This moderate-sized anole characteristically inhabits the low bushes and
bases of trees in the forest. Individuals were most readily observed on
the buttresses of some of the gigantic mahogany and ceiba trees. When
approached the lizards usually ran around the tree or ducked to the
other side of the buttress; if the observer moved closer, they jumped to
the ground and ran off. None was observed to ascend large trees. Some
individuals were observed foraging on the forest floor; these took
shelter on the bases of trees. One individual was sleeping on a palm
frond at night. The adult males have a uniformly orange-red dewlap.
=Anolis limifrons rodriguezi= Bocourt
15 km. NW of Chinajá, 2; 20 km. NNW of Chinajá, 1.
In dry forests and more open situations than occur at Chinajá this
little anole is abundant, but in the wet forests of southern El Petén,
only three specimens were found. Two were on palm fronds about two
meters above the ground; the other was on a low bush. I suspect that
ecologically this species overlaps _A. humilis uniformis_ and _A.
lemurinus bourgeaei_, but too few observations are recorded to justify a
definite statement at this time.
=Anolis sericeus sericeus= Hallowell
Chinajá, 2; Sayaxché, 1; Toocog, 1.
This small anole is common and widespread in the Atlantic lowlands of
southern México and northern Central America; usually it inhabits
sub-humid regions. Consequently, its presence in the wet forests of
southern El Petén was unexpected. The specimens from Chinajá were
sleeping on low bushes at night, whereas the others were found on bushes
by day.
=Basiliscus vittatus= Wiegmann
Chinajá, 6; Río de la Pasión, 1; Río San Román, 1; Sayaxché,
3; Toocog, 1.
Individuals of this abundant species were most frequently seen in dense
bushes along the margins of rivers or small streams. None was observed
far from water. These lizards, like the anoles, are known locally as
_toloque_.
=Corythophanes cristatus= (Merrem)
Chinajá, 3; 20 km. NNW of Chinajá, 1.
Three individuals were found on tree trunks; the fourth was on a thick
vine about one meter above the ground. The two largest males have
snout-vent lengths of 121 and 115 mm. and tail lengths of 265 and 243
mm. The largest female (KU 59603), obtained on June 28, has a snout-vent
length of 125 mm. and a tail length of 247 mm. This individual contained
eight ova varying in greatest diameter from 10.6 to 12.2 (average 11.1)
mm. Also present are numerous ovarian eggs having diameters up to about
3.5 mm.
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