An annotated checklist and species accounts of the native terrestrial reptiles of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), an archipelago of more than 200 islands and islets at the southeastern terminus of the Lucayan Archipelago, support a native terrestrial reptilian fauna of 11 species representing eight families. Of these, eight species are endemic to the TCI, two non-endemic species are each represented by an endemic subspecies, and one species occurs in the TCI without endemic differentiation. Four subspecies are recognized within two of the endemic species.

Seven species are of significant conservation concern, particularly the Critically Endangered Spondylurus turksae (likely now restricted to a single population) and the Endangered Cyclura carinata. Here, an annotated checklist is presented with illustrated species accounts for all native terrestrial reptiles of the TCI, synthesizing published literature through 2026 with original field data collected across the Turks and Caicos Banks between 2006 and 2025.

Each account provides information on taxonomy, type specimen data, description, distribution within the archipelago, habitat use, natural history, and IUCN conservation status. Species accounts are accompanied by original photographs. I also recommend recognizing two subspecies of Leiocephalus psammodromus, instead of six (L. p. psammodromus for the Turks Bank and L. p. apocrinus for the Caicos Bank).

This checklist provides a current reference for researchers, conservation practitioners, and natural historians working in the TCI and the broader Caribbean region.