There are 106 species of Reptilia and Amphibia in Egypt; six are endemic and one, the Egyptian Tortoise, is endangered.

            The most numerous reptiles are the 49 species of lizards; of these the largest group is the Gekkonidae. Among the 36 snake species, nine are poisonous and a further nine are rear-fanged snakes that are also poisonous although they are less of a risk for humans due to the necessity of getting part of the victim to the back of their jaws in order to inject venom.

            The five species of sea turtles found in Egyptian waters are all globally endangered. The Green Turtle and the Hawksbill both nest on Egypt’s shores or on Egyptian islands.

            Five species of Bufonidae (toads), of which one is endemic, are joined by one tree frog and two other species of frogs. The impressive Nile Crocodile, once common along the Nile, is now found only in Lake Nasser, together with the large Nile Monitor and the Nile Soft-shelled Turtle.

21 of 24 Egyptian Tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni

A small, high-domed, vegetarian tortoise that is extremely endangered as, like other small tortoises, it is popular with the pet trade. It is largely endemic to Libya and Egypt and in Egypt its range is restricted to the Mediterranean coastal deserts. Fortunately, a small population is still extant in North Sinai and is currently the subject of conservation efforts