Reptiles
Northern Cyprus plays host to over 1600 plant species of which 22 are endemic, 350 species of birds, of which 7 are endemic, and 26 different species of reptile and amphibian. The two main reasons for this amazing diversity are, firstly, that Cyprus was not affected by the last ice-age (which wiped out many species from areas further north), and secondly, that Cyprus forms a resting, and nesting, station for birds migrating between Africa and Eastern Europe.
Snakes are comatose in the heat of high summer and spend the winter in hibernation and are without exception frightened of human beings and only attack to defend themselves. Most snakes of the island are non-venomous. There are six types of snakes in Cyprus, of which three are poisonous: Only one of these, the blunt-nosed viper can be dangerous to man. The other two poisonous snakes of the island are the slender cat snake and the Montpellier snake.
Caretta caretta sea turtle
There are two main types of sea-turtles nesting along the coasts of Northern Cyprus; these are: Caretta caretta (Sini Kaplumbagasi), and Chelonia mydas (Yesil Kaplumbaga). The both are listed as endangered species and under strict protection.
About 46 sandy beaches in North Cyprus comprise the main nestling ground for these endangered Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta sea turtles in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1992, about 1,500 rare female turtles laid eggs on the shores of North Cyprus.
The egging season of these sea-turtles is from mid-May until mid-October. The turtles make their nests [in the beach] by digging the sand 30-60 cm deep. If they succeed laying their eggs and that the eggs are not harmed, the baby turtles crawl down to the sea in about 55-60 days. And if the baby turtles manage to survive, they come back to lay their eggs there in 30 years time.
The blunt-nosed viper (Vipera lebetina)
Is a dangerous highly poisonous viper.It is a fat snake, varying in colour with a yellow and horn-like tail-end.It inhabits steppelike terrain with boulders and bushes and hillsides beside streams. It attacks only in defence. If it is disturbed, it hisses loudly and may attack very rapidly. It is particularly dangerous because when it bites, its teeth remain embedded in the tissue and the movements of the jaw pump large amounts of poison into the wound.
The cat snake (Telescopus fallax)
Can grow up to one metre in lenght. Generally nocturnal, active at dusk and nightime, lives in marshy areas beside streams and shelters in burrows and under stones during the day. It is yellow-brown speckled with black and is a fast mover catching lizards from their hiding places.
The Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessu lanus)
Is a poisonous snake. Its venom is not normally dangerous to man, but can cause painful local swelling and a headache. It can grow to two metres and lives in terrain with short grass and undergrowth and feeds on mainly lizards.
The non-poisonous varieties
Are the Ravergier's whipe snake or the coin snake, the Persian or large whip-snake and the rare Cyprus whip-snake.
The Ravergier's whip snake or the coin snake (Coluber ravergieri) Also Known as the Coin snake (Coluber nummifer)
It has a large head and can grow up to 140 cm. Yellowish or gray brown in colour. It has dark markings on top and sides of head. It prefers rocky terrain with little vegetation. It feeds on lizards, small mammals, birds, chicks and geckos. A quick moving and readily biting species.
It is not a dangerous snake and a bite can cause bleeding, discoloration and pain. Are the Ravergier's whipe snake or the coin snake, the Persian or large whip-snake and the rare Cyprus whip-snake.
The Large whip-snake (Coluber jugularis)
Can be up to 2 m long when fully grown.It is the longest snake of Europe. It is yellow-brown in colour for the first three years of its life and then turns black. In defence, it coils itself into a spiral and attacks, hissing loudly.
The Cyprus whip-snake (Coluber cypriensis)
A well defined head with a long and slender body and can grow up to 110cm. It is endemic to Cyprus. It is a recently identified snake species so very little is known about it. It prefers rocky areas that are covered with vegetation and feeds mainly on lizards.
It is not dangerous but the bite can be painful.
Ablepharus budaki
A skink with a slim and glossy appearance and it can grow up to 6-12 cm. Lives in open spaces under short bushy plants and maquis or where there are few trees. It likes to hide under stones and leaves and feeds on small insects and mollusks. It has very short limbs so it is not fast.
Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mediterranean Chameleon)
It can grow up to a length of 24-30 cm. It has flattened body and slow movements. It can change colour very quickly to blend in with its environment. It can move with ease amongst twigs and branches and catch its prey with a sticky extendable tongue.
Eumeces schneideri (Daudin, 1802) (Schneider's Skink)
A large, stout skink with a total length up to 42 cm. brown to gray or yellowish-brown with reddish or yellowish spots. A striking longitudinal yellow band usually present on the flanks. The venter is light yellow. It lives in bushy open spaces that are rockly. It likes to hide under stones and in holes and can burrow. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates and lizards.
Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Turkish Gecko)
It can grow to a legth of 9-10cm. Lives under stones in crevices in houses and ruins. Feeds on insects and spiders. It is mainly nocturnal but can be active during the day.
Mabuya vittata (Olivier, 1804) (Banded Skink)
It can grow to a length of 20cm or even slightly longer. It is closely related to M.aurata but is less slender in body. It lives in bushy scrubland and in rockly open spaces or forests. It likes to hide under the roots of bushes or under stones. It feeds on insects.
Ophisops elegans (Minitris, 1832) (Snake-eyed Lizard, Field Lizard)
A small lizard with a total length up to 15-16 cm. A ground dwelling species living in open arid plains with sparse vegetation and rocks. It feeds on insects.