This list of reptiles of Mexico is made up of 995 species of reptiles registered in Mexico.[1] Listing is based on The Reptile Database.[1] The reptiles of Mexico are grouped into 3 orders and 35 families, and include snakes, lizards, crocodilians and turtles.
Mexico has a total of 54 species of turtle, grouped into 7 families and 20 genera.[2] Among them, there are 6 marine species, almost all of them in danger of extinction.
Sea turtles (Cheloniidae) are a family of large turtles found in all tropical seas and some subtropical and temperate seas. Sea turtles developed from land turtles about 120 million years ago and are well adapted to life in the sea. They feed mainly on jellyfish, crustaceans and squid. There are 5 or 6 species in the world, of which at least 5 are currently in danger of extinction.
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all existing turtles and can reach a length of 2 meters and a weight of more than 600kg. It is found in all tropical or subtropical seas. Unlike most sea turtles, leatherbacks are often found in the colder waters of temperate zones. It is the only extant species of the Dermochelyidae family and is considered critically endangered. All other species in this family are only known as fossils.
Chelydrids (Chelydridae) are a family of freshwater turtles that is made up of seven extinct genera and two extant genera, both native to the American continent. The existing genera are the snapping turtles (Chelydra) with three species, and the alligator turtles (Macrochelys) with a single species. Of the total of four existing species, 2 occur in Mexico.
The white turtle is the only existing species in the Dermatemydidae family. It is a nocturnal, aquatic turtle that lives in large rivers and lakes in Central America, from southern Mexico to northern Honduras. It is one of the most exploited turtles in the world and is classified as a critically endangered species by the IUCN. It is quite large and can weigh around 20kg. Its flattened shell can reach a length of 65cm and is generally gray or almost black in color. Its plastron is normally cream colored.
The emydids (Emydidae) are a family of carnivorous aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles. They live most of the time in ponds, reservoirs and rivers, coming to land when they have to find suitable places to lay their eggs. This family is made up of 10 genera that contain more than 50 species. 18 species occur in Mexico.
Chinosternids (Kinosternidae), or mud turtles, are a family of turtles native to the Americas. They are mostly small turtles that inhabit bodies of water with soft, muddy bottoms with an abundance of vegetation. All members of the family are carnivores and feed on crustaceans, aquatic insects, mollusks, annelids, amphibians, small fish and sometimes carrion. The Kinosternidae family has a total of 4 genera and 25 species. 18 species occur in Mexico.
Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) are a family of archosaur sauropsids. This family includes 14 species of large semi-aquatic reptiles that inhabit tropical areas of the world. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats, such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and sometimes brackish water. They are ambush hunters who usually wait for their prey, generally fish or land animals, to approach, before attacking them. They feed mainly on vertebrates such as fish, reptiles and mammals, and sometimes invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, depending on the species. As cold-blooded predators, they have a slow metabolism and can therefore survive long periods without food. Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water.
The alligatorids (Alligatoridae) are a family of crocodilian sauropsids (reptiles) native to the Americas. It includes the extant genera Alligator, Caiman, Melanosuchus and Paleosuchus, as well as numerous extinct genera. Of the 7 species that inhabit America, 2 occur in Mexico.
Anguids (Anguidae) are a family of anguimorphic scaly sauropsids that includes glass lizards, snapdragons, northern alligator lizards, and alicante lizards. Species of the Anguinae subfamily are characterized by leg atrophy, despite the fact that they are not directly related to snakes or amphisbaenae, as this is a notable case of evolutionary convergence. The family was described by the English naturalist John Edward Gray in 1825. The distribution of Anguidae spans the Old and New Worlds. It is only absent in Australia. Most species are terrestrial, living in the leaf litter on the forest floor. The anguid family is divided into four subfamilies (one extinct), 10 non-extinct genera, and contains 94 species. In Mexico there are 50 species.[3]
Geconids or geckos (Gekkonidae) are a family of scaly sauropsids (reptiles), which includes small to medium-sized species found in temperate and tropical climates around the world. They have several peculiar features that clearly distinguish them from other lizards. They are unique in their vocalization, as they make screeching noises in their interactions with other geckos. They are nocturnal, with large eyes and equipped with vertical lobed pupils that allow an extraordinary margin of variation in their opening. Many species have sticky pads on the soles of their feet that allow them to climb smooth vertical surfaces and even navigate roofs. The gecko family has a global distribution. 6 species occur in Mexico.
The eublepharidae (Eublepharidae) are a family of lizards that belong to the infraorder Gekkota. It is made up of 27 species grouped into five genera. They have more primitive characteristics than other geckos. In particular, the feet lack the modifications that allow most geckos to scale steep surfaces. Unlike other geckos, they also have mobile eyelids. They are nocturnal lizards that feed mainly on insects. 6 species occur in Mexico.
Helodermatidae is a family of terrestrial lizards whose only genus is Heloderma, which includes the only venomous lizards on the American continent. The family consists of two species native to the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala, which prefer semiarid habitats. 2 species occur in Mexico.
The corytophanids (Corytophanidae) are a family of scaly reptiles from the suborder of lizards. They typically have helmet-shaped front crests, which are sexually dimorphic characteristics in species of the genus Basiliscus, since only males develop them, while in species of the genus Corytophanes and Laemanctus they are present in both males and females. Its distribution area includes Mexico, Central and South America up to Ecuador. There are nine recognized species of corythophanids, of which 6 occur in Mexico.
The iguanids (Iguanidae) are a family of lizards whose distribution extends from the southern United States, Central America to Paraguay, and from the Caribbean islands to the Galapagos Islands and Fiji. Iguanids can reach lengths that vary between 14cm (5.5in) and 200cm (79in). The tail is often longer than the rest of the body. They often have a dewlap that helps regulate body temperature, and dorsal spines that are more pronounced in males than in females. Some species are terrestrial, others prefer to live in trees or rocks. Males are usually territorial and defend their territory against other males, but tolerate females. All iguanas are oviparous. The nests are usually quite large, often several females lay their eggs in proximity to other nests to facilitate their defense against predators. Juveniles feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates, while adults, especially in larger species, switch to a primarily plant diet. 16 species of iguanids occur in Mexico.
Phrynosomatids (Phrynosomatidae) are a family of lizards known as spiny lizards. They have a parietal eye, variable scales that range from stippled, keeled or non-keeled, to mucronate scales. They live among rocks, on the ground, in shrubby, arboreal vegetation, under logs or under rocks. Its range includes southern Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America. There are 143 recognized species, 134 of which occur in Mexico.
Dactyloidae is a family of lizards commonly known as anoles. They are small lizards native to the American continent, from the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, Central America to South America. They are characterized by having a parietal eye; most have a greenish color and a very long tail. Adult males exhibit a brightly colored fold of skin in the gular region. They feed on insects, mainly crickets. The majority is arboreal. They are very territorial animals. There are around 390 species recognized on the American continent, and 55 species that occur in Mexico.
Skinks (Scincidae) are one of the most diverse families of lizards. Includes skinks or skinks. It belongs to the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha, which also includes the true lizards (Lacertidae). The Scincidae family has a global distribution and consists of 1578 species. 32 species occur in Mexico.
The teiids (Teiidae) are a family of lizards with elongated bodies, well-developed limbs, provided with granular dorsal scales, large rectangular ventral plates and large plates on the head. All teiids have a forked tongue, similar to that of a snake. They are terrestrial and diurnal, and mainly insectivorous, although some species also feed on a small amount of plant matter. There are 144 recognized species, of which 41 occur in Mexico.
Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards commonly known as microtheids. They have transparent lower eyelids that allow them to see with their eyes closed. They are related to the tiiids, but due to their smooth scales they are more similar to scincids. They are generally small lizards, and many species have reduced limbs. They live in a wide variety of habitats - including desert, mountains, and rainforest - throughout Central and South America. They generally inhabit the forest floor or humid areas associated with tropical forests. They are nocturnal animals or are active intermittently during the day. They feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates. All species are oviparous. The family is made up of more than 240 species grouped into 40 genera. A species occurs in Mexico.
The xanthusids (Xantusiidae) are a family of small lizards that are distributed in the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America. There are 34 recognized species; 27 occur in Mexico.
Mexico has about 396 species of snakes, grouped into 10 families.[4] The majority of snakes belong to the families of the dipsadidae (Dipsadidae) with 130 species and the colubrids (Colubridae) with 134 species, followed by the viperids (Viperidae) (59 species) and the elapids (Elapidae) (19 species).
Leptotyphlopids (Leptotyphlopidae) are a family of snakes native to America, Africa and Asia. They are burrowing snakes that feed on ants and termites. They are relatively small and rarely exceed 30cm (12in) in length. The body is cylindrical with polished scales, a blunt head and a short tail. They produce pheromones that protect them against termite attacks. 2 genera are recognized that include 87 species. 9 species occur in Mexico.
Typhlopids (Typhlopidae) are a family of blind snakes that mainly inhabit the tropical regions of Africa, America, Asia, and Australia. They live in burrows, and since they have no use for vision, their eyes are reduced to vestiges, although they can detect light. They have teeth in the upper jaw. The tail ends with a horn-shaped scale. Most of these species are oviparous. 6 genera are recognized, containing 203 species. 3 species occur in Mexico.
Boids or boas (Boidae) are a family of non-venomous snakes, native to America, Africa, Europe, Asia and some Pacific islands. They are constrictor snakes, meaning they kill their prey by constriction, enclosing them in their rings, applying and maintaining enough pressure to inhibit inhalation; The prey finally succumbs to suffocation. 43 species are distinguished, grouped into 2 subfamilies and 8 genera. 4 species occur in Mexico.
The loxocemids (Loxocemidae) are a family of constrictor snakes. This family consists of a single genus (Loxocemus) and a single species Loxocemus bicolor. It can reach a length of 157cm (62in), but usually measures 77 to 100cm (30 to 39in). It has a triangular head, a fairly robust cylindrical body, a little flattened dorsoventrally in the posterior region; short and conical tail. The eyes are small; The scales are wide and smooth, all similar except for a slightly elongated ventral row. They have vestiges of a pelvic girdle and a claw-shaped structure like in boids. They are excavators, but not as specialized. They are only found in specific areas of the rainforests of Mexico and Central America.
The colubrids (Colubridæ) are a family of snakes with a global distribution, except Antarctica. They are characterized by having their heads covered with large scales of a typical arrangement. The dorsal and lateral scales of the body are approximately rhomboidal in outline; On the ventral side they have a single row of widened scales. They are generally diurnal, with well-developed eyes and mainly circular pupils. The majority is terrestrial, but there are also burrowing, amphibian, aquatic, arboreal and even gliding species. Although most colubrids are nonvenomous (or possess venom that has no notable effect on humans), some species, such as those in the genus Boiga, can produce bites with significant medical effects. Colubrids form the largest family of snakes. 134 species of colubrids occur in Mexico.[6]
The dipsadids (Dipsadidae) are a family of snakes with a global distribution, consisting of 95 genera and 738 species. Some authors classify it as a subfamily (Dipsadinae) in the Colubridae family. 130 species occur in Mexico.
The natricines (Natricidae) are a family of snakes with a global distribution, consisting of 222 species. Some authors classify it as a subfamily (Natracinae) in the Colubridae family. 36 species occur in Mexico.
Elapids (Elapidae) are a family of highly venomous snakes that live in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are characterized by having fixed hollow fangs through which they inject venom. They have a size that can vary from 18cm (7.1in) (Drysdalia) to more than 5m (16ft) (Ophiophagus) in length. Some of its best-known members are cobras, coral snakes, mambas, and sea snakes. Outwardly, terrestrial elapids are similar to colubrids; Almost all of them have a long, thin body, a head covered with large scales and eyes with round pupils. Furthermore, their behavior is generally quite active, and many species are oviparous. Sea snakes, which are also elapids, have adapted to marine life in different ways and to varying degrees. Their characteristics may include laterally flattened bodies and rudder tails for swimming, as well as the ability to excrete salt. Currently, a total of 351 species are distinguished globally. 19 species occur in Mexico, of which 17 are coral snakes.
The viperids (Viperidae) are a family of highly venomous snakes that comprises four subfamilies. The subfamily Crotalinae, commonly known as "pit vipers", are the only viperids native to America. They have a loreal pit, a hole on each side of the head between the eye and the nostril; It is a thermoreceptor organ that is very sensitive to temperature variations and is used to detect warm-blooded prey. Approximately 321 species of viperids are distinguished, grouped into 32 genera. In Mexico, 10 genera and 59 species occur.
Spiny lizards is a common name for the genus Sceloporus in the family Phrynosomatidae. The genus is endemic to North America, with various species ranging from New York, to Washington, and one occurring as far south as northern Panama. The greatest diversity is found in Mexico. This genus includes some of the most commonly seen lizards in the United States. Other common names for lizards in this genus include fence lizards, scaly lizards, bunchgrass lizards, and swifts.
Abronia is a genus of lizards in the family Anguidae that is native to Mexico and Central America. The majority of the species are restricted to southern Mexico and Guatemala, but members of the genus occur as far south as Panama. They inhabit forests and woodlands, mostly in highlands, and some species are often associated with bromeliads. They are typically arboreal, but there are also terrestrial Abronia species. Many species are considered threatened due to habitat loss, killing by locals who mistakenly believe they are venomous, or collection for the captive reptile trade. They feed on small animal prey, such as insects, and the females give birth to live young.
Marie Firmin Bocourt was a French zoologist and artist.
Aspidoscelis is a genus of whiptail lizards in the family Teiidae.
Tantilla is a large genus of harmless New World snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus includes 66 species, which are commonly known as centipede snakes, black-headed snakes, and flathead snakes.
The Natricinae are a subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Natricidae). The subfamily comprises 36 genera. Members include many very common snake species, such as the European grass snakes, and the North American water snakes and garter snakes. Some Old World members of the subfamily are known as keelbacks, because their dorsal scales exhibit strong keeling.
The Colubrinae are a subfamily of the family Colubridae of snakes. It includes numerous genera, and although taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number, The Reptile Database lists 717 species in 92 genera as of September 2019. It is the second largest subfamily of colubrids, after Dipsadinae. Many of the most commonly known snakes are members of this subfamily, including rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, and indigo snakes.
Geophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae of the superfamily Colubroidea. Species in the genus Geophis are commonly referred to as Latin American earth snakes. The genus consists of 53 distinct species.
This page contains lists of reptiles found in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, which straddles the states of Colima and Jalisco in Mexico. The reserve is located in the transition of the Nearctic and Neotropical realms and encompasses parts of the Sierra Madre del Sur, with a wide range of altitudes, climates and soils. The effects of tectonic and volcanic activities and erosion are notable within the reserve.
References
Uetz, P. & Jirí Hošek (ed.). "México". The Reptile Database. Reptarium. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
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