Long-tailed Skink?

Unknown genus and species of skink lizard photo © Michael Plagens

A coppery-colored lizard observed at City Park, Nairobi. Short legs and undulating locomotion. Mabuya species unknown.

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Striped Skink

Unknown genus and species of skink lizard photo © Michael Plagens

A striped skink found near Eldoret. Short legs and undulating locomotion. Genus & species unknown.

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Agama

Common Agama at Lake Bogoria photo © Michael Plagens

Head and shoulders are orange-red. Blue-black body and tail with spiny scales.

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Blue-headed Tree Agama

Adult male Blue-headed Tree Agama

Big arboreal lizard. Males have enlarged, blue head. Scales spiny. Females are mixed brown coloration.

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Jackson's Forest Lizard

Jackson's Forest Lizard

This long, slender lizard is a denizen of mid-level forest regions. Brown stripes on either side are flanked by rows of greenish spots.

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House Geckos

House Geckos, Hemidactlus, nocturnal lizard photo © Michael Plagens

Smallish nocturnal lizards that are frequently found hunting at night for insects in and around human dwellings. Specialized toes allow ascent of vertical surfaces.

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Speckled Gecko

Speckled Hemidactylus Gecko

Small, speckled, nocturnal lizard capable of walking on vertical surfaces. Feeds on small insect life.

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Geck

Kisumu Gecko

Kisumu Gecko, Hemidactylus

A cryptic gecko observed at night near Lake Victoria and Kisumu.

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Scheffler's Dwarf Gecko

Scheffler's Dwarf Gecko photo © Michael Plagens

Many of this species were active in the morning on exterior walls of a manyatta (cow dung surface) at Maasai Amboseli .

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Chameleon

High-casqued Chameleon

Toothed crest along back. Color highly variable. Boney crest at back of head.

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Chameleon

Side-striped Chameleon photo © Michael Plagens

Medium sized chameleon w/o horns. Bright green with white stripes along flanks. Kakamega Forest.

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Nile Monitor

Nile Monitor

Large powerful lizard, often two meters or more in length. Semi-aquatic, inhabiting fresh water-land interface.

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Nile Crocodile

Nile Crocodile

Fierce top predator commonly found at margins of rivers and lakes. Sharp teeth exposed when mouth is closed.

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Leopard Tortoise

Leopard Tortoise

Intricately marked terrestrial turtle 50 to 80 cm in length. Inhabits semiarid woodland and savanna.

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Terrapin

Serrated Hinged Terrapin, Pelusios sinuatus, photo © Michael Plagens

Very large fresh water turtle of streams and rivers.

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African Reed Frog

Reed frog, probably Hyperolius, photo © Michael Plagens

Adhering pads on the toes give these frogs a lot of vertical mobility. About 5 cm in length.

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Tree Frog

Tree frog, probably Hyla. photo © Michael Plagens

This frog was in a densely leaved shrub on a warm, sunny day west of Eldoret. About 5 cm in length.

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Bubbling Kassina

Hyperoliid frog, probably Kassina senegalensis, photo © Michael Plagens

Boldly marked frog with vertical-slit pupils. Ground-dwelling. Also called running frogs.

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Ridged Grass Frog

Grass Frog, Ptychadena, photo © Michael Plagens

Hides among vegetation near water. Longitudinal ridges on body and has a long, pointed snout.

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African Clawed Frog

Xenopus Clawed Frog, Pipidae, photo © Michael Plagens

Highly aquatic frog with webbed hind feet and small eyes on top of head.

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Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 2010-2017,
updated 19 Dec. 2017.

By no means am I an expert on the Natural History of Kenya. I am new to exploring this part of the World. By creating a page for the species as I learn them I am teaching myself. If I make errors I wish that a kind person will let me know so that I can make corrections.