Environment

Amphibians

Frogs, toads, and salamanders are actually some of the most beguiling, beautiful, and easy-to-spot residents of tropical forests.

Rufescent Salamander

Scientific Name -- Bolitoglossa rufescens

Worth Noting -- This very small (1 1/2 in./3.8cm), brown amphibian is also known as the "northern banana salamander," which is fitting since it can often be found in banana leaves.

Prime Viewing -- In the Stann Creek, Toledo, and Cayo districts.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Scientific Name -- Agalychnis callidryas

Worth Noting -- This colorful 3-inch (7.6cm) frog usually has a pale or dark green back, sometimes with white or yellow spots, with blue-purple patches and vertical bars on the body, orange hands and feet, and deep red eyes.

Prime Viewing -- This nocturnal frog can be found in forests throughout Belize. It is often best to look on the undersides of broad-leafed plants.

Maya Rain Frog

Scientific Name -- Eleutherodactyulus chac

Worth Noting -- This small, skinny frog is usually brown or yellowish, with webbed toes and red eyes.

Prime Viewing -- Forests in southeastern, southern, and western Belize.

Marine Toad

Scientific Name -- Bufo marinus

Worth Noting -- This 8-inch (20cm), wart-covered toad is also known as sapo grande, or "giant toad." The females are mottled in color, while the males are uniformly brown.

Prime Viewing -- This terrestrial frog can be found in forests throughout Belize.

Mexican Burrowing Toad

Scientific Name -- Rhinophrynus dorsalis

Worth Noting -- This bloblike, 3-inch (7.6cm) toad will inflate like a blowfish when frightened. It often has a single red, orange, or yellow line down the center of its brown or black back.

Prime Viewing -- This terrestrial frog can be found in throughout Belize.

Reptiles

Belize's reptile species range from the frightening and justly feared fer-de-lance pit viper and American crocodile to a wide variety of turtles and lizards.

Snapping Turtle

Scientific Name -- Chelydra serpentina

Worth Noting -- This turtle's back is brown, olive, or black, and marked with three ridges of sharp bumps -- which might explain why it's also known as tortuga lagarto ("alligator turtle") in Belize.

Prime Viewing -- In ponds and streams throughout Belize.

Boa Constrictor

Scientific Name -- Boa constrictor

Worth Noting -- Adult boa constrictors average about 6 to 10 feet (1.8-3m) in length and weigh over 60 pounds (27kg). Their coloration camouflages them, but look for varying patterns of cream, brown, tan, gray, and black with ovals and diamonds.

Prime Viewing -- In forests and mangroves countrywide, including on some of the offshore cayes.

Fer-de-Lance

Scientific Name -- Bothrops asper

Worth Noting -- Also known as a tommygoff in Belize, this venomous and aggressive snake can grow to 8 feet (2.4m) in length. Beige, brown, or black triangles flank either side of the snake's head, while the area under the head is a vivid yellow.

Prime Viewing -- All regions. This snake is arboreal as a youngster and becomes terrestrial as it grows larger and older.

Mussurana

Scientific Name -- Clelia clelia

Worth Noting -- This bluish black, brown, or grayish snake grows to 8 feet (2.4m) in length. While slightly venomous, this snake is a rear-fanged snake and of little danger to humans. In fact, it is prized and protected by locals, since its primary prey happens to be much more venomous pit vipers, like the fer-de-lance.

Prime Viewing -- Forests in central, southeastern, and western Belize.

Rattlesnake

Scientific Name -- Crotalus durissus

Worth Noting -- Look out for its triangular head, 6-foot (1.8m) length, the ridge running along the middle of its back, and (of course) its rattling tail.

Prime Viewing -- Throughout the country.

Shiny Skink

Scientific Name -- Mabuya brachypoda

Worth Noting -- This midsize (3 in./7.6cm) brown lizard with a narrow head and short legs is also known as "snake waiting boy."

Prime Viewing -- Throughout the country.

Silky Anole

Scientific Name -- Anolis sericeus

Worth Noting -- This small (2 in./5.1cm) gray lizard can be hard to spot, as it often aligns itself on a blade of grass when startled.

Prime Viewing -- Throughout the country.

Leaf-Toed Gecko

Scientific Name -- Phyllodactylus tuberculosus

Worth Noting -- You'll have no problem spotting this 2 1/2-inch (6.8cm) gecko on rocks and on the ground -- it loves to be around buildings and other areas of human activity.

Prime Viewing -- Central, southeastern, and western Belize.

Smooth Gecko

Scientific Name -- Thecadactylus rapicaudus

Worth Noting -- This gecko's autonomous tail detaches from its body and acts as a diversion to a potential predator; it grows back later in a lighter shade.

Prime Viewing -- In northwestern, western, and southern Belize, especially where humans can be found.

Green Iguana

Scientific Name -- Iguana iguana

Worth Noting -- Green iguanas, not surprisingly, are green in color, but vary in shades ranging from bright green to a dull grayish-green. The iguana will often perch on a branch overhanging a river and plunge into the water when threatened.

Prime Viewing -- All regions of the country, living along the rivers and streams.

Basilisk

Scientific Name -- Basiliscus vittatus

Worth Noting -- The basilisk can run across the surface of water for short distances by using its hind legs and holding its body almost upright; thus, the reptile is also known as "the Jesus Christ lizard."

Prime Viewing -- In trees and rocks located near water in tropical rainforests.

Morelet's Crocodile

Scientific Name -- Crocodylus moreleti

Worth Noting -- This reptile can grow to a length of 13 feet (4m), although the average specimen measures less than 8 feet (2.4m). Adults are brown or blackish in color, while young Morelet's crocodiles are olive or yellowish, with dark bands on their bodies and tails.

Prime Viewing -- Northern and central coastal Belize, in most of the freshwater lowland interior rivers, lagoons, and ponds.

American Crocodile

Scientific Name -- Crocodylus acutus

Worth Noting -- This endangered species is distinguished from the Morelet's crocodile by their generally larger size and narrower snout. While they can reach lengths of 21 feet (6.3m), the majority are much smaller, usually less than 13 feet (4m).

Prime Viewing -- Near swamps, mangrove swamps, estuaries, large rivers, coastal lowlands, and islands.