Part 8

Paso Subin, 1.

This species is represented in the collection by one complete shell found on the bank of the Rio Subin. The carapace has a length of 292 mm. The local name is Guao. Natives stated that this turtle was not uncommon in clear rivers and lakes, a habitat suggested for the species by Stuart (1958:19).

=Dermatemys mawi= Gray

Chinaja, 1; Rio San Roman, 4.

The record from Chinaja is based on a carapace found in a chiclero camp, where the turtle evidently had been brought for food. The four specimens from the Rio San Roman were obtained from edges of deep pools in clear water. In adult males the top of the head was reddish orange in life. One of the specimens from the Rio San Roman currently is living in the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens. The local name for this turtle is tortuga blanca; it is sought for its meat.

=Geoemyda areolata= (Dumeril and Bibron)

Chinaja, 2.

Two specimens were obtained from dense forest at Chinaja. The local name is mojina.

=Pseudemys scripta ornata= (Gray)

Paso Subin, 1.

One subadult was obtained from clear water in the Rio Subin. The stripes on the head and neck were yellow; there was no red "ear" on the side of the head. The stripes on the forelimbs were orange, and the ocelli on the carapace were red. The local name is jicotea.

=Coleonyx elegans elegans= Gray

Toocog, 1.

One adult male having a snout-vent length of 89 mm. was found beneath a log in the forest. Locally this gecko is known as escorpion; the natives believe it to be deadly poisonous. The use of the name escorpion seems to be restricted to lizards thought to be venomous. Nearly everywhere in Mexico and Central America some species of lizard carries this appellation. In El Peten I heard the name used only for Coleonyx elegans and Thecadactylus rapicaudus; in the lowlands of Guerrero, Mexico, the name is applied to geckos of the genus Phyllodactylus. The venomous lizards of the genus Heloderma in the lowlands of western Mexico are called escorpiones. In the mountains of southern Mexico various skinks of the genus Eumeces, as well as lizards of the genus Xenosaurus, carry the same appellation. Abronia in the mountains of Mexico and Gerrhonontus throughout Mexico and Central America likewise are called escorpiones. Although many people in various parts of Middle America consider most lizards poisonous, there is a unanimity of opinion concerning the venomous qualities of the various kinds of escorpiones. I know of only two other lizards in Middle America that are so uniformly regarded in native beliefs; these are Enyaliosaurus clarki in the Tepalcatepec Valley in Michoacan, called nopiche, and Phrynosoma asio in western Mexico, called cameleon.

=Sphaerodactylus lineolatus= Lichtenstein

15 km. NW of Chinaja, 1; Toocog, 1.

These small geckos were much more abundant than the few specimens indicate. They frequently were seen on the trunks of corozo palms, where they quickly took refuge in crevices at the bases of the fronds. The specimen obtained at Toocog was under the bark of a standing dead tree. In life the ventral surface of the tail was orange. The individual from Chinaja was in the leaf litter on the ground at the base of a dead tree.

=Thecadactylus rapicaudus= (Houttuyn)

15 km. NW of Chinaja, 1; 20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 2.

Two specimens were found beneath the bark of standing dead trees; another was found in the crack in the trunk of a mahogany tree about 13 meters above the ground. In life the dorsum was yellowish tan with dark brown markings; the venter was yellowish tan with brown flecks, and the iris was olive-tan. The largest specimen is a male having a snout-vent length of 95 mm.; all specimens have regenerated tails. Individuals when caught twisted their bodies and attempted to bite; upon grabbing a finger they held on with great tenacity.

=Anolis biporcatus= (Wiegmann)

14 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1; 17 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1; 20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 3; 30 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1; Sayaxche, 1.

All specimens of this large anole were obtained from trees. Some individuals were found in the tops of trees immediately after they were felled. My limited observations on this anole suggest that it is an inhabitant of the upper levels of the forest. In life an adult male from 20 kilometers north-northwest of Chinaja was brilliant green above; the eyelids were bright yellow; the belly was white. The outer part of the dewlap was pale orange, and the median part was pinkish blue. A juvenile having a snout-vent length of 47 mm. and a tail length of 86 mm. was pale grayish green with pale gray flecks on the dorsum. The largest male has a snout-vent length of 98 mm. and a tail length of 217 mm.; the same measurements of the largest female are 89 and 213 mm. This species, together with all other anoles, is known locally as toloque.

=Anolis capito= Peters

Chinaja, 2; 14 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1; Rio de la Pasion, 1.

All individuals were observed on trunks of trees between heights of three and ten meters above the ground. The largest male has a snout-vent length of 81 mm. and a tail length of 155 mm.; the same measurements of the largest female are 87 and 150 mm. The streaked brown dorsum, combined with the lizards' habit of pressing the body against the trunks of trees, make this anole especially difficult to see.

=Anolis humilis uniformis= Cope

Chinaja, 24; 15 km. NW of Chinaja, 22; 20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 6; Sayaxche, 1.