This is our reference list of reptiles of Egypt with their scientific names: 37 lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodiles and desert mammals found in Egypt’s deserts, the Nile Valley, Sinai and the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts. For each species you will find its CITES appendix, which tells you whether international trade needs CITES permits, and links to our care guides.
How to Read This List
- Appendix I: commercial international trade is not allowed. We do not offer these species for sale; pages are for information only.
- Appendix II: international trade is possible only with a CITES export permit (and an import permit in some countries).
- Not listed: not covered by CITES, but Egyptian export permits, veterinary certificates and your own country’s laws still apply.
- Venomous species are only for experienced keepers who hold the licences required where they live.
Lizards of Egypt
| Common name | Scientific name | CITES | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile monitor | Varanus niloticus | Appendix II | Care guide · Product |
| Desert monitor | Varanus griseus | Appendix I | — |
| Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Egyptian uromastyx) | Uromastyx aegyptia | Appendix II | Care guide |
| Ornate spiny-tailed lizard | Uromastyx ornata | Appendix II | — |
| Common chameleon | Chamaeleo chamaeleon | Appendix II | — |
| Sandfish skink | Scincus scincus | Not listed | Care guide |
| Ocellated skink | Chalcides ocellatus | Not listed | Care guide |
| Leopard fringe-toed lizard | Acanthodactylus pardalis | Not listed | Product |
| Bosk’s fringe-toed lizard | Acanthodactylus boskianus | Not listed | — |
| Olivier’s sand lizard | Mesalina olivieri | Not listed | Product |
| Desert agama | Trapelus mutabilis | Not listed | — |
| Sinai agama | Pseudotrapelus sinaitus | Not listed | — |
| Petrie’s gecko | Stenodactylus petrii | Not listed | — |
| White-spotted wall gecko | Tarentola annularis | Not listed | — |
| Fan-footed gecko | Ptyodactylus hasselquistii | Not listed | — |
Snakes of Egypt
| Common name | Scientific name | CITES | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egyptian cobra (venomous) | Naja haje | Not listed | Care guide · Product |
| Nubian spitting cobra (venomous) | Naja nubiae | Not listed | — |
| Horned viper (venomous) | Cerastes cerastes | Not listed | Care guide · Product |
| Sahara sand viper (venomous) | Cerastes vipera | Not listed | — |
| Egyptian saw-scaled viper (venomous) | Echis pyramidum | Not listed | Care guide · Product |
| Painted saw-scaled viper (venomous) | Echis coloratus | Not listed | — |
| Desert black snake (venomous) | Walterinnesia aegyptia | Not listed | — |
| Schokari sand racer | Psammophis schokari | Not listed | Care guide |
| Moila snake (false cobra) | Rhagerhis moilensis | Not listed | — |
| Diadem snake | Spalerosophis diadema | Not listed | — |
| Javelin sand boa | Eryx jaculus | Appendix II | — |
| Kenyan sand boa | Eryx colubrinus | Appendix II | — |
Turtles, tortoises and crocodiles of Egypt
| Common name | Scientific name | CITES | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egyptian tortoise | Testudo kleinmanni | Appendix I | Product |
| African softshell turtle | Trionyx triunguis | Appendix II | — |
| Green sea turtle | Chelonia mydas | Appendix I | — |
| Loggerhead sea turtle | Caretta caretta | Appendix I | — |
| Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | Appendix I or II (depends on population) | — |
Desert mammals often kept as exotic pets of Egypt
| Common name | Scientific name | CITES | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennec fox | Vulpes zerda | Appendix II | Care guide · Product |
| Long-eared hedgehog | Hemiechinus auritus | Not listed | Care guide |
| Desert hedgehog | Paraechinus aethiopicus | Not listed | — |
| Lesser Egyptian jerboa | Jaculus jaculus | Not listed | Care guide |
| Egyptian weasel | Mustela subpalmata (also treated as M. nivalis) | Not listed | Product |
Legal Note
Egypt’s Environment Law No. 4 of 1994 protects listed wild species, and exports are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture’s wildlife service as Egypt’s CITES Management Authority. CITES listings can change: always confirm the current status of a species on the official Species+ database and check your own country’s import rules before buying. This list is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many reptile species live in Egypt?
About 120 reptile species are recorded in Egypt (The Reptile Database lists 121). This page lists the ones people search for most, with their scientific names, and we add more over time.
Which reptiles in Egypt are venomous?
The main venomous snakes are the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), Nubian spitting cobra (Naja nubiae), horned viper (Cerastes cerastes), Sahara sand viper (Cerastes vipera), saw-scaled vipers (Echis pyramidum, Echis coloratus) and the desert black snake (Walterinnesia aegyptia). Read our venomous vs non-venomous snakes guide.
Can reptiles from Egypt be shipped abroad?
Only species that are legal to export, with the right Egyptian and CITES paperwork. See our shipping policy or contact us on WhatsApp about a specific species.