Abstract
This review describes the diversity of the freshwater, marine, and terrestrial herpetofauna of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that consists of 128 extant species and subspecies; 121 species and subspecies of reptiles and seven species of amphibians according to current taxonomic systems. Four main categories of threats affecting amphibians and reptiles were identified as habitat loss and degradation, water issues, human disturbance and related activities, and legislation and public awareness; and supportive examples for each category are provided. Key species that require urgent protection are: Chalcides levitoni, Platyceps insulanus, Dasypeltis scabra, Hemidactylus alfarraji, Hemidactylus asirensis, Hemidactylus mindiae, Lytorhynchus gasperetti, Pelomedusa barbata, Phoenicolacerta kulzeri ssp., Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei, and Varanus yemenensis, due to their limited distribution, as well as Uromastyx aegyptia due to over-harvesting and trade. According to the IUCN Red List, eight of these species are Data Deficient, four are Vulnerable, one Critically Endangered, and one Near Threatened. The status of herpetofauna in Saudi Arabia is still far from being completely understood. Nevertheless, the lack of formal conservation measures and low public concern makes amphibians and reptiles extremely vulnerable in the near future.