263. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T47113126A744263.en . Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Claudia Corti, Marc Cheylan, Philippe Geniez, Roberto Sindaco, Antonio Romano (2009). "Euleptes europaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T61446A12486542. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61446A12486542.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Bowles, P. (2024). "Timon lepidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T218293375A137858480. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ↑ Berroneau, Matthieu; Mokuenko, Nicolas; Petit, Johan (2022). "Découverte du Lézard sicilien Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) dans le sud-ouest de la France" (PDF). Bull. Soc. Herp. Fr. (in French). 179: 54–56. doi:10.48716/BULLSHF.179-7.
  6. ↑ Silva-Rocha, I.; Salvi, D.; Carretero, M. A. (December 2012). "Genetic data reveal a multiple origin for the populations of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula (Squamata: Lacertidae) introduced in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic islands". Italian Journal of Zoology. 79 (4): 502–510. doi:10.1080/11250003.2012.680983. ISSN   1125-0003.
  7. ↑ Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.; Ajtic, R.; Vogrin, M.; et al. (2017). "Coronella austriaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T157284A748852. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157284A748852.en . Retrieved 9 June 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Claudia Corti, Valentin Pérez Mellado, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Marc Cheylan (2009). "Malpolon monspessulanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T157262A5064442. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157262A5064442.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 de Massary et al. 2019, p. 47.
  10. ↑ Claudia Corti, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Marc Cheylan, Philippe Geniez, Ulrich Joger, Hans Konrad Nettmann, Benedikt Schmidt, Andreas Meyer, Roberto Sindaco, Antonio Romano, Iñigo Martínez-Solano (2024). "Vipera aspis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T61591A137859549. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024.RLTS.T61591A137859549.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Munkhbayar, K.; Rustamov, A; Orlov, N.L.; Jelić, D.; Meyer, A.; Borczyk, B.; Joger, U.; Tomović, L.; Cheylan, M.; Corti, C.; Crnobrnja-Isailović, J.; Vogrin, M.; Sá-Sousa, P.; Pleguezuelos, J.; Sterijovski, B.; Westerström, A.; Schmidt, B.; Sindaco, R.; Borkin, L.; Milto, K. & Nuridjanov, D. (2021). "Vipera berus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T47756146A743903. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T47756146A743903.en . Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Aram Agasyan; Aziz Avci; Boris Tuniyev; et al. (2017). "Zamenis longissimus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T157266A49063773. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157266A49063773.en . Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Lescure, Jean; Cateau, Sidonie; Sénégas, Jean-Baptiste; Oliver, Guy; de Massary, Jean-Christophe; Poisson, François; Cesarini, Catherine; Sacchi, Jacques (2015). "Présence de la Tortue verte, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), en Méditerranée française" [Presence of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), in the French Mediterranean Sea]. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France (in French). 156: 1–14.
  14. 1 2 de Massary et al. 2019, p. 46.
  15. ↑ Abreu-Grobois, A.; Plotkin, P. (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group). (2008). "Lepidochelys olivacea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T11534A3292503. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T11534A3292503.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. ↑ Servan, J.; Arvy, C. (1997). "Introduction de la tortue de Floride Trachemys scripta en France. Un nouveau compétiteur pour les espèces de tortues d'eau douce européennes". Bulletin Français de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture (344–345): 173–177. doi:10.1051/kmae:1997020. ISSN   0767-2861.
  17. 1 2 de Massary et al. 2019, p. 49.
  18. ↑ van Dijk, P.P. (2016) [errata version of 2012 assessment]. "Chelydra serpentina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T163424A97408395. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T163424A18547887.en . Retrieved 4 December 2017.

Works cited

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