REPTILES OF BELIZE 4 March 2009

Crocodiles – Order Crocodylia  Last living group of Archosauria (dinosaurs)  More closely related to birds than any other living group of reptiles  Reflective eyeshine  23 living species  Family Crocodylidae  American Crocodile  Morelet’s Crocodile

American Crocodile  Crocodylus acutus  Slender, elongate snout  Well-developed osteoderms  4-5 m  Not American Alligator -> content/uploads/2007/09/gex-american- alligator.jpg.jpg cz.eu/pic/sevcik/crocodylus- acutus--crocodylus-acutus- 6.jpg

Morelet’s Crocodile  Crocodylus moreletii  2-3 m  Some mottled with yellow and black  Most drab grey  Fish-eaters pic/PTGPOD/OSGIP ~Morelets-Crocodile-Single-Mexico- Posters.jpg Class photo

Snakes – Order Squamata  Close evolutionary relationship with lizards  Limbs absent (although some vestigal girdles)  Scale over eye, no eyelid  Blind Snakes – Family Typhlopidae  Thread Snakes – Family Leptotyphlopidae  Boas – Family Boidae  Colubrids – Family Colubridae  Coral Snakes – Family Elapidae  Pit Vipers – Family Vipiridae

Blind Snakes - Typhlopidae  Occur throughout tropics  9 species on mainland Americas  Small (usually < 35 cm, ~13-14 in)  Left lung absent  Vestigial pelvis present  Oviparous

Yucatan Blind Snake  Typhlops microstomus  This is the common blind snake facts/2003/wildlife- facts_images_2003/culebrita_ciega.jpg

Thread Snakes - Leptotyphlopidae  Burrowing/subterranean  Vestigial left lung  Small (< 14 cm, ~5.5 in)  Rudimentary/vestigial eyes  Curving rostral scale  Short, spine-like tail

Goudot’s Thread Snake  Leptotyphlops goudotii  Only seen after heavy rains  This is the Texas thread snake ages/Texas-Thread-Snake.jpg

Boas - Boidae  Highly variable size  Africa, Europe, Asia, N. and S. Americas  Vertical pupil  Vestigial pelvic girdle  Subdue prey with constriction  Suffocate, not crush  Viviparous (unlike pythons)

Boa constrictor  Boa constrictor  Rarely exceeds 300 cm (~10 ft)  dark dorsal saddles  Excellent climbers otos/Boa%20Constrictor%20Styles%20is %20his%20name%20Aug%2006.JPG

Annulated Boa  Corallus annulatus  Slender  Approx. 172 cm (~5.5 ft)  dark annuli with pink center g?size=67&uid=%7B7B416C1B- EADC-4EE1-BDA CF7AB2F1%7D

Colubrids - Colubridae  No trace of pelvis  Non-functional left lung  Burrowers, tree-dwellers, aquatic or terrestrial  Mostly diurnal  Mostly oviparous, some viviparous

Black Mussurana  Clelia clelia  Large, robust body  (200 cm, ~6.5 ft)  Shiny black auna/wildlife_images/mussurana.jpg

Brown Racer  Dryadophis melanolomus  A.k.a. Middle American Smooth-scaled Racer  150 cm (~5 ft) nakes/tn_Lizard- eater(Dryadophis_melanolomus)1468.jpg

Indigo Snake  Drymarchon corais  3 rd largest snake  Boa constrictor  Tiger treesnake 20snake%20in%20hands.jpg

Speckled Racer  Drymobius margaritiferus  Turquoise, orange black  120 cm (~4 ft)  Feeds on frogs ze/2006_Archives/November_06/Sanke.j pg

Blunt-headed Tree Snake  Imantodes cenchoa  Very slender  100 cm (~3 ft)  Feeds on anoles, lizards, etc. nchoa015.JPG

Green Tree Snake  Leptophis ahaetulla  A.k.a. Green Parrot Snake  Slender body  Elongate head  Feeds on tree frogs haremed/targets/images/pho/t038/T A.jpg

Green-headed Tree Snake  Leptophis mexicanus  A.k.a. Bronze-backed Parrot Snake  U-shaped ventral scales  120 cm (~4 ft)  Feeds on frogs herps.com/Tamaulipas/Leptophis- mexicanus-septentrionalis.jpg

Neotropical Vine Snake  Oxybelis aeneus  Very slender  Pointed snout  120 cm (~4 ft)  “Lingual lure” Photos: S. Collins

Green Vine Snake  Oxybelis fulgidus  Slender, elongate body  Black line through eye  Feeds on birds, anoles, rodents g

Cat-eyed Snake  Leptodiera frenata  Head large  Eyes with vertical pupil  blotches/saddles  Feeds on frogs md.jpg

Tropical Rat Snake  Spilotes pullatus  Narrow head  Small eyes  120 cm (~4 ft)  Feeds on rodents 0rat%20snake.jpg

Red Coffee Snake  Ninia sebae  Small head  Yellow collar  35 cm (~14 in)  Hood when threatened _5936cf11b4.jpg?v=

Neckband Snake  Scaphiodontophis annulatus  “Half-coral snake”  Tail comprises ~50% of animal  90 cm (~3 ft)  Banding pattern variable  ~1/3 of snake pg

Tropical Kingsnake  Lampropeltis triangulum  “Tropical Milksnake”  150 cm (~5 ft)  Rings  Red-black-yellow-black-red pg?size=67&uid=%7B7D48ABCA- F7F1-44BA-9F CEEAB%7D

Coral Snakes - Elapidae  HOT Snakes  Africa, Asia, Southern USA, Central America  Rear-fanged  Family contains  Cobras  Kraits (sea snakes)  Mambas  Oviparous  Feed heavily on other snakes

Mayan Coral Snake  Micrurus diastema  “Variable Coral Snake”  80 cm (~2.5 ft)  Bands  Black-yellow-red-yellow-black  Snake-eater content/uploads/2008/07/coral-snake.jpg

Central American Coral Snake  Micrurus nigrocinctus  100 cm (~3 ft)  Rings  Black-yellow-red-yellow-black  Yellow may be reduced or absent  Feeds mostly on small snakes and lizards y/images/06MICRU.JPG

Vipers - Viperidae  HOT Snakes  Worldwide distribution  All New-World vipers are “pit” vipers  Heat sensing pit between nares and eyes  Able to sense small changes in thermal environment  Pelvis absent, left lung absent  Most viper bites occur from carelessness

Eyelash Pitviper  Bothriechis schlegelii  Raises scales over eyes  Vertical pupils  Feeds on rodents, bats, frogs  80 cm (2.5 ft) A rica%20pics%2005/PC140132%20eyelash %20viper%20yellow%202.JPG

Fer-de-lance  Bothrops asper  A.k.a. Yellow lips or Yellow beard  Large head  Vertical pupils  Stout body  200 cm (6.5 ft) 53_25f62340a6.jpg

Tropical Rattlesnake  Crotalus durissus  Rattle at end of tail  170 cm (5.5 ft)  New segment added to tail at each molt  May molt multiple times per year when young cs/Crotalus_durissus_2.JPG

Jumping Viper  Atropoides nummifer  Vertical pupils  Stout body  Blotches may form zig-zag pattern  Feeds on rodents  80 cm (2.5 ft) nakes/jumping_viper.jpg

Rainforest Hognosed Viper  Porthidium nasutum  Stout-bodied  Snout turned up  Vertical pupils  45 cm (1.5 ft) _ a.jpg?v=0

Lizards – Order Squamata  3800 living species  Bones of jaw more secure than in snakes  “3 rd eye” – pineal is a light sensitive disc  Geckos – Family Gekkonidae  Iguanas – Family Iguanidae  Basilisks – Family Corytophanidae  Anoles – Family Polychrotidae  Spiny Lizards – Family Phrynosomatidae  Skinks – Family Scincidae  Whiptails – Family Teiidae

Geckos – Gekkonidae  Largest family of lizards  80 genera  700 species  Some commonly found running on walls/in houses  Eye covered with transparent scale  Except Yucatan banded gecko

Yucatan Banded Gecko  Coleonyx elegans  Only species with eyelid  mm  Skin translucent on belly  Can see some internal organs  Digits lack adhesive pads /coleonyx_elegans2.jpg

Yellowbelly Gecko  Phyllodactylus tuberculosus  “Leaf-toed gecko”  Lacking info herps.com/Sauria/Phyllodactylus_tubercul atus_saxatilis_2.jpg

Dwarf Gecko  Sphaerodactylus glaucus  “Spotted bark gecko”  mm  Robust limbs  Digits with friction pads emala/images/Sphaerodactylus_glaucus.J PG

Central American Smooth Gecko  Thecadactylus rapicaudus  “Turnip-tailed gecko”  Largest species of native gecko in area  mm  Thick tail, constricted at base DIV- Images/Reptilia/Lotzkat/Thecadactylus- rapicauda-a.jpg

Tokay Gecko  Gekko gecko  Invasive species!  Native to Indian subcontinent and Indonesia  Second largest gecko species  30 cm  Powerful jaws ecko.jpg

Iguanas – Iguanidae  Southwest U.S.A. to South America  Galapagos, Caribbean  Mid-dorsal spine-like scales  Prominent fold of skin below chin  Heavily hunted by humans as protein source  “Bamboo Chicken”

Green Iguana  Iguana igauna  Largest lizard in area  Fold of skin longitudinal  Green with black bands (juv., females) Photos: T. Saxe

Spiny-tailed Iguana  Ctenosaura similis  “Black Iguana”  Fold of skin transverse  90 cm  Short, muscular limbs  Heavily muscled jaw in males cz.eu/pic/sevcik/ctenosaura-similis--ctenosaura- similis.jpg

Basilisks – Corytophanidae  Mexico through C. Am. to northern S. Am.  Crests, casques or helmets  On back of head  Extremely long tails  Diurnal

Striped Basilisk  Basiliscus vittatus  Can run on hind legs only  cm  Stripes us_3.jpg

Anoles - Polychrotidae  Dewlap under chin  Mating and territorial displays  Usually brightly colored  Usually drab brown/grey  Diurnal  Tree climbers

Big-headed Anole  Anolis capito/Norops capito  “Long-legged Anole”  mm  Relatively small dewlap  Longest legs of any anole in the area  Short, chucky head +capito_66459.jpg

Lesser Scaly Anole  Anolis uniformis/Norops uniformis  “Lesser Forest Anole”  Smallest anole in area  mm  Large dewlap 92/0000_0000/0406/0471.jpeg

Brown Anole  Anolis sagrei/Norops sagrei  “Mayan Coastal Anole”  mm  Large dewlap in males  Variable colors U/SFZ67l46yeI/AAAAAAAAAA0 /MdJa83nl4ew/S692/250px- Anolis_sagrei.jpg

Silky Anole  Anolis sericeus/Norops sericeus  “Blue-spot Anole”  mm  Large blue spot in center of dewlap  Tiny side scales  “Silky” /88/large/1_anolis_sericeus.JPG

Spiny Lizards - Phrynosomatidae  Well developed limbs  Back covered with sharply projecting scales  Femoral pores  Diurnal  Head-bob display at intruders

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard  Sceloporus chrysostictus  “Yucatan Spiny Lizard”  cm  Body covered in keeled scales ard/Sceloporus_chrysostictus_01.JPG

Skinks - Scincidae  Worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate habitats  Smooth, shiny cycloid scales  Oviparous  Except Mabuya

Ground Skink  Sphenomorphus cherriei andard/Sphenomorphus_cherriei.jpg

Shiny Skink  Mabuya brachypoda  “Viviparous Skink”  Robust, cylindrical body  mm  Head covered with large, flat, plate-like scales  Central portion of eyelid with translucent scale  Can see even with eyes closed ges/6621.jpg

Whiptails – Teiidae  Widespread in tropical and temperate New World habitats  Moderate size  Elongate, pointed snout  Well-developed limbs  Diurnal

Central American Whiptail  Ameiva festiva  “Festive Ameiva”  mm  Males larger  Venter covered with large rectangular scales  Highly variable color patterns andard/017142_ameiva.jpg

Barred Whiptail  Ameiva undulata  “Metallic Ameiva”  mm  Venter with large, rectangular scales  Variable color pattern toad.com/photos/lizard/Ameiva_undulata_ 01_SIG.jpg

Cozumel Whiptail  Cnemidophorus cozumela  Lacking information  Lacking image

Turtles – Order Testudines  Shell made up of vertebrae and ribs covered by scutes  Carapace (upper)  Plastron (lower)  Egg layers – oviparous  Sex determination by temperature of incubation in some  Family Dermatemydidae  Family Emydidae  Family Chelydridae  Family Kinosternidae

River Turtles – Dermatemydidae  Monotypic family  Restricted to small area in Middle America  Known from fossil record in  Europe  North America  Eastern Asia

Central American River Turtle  Dermatemys mawii  Large, distinctive  cm  Carapace flattened  Snout upturned slightly  Permanent water dwellers (except egg-laying females) Dermatemys_mawii1.jpg

Pond and Wood Turtles - Emydidae  Widely distributed (5 continents)  Largest and most diverse family  Some entirely aquatic (except egg-laying females)  Others almost entirely terrestrial

Furrowed Wood Turtle  Rhinoclemmys areolata  Not related to our wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)  Highly sculptured scutes  15 cm  Red bars over eyes x/Reptiles/X1.JPG

Common Slider  Trachemys scripta  “Mesoamerican Slider”  35 cm  Wavy orange lines on top of carapace  Widespread species  USA, Central Am., South Am. tles-Amphibians/TRASCR-04j.jpg

Snapping Turtles - Chelydridae  Only two genera  Each contains only one species  Dorsally keeled carapace  Reduced plastron  Large heads, powerful jaws  Eastern North America, Central America, South America

Snapping Turtle  Chelydra serpentina  Same as ours  Large head, powerful serrated jaws  3 low keels on carapace  Very reduced plastron ber_chri/images/chse.jpg Herpetology/images/stories/reptiles/turtle s/Chelydra_serpentina_Snapping_turtle/ Chelydra_serpentina_snapping_turtle_plast ron.jpg

Mud and Musk Turtles - Kinosternidae  Reduced plastron (Musk)  Well developed plastron with 2 hinges (Mud)  Glands in inguinal region that produce a strong, foul-smelling secretion when frightened

Tabasco Mud Turtle  Kinosternon acutum  Single-keeled carapace  Two hinges on plastron  Completely closes  Pair of chin barbels  10 cm %20acutum%20overview.jpg

White-lipped Mud Turtle  Kinosternon leucostomum  Two hinges on plastron  Two pairs chin barbels  20 cm  Widespread, abundant ernon/leucostomum_1.jpg

Scorpion Mud Turtle  Kinosternon scorpioides  “Red-cheeked Mud Turtle”  15 cm  Males – thick tail with hard spine  Chin barbels detoexotics/112%20Kinosternon%20scorpioides%20albog ulare%202%20-%20Tom%20C.jpg

Information from…  Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatan and Belize – Campbell  Travellers’ Wildlife Guides – Belize and Northern Guatemala – Beletsky