List of amphibians and reptiles of the Grenadines

Map of the Grenadines, between Saint Vincent and Grenada.

This is a list of amphibians and reptiles found in the Grenadines, a chain of over 600 small islands located in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles. Politically, the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines are part of the nation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the remainder is part of Grenada.

Amphibians

There are two species of amphibian in the Grenadines, one of which was introduced.

Frogs (Anura)

Tropical frogs (Leptodactylidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Eleutherodactylus johnstonei Lesser Antillean Whistling Frog, Coqui Antillano, Johnstone's Whistling Frog Least Concern.[1] Recently introduced.
Leptodactylus validus Windward Ditch Frog Least Concern. Regional endemic. Recorded only on Bequia.


Reptiles

Including marine turtles and introduced species, there are 19 reptile species reported in the Grenadines.

Turtles (Testudines)

Tortoises (Testudinidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Chelonoidis carbonarius Red-Footed Tortoise, Morrocoy
Scaly sea turtles (Cheloniidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle Endangered.
Chelonia mydas Green Turtle Endangered.
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle Critically Endangered.
Leathery sea turtles (Dermochelyidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle Critically Endangered.

Lizards and snakes (Squamata)

Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Gonatodes daudini [2] Union Island gecko restricted to leaf litter in mature upland dry forest on Union Island.[3]
Hemidactylus mabouia House Gecko Introduced.
Sphaerodactylus kirbyi Endemic; found only on Bequia.
Thecadactylus rapicauda Turnip-Tailed Gecko
Iguanas and Anolids (Iguanidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Anolis aeneus Bronze Anole Found throughout the Grenadines.
Anolis richardii Grenada Tree Anole Found on Carriacou and Bequia.
Iguana iguana Green Iguana, Common Iguana
Whiptails (Teiidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Ameiva ameiva Giant Ameiva Found throughout the Grenadines.
Microteiids (Gymnophthalmidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Bachia heteropa LaGuaira Bachia Recorded on Canouan and Bequia.
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Underwood's Spectacled Tegu Recorded on Bequia.
Skinks (Scincidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Mabuya mabouya[4] Regional endemic. Possibly extirpated.
Boas (Boidae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Corallus grenadensis[5] Grenadian Tree Boa Recorded on Bequia, Isle de Quatre, Union Island, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique.
Colubrids (Colubridae)
Species Common name(s) Notes Image
Mastigodryas bruesi Barbour's Tropical Racer Regional endemic. Widespread, in xeric habitats.

See also


Notes

  1. ^ Conservation status, where available, is from the IUCN Red List and is indicative of the status of the species as a whole, not just populations in the Grenadines.
  2. ^ Powell & Henderson 2005a, p. 72.
  3. ^ Powell, Robert; Henderson, Robert William (2005b). "A new species of Gonatodes (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the west Indies". Caribbean Journal of Science. 41 (4): 709–715. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. ^ Malhotra & Thorpe 1999 instead records M. bistriata as the sole Mabuya species in the Lesser Antilles; many of its Caribbean populations have since been reassigned.
  5. ^ Powell & Henderson 2005a, p. 74. Recorded in Malhotra & Thorpe 1999 as Corallus hortulanus.


References

Note: All species listed above are supported by Malhotra & Thorpe 1999, unless otherwise cited.

  • Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999), Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean, Macmillan Education Ltd., pp. 103–104, ISBN 0-333-69141-5.
  • Powell, Robert; Henderson, Robert W. (2005a), "Conservation Status of Lesser Antillean Reptiles", Iguana, 12 (2): 63–77