Belize Biodiversity Information System

Taxonomy

Species ID	030295
Name	Lagartija dorada
Other Common Names
Category	03 Reptiles
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Reptilia
Subclass
Suborder	Sauria
Family	Gymnophthalmidae
Genus	Gymnophthalmus
Species	speciosus
Subspecies
References	3, 1
Scientific Synonyms	Blepharictisis speciosa, Hallowell, 1861

Comments

3* Three subspecies are presently recognized, of which G. s. birdi occurs in the Yucatan Peninsula (McCoy, 1990:165).

Distribution

DISTRICT	References
Orange Walk	4

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Private land, see comments				2

ELEVATION Association	References
1-200 m	4

QUAD Distribution	References
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	4, 2

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical moist	4

Comments on Distribution

2 * Carmelita

Habitat Associations

Forest Type Associations	Seral Stage	Canopy Closure	References
Agriculture, no native vegetation.	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	4
Transitional Low Broadleaf Forest and Shrubland	Canopy unknown	Canopy unknown	4

Food Habits

Comments on General Food Habits

3* These diminutive lizards forage actively for small invertebrates, predominantly insects.

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers
General	3

Life History

Life History Narrative

Nothing is known about the ecology of G. speciosus in the Yucatan Peninsula, but elsewhere it is a secretive, diurnal, terrestrial inhabitant of forests and forest edges that seeks refuge beneath stones, logs, or in leaf litter. These diminutive lizards forage actively for small invertebrates, predominantly insects. Gymnophthalmus speciosus is oviparous. In Chiapas oviposition occurs in March, and the adult females deposit clutches of 2 or 3 eggs in leaf litter (Alvarez del Toro, 1983:119). In Panama reproduction extends from late October through March (Telford, 1971). The clutch size there ranges from 1 to 4 (mean = 1.9), and females may produce up to three clutches per season. The hatchlings are 17 to 19 mm in snout-vent length and appear from February through May.

Life History References

3

References

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

2  McCoy, C. J. 1990. Additions to the Herpetofauna of Belize, Central
   America.  Caribbean Journal of Science. 26 (3-4):164-166.

3  Lee, Julian C. 1996.  The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan
   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. 154-155.  All data georeferenced
   and Imported on 09/17/00.