There is only one known 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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Lacerta_vivipara_1_%28Marek_Szczepanek%29.jpg/220px-Lacerta_vivipara_1_%28Marek_Szczepanek%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Hawksbill_Turtle.jpg/220px-Hawksbill_Turtle.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Caretta_caretta_060417w2.jpg/220px-Caretta_caretta_060417w2.jpg)
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.
EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
EW | Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
CR | Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
EN | Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
VU | Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
NT | Near threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. |
LC | Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
DD | Data deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. |
Subclass: Diapsida
editInfraclass: Lepidosauromorpha
editSuperorder: Lepidosauria
edit- Suborder: Lacertilia (lizards)
- Family: Lacertidae
- Subfamily: Lacertinae
- Genus: Zootoca
- Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara LC
- Genus: Zootoca
- Subfamily: Lacertinae
- Family: Anguidae
- Subfamily: Anguinae
- Genus: Anguis
- Slowworm, Anguis fragilis NE (believed to be a more recent introduction, with confirmed sightings only in The Burren[2])
- Genus: Anguis
- Subfamily: Anguinae
- Family: Lacertidae
- Suborder: Cryptodira
- Superfamily: Chelonioidea (sea turtles)
- Family: Dermochelyidae
- Genus: Dermochelys
- Leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea LC
- Genus: Dermochelys
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Genus: Chelonia
- Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas EN
- Genus: Eretmochelys
- Hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata CR
- Genus: Lepidochelys
- Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii CR Vagrant
- Genus: Caretta
- Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta VU
- Genus: Chelonia
- Family: Dermochelyidae
- Superfamily: Testudinoidea (pond turtles)
- Family: Emydidae
- Genus: Trachemys
- Pond slider, Trachemys scripta LC Introduced [3]
- Genus: Trachemys
- Family: Emydidae
- Superfamily: Chelonioidea (sea turtles)
References
edit- ^ "Understanding leatherback turtles in the Irish Sea".
- ^ Lizard Survey 2009 - Irish Wildlife Trust
- ^ McGabhan, D. and Quigley, D.T.G. Minchin, D. 2013 First record of the freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta scripta from the Shannon. Irish Naturalists' Journal 32: 75
- King, G.L. and Berrow, S.D. (2009) Marine turtles in Irish waters. Special Supplement to the Irish Naturalists' Journal (30 pages)