List of reptiles of Ireland facts for kids

A male viviparous lizard

Green sea turtle

Hawksbill turtle

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

There is only one land reptile species native to Ireland, the viviparous or common lizard. It appears to have a widespread distribution across the entire island with coastal, bogland and mountainous areas showing highest numbers of sightings.

Five marine turtle species appear regularly off the west coast but do not come ashore. All are endangered, some critically. [1]. The pond turtle is introduced.

Subclass: Diapsida

Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha

Superorder: Lepidosauria

Order: Squamata (lizards, snakes)

• Suborder: Lacertilia (lizards)
  • Family: Lacertidae
    • Subfamily: Lacertinae
      • Genus: Zootoca
        • Viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara (LC: least concern)
  • Family: Anguidae
    • Subfamily: Anguinae
      • Genus: Anguis
        • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis (is confined to The Burren; is almost certainly a recent introduction, not considered to be native to Ireland)

Subclass: Anapsida

Order: Testudines (turtles)

• Suborder: Cryptodira
  • Superfamily: Chelonioidea (sea turtles)
    • Family: Dermochelyidae
      • Genus: Dermochelys
        • Leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea (CR: critically endangered)
    • Family: Cheloniidae
      • Genus: Chelonia
        • Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (EN: endangered species)
      • Genus: Eretmochelys
        • Hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (CR)
      • Genus: Lepidochelys
        • Kemp's ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii (CR)
      • Genus: Caretta
        • Loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta (EN)
  • Superfamily: Testudinoidea (pond turtles)
    • Family: Emydidae
      • Genus: Trachemys
        • Pond slider Trachemys scripta (introduced)

• King, G.L. and Berrow, S.D. (2009) Marine turtles in Irish waters. Special Supplement to the Irish Naturalists' Journal (30 pages)