Colombia is the sixth richest country in the world for reptiles, and third richest in the Western Hemisphere.
Turtles The turtles (order: Chelonii or Testudines) number thirty-three species from nine families. Fifteen species are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Three turtle species are listed as endemic. Snapping turtles - Chelydridae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Chelydra acutirostris South American snapping turtle Pacific & Caribbean lowlandsSea turtles - Cheloniidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea turtle Caribbean endangered Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's ridley sea turtle Caribbean critically endangered Lepidochelys olivacea Olive ridley sea turtle Pacific & Caribbean coasts vulnerable Chelonia mydas Green sea turtle Pacific & Caribbean coasts endangered Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill sea turtle Pacific & Caribbean coasts critically endangeredSea turtles - Dermochelyidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback sea turtle Pacific & Caribbean coasts critically endangeredMud turtles - Kinosternidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Kinosternon dunni Colombian mud turtle Pacific lowlands (Chocó) Endemic; vulnerable Kinosternon leucostomum White-lipped mud turtle Pacific lowlands vulnerable Kinosternon scorpioides Scorpion mud turtle Pacific lowlands, Amazon basin Pond turtles - Emydidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Trachemys callirostris Colombian slider Trachemys venusta Meso-American slider Wood turtles - Geoemydidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Rhinoclemmys annulata Brown wood turtle Rhinoclemmys diademata Maracaibo wood turtle Rhinoclemmys melanosterna Colombian wood turtle Rhinoclemmys nasuta Large-nosed wood turtle Tortoises - Testudinidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Chelonoidis carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Amazon basin vulnerable Chelonoidis denticulata Yellow-footed tortoise Amazon basin vulnerableSide-necked turtles - Podocnemididae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Peltocephalus dumerilianus Big-headed Amazon River turtle Amazon basin vulnerable Podocnemis erythrocephala Red-headed Amazon River turtle Amazon basin vulnerable Podocnemis expansa Giant South American turtle Amazon basin Podocnemis lewyana Magdalena River turtle Magdalena River Endemic; endangered Podocnemis sextuberculata Six-tubercled Amazon River turtle Amazon basin vulnerable Podocnemis unifilis Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle Amazon basin vulnerable Podocnemis vogli Savanna side-necked turtle Orinoco basin Side-necked turtles - Chelidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Chelus fimbriata Mata mata Amazon & Orinoco basins Mesoclemmys dahli Dahl's toad-headed turtle Northeast Colombia (Bolivar) Endemic Mesoclemmys gibba Gibba turtle Mesoclemmys raniceps Amazon toad-headed turtle Amazon basin Phrynops geoffroanus Geoffroy's side-necked turtle Amazon basin Phrynops tuberosus Cotinga River toad-headed turtle Amazon basin Platemys platycephala Twist-necked turtle Amazon & Orinoco basins Rhinemys rufipes Red side-necked turtle Amazon basin
Crocodilia
Alligators & caimans - Alligatoridae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Paleosuchus palpebrosus Cuvier's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus Smooth-fronted caiman Caiman crocodilus Spectacled caiman Melanosuchus niger Black caiman Crocodiles - Crocodylidae Scientific name Common name Distribution Status Crocodylus acutus American crocodile vulnerable Crocodylus intermedius Orinoco crocodile critically endangered
Squamata
See also Fauna of Colombia
References
External links