get_reptiledb_data: Access Reptile Database Taxonomic Information...

In reptiledbr: Interface to the Reptile Database for Querying and Retrieving Taxonomic Data

Access Reptile Database Taxonomic Information

Description

Retrieves taxonomic information on living reptile species from The Reptile Database. This function allows users to explore scientific names, synonyms, distributions, and taxonomic references for all known species of snakes, lizards, turtles, amphisbaenians, tuataras, and crocodiles.

Usage

get_reptiledb_data(species_names, timeout = 10, quiet = FALSE)

Arguments

species_names	A character string with the scientific name of the species (e.g., "Crocodylus acutus").
timeout	Maximum waiting time for each request (in seconds)
quiet	Logical value TRUE or FALSE.

Details

The Reptile Database currently includes more than 10,000 species and around 2,800 subspecies. It focuses on taxonomic and nomenclatural data, including valid names, synonyms, type localities, distribution, and original references. However, ecological and behavioral data are largely absent.

Data are compiled from peer-reviewed literature, expert contributions, and curated by an editorial team. Updates and corrections from users are welcome and help improve the resource.

The classification follows recent phylogenetic studies (e.g., Zheng & Wiens, 2016), although the database takes a conservative approach to rapidly changing taxonomic hypotheses. New genera or species proposals may first appear in the "synonyms" field pending wider scientific acceptance.

Note: The database does not support species identification by traits, but users can search by geographical distribution and higher taxonomic groups.

Value

A list or data frame containing available taxonomic information (e.g., accepted name, synonyms, family, distribution, literature references).

Author(s)

Data curated by P. Uetz and collaborators. Function implementation by Paul E. Santos Andrade.

Source

Uetz, P., Freed, P., & Hosek, J. (eds.) (2021). The Reptile Database. Available at: https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz

For more on phylogenetic background see: Zheng, Y., & Wiens, J. J. (2016). Combining phylogenomics and fossils in higher-level squamate reptile phylogeny. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16, 1-20.

See Also

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz

Examples

get_reptiledb_data("Anolis carolinensis",
                           quiet = TRUE)

reptiledbr documentation built on Aug. 8, 2025, 7:15 p.m.