Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Length up to 570 mm. The color of this lizard is pale pinkish-brown or greyish above with darker spots or bands, and there are numerous tubercles on the dorsal surface and on the sides. The Turkish Gecko favors coastal areas, but also lives further inland and is found in houses, old buildings, coastal salt marshes, and rocky areas by cultivation. It is the house gecko that is most often encountered in the Egyptian homes. The belief that it poisons table salt by spitting in it is completely false. It is nocturnal and territorial species. Its voice may be heard during courtship activity. It feeds on flies, termites, and ants. The 2-3 eggs are laid and incubated for 1.5-3 months. In Egypt, it is found in the Nile Valley, Western Desert Oases, Mediterranean coastal areas, and the coasts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez. Its global range includes the Mediterranean countries, the Arabian Peninsula, east as far as Pakistan, and south to Somalia. It has been introduced in many countries including some in the Americas. Within its range, it is common and widespread.

Hyla savignyi (Audouin, 1829).

Length up to 46 mm. The skin is smooth dorsally and granulated ventrally; fingers and toes end in wide, disc-shaped, adhesive pads. The back is usually bright green; ventral surface is white; the two are separated by gold-colored lateral stripes. The Tree Frog is an arboreal species and frequents trees, shrubs, or reeds. It is nocturnal; feeds on various flying insects and spiders. In Egypt, this frog is restricted to the extreme northeast of Sinai (Rafah area), while its global distribution is in Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is localized and uncommon.

Tropiocolotes steudneri (Peters, 1869).

Length up to 32 mm. One of the smallest lizards in Egypt, this dwarf gecko has small, smooth, imbricated scales on the back and underparts; the toes are slender. The color is pale pinkish buff with darker transverse markings. Steudner’s Gecko is strictly nocturnal; a ground-dwelling species, it does not climb on vertical surfaces. It inhabits desert areas where it is usually found under rocks or dry vegetation. The female lays a single egg on several occasions per season. In Egypt, it is found in the Western and Eastern deserts and Sinai. Globally, its range covers North Africa from Algeria to Sinai.

Pseudotrapelus sinaitus (Heyden, 1827).

Length up to 90 mm. A slender agamid lizard with a large triangular-head from the ventral aspect. The external ear opening is larger than the eye; the dorsal scales are relatively small and uniform, pointed, keeled, and imbricated; limbs are very long. The color varies according to the physiological state and sex; non-breeding individuals from both sexes are grey. The breeding male has a bright cobalt blue head and chest, while the female is grey with transverse orange bars. The Sinai Agama inhabits rocky wadis in arid deserts, where it can typically be seen on large boulders. It is strictly diurnal; its diet consists of insects including ants. Five to nine eggs are laid; the egg number and size increase with the female’s length. In Egypt, it is found in the Eastern Desert and Sinai, and its global range extends from North Africa to Arabia. It is widespread and common.

Psammophis aegyptius Marx, 1958.

Length up to 1500 mm. This is a long, slender snake with the head elongated and distinct from the neck; snout is moderately long, and the eye is large with a round pupil. The body is elongated and cylindrical; the tail is nearly one-third of the total length. The color is plain sandy above and pale reddish-yellow below. The Saharan Sand Snake is a deep desert species that inhabits vegetated sandy depressions, oases, and sandy places in arid mountains and wadis. It is oviparous, diurnal, and extremely agile; feeds mainly on lizards and small birds. In Egypt, it is found in the Western and Eastern Deserts and South Sinai. Its known world distribution extends from Libya to southern Palestine. It is widespread and common.

Mesalina olivieri (Audouin, 1829).

Length up to 48 mm. A small lizard with a short head, broad snout, and domed forehead. The body is more or less cylindrical in cross-section. Color is sandy with longitudinal light and dark lines. Olivier’s Lizard is found in open, sandy, lightly vegetated habitats from sea level to high mountain valleys. It is diurnal and its diet consists of a variety of small arthropods. At least two clutches of eggs are laid per year, each with 2-4 eggs. In Egypt, this lizard is found on the Western Mediterranean Coast, the Eastern Desert, and Sinai. It is fairly common and widespread throughout its range in North Africa and northern Arabia.

Naja nubiae Wüster & Broadley, 2003.

Length up to 1510 mm. A large, fairly slender snake with a rather short tail; the head is distinct from the neck; eyes are large with round pupils; dorsal scales are smooth. Fixed, hollow, enlarged fangs are present at the front of the mouth. The back is brownish-grey; a dark line runs from the eye to the upper lip; underparts are buffish with two broad dark bands on the neck. The Nubian Spitting Cobra lives in dry cultivated areas and desert margins and is nocturnal and crepuscular with limited diurnal activity. It is aggressive, feeding on small rodents and birds. When threatened, it lifts the anterior part of the body, flattens and flares the neck into a hood. It is venomous and dangerous and is able to ‘spit’ its venom towards the eyes of a potential predator with great accuracy. In Egypt, this species is found in southeastern Egypt and Gebel Elba where it is uncommon and localized.

Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768.

Length up to 600 cm (6m). Large, lizard-like, aquatic reptile with an elongated narrow snout; powerful jaws with long, sharp teeth that fit into the opposed sockets when the jaws are closed. The tail is laterally compressed; heavy plates of bone form an armor underneath the dorsal scales; the eyes and nostrils protrude above the dorsal surface of the head to facilitate breathing while the animal is submerged; eyes with elliptical pupils. Webbing between digits with the hind limbs more webbed than the forelimbs. The dorsum is dark olive-brown with black transverse bands on the back and a tail that become fainter in adults; underparts are yellowish. The Nile Crocodile is more or less aquatic; an excellent swimmer that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps; it is found, infrequently or accidentally in brackish or marine waters. It prefers areas with exposed sandy shores for basking. It is mostly nocturnal and is carnivorous, foraging in or near water but during the breeding season, it aggressively guards the nest against intruders. This fairly advanced maternal care is unique among reptiles. In Egypt, it is found in the Nile Valley and is currently restricted to Lake Nasser, where there is a fairly substantial population. Its global range extends throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, it has become generally rather uncommon and should be regarded as threatened.

Tropiocolotes nattereri Steindachner, 1901.

Length up to 30 mm. A tiny gecko with long slender limbs, slender toes, and small, smooth, imbricate scales. Trunk with dark and light transverse bands, which may be missing in some individuals. Natterer’s Gecko inhabits mountainous and hilly desert areas where it is found under stones, even small ones, as well as other objects. It is strictly nocturnal and terrestrial but capable of climbing on low rocks and other objects. Feeds on small insects. The female lays several clutches of one egg each. In Egypt, its range appears to be restricted to South Sinai and it is also found in western Arabia. It is uncommon but widespread.

Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758).

Length up to 84 mm. A sturdy gecko with toe pads that are not divided; its back is covered with large tubercles; the head is large and expanded. The general color is sandy with indistinct darker transverse bands that disappear with age. The Moorish Gecko inhabits rocky cliffs, stone walls, buildings, and sometimes tree trunks. It is nocturnal, although it will sometimes bask in the sun during the day; feeds on insects. Two eggs are laid per clutch and the incubation lasts for 65-75 days. In Egypt, it is found in the northern regions of the Western Desert, along the Western Desert Coastal Desert and east to northern Sinai. Its world range extends through the Mediterranean region to the borders of the Sahara. Within its range, it is common and widespread.