Diversity of reptiles and amphibians in the Kingdom
A number of (107) species of reptiles and (7) amphibian species were recorded in the Kingdom belonging to (3) families. Reptiles include (44) species of lizards belonging to (7) families and (55) species of snakes belonging to (8) families, and seven species of turtles belonging to four families, where five types of marine turtles were recorded in the territorial marine waters of the Kingdom; they are as follows: Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Loggerhead turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle, and these five species are listed in Annex I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, which the Kingdom joined on 3/1/1991. In order to preserve these important species at the national and regional level, the Kingdom signed on 11/1/2005 a memorandum of understanding on the protection and management of sea turtles and their habitats in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.
In the Kingdom there are seven species of amphibians belonging to the family of frogs (Bufonidae), all of which need to be preserved, while there is one species, which is the Savigny's treefrog that belongs to the family (Hylidae), and there are two common species that follow the family of toads (Ranidae), one of which is widespread but needs protection in some Areas, the other is rare and needs special attention. Amphibians are used as indicators that prove the integrity of an ecosystem. Amphibians and reptiles also have an environmental role in controlling the number of pests.
