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For those lizards I couldn't identify on location, I'm using two great resources: Dick and Patty Bartlett's latest book for the Amazon herps: (Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An Ecotourist's Guide), and Jay Savage's The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. for Costa Rica herps.  Special thanks to John Sullivan and Peter Mudde for additional identifications.

Using these photos  Permission is granted to use these photos for any personal or academic purpose as long as notification of use is sent to smallan [@] comcast.net and the image is clearly credited with © 2007 Shawn Mallan. To obtain permission for commercial and other uses, or to inquire about reprints, fees, and licensing, or if you have other questions, contact Shawn Mallan smallan [@] comcast.net

Note: Newer pictures highlighted in blue text
All pictures availabe in higher quality upon request. "No Photo Available" denotes species seen but not photographed, or the picture of which is listed below in the "Not Yet identified" section.  Any help would be appreciated! 

 

FAMILY ANGUIDAE (anguid lizards)
Genus, species Common name Location  
Mesaspis monticola highland alligator lizard Unknown mountain pass along Pan-American hwy, Costa Rica memo2.jpg (34299 bytes)memo1.jpg (44620 bytes)   male/female
Gerrhonotus sp. alligator lizard Marin county, California.  Found everywhere. gesp.jpg (38132 bytes)
       
FAMILY CORYTOPHANIDAE (helmet lizards)
Basiliscus basiliscus common basilisk Piedras Blancas National Park, Cahuita, and Carara Biological Reserve Costa Rica (photo of male by Danny Brower).  Very common. baba2.jpg (80282 bytes)baba4.jpg (62152 bytes)baba5.jpg (79282 bytes)
Corytophanes cristatus helmeted iguana Piedras Blancas National Park & Cahuita, Costa Rica.  Found ~6' off ground on tree branches. cocr1.jpg (62950 bytes)cocr2.jpg (36102 bytes)
       
FAMILY EUBLEPHARIDAE (eyelash geckos)
Coleonyx mitratus banded gecko Hotel Villa Lapas, Costa Rica.  Found on trail, at night. comi1.jpg (76083 bytes)comi2.jpg (62365 bytes)comi3.jpg (90479 bytes)
       
FAMILY GEKKONIDAE (geckos)
Gonatodes albogularis fuscus yellow-headed gecko Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica (photo on left by Sharon Brower). Very common on buildings. Female: 3 at right. goal.jpg (36426 bytes)goal2.jpg (54408 bytes)zlgs72.jpg (40180 bytes)zlgs43.jpg (36774 bytes)zlgs38.jpg (33812 bytes)
Gonatodes concinnatus collared forest gecko Madre Selva, Amazon.  Found on leaf, trailside. gocn.jpg (33938 bytes)
Gonatodes humeralis bridled forest gecko Madre Selva, Amazon gohu.jpg (39477 bytes)
Hemidactylus frenatus house gecko Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica No photo available
Hemidactylus maboula Tropical house gecko Madre Selva, Amazon hema.jpg (34480 bytes)
Pseudogonatodes guianensis Amazon pygmy gecko Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Sphaerodactylus homolepis Caribbean least gecko Cahuita, Costa Rica. Common, found on buildings. spho1.jpg (31732 bytes)spho2.jpg (40415 bytes)spho3.jpg (36747 bytes)
Thecadactylus rapicaudus turnip-tailed gecko Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica & Madre Selva, Amazon.  Found trailside on side of tree. thra1.jpg (30009 bytes)thra2.jpg (32299 bytes)lgs2.jpg (71348 bytes)
       
FAMILY GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE (ground lizards)
Alopoglossus atriventris black-bellied forest lizard Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Arthrosaura reticulata reticulated creek lizard Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Cercosaura ocellata black-striped forest lizard Madre Selva, Amazon ceoc.jpg (38543 bytes)
Iphisa elegans glossy shade lizard Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Neusticurus ecpleopus common stream lizard Madre Selva, Amazon neec.jpg (36186 bytes)
Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi white-striped eye lizard Madre Selva, Amazon pros.jpg (29504 bytes)
       
FAMILY HOPLOCERCIDAE (wood lizards)
Enyalioides laticeps Amazon wood lizard Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
       
FAMILY IGUANIDAE (iguanas)
Iguana iguana green iguana Piedras Blancas National Park, Cabo Matalpo (Osa) & Cahuita, Costa Rica; Madre Selva, Amazon (photo by Danny Brower). Common. igig.jpg (44734 bytes)igig2.jpg (89354 bytes)
Ctenosaura similis spiny tail iguana Extremely common. Carara Biological Reserve, Costa Rica. Found around Villa Lapas Lodge. ctsi1.jpg (67887 bytes)ctsi2.jpg (330291 bytes)
       
FAMILY PHRYNOSOMATIDAE (North American spiny lizards and allies)
Sceloporus occidentalis western fence lizard Marin county, California. Very common. scoc.jpg (40499 bytes)
       
FAMILY POLYCHROTIDAE (anoles and allies)
Anolis humilis ground anole Cahuita, Costa Rica zlgs18.jpg (38877 bytes)
Anolis polylepis many-scaled anole Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica zlgs80.jpg (69590 bytes)
Anolis (Norops) trachyderma common forest anole Madre Selva, Amazon antr.jpg (38592 bytes) 
Anolis fuscoauratus
 Anole lizard Madre Selva, Amazon anor.jpg (34172 bytes)
Anolis (Norops) punctatus Amazon green anole Madre Selva, Amazon anpu.jpg (29313 bytes)
Anolis (Norops) transversalis banded tree anole Madre Selva, Amazon antn.jpg (30354 bytes)
Norops aquaticus* stream anole Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica noaq.jpg (35856 bytes)
Norops biporcatus neotropical green anole Cahuita, Carara Biological Reserve Costa Rica nobi.jpg (29494 bytes)nobi2.jpg (84890 bytes)
Norops capito pug headed anole Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica. Found waist-high on tree trunks. anca.jpg (35806 bytes)noca1.jpg (68689 bytes)
Norops limifrons slender anole Cahuita, Costa Rica noli.jpg (31006 bytes)
Norops polylepsis brown anole Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica. Commonly seen on Esquinas Lodge property. nopo1.jpg (105684 bytes)
Polychrus marmoratus common monkey lizard Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
       
FAMILY SCINCIDAE (skinks)
Mabuya nigropalmata black spotted skink Madre Selva, Amazon mani.jpg (33336 bytes)
Sphenomorphus cherriei striped litter skink Carara Biological Reserve & Cabo Matalpo (Osa), Costa Rica spch1.jpg (56476 bytes)spch2.jpg (50756 bytes)
       
FAMILY TELIDAE (tegus and whiptails)
Ameiva ameiva Amazon whiptail Madre Selva, Amazon amam.jpg (39863 bytes)
Ameiva festiva Central American whiptail Piedras Blancas National Park, Cahuita, Carara Biological Reserve Costa Rica.  Found in leaf litter. amfe.jpg (40089 bytes)amfe2.jpg (53563 bytes)
Ameiva Quadrilineata four-lined ameiva Piedras Blancas National Park, Reserve Costa Rica.  Found on Esquinas Lodge property.  Also seen in Cahuita. amqu1.jpg (73051 bytes)zlgs1.jpg (19899 bytes)
Crocodilurus amazonicus crocodile tegu Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Dracaena guianensis northern caiman lizard Madre Selva, Amazon. Brought by local villagers. drgu1.jpg (38410 bytes)drgu2.jpg (42741 bytes)
Kentropyx altamazonica cocha whiptail Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Kentropyx pelviceps forest whiptail Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
Leposoma southi northern spectacled lizard Cabo Matalpo (Osa), Costa Rica. leso1.jpg (60819 bytes)
Tupinambis teguixin golden tegu Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
       
FAMILY TROPIURIDAE (leaf lizards and tree runners)
Stenocercus fimbriatus western leaf lizard Madre Selva, Amazon stfi.jpg (43202 bytes)
Plica plica collared tree runner Madre Selva, Amazon plpl.jpg (32891 bytes)plpl2.jpg (38367 bytes)
Plica umbra olive tree runner Madre Selva, Amazon No photo available
       
FAMILY XANTUSIIDAE (night lizards)
Lepidophyma reticulatum tropical night lizard Hotel Villa Lapas, Costa Rica.  Found during the day under rotten log debris. lere1.jpg (327709 bytes)lere2.jpg (273387 bytes)
 
NOT YET IDENTIFIED
Madre Selva, Amazon zlgs15.jpg (32912 bytes)zlgs7.jpg (28809 bytes)
Red Rocks. Nevada zlgsnv.jpg (35117 bytes)
Cahuita, Costa Rica zlgs31.jpg (21169 bytes)zlgs40.jpg (28433 bytes)zlgs01.jpg (30883 bytes)zlgs79.jpg (49230 bytes)
Carara Biological Reserve, Costa Rica lgs1.jpg (59379 bytes)lgs3.jpg (59163 bytes)lgs4.jpg (47625 bytes)
   
* Thanks to John Sullivan for proper identification. Click here to see John's 2001 Greentracks trip to the same region.

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