Saltwater Crocodiles, known as “Kayman” in Creole, were the largest land animals when humans first came to Seychelles. This species survives today in Asia and Australasia and is the world’s largest living reptile! Crocodiles became locally extinct, but they are still immortalised in place names like “Roche Caiman.”
After their extinction, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise emerged as the largest reptile on the islands. Today, Seychelles is home to about thirty reptile species, including tortoises, sea turtles, terrapins, snakes, and lizards.
Tortoise, sea turtles, and terrapins
Giant tortoises were once widespread across many islands in the Indian Ocean, where they were sadly hunted for food. This drastically decreased their numbers, except for those on Aldabra. They have now been translocated to other islands. Their demeanour and leisurely pace make Aldabra Giant Tortoises a favourite among visitors to Seychelles. Two species of sea turtles nest in Seychelles: the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle. The Green Turtle gets its name from the greenish colour of the fat around their internal organs, rather than their shell, which is actually dark brown, grey, or olive coloured. In contrast, Hawksbill Turtles have mottled olive green to brown shells, adorned with reddish-brown, brown, or black markings. The shell is high-domed and heart-shaped with overlapping scales. The Black Mud Terrapin and the Yellow-bellied Mud Terrapin are also found here. Both have a hinge on the underside of the shell that allows them to withdraw the head and forelimbs and close the shell for protection.
Tiger chameleon
Lizards – Skinks, geckos, and chameleons
Seychelles is home to unique skinks. The commonly seen Seychelles Skink is slender, sporting a striking black chequered stripe. The Wright’s Skink is larger and bulkier, and found on predator-free islands like Cousin. The Burrowing Skink is small with tiny limbs, leading a secretive life hidden beneath the leaf litter. Bouton’s Skink makes its home on raised coralline islands. It occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region and is found in a range of habitats.
Geckos include the hard-to-miss, brightly coloured Green Geckos, which are active during the day. The bulky Bronze-eyed Gecko has a warty skin pattern and metallic gold eyes. Their large eggs are usually laid in pairs attached to vegetation.
The Seychelles Tiger Chameleon is found on Mahé, Silhouette and Praslin. It is relatively small for a chameleon. One of its most distinctive features is the pointed projection on its chin. It spends much of its time climbing in vegetation, but may occasionally be seen on the ground. Like all chameleons, it hunts by firing its elongated sticky tongue at prey with incredible speed.
Seychelles wolf snake eating a green gecko (Harald & Claudia Ehses)
Snakes
The Seychelles Wolf Snake is the most frequently spotted in the Seychelles. This slender, quick-moving snake comes in two colour variations: a dark brown adorned with scattered golden scales and a golden-brown hue. It’s harmless and is often found in mid-altitude forests. The Seychelles House Snake is a nocturnal species that sometimes ventures out in the late afternoon. It can reach lengths of up to 1.2 metres and is bulkier compared to the wolf snake. Despite its name, it actually prefers woodlands and scrub areas over human-inhabited spaces. It is a mid-brown colour with darker stripes and displays a lovely purple iridescence when the light hits it just right.