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List of reptiles of Christmas Island

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This is a list of the reptile species recorded on Christmas Island. At the time of human settlement in the late 19th century, the island had five native species of lizard and one native snake. However, additional species were introduced during the 20th century, resulting in dramatic declines in the island's native reptile populations.[1]

Lizards

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1900 monograph featuring three Christmas Island reptiles: (from left to right) Lister's gecko, Christmas Island forest skink, blue-tailed skink.

Christmas Island had five native lizard species at the time of human settlement, although the Christmas Island forest skink (Emoia nativitatis) is now considered extinct,[2] and the blue-tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and Lister's gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri) are extinct in the wild.[3][4] Three additional species were introduced during the 20th century.[1]

Common name Scientific name Notes Red List Ref
Christmas Island blue-tailed shining-skink Cryptoblepharus egeriae endemic Fl mammals ew.svg[3] [1]
Christmas Island forest skink Emoia nativitatis endemic, last known individual died 31 May 2014[5] Fl mammals ex.svg[2] [1]
Lister's gecko Lepidodactylus listeri endemic Fl mammals ew.svg[4] [1]
Sadleir's bow-fingered gecko Cyrtodactylus sadleiri endemic Fl mammals en.svg[6] [1]
Coastal skink Emoia atrocostata native [1]
House gecko Hemidactylus frenatus introduced by 1940[1] Fl mammals lc.svg[7] [1]
Stump-tailed gecko Gehyra mutilata introduced after the mid-1940s[1] [1]
Grass skink Lygosoma bowringii introduced; first recorded around 1979[1] [1]

Snakes

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Christmas Island has one endemic snake species, the Christmas Island blind snake (Ramphotyphlops exocoeti).[1] The flowerpot blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) had been introduced to the island by 1940,[1] and the Oriental wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus) was introduced in the 1980s.[1]

Common name Scientific name Notes Red List Ref
Christmas Island blind snake Ramphotyphlops exocoeti endemic Fl mammals en.svg[8] [1]
Oriental wolf snake Lycodon capucinus introduced; first recorded around 1987[1] Fl mammals lc.svg[9] [1]
Flowerpot blind snake Ramphotyphlops braminus introduced by 1940[1] [1]

Turtles

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Green turtles are known to nest on Christmas Island.

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and, more rarely, hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) have been documented to nest on Christmas Island.[10] Sea turtle nesting occurs on Dolly Beach, on a small area of sand above the high tide level, and occasionally at Greta Beach.[10]

Common name Scientific name Notes Red List Ref
Green turtle Chelonia mydas nests on Christmas Island; considered uncommon Fl mammals en.svg[11] [10]
Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata nests on Christmas Island; rarely documented Fl mammals cr.svg[12] [10]
Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta may forage in waters off Christmas Island Fl mammals vu.svg[13] [10]
Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea may forage in waters off Christmas Island Fl mammals vu.svg[14] [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Smith, Michael J.; Cogger, Hal; Tiernan, Brendan; Maple, Dion; Boland, Christopher; Napier, Fionnuala; Detto, Tanya; Smith, Peter (10 September 2012). "An oceanic island reptile community under threat: The decline of reptiles on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7 (2): 206–218.
  2. ^ a b Hal Cogger (GAA, GRA / Australian Museum; John Woinarski (Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts (20 February 2017). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Emoia nativitatis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Hal Cogger GAA, GRA / Australian Museum; John Woinarski (Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts; Mitchell, Nicki; Emery, Jon-Paul (20 February 2017). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Cryptoblepharus egeriae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hal Cogger (GAA, GRA / Australian Museum; John Woinarski (Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts; Mitchell, Nicki (20 February 2017). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Lepidodactylus listeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  5. ^ Driscoll, Don; Cogger, Hal; Woinarski, John. "Vale 'Gump', the last known Christmas Island Forest Skink". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  6. ^ Hal Cogger (GAA, GRA / Australian Museum; John Woinarski (Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts; Mitchell, Nicki; Wynn, Melissa (20 February 2017). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Cyrtodactylus sadleiri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  7. ^ Ota, H. & Whitaker (30 June 2009). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Hemidactylus frenatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. ^ Hal Cogger (GAA, GRA / Australian Museum; John Woinarski (Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts; Mitchell, Nicki; Ellis, Ryan (20 February 2017). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ramphotyphlops exocoeti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. ^ Guinevere Wogan (University of California, Berkeley); Museum), Tanya Chan-Ard (Thailand Natural History (1 September 2011). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Lycodon capucinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Beeton, Bob; Burbidge, Andrew; Grigg, Gordon; Harrison, Peter; How, Ric; Humphreys, Bill; McKenzie, Norm; Woinarski, John (2010). Final report of the Christmas Island Expert Working Group to the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts.
  11. ^ Seminoff, J. A. (Southwest Fisheries Science Center (30 April 2004). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Chelonia mydas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  12. ^ Mortimer, J. A. & Donnelly (30 June 2008). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Eretmochelys imbricata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  13. ^ Paolo Casale (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group / Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin, ” University of Rome “La Sapienza; Anton Tucker (Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota (23 August 2015). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Caretta caretta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  14. ^ Coordinator), Bryan Wallace (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle RLA; Group), Manjula Tiwari (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist; Group), Marc Girondot (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specilaist (21 June 2013). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dermochelys coriacea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
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