Lepidophyma is a genus of lizards, commonly called tropical night lizards. The genus Lepidophyma is one of three genera of night lizards, which are a group of viviparous (live-bearing) lizards. There are 20 species of tropical night lizards in the genus Lepidophyma, making it the most populous night lizard genus. Species of the genus Lepidophyma are distributed throughout Central America, found anywhere from central Mexico to Panama, depending on the particular species. Tropical night lizards, particularly the yellow-spotted species, are sometimes called Central American bark lizards by pet dealers and owners.
The yellow-spotted tropical night lizard or yellow-spotted night lizard is a species of night lizard. It is distributed from central Mexico through the Central America south to Panama. It includes four subspecies:
Lepidophyma chicoasensis, the Sumidero tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, Mexico, at 600 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma cuicateca, the Sunidero tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Santa María Texcatitlán, Oaxaca, Mexico at 1180 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma gaigeae, Gaige's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in eastern Mexico. It is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Querétaro state and adjacent northwestern Hidalgo state, between 1,800 and 2,200 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma lineri, Liner's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is native to the Sierra de Miahuatlán, a sub-range of the Sierra Madre del Sur in south-central Oaxaca.
Lepidophyma lipetzi, Lipetz's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico.
Lepidophyma lowei, Lowe's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is known only from San Bartolome Zoogocho, in Zoogocho Municipality, in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca of Oaxaca state at 2,200 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma mayae, the Mayan tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize.
Lepidophyma micropholis, the cave tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is native to caves in the Sierra del Abra Tanchipa, part of the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern San Luis Potosí and adjacent southern Tamaulipas states.
Lepidophyma occulor, the Japlan tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. This species is native to the Valle de Jalpan in the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Querétaro and adjacent San Luis Potosí states, from 900 to 1,400 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma pajapanensis, the Pajapan tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is native to the coastal Sierra de los Tuxtlas, and to the southeast near Jesús Carranza on the Coatzacoalcos River in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It ranges from sea level up to 1,500 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma radula, the Yautepec tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is known from only from two locations in the Valley of Oaxaca in central southern and central Oaxaca state – San Jose Manteca, five km from San Carlos Yautepec, and on the road between Mitla and Ayutla. It inhabits shrubland between 1,750 and 1,800 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma reticulatum, the Costa Rican tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Lepidophyma smithii, Smith's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Lepidophyma sylvaticum, the Madrean tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico.
Lepidophyma tarascae, the Tarascan tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is currently known from two widely-separated locations in the State of Michoacán – near Playa Mexiquillo on the Pacific coast, and inland to the north in the Sierra de Coalcomán, a northwestern sub-range of the Sierra Madre del Sur. It inhabits forests and rocky areas.
Lepidophyma tuxtlae, the Tuxtla tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is native to the Sierra de los Tuxtlas in coastal Veracruz and south and west into northern Oaxaca, southern Veracruz, and northern Chiapas. It is found from 150 to 1,500 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma ramirezi is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico.
