LEGALLY PROTECTED INDIAN REPTILES

The following species are legally protected in India under various Schedules of The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. See further listings, such as IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, below the WPA Schedules.

In the list below, ACN=Alternative Common Name, and AN=Alternative Name (typically used for alternative genus-species combinations).

WPA SCHEDULE I

  1. Gavialis gangeticus — Gharial
  2. Crocodylus palustris — Mugger Crocodile
  3. Crocodylus porosus — Saltwater Crocodile
     
  4. Chamaeleo zeylanicus — Indian Chameleon
     
  5. Gekko verreaux — Andaman Giant Gecko
  6. Cyrtodactylus srilekhae — Bangalore Geckoella
  7. Horsfield's Gliding Gecko — Gekko horsfzeldii    
  8. Calodactylodes aureus — Indian Golden Gecko
  9. Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis — Jaipore Ground Gecko or Patinghe Indian Gecko
  10. Eublepharis fuscus — Western Indian leopard gecko
  11. Eublepharis macularius — Common Leopard Gecko
  12. Eublepharis satpuraensis — Satpura leopard gecko
  13. Ptychozoon nicobarebsis — Nicobar Gliding Gecko
  14. Cnemaspis rishivalleyensis — Rishi Valley Dwarf Gecko
  15. Gekko smithii — Smith's Green-eyed Gecko or Large Forest Gecko
  16. Ptychozoon lionotum — Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko or Malaysia Parachute Gecko
  17. Gekko gecko — Tokay Gecko
     
  18. Saara hardwickii — Hardwick's Spiny-tailed Lizard or Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard
     
  19. Varanus bengalensis — Bengal Monitor Lizard
  20. Varanus griseus — Desert Monitor
  21. Varanus salvator — Common Water Monitor
  22. Varanus flavescens — Yellow Monitor Lizard
     
  23. Ophiophagus hannah — King Cobra
  24. Naja kaouthia — Monocled Cobra or Monocellate Cobra
  25. Naja naja — Spectacled Cobra
  26. Naja oxiana — Central Asian Cobra
  27. Naja sagittifera — Andaman Cobra
  28. Eryx johnii — Red Sand Boa
  29. Eryx whitakeri — Whitaker’s Sand Boa
  30. Xenochrophis piscator — Checkered Keelback (AN: Fowlea piscator)
  31. Ptyas mucosa — Oriental Rat snake
  32. Cerberus rynchops — Dog-faced Water Snake
  33. Boiga westermanni — Indian Egg-eating Snake
  34. Atretium schistosum — Olive Keelback or Split Keelback
  35. Daboia russelii — Russell's Viper
  36. Malayopython reticulatus — Reticulated Python
  37. Python bivittatus — Burmese Python
  38. Python moluru — Indian Rock Python
     
  39. Cuora amboinensis — Southeast Asian Box Turtle
  40. Pelochelys cantorii — Asian Giant Softshell Turtle
  41. Manouria emys — Asian Giant Tortoise or Brown Tortoise
  42. Amyda cartilaginea — Asiatic Softshell Turtle
  43. Pangshura sylhetensis — Assam Roofed Turtle
  44. Nilssonia nigricans — Black Softshell Turtle
  45. Vijayachelys silvatica — Cochin Forest Cane Turtle
  46. Hardella thurjii — Crowned River Turtle
  47. Chelonia mydas — Green Seaturtle
  48. Eretmochelys imbricata — Hawksbill Sea Turtle
  49. Morenia petersi — Indian Eyed Turtle
  50. Lissemys punctata — Indian Flapshell Turtle
  51. Chitra indica — Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle
  52. Pangshura tecta — Indian Roofed Turtle
  53. Nilssonia gangetica — Indian Softshell Turtle
  54. Geochelone elegans — Indian Star Tortoise
  55. Pangshura tentoria — Indian Tent Turtle
  56. Cuora mouhotii — Keeled Box Turtle
  57. Dermochelys coriacea — Leatherback sea turtle
  58. Nilssonia leithii — Leith's Softshell Turtle
  59. Caretta caretta — Loggerhead Turtle
  60. Batagur baska — Northern River Turtle
  61. Lepidochelys olivacea — Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
  62. Nilssonia hurum — Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle
  63. Batagur kachuga — Red-crowned Roofed Turtle
  64. Indotestudo elongata — Elongated Tortoise
  65. Geoclemys hamiltonii — Spotted Pond Turtle
  66. Batagur dhongoka — Three-striped Roofed Turtle
  67. Indotestudo travancorica — Travancore Tortoise
  68. Melanochelys tricarinata — Tricarinate Hill Turtle

 

WPA SCHEDULE II

  1. Cyrtodactylus fasciolatus (Blyth, 1861) — Banded Bent-toed Gecko
  2. Cyrtodactylus nebulosus — Clouded Indian Gecko
  3. Cyrtodactylus nebulosus — Forest Spotted Gecko or Kollegal Ground Gecko
  4. Cyrtodactylus albofasciatus — Boulenger's Indian Gecko or Deccan Banded Gecko
  5. Cyrtodactylus deccanensis — Günther's Indian Gecko or Banded Ground Gecko
  6. Cyrtodactylus varadgirii — Giri's Geckoella
     
  7. Cyclemys gemeli — Gemel's Leaf Turtle
  8. Pangshura smithii — Brown Roofed Turtle
  9. Melanochelys trijuga — Indian Black Turtle
     
  10. Dopasia gracilis — Asian Glass Lizard or Indian Glass Lizard
  11. Salea anamallayana — Anaimalai Spiny Lizard
  12. Salea horsfieldii — Horsfield's Spiny Lizard
  13. Draco dussumieri — Western Ghats Flying Lizard or Southern Flying Lizard
     
  14. All species of Family Boidae except those listed in Schedule I
  15. All species of Family Typhlopidae
  16. All species  of the Family Colubridae except those listed in Schedule I
  17. All species  of the Family Elapidae except for those listed in Schedule I
  18. All species  of Family Psammophiidae
  19. All species  of the Family Uropeltidae
  20. All species  of the Family Xenopeltidae
  21. All species of the Family Leptotyphlopidae
  22. All species of the Family Viperidae except for those listed in Schedule I

 

WPA SCHEDULE IV

Only exotic species or populations are listed under this Schedule.

 

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IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

  1. Uropeltis shorttii — Shevaroy Hills Earth Snake
  2. Rhinophis goweri — Gower's Shieldtail
  3. Trimeresurus labialis — Island Pit Viper
     
  4. Cnemaspis thackerayi — Thackeray's Dwarf Gecko
  5. Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus — Southern Ghats Slender Gecko
  6. Cnemaspis shevaroyensis — Shevaroy Dwarf Gecko
  7. Hemiphyllodactylus kolliensis — Kolli Slender Gecko
  8. Cnemaspis adii — Adi's Day Gecko
  9. Cnemaspis anaikattiensis
  10. Cyrtodactylus montanus — Montane Bent-toed Gecko
  11. Hemidactylus sataraensis — Satara Gecko
  12. Cyrtodactylus chamba — Chamba Bent-toed Gecko
  13. Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis — Kottiyoor Day Gecko
     
  14. Sarada superba — Superb large fan-throated lizard
     
  15. Barkudia insularis — Madras Spotted Skink
     
  16. Batagur kachuga — Red-crowned Roofed Turtle
  17. Indotestudo elongata — Elongated Tortoise
  18. Eretmochelys imbricata — Hawksbill Sea Turtle
  19. Batagur baska — Northern River Turtle
  20. Manouria emys — Asian Giant Tortoise or Brown Tortoise
  21. Batagur dhongoka — Three-striped Roofed Turtle
  22. Nilssonia nigricans — Black Softshell Turtle
  23. Pangshura sylhetensis — Assam Roofed Turtle
  24. Pelochelys cantorii — Asian Giant Softshell Turtle
  25. Nilssonia leithii — Leith's Softshell Turtle

ENDANGERED

  1. Proahaetulla antiqua — Antique Vine Snake
  2. Boiga andamanensis — Andaman Cat Snake
  3. Naja sagittifera — Andaman Cobra
  4. Uropeltis madurensis — Madura Earth Snake
  5. Trimeresurus cantori — Cantor's Pit Viper
  6. Melanophidium khairei — Khaire's Black Shieldtail
  7. Trimeresurus mutabilis — Central Nicobar Pit Viper
  8. Ahaetulla perroteti — Perrotet's Vine Snake or Western Ghats Bronzeback
  9. Calliophis castoe — Castoe’s Coral Snake
  10. Platyplectrurus madurensis — Travancore Hill Thorntail Snake
     
  11. Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis — Jaipore Ground Gecko or Patinghe Indian Gecko
  12. Cnemaspis yercaudensis — Yercaud Day Gecko
  13. Gekko nicobarensis — Nicobar Gliding Gecko
  14. Cnemaspis flaviventralis — Yellow-bellied Day Gecko
  15. Cnemaspis goaensis — Goan Day Gecko
  16. Cnemaspis wynadensis — Wynad Day Gecko
  17. Cyrtodactylus rishivalleyensis — Rishi Valley Geckoella
  18. Cyrtodactylus adleri — Alder's Bent-toed Gecko or Alder’s Bow-fingered Gecko
  19. Hemidactylus yajurvedi — Kanker Rock Gecko
  20. Hemidactylus scabriceps — Scaly Gecko
  21. Hemidactylus kangerensis — Kanger Valley Rock Gecko
  22. Hemidactylus siva — Hampi Rock Gecko
  23. Cyrtodactylus speciosus — Forest Spotted Gecko
     
  24. Varanus flavescens — Yellow Monitor Lizard
     
  25. Otocryptis beddomii — Indian Kangaroo Lizard
  26. Dibamus nicobaricum — Nicobarese Worm Lizard
  27. Sitana marudhmneydhal — Marudhamneydhal Fan-throated Lizard
  28. Monilesaurus acanthocephalus — Spiny-headed Lizard
  29. Calotes paulus — Small Forest Lizard
  30. Microauris aurantolabium — Orange-lipped forest lizard
  31. Takydromus sikkimensis — Sikkim long-tailed lizard
     
  32. Eutropis clivicola — Inger's Mabuya
  33. Dasia subcaerulea — Boulenger's Dasia
  34. Eurylepis poonaensis — Poona Mole Skink or Poona Skink
  35. Eutropis ashwamedhi — Ashwamedha Supple Skink
  36. Ophisops pushkarensis — Pushkar Snake-eyed Lizard or Pushkar Small-scaled Snake-eyed Lacerta
     
  37. Melanochelys tricarinata — Tricarinate Hill Turtle
  38. Nilssonia gangetica — Indian Softshell Turtle
  39. Nilssonia hurum — Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle
  40. Cuora amboinensis — Southeast Asian Box Turtle
  41. Geoclemys hamiltonii — Spotted Pond Turtle
  42. Chelonia mydas — Green Seaturtle
  43. Cuora mouhotii — Keeled Box Turtle
  44. Chitra indica — Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle
  45. Morenia petersi — Indian Eyed Turtle
  46. Vijayachelys silvatica — Cochin Forest Cane Turtle
  47. Hardella thurjii — Crowned River Turtle

VULNERABLE

  1. Crocodylus palustris — Mugger Crocodile
     
  2. Elaphe taeniura — Cave Racer
  3. Uropeltis phipsonii — Phipson's Earth Snake
  4. Ophiophagus hannah — King Cobra
  5. Python bivittatus — Burmese Python
  6. Oligodon brevicauda — Shorthead Kukri Snake
  7. Oligodon erythrorhachis — Namsang Kukri Snake
  8. Oligodon juglandifer — Walnut Kukri Snake
  9. Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus — Gunther's Bronzeback Tree Snake
  10. Melanophidium punctatum — Beddome's Black Earth Snake
  11. Melanophidium bilineatum — Two-lined Black Earth Snake
  12. Xenochrophis cerasogaster — Painted Keelback
  13. Trachischium guentheri — Günther's Worm-eating Snake
     
  14. Cnemaspis assamensis — Assamese Day Gecko
  15. Cnemaspis otai — Ota's Day Gecko or Vellore Day Gecko
  16. Hemidactylus albofasciatus — White-striped Viper Gecko
  17. Hemidactylus gujaratensis — Gujarat Gecko
  18. Cnemaspis indraneildasii — Indraneildas's Day Gecko
  19. Cnemaspis jerdonii — Jerdon's Day Gecko
  20. Cyrtopodion aravallensis — Delhi Rock Gecko
  21. Cnemaspis indica — Indian Day Gecko
     
  22. Tropidophorus assamensis — North-eastern Water Skink
  23. Kaestlea laterimaculata — Side-spotted Ground Skink
     
  24. Pseudocalotes andamanensis — Green Crestless Forest Lizard
  25. Saara hardwickii — Hardwick's Spiny-tailed Lizard or Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard
  26. Sitana visiri — Palm-leaf Fan- throated Lizard
  27. Coryphophylax brevicaudus — Short-Tailed Bay Islands Forest Lizard
     
  28. Geochelone elegans — Indian Star Tortoise
  29. Lepidochelys olivacea — Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
  30. Indotestudo travancorica — Travancore Tortoise
  31. Dermochelys coriacea — Leatherback sea turtle
  32. Lissemys punctata — Indian Flapshell Turtle
  33. Pangshura tecta — Indian Roofed Turtle

NEAR THREATENED

  1. Python molurus — Indian Rock Python
  2. Lycodon gammiei — Gamie's Wolf Snake or Sikkim False Wolf Snake
  3. Ptyas korros — Indo-Chinese Rat Snake
  4. Eryx johnii — Red Sand Boa
  5. Eryx whitakeri — Whitaker’s Sand Boa
  6. Eryx conicus — Common Sand Boa (ACN=Rough-tailed Sand Boa, Russell's Boa)
  7. Lycodon mackinnoni — Mackinnon's Wolf Snake
  8. Uropeltis grandis — Smith's Earth Snake
  9. Bungarus andamanensis — Andaman Krait
  10. Uropeltis bicatenata — Bicatenate Uropeltis or Two-chained Uropeltis
  11. Dieurostus dussumieri — Dussumier's Water Snake or Kerala Mud Snake
  12. Naja oxiana — Central Asian Cobra
  13. Oligodon erythrogaster — Nagarkot Kukri Snake
  14. Ahaetulla dispar — Günther’s Vine Snake
  15. Herpetoreas xenura — Wall's Keelback
  16. Oligodon woodmasoni — Yellow-striped Kukri Snake
  17. Craspedocephalus macrolepis — Large-scaled Pit Viper (AN=Trimeresurus macrolepis)
  18. Varanus bengalensis — Bengal Monitor Lizard
     
  19. Hemidactylus/Dravidogecko anamallensis — Anamalai Gecko or Anamalai Dravidogecko
  20. Cnemaspis sisparensis — Sispara Day Gecko
  21. Cnemaspis nairi — Ponmudi Day Gecko
  22. Cyrtodactylus srilekhae — Bangalore Geckoella
  23. Cnemaspis nilagirica — Nilgiri Day Gecko
  24. Cnemaspis ornata — Ornate Day Gecko
  25. Hemiphyllodactylus arakuensis — Araku Slender Gecko
  26. Cyrtodactylus fasciolatus — Banded Bent-toed Gecko
  27. Cnemaspis heteropholis — Mixed-scale Day Gecko
     
  28. Draco norvillii — Norvill's Flying Lizard
  29. Japalura kumaonensis — Kumaon Mountain lizard or Kumaon Forest Agama
  30. Sitana thondalu — Nagarjunasagar Fan-throated Lizard
     
  31. Sphenomorphus apalpebratus
  32. Eutropis bibronii — Seashore Skink
  33. Eutropis nagarjunensis — Sharma's grass skink
  34. Ristella rurkii — Rurk's Ristella
     
  35. Cyclemys gemeli — Gemel's Leaf Turtle
  36. Pangshura smithii — Brown Roofed Turtle

 

Page citation

Mehendale, S. and K. Kunte 2024. LEGALLY PROTECTED INDIAN REPTILES . In Kamdar, A. and K. Kunte. (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. v.1.26. Indian Foundation for Butterflies.