As in many other arid areas, reptiles in the UAE are represented by numerous different species. They are well suited to the climatic conditions in that they need very little water, are cold-blooded and don’t require food as often as mammals.

Some groups such as the skinks have adjusted particularly well. The Arabian sand skink and Wiegmann’s skink, for instance, can ‘swim’ in moving sand. Another species, the ocellated skink, is also found.

A number of snake species inhabit the desert but mostly you see only their tracks. Relatively common are the poisonous sand viper, the equally poisonous common carpet viper and Burton’s carpet viper - wadis being a preferred habitat of the latter two.

Also found in wadis as well as oasis gardens are several non-poisonous snake species such as the cliff racer, hunting for toads and other small animals to eat.

The geckos, all of which are nocturnal, occur in nearly all environments. The fan-footed gecko and Gallagher’s gecko prefer rocky areas, while other species live on the gravel plains. Many species of the genera Hemidactylus, Phyllodactylus and Ptyodactylus have adhesive toes and belong to the group of climbing geckos which also occur in human settlements.

Among the lacertid lizards, some common species worth mentioning are the widespread Arabian spinyfoot, the Sinai agama and an edible lizard, the spiny-tailed lizard. The largest Arabian reptile is the grey monitor, which can grow up to 1, 2 metres in length. A permanently active hunter, it lives in the marginal areas of the Rub al Khali.