FAMILY

Starred Agama

Laudakia stellio

AGAMA/DRAGON

(Protected by the Greek Law) (Species of Community interest)(threatened species of the CORINE-biotopes project, 1988).
This species is extremely common on the island.

East Aegean Green Lizard

Lacerta diplochondrodes

Lacerta diplochondrodes is the largest species of Lacerta on the Island. Juveniles are striped and look very different to Adults. I have seen them at Tingaki and between Tingaki and Pyli. Also reported from Psalidi.

European Snake-eyed Lizard or Menetries' Lizard

Ophisops elegans

Extremely common
(protected by the Greek Law)(Species of Community interest).
I have seen these at many places on the Island.

European Copper Skink

Ablepharus kitaibelii

SKINK

(Species of Community interest) (threatened species of the CORINE-biotopes project, 1988). I have found these at Tingaki

Levant Skink

Heremites auratus

There seems to be very sparse information about this species occurring on Kos, which may have been confused with the Ocellated Skink Chalcides ocellatus

Turkish Gecko

Hemidactylus turcicus

GECKO

(Protected by the Greek Law)
Extremely common
I have found these at Tingaki and Kardamena.

Kotschy's Gecko

Mediodactylus kotschyi

Unconfirmed, superficially similar to the Turkish Gecko

Turkish Worm Lizard

Blanus strauchi

(WORM LIZARD)

Common - I have found these at Kos and near Kardamena

Ocellated Skink

Chalcides ocellatus

SKINK

Recorded from near Lambi

Scheltopusik or European Glass Lizard

Pseudopus apodus

(Species of Community interest)
Large - Grows to over 1 meter!

FAMILY

Turkish Sand Boa

Eryx jaculus turcicus

BOA

European Blind Snake

Xerotyphlops vermicularis

European Cat Snake

Telescopus fallax

Rear fanged, but considered harmless
Nocturnal
This species is considered a Holy snake on the Island of Kefalonia where they are used in festivities in August.
Has been found near Antimacheia on Kos

Large Whip Snake

Hierophis caspius

COLUBRID

Dolichophis (Coluber) caspius
There seems to be some confusion over this and the following "species" which may be a colour variety or subspecies.
(Any help on clarifying this would be much appreciated.)

Black Whip Snake or Giant Whip Snake

Dolichophis jugularis

This appears the most commonly seen on the Island

Leopard Snake

Zamenis situla

COLUBRID

Confirmed as being on the Island, recorded near Zia

Coin Snake or Spotted Whip Snake

Hemorrhois nummifer

Weak venom - considered harmless.

Grass Snake

Natrix natrix

COLUBRID

(protected by the Greek Law)

Dahl'sWhip Snake

Includes snakes that were called Dahl’s Whip Snakes 

Platyceps najadum

(includes snakes that were known as Zamenis dahlii)

This appears to be a melanistic (black) form or race of Platyceps (Coluber) najadum, which is found on Kalymnos. I have yet to establish whether it is found on Kos, or it may even be that the normal patterned "subspecies" is not found on Kos. Melanism is a genetic feature which I can't imagine is enough to classify it a a subspecies, however melanistic animals I have seen, look extremely different to normal animals so I have listed it for completeness. Kalymnos is a large Island very close to Kos.

Montpellier Snake

Malpolon monspessulanus

Unconfirmed - This is a rear fanged snake with a mild venom. Not regarded as dangerous. However bite may be painful. Note that it superficially resembles the Large Whip Snake, however the ridges over the eye are more pronounced which make it look like it is frowning.

Four-lined Snake or Bulgarian Ratsnake

Elaphe quatuorlineata

A single record from Kos appears to have been a Coin Snake which looks like a juvenile 4 Lined Snake

Rock (Ottoman) Viper

Montivipera xanthina

Potentially Dangerous(protected under the Berne Convention)
(Note: there are no reliable reports of this species on Kos - Despite locals believing it occurs)
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FAMILY

Spur Thighed Tortoise or Asia Minor Tortoise

Testudo graeca ibera

TORTOISE
(Testudinidae)

Very Common. I have found these at Tingaki, Old Pyli, Kardamena, Kefalos, South of the Airport and South of Kos.

Balkan Terrapin

Mauremys rivulata

TURTLE
(Freshwater)

This is an aquatic species found in freshwater. I have found these at The Duck Pond between Tingaki and Pyli. I have also seen several near Marmari, and one in a coastal creek North- west of the Airport.

Red Eared Slider

Trachemys scripta

TURTLE
(Freshwater)

(Introduced from the US)
American species common in the pet trade is found on the island, I have found them in The Duck Pond between Tingaki an Pyli. (Sold in local pet shops)

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Caretta caretta

TURTLE
(SEA)

Marine Species, Nests on the Island

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

TURTLE
(SEA)

Is found in the Aegean Sea but may not nest on the Island.
(Leatherbacks, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridley turtle may possibly occur offshore on rare occasions).

Nile (or African) Soft-Shelled Turtle

Trionyx triunguis

Marine and estuarine, rarely encountered on Kos. May grow to over a meter.

European Pond Turtle

Emys orbicularis

I have seen a photo of one of these taken at Psalidi

FAMILY

Eastern Spadefoot

Pelobates syriacus

TOAD

European Green Toad

Pseudepidalea viridis (Bufotes viridis)

TOAD

I have found these at Kos.

Eastern Tree Frog

Hyla orientalis

FROG

(Species of Community interest)

Marsh or Lake Frog or Levant Water or Bedriaga's Frog

Pelophylax bedriagae or ridibundus

FROG

(Species of Community interest) 1I only found one of these in the mountains in the South of Kos.

Sea Turtles
of
The World

Turtles
of
Australia

Geckos
of
The World

Geckos
of
Australia

Sea Snakes of Australia

Blind Snakes
of
Australia

Reptiles
of
Australia