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Species Statistics Aug 2019
<HTML> <!--This file created 5/17/05 11:53 Uhr by Claris Home Page version 3.0--> <HEAD> <BASE HREF="http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/~uetz/families/"> <TITLE>Species Statistics Aug 2019</TITLE> <META NAME=GENERATOR CONTENT="Claris Home Page 3.0"> <X-CLARIS-WINDOW TOP=45 BOTTOM=728 LEFT=274 RIGHT=959> <X-CLARIS-TAGVIEW MODE=minimal> <style type="text/css"> <!-- .black { color: #000; } --> </style> </HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" VLINK="#800080"> <H3><FONT SIZE="+2"><B>Species Numbers (as of September 2024)</B></FONT></H3> <P>The tables below give you an idea how many species* of reptiles are known. About 200 species have been described in each of the previous years and therefore the real number changes continuously. See <a href="http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/zt02334p068.pdf" target="blank"><em>The original descriptions of reptiles</em></a> (<a href="http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/viewFile/zootaxa.4375.2.5/13578" target="_blank"><em>and their subspecies</em></a>) for a historical analysis. Note also that currently <strong>922 reptile</strong> <strong>species</strong> have a total of <strong>2,118 subspecies</strong>. Some authors reject the idea of subspecies and either synonymize them with their parent species or consider them as valid species (e.g. Wallach et al. 2014, Snakes of the World).</P> <P><FONT SIZE="+2"><B>Species Numbers by Higher Taxa:</B></FONT></P> <TABLE BORDER=1 CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=3 WIDTH=940> <TR> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"> </TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Feb 2008</div></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Jan 2011</div></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Feb 2012</div></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Feb 2013</div></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Aug 2014</div></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">Aug 2015</div></TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Aug 2016</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Oct 2017</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">July 2018</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Aug 2019</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Aug 2020</TD> <TD width="47" align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Nov 2021 </TD> <TD width="43" align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Dec 2022</TD> <TD width="44" align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">Oct 2023</TD> <TD width="32" align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><p><strong>Aug 2024</strong></p></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"> <P>Amphisbaenia (amphisbaenians)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><CENTER> 168 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">181 </div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">181</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">184</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">188</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#31FFFF"><div align="center">193</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">196</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">193</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">196</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">195</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">201</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">202 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">201</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">202</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FFFF">(203)</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"> <P>Sauria (lizards)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><CENTER> 5,079 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><div align="center">5,461 </div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><div align="center">5,634</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><div align="center">5,796</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><div align="center">5,987</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#31FF31"><div align="center">6145</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">6,263</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">6,399</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">6,512</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">6,687</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">6,905</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">7,144 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">7,310</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">7,396</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#31FF31">7,724</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"> <P>Serpentes (snakes)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><CENTER> 3,149 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><div align="center">3,315 </div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><div align="center">3,378</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><div align="center">3,432</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><div align="center">3,496</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FFFF31"><div align="center">3567</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,619</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,672</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,709</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,789</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,848</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">3,956 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">4,038</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">4,073</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFF31">4,145</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"> <P>Testudines (turtles)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><CENTER> 313 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><div align="center">317 </div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><div align="center">327</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><div align="center">328</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><div align="center">341</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF6300"><div align="center">341</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">346</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">350</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">351</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">353</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">360</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">360 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">363</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">361 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF6300">366</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"> <P>Crocodylia (crocodiles)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><CENTER> 23 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><div align="center">24 </div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><div align="center">25</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><div align="center">25</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><div align="center">25</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF"><div align="center">25</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">25</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">24</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">24</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">25</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">26</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">27 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">27</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">27</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF9CFF">27</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"> <P>Rhynchocephalia (tuataras)</P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><CENTER> 2 </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><div align="center">2</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><div align="center">2</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><div align="center">1</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><div align="center">1</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FF639C"><div align="center">1</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FF639C">1</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=118 HEIGHT=30> <P><FONT COLOR="#FF0000"><B>Reptile species total</B></FONT></P> </TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><CENTER> <font color="#FF0000" class="black">8,734</font> </CENTER></TD> <TD WIDTH=42 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><div align="center"><font color="#FF0000" class="black">9,300</font></div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 HEIGHT=30 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><div align="center">9,547</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=40 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><div align="center">9,766</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><div align="center">10,038</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><div align="center">10,272</div></TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">10,450</TD> <TD WIDTH=48 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">10,639</TD> <TD WIDTH=47 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">10,793</TD> <TD WIDTH=46 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">11,050</TD> <TD WIDTH=60 align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">11,341</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">11,690 </TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">11,940</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">12,060</TD> <TD align="right" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">12,263</TD> </TR> </TABLE> <P><strong>Number of families: </strong>As of March 2024 there are <strong>93 families</strong> of reptiles (see our <a href="http://www.reptile-database.org/db-info/taxa.html" target="_blank">taxonomic overview</a> and the <a href="http://www.reptile-database.org/trees/Zheng_2015_squamate_phylogeny_modified.pdf" target="_blank">phylogenetic tree of squamates</a> for lists). Note that this number is a bit arbitrary, depending on what is called a family (sometimes a subfamily). Note that in earlier stats amphisbaenians were not included in the count of lizards, but starting in Aug 2024 they are.</P> <P><strong>Number of genera: </strong>As of March 2024 there are <strong>1249 genera</strong> of reptiles. See our <a href="http://www.reptile-database.org/data/" target="_blank">downloadable spreadsheet</a> for a complete list.</P> <P><FONT SIZE="+2"><B>Species Numbers by Family or geographic region:</B></FONT></P> <p><b>Please <a href="http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/search.php" target="blank">search</a> the database for individual families or country name.</b></p> <UL> <LI><A HREF="http://www.reptile-database.org/db-info/diversity.html"><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><B>Map showing the worldwide distribution of reptiles</B></FONT></A><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"> (as of Dec 2020)</FONT> </LI> </UL> <HR> <p>* What exactly is a "species"? A species may contain many individuals of different appearance ("variations") but as long as they interbreed they can exchange genetic information and therefore form a genetic continuum. This <B>biological species concept</B> is increasingly challenged by the "<B>evolutionary species concept</B>" which rather considers populations of very similar specimens as species. As a result, many subspecies have been raised to "full species" status and therefore the number of species increases just because of that.</p> <p><B>More information on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" target="blank">Species concepts</a> (Wikipedia) </B><B> </B><B> </B></p> <B> <HR> </B><A HREF="http://www.reptile-database.org/">BACK to the REPTILE DATABASE Home Page</A> <HR> This page is maintained by Peter Uetz. <B>Last updated:</B> 36 Sep 2024 </BODY> </HTML>