Reptiles

Biodiversity of Reptiles

While everyone immediately thinks of snakes, lizards, or geckos when they hear the word reptiles, it should be mentioned that these belong to the scaled reptiles. In Africa, there are about 100 different species of reptiles.

Reptiles find very good habitats in Africa, as they can thrive even at high temperatures and extreme dryness. To protect themselves from excessive heat, they take cooling mud baths, while at low body temperatures, reptiles prefer extensive sunbathing.

Before safaris in Africa, people are often warned about aggressive and malicious reptiles, which is nonsense. What is true is that reptiles are more afraid of humans than the other way around. One of the most aggressive snakes is the black cobra, which, however, is not native to Africa.

Snakes

Snakes are among the most common species of reptiles found in Africa. The various species of African snakes are very different in nature. While a black mamba is very sensitive to sounds and movements and immediately flees upon hearing unusual noises, a dangerous puff adder will still bask in the sun even when the enemy is already nearby. Nevertheless, the puff adder should not be underestimated; it is one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa. Among the most venomous snakes in Africa are cobras and mambas, with the Cape cobra being the most venomous snake in all of Africa. Its bite can lead to death within an hour without appropriate treatment.

Other Reptile Species

Numerous species of reptiles have found their habitat in the African jungles, including various species of lizards. The most commonly found species of lizards include skinks, true lizards, chameleons, agamas, and geckos.

Regarded as by far the most beautiful and colorful reptile species in Africa is the rock agama. Particularly striking is the brightly blue back of the males, which additionally has a white dorsal stripe. The females are adorned with a greenish-blue head, while the body is covered in colorful spots. Both sexes of the rock agama are capable of rapidly changing their body coloration for camouflage in dangerous situations. Rock agamas live in many regions of Africa, with their territories being very large. Particularly in the southern parts of Africa, e.g., in South Africa, some specimens of these beautiful reptiles have been discovered that have grown significantly larger than rock agamas in other African regions. Through perfect adaptation to life in the semi-desert, they can reach a size of up to 14 centimeters here.