31 Common LIZARDS found in Africa! (ID GUIDE)
Do you want to learn about the different kinds of lizards in Africa?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! In the article below, I have listed the lizards you can expect to see. For each species, you’ll find out how to identify that lizard correctly, along with pictures and interesting facts!
31 Lizards That Live IN Africa:
#1. Tropical House Gecko
- Hemidactylus mabouia
How to identify:
- Length: 5 inches (12.7 cm).
- Lifespan: Between 3 and 5 years.
- Blackish-brown bands that can change color from grey to white and even dark brown.
The Tropical House Gecko is native to sub-Saharan Africa and prefers scrubby and sandy areas near the beach. But this small lizard feels at home in suburban areas in Africa, where it is often found in homes. These geckos mainly feed on spiders, cockroaches, scorpions, moths, anoles, grasshoppers, and even other geckos.
Due to their adaptability, Tropical House Geckos are now found worldwide after being introduced by humans.
#2. Nile Monitor
- Varanus niloticus
How to identify:
- Length: Between 47 – 86 inches (119 to 218 cm).
- Lifespan: Between 10 and 20 Years.
- Nile Monitors have prominent skin patterns; both males and females are grey/brown on top and have green/yellow barring on their tails. Both sexes have large, greenish-yellow spots on their backs, and their underside and throats are creamy-yellow.
Nile Monitors are one of the largest and most spectacular lizards to observe in Africa.
Look for them roaming near a permanent water source near woodlands, scrubs, evergreen thickets, mangroves, and swamps. Nile Monitors feed on frogs, toads, rodents, small turtles, birds, eggs, insects, and fish.
Luckily, the Nile Monitor is a lizard, not a human; otherwise, society would frown upon its polygamous behavior. Both males and females mate with several other partners.
After mating, the female takes a break from the males and makes a suitable nest in termite borrows or digs a hole near water where she lays up to 60 eggs. The female is patient during the incubation process, which lasts six to nine months. The baby monitors dig their way to freedom, or the female digs them out, and after three to four years, they are ready to mate themselves.
#3. Rainbow Agama
- Agama agama
How to identify:
- Length: Between 5.1 and 11.8 inches (13 to 30 cm).
- Lifespan: 25 years.
- The Rainbow Agama is white underneath, and its back limbs are brown with a light stripe running down the middle of its tail. Males have a yellow tail and head with a blue body.
Rainbow Agamas love hot and dry areas in Africa!
In fact, they stay active all day except when the temperature skyrockets to over 100°F (38ºC) in the shade. They mainly feed on insects like ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and termites, but they won’t say no to a small mammal, flower, or fruit.
Like chameleons, the Rainbow Agama uses its tongue to catch its prey. The tip of the Agama’s tongue has sticky mucous glands, enabling it to feed on ants and small insects.
The female produces thermoregulated embryos, meaning that the embryos are able to maintain a normal internal temperature. However, during incubation, higher environmental temperatures result in the development of males, and lower temperatures result in the development of females.After hatching, the youngsters are independent and must fend for themselves until they reach maturity after 14-18 months.
#4. African Five-lined Skink
- Trachylepis quinquetaeniata
How to identify:
- Females are dark brown and sometimes black, with five longitudinal yellowish stripes that extend from head to tail and include whitish spots. The yellowish stripes on the tail gradually change to blue.
- Males are lighter and do not have stripes but have a light blue stripe on the side of their neck and upper lip.
These small blue-tailed lizards prefer grassland and rocky areas in Africa.
Look for African Five-lined Skinks roaming on trees, walls, fences, and buildings. They are often found high up on walls and rocks where they bask in the afternoon sun.
They breed in the summer, where the female lays between 6-10 eggs. The female is protective and will sometimes stay with the nest during incubation.
#5. African Chameleon
- Chamaeleo africanus
How to identify:
- Length: Up to 18 in (46 cm).
- Lifespan: Between 2 and 10 Years.
- The African Chameleon is mostly green and covered with black spots but can change color like most Chameleons.
The African Chameleon, also called “Sahel Chameleon,” is named after Sahel, a region between the Sahara and the Sudanian savanna. These lizards prefer to hide in reeds and shrubs in Africa and are often seen on low branches of trees.
With its four-toed feet and prehensile tail, the African Chameleon slowly moves through the branches until it finds its next meal, consisting mainly of insects that it catches with its sticky tongue.
The male roams the lower branches of trees during the breeding season to find a suitable female to mate with. After mating, the female leaves the security of the tree and goes down to the ground to dig a hole to lay her eggs in. The female lays up to 70 eggs, taking about three months before the youngsters appear.
#6. Antillean House Gecko
- Hemidactylus angulatus
- Length: 2.2 inches (5.6 cm).
- Lifespan: Up to 7 years.
The Antillean House Gecko is no stranger to humans in Africa!
This lizard prefers the safety and shelter of urban settings like towns, cities, and airports. They are great climbers and love roaming walls and stones where they hunt at night, where they sit close to the light and wait for their next meal. Naturally, they are mostly found in trees, where they rest beneath the bark of trees during the day.
The Antillean House Gecko is nocturnal and feeds on cockroaches, arthropods, larvae, and insects.
#7. Speckle-lipped Mabuya
- Trachylepis maculilabris
How to identify:
- They have a brown back and a thin yellow rim surrounding their ear opening.
- Both sexes look similar.
The Speckle-lipped Mabuya, often called the Speckle-lipped Skink, is diurnal, meaning it is mostly active during the day. These lizards enjoy hot areas in Africa and often bask on a rock or log under the intense sun.
The Speckle-lipped Mabuya prefer areas that are well protected from the elements and are often seen in buildings like houses, garages, and floor apartments. In nature, they find safety in thick foliage but often climb rocks to sun themselves or find a female or food.
#8. Peters’s Rock Agama
- Agama picticauda
How to identify:
- Length: About 12 inches (31 cm).
- They have tan limbs with a light underside. It has a stripe running through the middle of its tail with six to seven dark spots on the side.
- Males are larger than females.
- Dominant males have a yellow head and tail with a blue body. Subordinate females and males are distinguishable by their olive-green heads.
Peters’s Rock Agama prefers areas in Africa with a lot of vegetation. They are semi-arboreal terrestrial, meaning they spend half of the day on the ground and the other half in trees, making the humid savanna forest their favorite habitat. But stay on alert because they are also often seen in urban areas.
Peters’s Rock Agamas are opportunistic hunters that spend most of the day in tree branches waiting for prey. When a spider, cricket, grasshopper, or ant passes close to the lizard, it quickly strikes to devour its meal.
#9. Senegal Mabuya
- Trachylepis affinis
By Jarne Colman – Own work, CC0
How to identify:
- They are brown with a white belly, four rows of black spots, and a pale stripe that stretches from its upper lip to its groin.
- Both sexes look similar, but adult males are smaller than adult females.
The Senegal Mabuya is a small brown lizard inhabiting forests and woodlands in Africa. They spend most of the day on the ground and rarely climb trees or rocks. Where other lizards seek out a rock to bask in the sun, the Senegal Mabuya will lie on top of leaves, where it can quickly hide if a predator approaches.
Senegal Mabuyas are insectivores that mainly feed on small earthworms, spiders, and other insects. These small brown lizards breed in spring or early summer. Interestingly, after mating, the female lets the eggs develop inside her for a long period before she lays them.
#10. Fire-sided Skink
- Trachylepis perrotetii
How to identify:
- The back is bronze or olive-brown with small black spots, and it has orange-red sides with white specks and a light belly.
- The male and female look similar, but the male’s colors are brighter.
The Fire-sided Skink is a large lizard in Africa weighing up to 200 grams (7 oz). Its color, size, narrow head, and long neck easily identify it. They are mostly found in urban areas with high grassy vegetation, hiding in old rodent burrows and underneath rocks.
The Fire-sided Skink has a healthy omnivorous diet and feeds on various insects and fruits, but the larger adults will even eat baby mice.
Once the male and female have mated, the eggs develop within the female. And then, since this species is ovoviviparous, the eggs mature and hatch internally, resulting in live offspring. The female produces between five and nine babies and protects them for about three weeks until they can fend for themselves.
#11. Flap-necked Chameleon
- Chamaeleo dilepis
How to identify:
- Males and females have a coloring that ranges from brown to yellow to green. Both sexes have between 1 and 3 light patches on their upper flanks and a light stripe on their lower sides.
- It is identified by its broad tail that starts at the base and a spur that grows behind each hind foot.
The Flap-necked Chameleon is a large lizard belonging to the Chamaeleonidae family, a common sight in Africa. These unique lizards prefer moist or arid savannah, coastal forests, bushy grass, and woodlands, but it is known to venture into suburban and rural areas. They feed on various insects and invertebrates, like beetles and grasshoppers.
When it is time for breeding, the Flap-necked Chameleon male is no stranger to showing off his strength and masculinity by fighting other males to secure a suitable female. Winning the fight does not necessarily persuade the female, but it at least allows the male to approach her.
If the male is accepted, courtship with the female is brief and only lasts a few minutes. Mating lasts about an hour and is done in the trees’ safety.
#12. African Striped Skink
- Trachylepis striata
How to identify:
- Length: Up to 9.8 inches (24.9 cm).
- Lifespan: 18 years.
- Bronze-brownish with two full-length yellow stripes along the spine.
The African Striped Skink is easily identified by the two yellowish stripes along its spine, which is why it’s called a “Striped Skink.”
Grasslands and forests are home to this shy lizard that prefers to burrow underground to avoid predators. Sometimes, hiding from predators isn’t enough, and the Striped Skink will shed its tail to escape, but it grows back within a few months.
It doesn’t take long for baby Striped Skinks to grow up. After the youngsters take their first breath, it only takes 15 to 18 months to mature and reproduce.
#13. Andalusian Wall Lizard
- Podarcis vaucheri
How to identify:
- The head is flat and covered with black spots, and it has a white or pale orange belly with black spots on the sides.
- The male is larger than the female and has a more robust head.
The Andalusian Wall Lizard prefers living near pastureland, rocky areas, rural gardens, forests, and shrubby vegetation, but it also appears in some urban areas. This small lizard mainly feeds on insects, ants, and spiders.
The Andalusian Wall Lizard has a self-regulatory temperature system, making it adaptable and active in various climates, including areas with snow. They are diurnal and seek hard surfaces like stone walls and rocks to bask in the sun to regulate their temperature.
#14. Bosc’s Fringe-toed Lizard
- Acanthodactylus boskianus
How to identify:
- They have five dark longitudinal stripes, and the middle stripe subdivides at the neck with an olive-grey dorsal.
- The males are larger than females. The female’s tail underside becomes red through the breeding period.
Bosc’s Fringe-toed Lizards are extremely active hunters in Africa and mainly feed on insects.
When the breeding season arrives, the males set out to secure a female, and she is very particular with whom she mates. Chemicals exude from femoral glands and play a role in sex recognition, courtship, and communication. Males with larger heads are the thing that makes a Bosc’s Fringe-toed Lizard female’s heartbeat faster.
Once the male secures a female, he is extremely territorial and will often discourage other males through aggression.
#15. Senegal Chameleon
- Chamaeleo senegalensis
How to identify:
- The female is larger than the male and, when pregnant, may have a pattern of orange or yellow dots on a dark background.
- The male is grayish brown, with four triangular blotches that widen toward the dorsum with a broader tail.
The Senegal Chameleon is a unique lizard in Africa that prefers dry forests and the savanna but is known to inhabit urban areas. These chameleons use low-pitched sound and air vibrations to identify where their prey is and strike when it is in sight. Like all chameleons, it relies on its long, sticky tongue to catch its prey, mostly stick insects, grasshoppers, crickets, mantids, and locusts.
In addition to smelling, the Senegal Chameleon’s nose is also used to communicate. On the nose, you will find the Jacobsen’s organ, which is used during the mating season to communicate. During mating, the Jacobsen’s organ reacts to a chemical spray through which the male and female exchange mating signals.
#16. Wahlberg’s Striped Skink
- Trachylepis wahlbergii
By Ryanvanhuyssteen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
How to identify:
- They are greyish/brown and have a white belly with a thin black band that runs from its shoulder to its eye.
- The male and female look similar, but the male has a yellowish/orange throat during breeding.
The Wahlberg’s Striped Skink is a very active lizard in Africa, inhabiting woodlands, savannas, suburbs, and semi-dry areas. These medium-sized reptiles are great climbers and prefer to scurry along trees, rocks, and buildings. They are “diurnal,” meaning they are mostly active during the daytime and often basking in the sun on a ledge, log, or rock.
With extraordinary climbing ability and astonishing hunting skills, the Wahlberg’s Striped Skink makes quick work when it attacks its prey. They mostly hunt crickets, flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles, but they also feed on earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, snails, and woodlice. Larger individuals also eat small lizards, rodents, and geckos.
#17. Cape Dwarf Gecko
- Lygodactylus capensis
Also called the Common Dwarf Gecko
How to identify:
- They have a brown or grey stippled throat, cream belly, and greyish/brown back.
- Females are larger than the male.
One of the smallest lizards in Africa (and the world) is the Cape Dwarf Gecko.
It only grows to a maximum length of 1.7 inches (4.3 cm), shorter than a matchbox.
Cape Dwarf Geckos prefer protective areas like woodlands, savannas, and forests, but they do not shy away from humans. They are often seen roaming the walls and gardens in towns and cities.
As expected, these small lizards mostly feed on small insects and invertebrates. They are extremely active and require a lot of feeding to support their energetic lifestyle, especially when breeding.
#18. Crested Chameleon
- Trioceros cristatus
How to identify:
- Males are chestnut brown with blue spots on their helmets, while females are larger and usually bright green. However, individuals can range between many different colors.
The Crested Chameleon is a beautiful lizard in Africa, especially the male with his blue spotted head. These chameleons prefer humid areas like forests with thick leaves, where they mostly hide in the trees.
Crested Chameleons feed on insects, locusts, larvae, and grasshoppers, but this steady hunter will even occasionally catch small frogs.
At the end of July and the beginning of September, just as the wet season ceases and the dry season starts, the male gets all his colors and finds suitable females to mate with. The male establishes his territory by chasing all other males away. The male mates with various females in his territory and defends it fiercely from other males.
#19. Uganda Blue-headed Tree Agama
- Acanthocercus ugandaensis
How to identify:
- Brown-grey with a green-yellow vertebral stripe and a large head.
- The male is slightly bigger than the female and has a blue head when feeding, breeding, and when it is hot.
- The female is olive green, with a distinctive black pattern on her back.
The Uganda Blue-Headed Tree Agama is a lizard in Africa with a large head that loves to scurry in trees and gardens. It is arboreal, meaning it seldom visits the ground and feels at home in trees.
The Uganda Blue-Headed Tree Agama has a healthy appetite. Although they are mostly insectivorous, they feed on seeds, berries, grass, and the eggs of other lizards if there aren’t enough insects around.
Males will mate with up to six females during the breeding season. Once the male has a female in sight, he will bob his head to get her attention. Then she will offer him her hindquarters and then run away. The female runs until the male catches her, then copulation ensues.
#20. Johnston’s Chameleon
- Trioceros johnstoni
They are also known as Ruwenzori Three-Horned Chameleon or Johnston’s Three-Horned Chameleon.
How to identify:
- It is light green with three to five yellow/turquoise vertical bands. When threatened, it turns dark brown, and its bands lighten.
- The female is smaller than the male and lacks horns and yellow markings on her head.
- Their eyes are large and can move independently so that they can look in different directions at the same time.
Johnston’s Chameleon is found in central Africa in high-altitude habitats.
Being omnivores, they mostly feed on insects and arthropods. But because of their large size, they sometimes prey on birds!
Like other chameleons, they can change color to match their surroundings to avoid being detected by predators. Changing color is more than a defensive tactic. They also use the changing of color to communicate and express their mood. For example, males will change color when they fight another male but also to indicate to a female that they want to mate.
#21. Rainbow Skink
- Trachylepis margaritifera
How to identify:
- Normally dark brown or olive-brown. Sometimes, they have orange/yellow stripes that run down to their blue tail.
- Females and young males have yellowish/ orange lines and blue tails, while adult males have small white spots on their olive base.
The Rainbow Skink is known for its bright blue tail that shimmers when it basks in the sun. These lizards prefer high, elevated areas in Africa.
They spend most of the day in mountain regions crawling through cracks and holes for their next meal. They have gotten used to humans and sometimes wander into suburban areas and houses.
#22. Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama
- Agama mwanzae
How to identify:
- Males have a violet or bright red head, shoulders, and neck with a dark blue body.
- The females are mostly brown.
This species is one of the most colorful lizards found in Africa!
In fact, the Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama is also called the “Spider-Man Agama” because of the male’s bright red head, neck, shoulders, and blue body. These lizards inhabit semi-deserts and prefer areas with short and tall grass and savannas.
The male is no stranger to fighting and fiercely protects his territory and females. When the male confronts another male, his color changes to brown, and his body is covered with white spots.
The male breeds with up to five females during the breeding season, and he performs an exotic dance that includes head swinging and bobbing to get her attention. Once the female accepts the male’s dancing routine, the two copulate, whereafter, the male sets off to find the next female to mate with.
#23. Variable Skink
- Trachylepis varia
How to identify:
- Blackish, pale brown, olive green, or red-brown back and sometimes has black spots. Look for a clear, white stripe down its backbone with a blueish-white belly.
- There is little difference between males and females except that females live longer.
The Variable Skink prefers dry savanna areas and grassland as their habitat in Africa, where they spend their days climbing trees and rocks. They are great hunters and use barks, leaves, and stones to hide under, from which they pounce on their prey.
They waste no time reproducing because their life expectancy is less than two years. Once an individual is eight months old, they are ready to breed, and males set out to find a female.
#24. Southern Rock Agama
- Agama atra
How to identify:
- Colors range between brown and grey, but they all have a white belly.
- A pale stripe runs through the center of their tail.
- During the mating season, the adult male’s head turns blue.
Africa is home to the Southern Rock Agama, an incredibly beautiful and lively lizard. They can be found in rocky landscapes and mountainous regions.
Males are territorial but seldom display aggression toward others and will avoid fighting if possible. But when the male has no choice but to fight, he shows dominance over other males by changing color, charging with his mouth open, and bobbing his head.
Males make females feel like royalty by repeatedly bowing their heads. After the female finds the male worthy, the pair copulate.
#25. Cape Dwarf Chameleon
- Bradypodion pumilum
How to identify:
- Green body with a rusty-red to orange lateral stripe that is often seen.
- Males and females look similar, but the male’s colors are brighter, and his head crest is bigger.
Cape Town, a coastal city in South Africa, is home to the Cape Dwarf Chameleon, and tropical forestry is the ideal environment for this medium-sized lizard. Beautiful river valleys with thick vegetation are where they are naturally found, although they do often wander into urban gardens.
Like other chameleons, their tongue is twice their body length and is the ideal prey-catching weapon. To hunt, the Cape Dwarf Chameleon settles on a branch and waits patiently for an insect or arthropod to get within striking distance. Then, it shoots out its tongue towards its prey.
These lizards are oviparous, which means that after mating, the eggs develop and hatch inside the female, and she births live young. When the birthing starts, the female positions herself on a branch and drops the baby straight to the ground! The sudden impact on the ground signals the youngster to find safety and indicates that it needs to survive on its own from that moment onwards.
#26. Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
- Afrogecko porphyreus
How to identify:
- Typical grows to 2-5 in (5-13 cm) long.
- It has a brown body with patterns of stripes, spots, and bands.
- Females are slightly smaller and not as colorful as males.
The Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko is a VERY small lizard found in Africa!
They are so small they are able to hide from predators in small cracks and underneath rocks and bark. They inhabit gardens, forests, houses, and just about anywhere they can find food.
The Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko is an exceptional hunter, consuming a large amount of food. In fact, they are a great form of pest control and are welcomed by many people into their yards. They have specialized toe pads covered with microscopic bristles called setae and scales that enhance their climbing ability.
They are peaceful lizards and show no aggression toward others in the same species; males often share the same territory.
#27. Cape Skink
- Trachylepis capensis
Also called the Cape Three-lined Skink.
How to identify:
- A rather fat grey or olive-brown lizard with three pale stripes that run down its back.
- The male and female look similar and have no sexual size dimorphism.
These lizards adapt well to humans in Africa!
In fact, Cape Skinks can become quite tame if they live near people. Some individuals have even been trained to eat out of one’s hand!
Unfortunately, domestic cats have wreaked havoc on many populations of Cape Skinks. These introduced predators will typically kill all the skinks in their immediate area, as they have no natural defenses for cats.
Look for Cape Skinks at the base of rocks or trees, where they typically dig a small tunnel to hide inside. They will use just about anything as a temporary shelter!
#28. Kenyan Rock Agama
- Agama lionotus
How to identify:
- Females, juveniles, and lesser males are dull, olive-brown.
- The dominant male in an area has a bright orange neck and head, a bright reflective blue body, and a striped tail.
The Kenyan Rock Agama is a stunning lizard found in Africa!
Dominant males are unmistakable with their bright orange necks and heads. They are found in various habitats, including suburban gardens, coastal scrubs, moist and dry savannas, semi-desert, and woodlands.
The Kenyan Rock Agama is an omnivore that feeds on ants and invertebrates, but it also eats fruit, flowers, and grass. They are territorial, and many of these lizards will form a colony with a single dominant male as the leader.
They communicate through body language and changing color. The bobbing head is an essential communication method. Rival males will bob their heads as a challenge, but if a male bobs his head to a female, it is to send her a mating invitation.
#29. Bibron’s Agama
- Agama bibronii
It is also called the North African Rock Agama.
How to identify:
- The male has a greyish-green dorsal, blue head, and orange rims around his eyes, and his dorsal has brown spots.
- The female is smaller than the male and has an orangey-yellow back with red stripes.
- Age and exposure to the sun cause color variance in both males and females.
Bibron’s Agama inhabits the rocky areas of northern Africa and prefers Mediterranean vegetation, steppe areas, and cultivated land. These lizards are omnivores and feed on arthropods, small lizards, and plant material. They feed on flowers for their moisture content.
Males are extremely competitive and often compete with other males for the opportunity to mate with a female. When a male encounters another male, he puffs up his throat and pushes the front part of his body upward to make him look bigger.
If this first intimidation move doesn’t work, the two males will fight by circling and beating each other with their tales until one gives up. After winning the fight, the male seeks out a female and courts her with a circular dance, and she responds by arching her back and raising her tail and body.
#30. Finch’s Agama
- Agama finchi
By William Stephens – https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/63262682, CC BY 4.0
How to identify:
- They have a bluish body, a yellowish-orange and black tail, and a greenish, orange or yellow head.
- Males and females look similar.
Finch’s Agama is a beautiful and colorful lizard in Africa.
They inhabit mountainous rainforests and grassland, where they love to bask on trees or rocks.
Finch’s Agamas form social colonies known as harems, where a dominant male has several females and subordinate males. Males often challenge each other, and the stronger male establishes dominance through fighting and changing color.
The dominant male mates with all the mature females in his harem, and the oviparous female seeks out moist sand or soil, where she lays between five and seven eggs. Once the female has laid her eggs, she will cover them with grass or herbs to conceal them from predators lurking around.
#31. Common Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus intermedius
How to identify:
- Females have a brown belly, black scales, and white stripes on their backs.
- Adult male colorations vary according to each subspecies (there are 9).
The Common Flat Lizard inhabits moist savannas and rocky outcrops in southern Africa. The small lizard spends most of its day basking on rocks or hiding undeath them.
The Common Flat Lizard usually consumes insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates as its primary diet, although it may occasionally consume plant matter. They are social, forming colonies with one dominant male ruling over several females and subordinate males.
Dominant males are extremely territorial and fiercely defend their colony against other males. The dominant male will deter other males by turning on his side and exposing his bright-colored belly. If showing his belly does not work, the male will lift his head and expose his colorful chest and throat.
Do you want to learn about MORE animals in Africa?
Check out these ID Guides!
-
24 Dangerous Predators Found in Africa
-
24 Types of Antelopes that live in Africa
-
24 Common SPIDERS Found in Africa! (w/Pics)
-
27 Common SNAKES That Live in Africa! (ID Guide)
Which of these lizards in Africa is your favorite?
Leave a comment below!
