Reptiles of Costa Rica's Southern Caribbean Lowlands
Green Basilisk
The plumed basilisk, Basiliscus plumifrons, also called a green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of corytophanid native to Latin America.
Brown Basilisk
The Brown Basilisk or Striped Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus; in some areas referred to as "common basilisk") is one species of basilisk lizard. They are native to Panama, Belize, northwestern Colombia and Costa Rica, but have been introduced into the U.S. state of Florida as a feral species.
Helmeted Iguana
The helmeted iguana (Corytophanes cristatus) is a species of lizard endemic to the New World. It is found from southern Mexico to South America in rainforests. With long limbs, it climbs well, and feeds on insects, spiders, worms, and other lizards.
Green Iguana
The green iguana (Iguana iguana), also known as common iguana or American iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area, from southern Brazil and Paraguay ...more ↓
Berthold's Bush Anole
The Berthold's Bush Anole (Polychrus gutturosus) is a species of lizard found throughout tropical South America. It is sometimes referred to as a forest iguana. It lives in forests and jungles from Honduras to Ecuador. It ranges from 24–34 inches from head to tail. This insectivorous anole is a climbing species, that can often be seen holding onto branches. It can even ...more ↓
Crested Anole
The Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus cristatellus) is the nominate subspecies of a species of anole belonging to the Polychrotidae family of reptiles.
Carpenter Anole
Carpenter's anole or Carpenter anole (Norops carpenteri) is a small, green lizard with an orange dewlap and smooth ventrals, found in the Rio Reventazón, Turrialba, Cartago Province, Costa Rica. Carpenter's anole prefers relatively open habitat in the lowland interface between land and watercourses, and is adapted for climbing on lichen-covered rocks, tree trunks, and ...more ↓
Neotropical Green Anole
The Neotropical green anole (Anolis biporcatus) is a species of Anolis lizard, native to Costa Rica.
Common House Gecko
The Common House Gecko, scientific name Hemidactylus frenatus (not to be confused with the Mediterranean species Hemidactylus turcicus known as Mediterranean house gecko) is a native of southeastern Asia. It is also known as the Pacific house gecko, the Asian house gecko, or simply, the house lizard. Most geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for ...more ↓
Turniptail Gecko
The Turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda) is a species of gecko widely distributed from Mexico southward through Central America and into South America as far south as Brazil, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles.
Yellow-headed Gecko
The yellow-headed gecko (Gonatodes albogularis) is a species of gecko found in warm parts of Central and South America. The yellow-headed gecko feeds on insects and can grow up to between 69 - 90 millimetres (2.7 - 3.5 in). Male yellow-headed geckos have yellowish heads and blue-blue bodies unlike the female yellow-headed geckos which have white-gray heads and bodies. The ...more ↓
Yellow-spotted Night Lizard
The yellow-spotted lizard (Lepidophyma flavimaculatum) is a night lizard ranging from central Mexico to Texas. It includes two subspecies, Lepidophyma flavimaculatum flavimaculatum and Lepidophyma flavimaculatum obscurum.
Golden Spectacled Tegu
The Golden Spectacled Tegu (Gymnophthalmus speciosus) is a microteiid lizard found in Mexico, Central America and Colombia. It is a small, cylindrical lizard with a long tail and a tendency to reduced extremeties.
Boa Constrictor
The Boa constrictor is a species of large, heavy-bodied snake. It is a member of the family Boidae found in North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Ten subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial. This ...more ↓
Ringed Tree Boa
Corallus annulatus is a non-venomous boa species found in Central and South America. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Rainbow Boa
Epicrates cenchria is a boa species found in Central and South America. Common names include the rainbow boa, and slender boa. A terrestrial species, it is known for its attractive iridescent sheen caused by structural coloration. Nine subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Panamanian Dwarf Boa
Ungaliophis panamensis, or the Panamanian dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the Tropidophiidae family. It is endemic to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
Clelia clelia
The mussurana or musurana (Portuguese muçurana) is a genus (Clelia) of colubrid snakes found in Central America and South America, from Guatemala to Brazil. They specialize in ophiophagy, i.e., they attack and eat other snakes. Currently six species are recognized. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America ...more ↓
Forest Flame Snake
Oxyrhopus petola, commonly known as the false coral or calico snake, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to South America. According to Savage (2011) the correct scientific name should be Oxyrhopus petolarius.
False Fer-de-lance
Xenodon rabdocephalus, the False Fer-de-Lance, is a venomous rear fanged snake from Central America and northern South America.
Rustyhead Snake
The rustyhead snake (Amastridium veliferum) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. It is found from southern Mexico, through Central America to Colombia. It is the only recognized species in the monotypic genus Amastridium.
Blunthead Tree Snake
The Mapepire Corde Violon or Blunthead Tree Snake (Imantodes cenchoa) is a slender snake in the colubrid family. It is found from southern Mexico, through Central America and South America. It feeds on geckos, anolis lizards, frogs, reptile eggs, and frog eggs.
Central American Tree Snake
Imantodes gemmistratus is a snake species in the colubrid family, found from Mexico, through Central America and Colombia.
Adorned Graceful Brown Snake
Rhadinaea decorata is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. It is found in Central and South America.
Cloudy Snail-eating Snake
The clouded snake (Sibon nebulatus) is a small, slender arboreal snake which is found in southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Isla Margarita, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Black Halloween Snake
Pliocercus euryzonus, commonly known as the Cope's false coral snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.
Sipo
Chironius carinatus, commonly known as the machete savane, is a very large, but slender colubrid snake. Although nonvenomous, this snake is well known for its aggressive behaviour.
Speckled Racer
Drymobius margaritiferus, commonly known as the speckled racer, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake native to the Americas. The specific name, margaritiferus, means "pearl-bearing" in Latin, referring to the pearl-like spots on the dorsal scales.
Lower-montane Green Racer
Drymobius melanotropis, commonly known as the black forest racer, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Central America.
Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum, commonly known as a milk snake or milksnake, (French: Couleuvre tachetée; Spanish: Culebra-real coralillo) is a species of king snake. There are 24 subspecies of milk snakes. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as the subspecies L. t. elapsoides, but is now recognized as a ...more ↓
Parrot Snake
Leptophis ahaetulla, commonly known as the lora or parrot snake, is a species of medium-sized slender snake of the Colubridae family. It is endemic to Central America and northern South America.
Brown Vinesnake
Oxybelis aeneus, commonly known as the Mexican vine snake or brown vine snake, is a species of colubrid snake, which is endemic to the Americas.
Puffing Snake
The Dos Cocorite (Pseustes poecilonotus) is a snake which is found in Amazonian South America, the Guianas, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. It feeds on frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals.
False Tree Coral
Rhinobothryum bovallii, commonly known as the False tree coral, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Chicken Snake
Spilotes pullatus, commonly known as the chicken snake,yellow rat snake, or serpiente tigre, is a species of large nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Mesoamerica.
Checkered Garter Snake
The checkered garter snake, Thamnophis marcianus, is a species of garter snake endemic to the southern United States, Mexico and Central America.
Central American Coral Snake
Micrurus nigrocinctus, commonly known as the Central American coral snake, is a species of venomous elapid snake that ranges from southern Mexico through Central America (except Belize) to northwestern Colombia. There are six recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Redtail Coral Snake
The redtail coral snake (Micrurus mipartitus) is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in South America and Central America.
Picado's Pit Viper
Atropoides picadoi is a venomous pitviper species found in Central America. No subspecies are currently recognised.
Eyelash Viper
The eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) is a venomous pit viper species found in Central and South America. Small and arboreal, these snakes are characterized by their wide array of color variations, as well as the superciliary scales over the eyes. Often present in zoological exhibits. Named after the German ornithologist, Hermann Schlegel. For other common names see below. ...more ↓
Fer-de-lance
Bothrops asper is a venomous pit viper species ranging from southern Mexico to northern South America. Sometimes referred to as the "ultimate pit viper", these snakes are found in a wide range of lowland habitats, often near human habitations. Its proximity to human habitations is likely the reason why it is considered more dangerous to humans than others. This species is the ...more ↓
Central American Bushmaster
Lachesis stenophrys is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Central America and northern South America. The specific name, stenophrys, is derived from the Greek words stenos, meaning "narrow", and ophrys, meaning "brow" or "eyebrow". No subspecies are currently recognized.
Rainforest Hog-nosed Viper
Porthidium nasutum is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico, Central America and northern South America. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Narrow-bridged Mud Turtle
The Central American mud turtle (Kinosternon angustipons), also known as the narrow-bridged mud turtle (Kinosternon angustipons), is a species of mud turtle in the Kinosternidae family endemic to Central America. It can be found in the following countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.
White-lipped Mud Turtle
The white-lipped mud turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum) is a species of mud turtles in the Kinosternidae family found in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Leatherback Sea Turtle
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle, is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth-heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea ...more ↓
Green Sea Turtle
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific ...more ↓
Hawksbill Turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. i. imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E. i. bissa is found in the Indo-Pacific ...more ↓
Common Snapping Turtle
The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a large freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida. This species and the larger alligator snapping turtle are the only two species in this family found in North America (though the common ...more ↓
Brown Land Turtle
The brown wood turtle or brown land turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata) is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Black River Turtle
The black river turtle (Rhinoclemmys funerea), or black wood turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Ornate Slider
The ornate slider (Trachemys ornata) is turtle belonging to the Trachemys genus of the family Emydidae. It is found in Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa in western Mexico.
