Belize Biodiversity Information System


Wildlife Conservation Society
Ministry of Natural Resources' Land Information Centre
04/05/01

Taxonomy

Species ID

030120

Name

Big-headed anole

Other Common Names

Category

03 Reptiles

Phylum

Subphylum

Class

Reptilia

Subclass

Suborder

Sauria

Family

Polychrotidae

Genus

Anolis

Species

capito

Subspecies

References

3, 1

Scientific Synonyms

Anolis (Draconura) capito, Peters, 1863, Norops capito

 

 

Distribution

DISTRICT

References

Orange Walk

4

Toledo

4

Cayo

4

Belize

2

Stann Creek

4

Administrative Unit

Occurrence

Abundance

Temporal

References

Columbia River Forest Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Bladen Nature Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Gallon Jug

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Sittee River Forest Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Chiquibul Forest Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Caracol Archaeological Reserve

Collected as voucher.

Unknown, insuffient data

4

Private land, see comments

Collected as voucher.

Dry season (Jan-May)

1

Government land

2

Manatee Forest Reserve

2

Caracol Archaeological Reserve

2

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

2

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

2

Bladen Nature Reserve

2

Columbia River Forest Reserve

2

ELEVATION Association

References

601-800 m

4

201-400 m

4

1-200 m

4

401-600 m

4

QUAD Distribution

References

16 45' to 17 00'; 88 00' to 88 15'

4

17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'

4

17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'

4

16 30' to 16 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'

4

17 00' to 17 15'; 89 00' to 89 15'

2

17 00' to 17 15'; 88 15' to 88 30'

2

16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'

4, 2

16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'

4, 2

16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'

4, 2

16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'

4, 2

16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15'

4, 2

15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15'

1

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution

References

Subtropical wet

4

Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical

4

Subtropical Lower Montane moist

4

Subtropical moist

4

 

 

Habitat Associations

Forest Type Associations

Seral Stage

Canopy Closure

References

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Ramon-Chiquebul forest.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Agriculture, no native vegetation.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf Forest Moderately Rich in Lime-loving Species; Cohune-Quamwood Forest

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in rolling or flat terrain.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Seasonal swamp forests (marsh forests) of Northern Belize, variant 1.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Lowland broadleaf moist evergreen seasonal forest over limestone, northwestern variant.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species: Sapote-Silion forest.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Pine Forest and Orchard Savanna

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf hill forests over non-calcareous rocks, Negrito-Nargusta variant.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf Forest with Few Lime-loving Species

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Ramon Forest.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf hill forests over limestone in steep terrain.

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species

Canopy unknown

Canopy unknown

4

 

 

Food Habits

Comments on General Food Habits

3* Feed primarily on invertebrates, especially insects, although they also prey on other anoles (R. M. Andrews, 1983:410).

References/Lifestage

Reference Numbers

General

3

Life History

Life History Narrative

This species occupies humid lowland forests, and individuals usually perch on the trunks of large trees at heights up to 10 m, although occasionally they are found on the ground near the bases of large trees (Fitch, 1975:41). The brown coloration of these diurnal lizards renders them inconspicuous against their usual background of bark and dead leaves, especially given their habit of pressing the body against the tree trunk (Duellman, 1963:233). They feed primarily on invertebrates, especially insects, although they also prey on other anoles (R. M. Andrews, 1983:410). In turn, they are preyed on by the blunt-headed tree snake, Imantodes cenchoa (Stuart, 1948:47). Anolis capito is oviparous. The females produce multiple clutches of a single egg each. Fitch (1975:41) inferred that females deposited eggs in every month of the year in a Costa Rican rainforest.

Life History References

3

 

References

 

1  Matola, S., 1990. The Dolores Expedition, January 27 - February 3, 1990.
   Unpublished report.

2  Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize.
   Report to National Protected Areas Management Project.

3  Lee, Julian C. 1996.  The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucat n
   Peninsula.  Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York.

4  Stafford, P. J. and J. R. Meyer. 2000. A guide to the reptiles of
   Belize. Academic Press, London. pp. 132-134. All data georeferenced
   and Imported on 09/17/00.