Known only as a name
605 of the 21,572 species here have a name, a family, and nothing else. Nobody has measured one, weighed one, recorded what it eats, photographed one under a licence anyone may reuse, or assessed it for the Red List.
They are not missing because this encyclopedia failed to look. Every free machine-readable source was asked for every one of them. They are missing because the work has not been done. A reference that quietly dropped them would look more complete and be less true.
Where the hole is
- Anura338
- Squamata224
- Caudata40
- Testudines2
- Gymnophiona1
Frogs carry the largest share. The amphibian trait databases were assembled once, and every species described since is outside them.
The list
Grouped by family, largest first. They cluster: unstudied species are not scattered evenly across the tree, they arrive in whole genera nobody has been to.
Gekkonidae79
- Cyrtodactylus amicorum
- Cyrtodactylus annapurnaensis
- Cyrtodactylus arnei
- Cyrtodactylus ayunpaensis
- Cyrtodactylus barailensis
- Cyrtodactylus belanegara
- Cyrtodactylus binhdinhensis
- Cyrtodactylus borgattaorum
- Cyrtodactylus chitwanensis
- Cyrtodactylus chure
- Cyrtodactylus chuyangsinensis
- Cyrtodactylus hangvaensis
- Cyrtodactylus himachalensis
- Cyrtodactylus jayadityai
- Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis
- Cyrtodactylus kanchanadit
- Cyrtodactylus karanshahi
- Cyrtodactylus karsticola
- Cyrtodactylus khambui
- Cyrtodactylus kiphire
- Cyrtodactylus kiriromensis
- Cyrtodactylus laevis
- Cyrtodactylus luci
- Cyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensis
- Cyrtodactylus mamberamo
- Cyrtodactylus manipurensis
- Cyrtodactylus maryantoi
- Cyrtodactylus meesookae
- Cyrtodactylus mendol
- Cyrtodactylus namdaphaensis
- Cyrtodactylus nangunhe
- Cyrtodactylus ngengpuiensis
- Cyrtodactylus parkeri
- Cyrtodactylus pecelmadiun
- Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis
- Cyrtodactylus regicavernicolus
- Cyrtodactylus shivalikensis
- Cyrtodactylus siangensis
- Cyrtodactylus tayninhensis
- Cyrtodactylus tehetehe
- Cyrtodactylus teraiensis
- Cyrtodactylus vanarakshaka
- Cyrtopodion mansarulum
- Dixonius luuhoangorum
- Dixonius noctivagus
- Dixonius sambhupura
- Hemidactylus flavicaudus
- Hemiphyllodactylus bokor
- Hemiphyllodactylus diaoluoshanensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus gengmaensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus guangnanensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus jeraiensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus jianfenglingensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus jingdongensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus jinghongensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh
- Hemiphyllodactylus laowozhenensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus lingshuiensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus maguanensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus menglianensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus mengsongcunensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus pakhaensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus puncak
- Hemiphyllodactylus samkos
- Hemiphyllodactylus shuangbaiensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus vanhoensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri
- Hemiphyllodactylus xiengkhouangensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus xingyiensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus yenchauensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus yuanyangensis
- Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri
- Nactus simakal
- Phelsuma edwardnewtonii
- Rhoptropus crypticus
- Rhoptropus megocellus
- Rhoptropus minimus
- Rhoptropus nivimontanus
Strabomantidae55
- Lynchius waynehollomonae
- Oreobates colanensis
- Phrynopus apumantarum
- Phrynopus remotum
- Phrynopus sancristobali
- Phyllonastes arutam
- Phyllonastes cerrogolondrinas
- Phyllonastes dicaprioi
- Phyllonastes ecuadoriensis
- Phyllonastes macuma
- Phyllonastes mindo
- Phyllonastes naturetrekii
- Phyllonastes personinus
- Phyllonastes plateadensis
- Phyllonastes sardinayacu
- Phyllonastes worleyae
- Pristimantis achupalla
- Pristimantis alius
- Pristimantis amaguanae
- Pristimantis andinodiabolus
- Pristimantis ardilae
- Pristimantis astralos
- Pristimantis blasi
- Pristimantis bowara
- Pristimantis burtoniorum
- Pristimantis calima
- Pristimantis carylae
- Pristimantis chamezensis
- Pristimantis chocolatebari
- Pristimantis crepitaculus
- Pristimantis daquilemai
- Pristimantis ferwerdai
- Pristimantis gagliardi
- Pristimantis guianensis
- Pristimantis ingles
- Pristimantis kiruhampatu
- Pristimantis macrummendozai
- Pristimantis maryanneae
- Pristimantis matildae
- Pristimantis nankints
- Pristimantis nanus
- Pristimantis paulpittmani
- Pristimantis postducheminorum
- Pristimantis pramukae
- Pristimantis robayoi
- Pristimantis romeroae
- Pristimantis rupicola
- Pristimantis samaniegoi
- Pristimantis sinschi
- Pristimantis sira
- Pristimantis sneiderni
- Pristimantis terrapacis
- Pristimantis ujucami
- Pristimantis ventristellatus
- Pristimantis zorro
Mantellidae46
- Blommersia bara
- Blommersia dupreezi
- Boophis archeri
- Boophis asquithi
- Boophis burnhamae
- Boophis janewayae
- Boophis kirki
- Boophis picardi
- Boophis pikei
- Boophis siskoi
- Gephyromantis ceratophrys
- Gephyromantis fiharimpe
- Gephyromantis kintana
- Gephyromantis kremenae
- Gephyromantis mafifeo
- Gephyromantis makira
- Gephyromantis marokoroko
- Gephyromantis matsilo
- Gephyromantis portonae
- Guibemantis fotsitenda
- Guibemantis pulcherrimus
- Guibemantis razandry
- Guibemantis razoky
- Mantidactylus ambony
- Mantidactylus augustini
- Mantidactylus bletzae
- Mantidactylus brevirostris
- Mantidactylus eulenbergeri
- Mantidactylus fergusoni
- Mantidactylus georgei
- Mantidactylus glosi
- Mantidactylus grubenmanni
- Mantidactylus gudrunae
- Mantidactylus incognitus
- Mantidactylus jahnarum
- Mantidactylus jonasi
- Mantidactylus katae
- Mantidactylus kortei
- Mantidactylus macrotympanum
- Mantidactylus mahery
- Mantidactylus manerana
- Mantidactylus marintsoai
- Mantidactylus radaka
- Mantidactylus riparius
- Mantidactylus steinfartzi
- Mantidactylus stelliger
Microhylidae38
- Chiasmocleis abofoa
- Chiasmocleis jacki
- Choerophryne frieda
- Choerophryne hageni
- Copiula bisyllaba
- Copiula mosbyae
- Elachistocleis araios
- Elachistocleis sikuani
- Kalophrynus dringi
- Kalophrynus minutus
- Kalophrynus misbahulmuniri
- Kalophrynus puncak
- Kaloula discordia
- Kaloula laosensis
- Kaloula meridionalis
- Microhyla daklakensis
- Microhyla fanjingshanensis
- Microhyla hmongorum
- Microhyla neglecta
- Microhyla sriwijaya
- Microhyla xodangorum
- Micryletta hekouensis
- Micryletta subaraji
- Micryletta sumatrana
- Oreophryne purari
- Oreophryne riyantoi
- Platypelis laetus
- Platypelis ranjomena
- Platypelis saikamavo
- Stumpffia bishopi
- Stumpffia froschaueri
- Stumpffia lynnae
- Synapturanus ajuricaba
- Synapturanus artifex
- Synapturanus latebrosus
- Synapturanus sacratus
- Xenorhina salawati
- Xenorhina waigeo
Megophryidae32
- Boulenophrys fengshunensis
- Boulenophrys hungtai
- Boulenophrys nanlingensis
- Boulenophrys ombrophila
- Boulenophrys puningensis
- Boulenophrys shimentaina
- Boulenophrys yaoshanensis
- Boulenophrys yingdeensis
- Boulenophrys yunkaiensis
- Brachytarsophrys guilinensis
- Brachytarsophrys qiannanensis
- Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis
- Jingophrys feii
- Jingophrys vegrandis
- Jingophrys zhoui
- Leptobrachella dong
- Leptobrachella purpurus
- Leptobrachella shimentaina
- Leptobrachella verrucosa
- Leptobrachella wumingensis
- Leptobrachella yeae
- Leptobrachium aryatium
- Megophrys acehensis
- Megophrys selatanensis
- Scutiger bangdaensis
- Scutiger biluoensis
- Scutiger feiliangi
- Scutiger kanjiroba
- Scutiger khumbu
- Scutiger luozhaensis
- Scutiger meiliensis
- Scutiger wolong
Colubridae32
- Anguiculus dicaprioi
- Anguiculus rappii
- Calamaria garoensis
- Calamaria hunanensis
- Calamaria incredibilis
- Calamaria mizoramensis
- Calamaria similis
- Calamaria synergis
- Colubroelaps adleri
- Dendrelaphis anthracina
- Dendrelaphis atra
- Dendrelaphis melanarkys
- Dendrelaphis roseni
- Dendrelaphis thasuni
- Gongylosoma calamaria
- Gongylosoma frenata
- Gongylosoma pallidonuchalis
- Gonyosoma iadinum
- Grayia obscura
- Plagiopholis acuta
- Plagiopholis maculosa
- Plagiopholis pluvialis
- Plagiopholis yangi
- Ptyas bachmaensis
- Rhabdophis shuichengensis
- Rhynchocalamus hejazicus
- Smithophis leptofasciatus
- Smithophis mizoramensis
- Stegonotus dorsalis
- Tachymenoides goodallae
- Urotheca dumerilii
- Yakacoatl tlalli
Pelodryadidae21
- Amnihyla grinpela
- Amnihyla hastula
- Amnihyla kikori
- Amnihyla lakekamu
- Amnihyla skeliphros
- Amnihyla stellarum
- Chlorohyla callista
- Dryopsophus kroombitensis
- Hyalotos naispela
- Ischnohyla daraiensis
- Ischnohyla gracilis
- Kallistobatrachus aplini
- Kallistobatrachus beryllinus
- Kallistobatrachus haematogaster
- Kallistobatrachus lisae
- Leptobatrachus insularis
- Nasutibatrachus pinocchio
- Nasutibatrachus vivissimia
- Papuahyla louisiadensis
- Pelodryas mira
- Viridihyla spectabilis
Bufonidae20
- Amazophrynella bilinguis
- Ansonia kanak
- Ansonia kelabitensis
- Atelopus fronterizo
- Atelopus moropukaqumir
- Bufo exiguus
- Bufoides bhupathyi
- Kenyaphrynoides vulcani
- Pelophryne ingeri
- Poyntonophrynus fernandae
- Poyntonophrynus jordani
- Poyntonophrynus nambensis
- Rhinella angeli
- Rhinella chullachaki
- Rhinella papillosa
- Rhinella parecis
- Rhinella unapensis
- Sigalegalephrynus burnitelongensis
- Sigalegalephrynus gayoluesensis
- Sigalegalephrynus harveyi
Salamandridae20
- Echinotriton raffaellii
- Hypselotriton huanggangensis
- Hypselotriton jiaoren
- Hypselotriton maguae
- Hypselotriton oolong
- Paramesotriton malipoensis
- Tylototriton daloushanensis
- Tylototriton gaowangjienensis
- Tylototriton houi
- Tylototriton joe
- Tylototriton koliaensis
- Tylototriton maolanensis
- Tylototriton ngoclinhensis
- Tylototriton obsti
- Tylototriton pulcherrimus
- Tylototriton sini
- Tylototriton soimalai
- Tylototriton thaiorum
- Tylototriton tongziensis
- Tylototriton zaimeng
Scincidae19
- Austroablepharus naranjicaudus
- Ctenotus rimacola
- Dravidoseps gingeeensis
- Dravidoseps jawadhuensis
- Dravidoseps kalakadensis
- Dravidoseps nilgiriensis
- Dravidoseps pruthi
- Dravidoseps srivilliputhurensis
- Dravidoseps tamilnaduensis
- Emoia verecunda
- Melanoseps sokokensis
- Mesomycterus splendidus
- Neopalaia pulchra
- Papuascincus borealis
- Papuascincus eldorado
- Riopa deccanensis
- Sepsina caluanda
- Subdoluseps malayanus
- Suppressascincus pluto
Dicroglossidae16
- Limnonectes bagoensis
- Limnonectes bagoyoma
- Limnonectes beloncioi
- Limnonectes fastigatus
- Limnonectes phuyenensis
- Limnonectes pseudodoriae
- Minervarya ghatiborealis
- Nanorana bangdaensis
- Nanorana laojunshanensis
- Nanorana xuelinensis
- Occidozyga berbeza
- Occidozyga lingnanica
- Occidozyga obscura
- Quasipaa binhi
- Quasipaa ohlerae
- Quasipaa taoi
Rhacophoridae15
- Gracixalus trieng
- Kurixalus raoi
- Raorchestes hillisi
- Raorchestes huanglianshan
- Raorchestes malipoensis
- Raorchestes yadongensis
- Rhacophorus napoensis
- Theloderma hekouense
- Theloderma khoii
- Zhangixalus daweishanensis
- Zhangixalus jodiae
- Zhangixalus melanoleucus
- Zhangixalus nanshanensis
- Zhangixalus thaoae
- Zhangixalus yunnanensis
Hylidae14
Aromobatidae13
Hynobiidae12
Diploglossidae12
Viperidae12
Ranidae11
Ptychadenidae9
Plethodontidae8
Chamaeleonidae8
Agamidae7
Lacertidae7
Typhlopidae6
Centrolenidae5
Craugastoridae5
Eleutherodactylidae5
Leptodactylidae5
Pareidae5
Hemiphractidae4
Phyllodactylidae4
Arthroleptidae3
Brachycephalidae3
Gymnophthalmidae3
Dendrobatidae2
Neblinaphrynidae2
Phrynobatrachidae2
Micrelapidae2
Pygopodidae2
Tropiduridae2
Uropeltidae2
Xantusiidae2
Xenodermidae2
Caligophrynidae1
Ceratobatrachidae1
Conrauidae1
Myobatrachidae1
Nyctibatrachidae1
Pyxicephalidae1
Telmatobiidae1
Rhinatrematidae1
Amphisbaenidae1
Anguidae1
Cordylidae1
Lamprophiidae1
Leptotyphlopidae1
Phrynosomatidae1
Sphaerodactylidae1
Teiidae1
Pelomedusidae1
Platysternidae1
Each of these still has an entry, because a species is not deleted for being obscure. The entry says what is known, which is its name and where it sits, and says plainly that the rest has not been recorded. See how to read an entry.