The Reptiles of Belize

However you may feel about reptiles, given their scary, primitive appearance, they are in fact intriguing to most people. They have been around for about three hundred million years, and exit in over six thousand species on earth today. A large portion of the world's reptiles live in the American tropics, although a brief visit to Belize might make you feel otherwise. This is because in addition to appearing camoflouged, most reptiles have the instinct to flee when they sense humans nearby. Exceptions to this rule would be the big boys: crocodiles and iguanas.

Reptile Characteristics

Reptiles have in common these things: they have tough scales all over their bodies, to prevent water loss during dry times. This allows them to remain on dry land for long periods of time, and in fact most reptiles today are totally terrestrial, meaning they don't need to be in the water at all, ever. They also have more heart chambers, allowing for increased productivity of the heart, which means higher blood pressure. This allows for increased muscular activity, which is needed for living on land. Last, they lay eggs, but do not take care of them after they're laid. Most don't care for their young, either.

Types of Reptiles

There are three main types of reptiles, according to scientists, who categorize them in the following ways:

• Lizards and Snakes. Lizards walk on all four legs and most live on the ground but can climb it needed. Some live in trees, too. Abundant vertebrates in the forest.
• Turtles & Tortoises. Tortoises are turtles that live on land. Most eat plants but some eat meat.
• Crocodiles & Company. Crocodiles and relativea are large and they eat meat. They live near swamps and rivers.

Lizards & Snakes

Lizards are the most prevalent of Belizean reptiles. They mostly eat insects, but larger lizards will also eat plants. Some even eat amphibians, fish, birds, and other lizards. To catch food, they will either search endlessly or they will sit and wait. Sit and wait techniques require camoflage, which many lizards posses. Lizards have a sense of territory and will go to great lengths to defend it.

Snakes are probably the descendants of the searching-style lizards, who burrow into the leaves and dirt looking for food. The difference, other than the obvious physical characteristics, is that snakes have venom. With venom, they can immobilize and kill their prey. However, lots of snakes are actually non-venomous. They use their jaws to kill their prey after they've subdued it and wrapped their body around it.

Here are some species of snakes found in Belize:

• Neckbank Snake. Scaphiodontophis annulatus
• Tropical Kingsnake. Lampropeltis triangulum
• Mussurana. Clelia clelia
• Indigo Snake. Drymarchon corais
• Neotropical Vine Snake. Oxybelis aeneus
• Brown Racer. Dryadophis melanolomus
• Speckled Racer. Drymobius margaritiferus
• Cat-eyed Snake. Leptodeira frenata

Crocodilians

Crocodilians include alligators, crocodiles, and caimans. There are only two species found in Belize: the American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus and Morelet's Crocodile Crocodylus moreleti. The American crocodiles are found in the coastal areas of Belize, in brackish water and in fresh water. This includes rivers and mangroves. Morelet's Crocodile is found only in this area of the world, and are smaller than American Crocodiles. They live in inland freshwater places in Belize and in northerin Guatemala. They like sluggish rivers and lagoons. Crocodiles are not amphibians but they are amphibious, and they are meat eaters.

Turtles

Turtles start out as meat-eaters but as they become adults they switch to a vegetarian diet. Turtles are hardest to encounter in the wild. They were used by ancient Mayans for food and for religious ceremonies, and indiginous people today still eat turtles. The eggs of Sea Turtles are harvested in Belize for food. The Hawksbill turtle is protected in Belize by law. There are some endangered turtles in Belize: some sea turtles and also the Central American River Turtle Dermatemys mawii, which is locally known in Belize as the Hickatee.

Here are some species found in Belize:

• Furrowed Wood turtle. Rhinoclemmys areolata
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Caretta caretta
• Leatherback Sea Turtle. Dermochelys coriacea
• Snapping Turtle. Chelydra serpentina
• Common slider. Trachemys scripta
• Green Sea Turtle. Chelonia mydas
• Tabasco Mud Turtle. Kinosternon acutum
• Scorpion mud Turtle. Kinosternon scorpioides

How to Find Reptiles in Belize

To see a reptile in Belize, keep in mind that safety come first. Don't step where you can't see because a snake could be hiding under a leaf or other shelter on the ground. Don't reach into bushes or trees for the same reason, and don't climb on rocks. Unlike noisy amphibians, reptiles are pretty quiet creatures, so sometimes you might be near one but not kmow it. They are usually camoflouged, too, so not only can you not hear their presence, you usually can't see them either. Lizards and most snakes are active during the day, and more active during sunny warm weather. The parks of Belize are good places to look for reptiles, especially under rocks if you can't find any big species. Iguanas and Jesus Christ lizards are common in the national paks in the northern part of Belize. Try the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary or the Community Baboon Sanctuary. Check out Mayan ruins to see small lizards running around on the trails, and up on the ruins too.