Comprehensive UV Index Table

Comprehensive UV Index Table

Author
Rik Van Tiggel
Product Manager

Reptiles and amphibians inhabit a diverse range of environments, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for exposure to sunlight. This variation in sunlight exposure is critical for their thermoregulation, natural activities, and especially for many of their physiological and biological processes, including the synthesis of vitamin D3, calcium metabolism, boosting the immune system, and promoting a healthy appetite and digestion. To better understand and categorize these differences, we have identified four distinct UV Index Zones:

The Cryptophotic Zone encompasses nocturnal and crepuscular animals that experience minimal sunlight, often called “shade dwellers”.

Monsoon Nano

The Mesophotic Zone includes species that bask partially or occasionally, experiencing intermittent sun exposure. 

Monsoon Nano

The Euphotic Zone covers those species that bask in open or partial sunlight, adapting to more consistent sun exposure. 

Monsoon Nano

The Heliophotic Zone is for the solar-oriented reptilian species, the mid-day open sun baskers, which thrive under the most intense sunlight conditions.

Monsoon Nano
Author
Rik Van Tiggel
Product Manager

Finding the Optimal UVI Zone for your Reptiles and Amphibians.

Comprehensive UV Index Table

Pogona vitticeps is an open Sun Basker and frequents the Heliophotic Zone.

The Spur-thighed Tortoise, Testudo graeca basking foraging in full sunlight, Romania

Testudo graeca is an avid thermophile which basks in the Euphoptic Zone.

UV INDEX ZONES
Scientific Name
English Name
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Centrochelys sulcata
Sulcata Tortoise (African Spurred)
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
Mississippi Map Turtle
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Pogona vitticeps
Bearded Dragon
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Salvator merianae
Argentine Black and White Tegu
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Stigmochelys pardalis
Leopard Tortoise
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Testudo marginata
Marginated Tortoise
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Uromastyx ornatus
Ornate Spiny-tailed Lizard
Heliophotic Zone
UVI 8-9-10
Varanus exanthematicus
Savannah Monitor
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Anolis equestris
Cuban Knight Anole
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Crotaphytus collaris
Eastern Collard Lizard
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Eremias arguta
Steppe Runner
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Leiocephalus personatus
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Testudo graeca
Greek Tortoise
Euphotic Zone
UVI 6-7
Testudo hermanni
Hermann’s Tortoise
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Agrionemys horsfieldii
Russian Tortoise
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Anolis carolinensis
Green Anole
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Veiled Chameleon
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Chelonoidis carbonarius
Red-footed Tortoise
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Chelydra serpentina
Common Snapping Turtle
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Frilled Dragon
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Chrysemys picta
Painted Turtle
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Clemmys guttata
Spotted Turtle
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Furcifer pardalis
Panther Chameleon
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Geochelone elegans
Indian Star Tortoise
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Iguana iguana
Green Iguana
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Malacochersus tornieri
Pancake Tortoise
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Morelia spilota
Carpet Python
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Phelsuma grandis
Giant Day Gecko
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Phelsuma laticauda
Gold Dust Day Gecko
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Phelsuma madagascariensis
Madagascar Day Gecko
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Physignathus cocincinus
Chinese Water Dragon
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Takydromus sexlineatus
Long-tailed Lizard
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Terrapene carolina
Box Turtle
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Tiliqua scincoides
Blue-tongue Skink
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Trachemys scripta elegans
Red-eared Slider
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Trachemys scripta scripta
Yellow Bellied Slider
Mesophotic Zone
UVI 3-4-5
Varanus acanthurus
Ackie Monitor
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Achatina fulica
Giant African Land Snail
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Agalychnis callidryas
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Ambystoma mexicanum
Axolotl
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Ambystoma opacum
Marbled Salamander
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Ambystoma tigrinum
Tiger Salamander
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Anadenobolus monilicornis
Bumblebee Millipede
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Archispirostreptus gigas
Giant African Millipede
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Avicularia avicularia
Pink Toe Tarantula
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Boa constrictor
Boa Constrictor
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Bombina orientalis
Fire Belly Toad
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Brachypelma hamorii (prev. smithi)
Mexican Red-knee Tarantula
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Carausius morosus
Indian Stick Insect
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Ceratophrys ornata
Ornate Horned Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Chelonoidis denticulatus
Yellow-footed Tortoise
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Coenobita clypeatus
Hermit Crab
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Correlophus ciliatus
Crested Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Cruziohyla sylviae
Sylvia's Tree Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Cynops pyrrhogaster
Japanese Fire Belly Newt
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Dendrobates auratus
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Dendrobates leucomelas
Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Dendrobates tinctorius
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Epicrates cenchria
Rainbow Boa
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Eublepharis macularius
Leopard Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Extatosoma tiaratum
Giant Prickly Stick Insect
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Gekko gecko
Tokay Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Glyptemys insculpta
Wood Turtle
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Grammostola rosea
Chilean Rose Tarantula
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Hadrurus arizonensis
Desert Hairy Scorpion
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
African Fat-tailed Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Heterodon nasicus
Western Hognose Snake
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Heterometrus spinifer
Asian Forest Scorpion
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Hyla cinerea
American Green Tree Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Hymenopus coronatus
Orchid Mantis
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Hypselotriton orientalis
Chinese Fire Belly Newt
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Lampropeltis californiae
California King Snake
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Lampropeltis triangulum
Milk Snake
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Lepidodactylus lugubris
Mourning Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Lichanura trivirgata
Rosy Boa
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Litoria caerulea
White’s Treefrog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Mochlus fernandi
Fire Skink
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Morelia viridis
Green Tree Python
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Notophthalmus viridescens
Eastern Newt
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Oophaga pumilio
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Pandinus imperator
Emperor Scorpion
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Pantherophis guttatus
Corn Snake
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Phyllomedusa sauvagii
Waxy Monkey Tree Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Pithecopus hypochondrialis
Tiger-legged Monkey Frog
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Pleurodeles waltl
Spanish Ribbed Newt
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Python regius
Ball Python
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Gargoyle Gecko
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Salamandra salamandra
Fire Salamander
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Tenodera sinensis
Chinese Mantis
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Thamnophis sirtalis
Garter Snake
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Theraphosa blondi
Goliath Birdeater
Cryptophotic Zone
UVI 0-1-2
Trachycephalus resinifictrix
Amazon Milk Frog

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