REPTILES OF THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON
Common Bush-Anole (Polychrus marmoratus) LC
Rapid identification guide.
Alejandro Arteaga*, Jose L Vieira-Fernandes, Lucas Bustamante, Frank
Pichardo, Sebastin Di Domenico, Matthijs Hollanders and Gabriela
Aguiar.
General layout by Alejandro Arteaga.
Images by Tropical Herping except for Anilius scytale by Andrew
Snyder, Amerotyphlops reticulatus by Patrick Campbell, and
Peltocephalus dumerilianus by Wolfgang Gessl.
2017 Tropical Herping. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written
permission from the authors.
First edition. Printed in Ecuador. The digital edition of this publication
can be obtained from www.tropicalherping.com
Recommended citation.
Arteaga A, Vieira-Fernandes JL, Bustamante L, Pichardo F, Di
Domenico S, Hollanders M, Aguiar G (2017) Reptiles of the Ecuadorian
Amazon Rapid identification guide. Tropical Herping, Quito, 18 pp.
*Corresponding author: Alejandro Arteaga. Phone: +593 984631435.
Email: alejandro@tropicalherping.com
ABBREVIATIONS
A=Adult, a=subadult, F=Adult female, f=Subadult female, M=Adult
male, m=Subadult male, j=Juvenile.
IUCN RED LIST CATEGORIES
CR=Critically Endangered, EN=Endangered, VU=Vulnerable, NT=Near
Threatened, LC=Least Concern, DD=Data Deficient.
SPECIES LIST
Total species: 149. Photographed: 123.
1. White Worm-Lizard (Amphisbaena alba) LC
2. Speckled Worm-Lizard (Amphisbaena bassleri) LC
34. White Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) LC
57. Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) VU
89. Crowned Dwarf-Caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) LC
1015. Slender Anole (Anolis fuscoauratus) LC
1617. Bark Anole (Anolis ortonii) LC
1820. Spotted Anole (Anolis punctatus) LC
21. Dim Anole (Anolis scypheus) LC
2223. Roughskin Anole (Anolis trachyderma) LC
2427. Banded Tree-Anole (Anolis transversalis) LC
2831. Common House-Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) LC
32. Tropical House-Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) LC
3334. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) LC
35. Northern Shade-Lizard (Alopoglossus angulatus) LC
3637. Blackbelly Shade-Lizard (Alopoglossus atriventris) LC
38. Ashy Shade-Lizard (Alopoglossus copii) LC
39. Reticulated Creek-Lizard (Arthrosaura reticulata) LC
40. Striped Bachia (Bachia trisanale) LC
41. Elegant Eyed-Lizard (Cercosaura argula) LC
4243. White-striped Eyed-Lizard (Cercosaura oshaughnessyi) LC
44. Gnthers Oyster-Lizard (Euspondylus guentheri) VU
45. Glossy Shade-Lizard (Iphisa elegans) LC
4648. Striped Root-Lizard (Loxopholis parietalis) LC
4951. Common Stream-Lizard (Potamites ecpleopus) LC
5254. Rainbow Stream-Lizard (Potamites strangulatus) NT
55. Blunt Carbon-Lizard (Ptychoglossus brevifrontalis) LC
5657. Cofn Dwarf-Iguana (Enyalioides cofanorum) NT
5861. Amazon Dwarf-Iguana (Enyalioides laticeps) LC
6263. Blue-throated Dwarf-Iguana (Enyalioides microlepis) LC
6465. Southern Turniptail (Thecadactylus solimoensis) LC
66. Smooth-bellied Bush-Anole (Polychrus liogaster) DD
67.
68. Black-spotted Skink (Mabuya nigropunctata) LC
6971. Yellow-headed Sun-Gecko (Gonatodes caudiscutatus) LC
7273. Bridled Sun-Gecko (Gonatodes concinnatus) LC
7475. Rainbow Sun-Gecko (Gonatodes humeralis) LC
76. Pygmy Forest-Gecko (Pseudogonatodes guianensis) LC
77. Giant Whiptail (Ameiva ameiva) LC
78. Northern Caiman-Lizard (Dracaena guianensis) LC
7980. Forest Whiptail (Kentropyx pelviceps) LC
81. Cuzco Tegu (Tupinambis cuzcoensis) LC
82. Collared Tree-Runner (Plica plica) LC
8384. Blue-lipped Tree-Runner (Plica umbra) LC
85. Tropical Thornytail-Iguana (Uracentron flaviceps) LC
86. Pipe Snake (Anilius scytale) LC
8788. Red-tailed Boa (Boa constrictor) LC
8990. Emerald Tree-Boa (Corallus batesii) NT
9193. Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulanus) LC
9495. Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria) LC
96. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) LC
97. Coral Groundsnake (Atractus elaps) LC
98100. Greater Groundsnake (Atractus major) LC
101. Coffee Groundsnake (Atractus snethlageae) LC
102. Green Whipsnake (Chironius exoletus) LC
103104. Brown Whipsnake (Chironius fuscus) LC
105. Long-tailed Whipsnake (Chironius multiventris) LC
106108. Rusty Whipsnake (Chironius scurrulus) LC
109110. Common Mussurana (Clelia clelia) LC
111. Olive Forest-Racer (Dendrophidion dendrophis) LC
112. Ornate Snail-Eater (Dipsas catesbyi) LC
113114. Neotropical Snail-Eater (Dipsas indica) LC
115. Pavonine Snail-Eater (Dipsas pavonina) LC
116. Black-collared Snake (Drepanoides anomalus) LC
117. Yellowtail Cribo (Drymarchon corais) LC
118. Diamond Racer (Drymobius rhombifer) LC
119120. Glossy Racer (Drymoluber dichrous) LC
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 121. Aesculapian False-Coralsnake (Erythrolamprus aesculapii) LC
122. Banded Marsh-Snake (Erythrolamprus festae) LC
123. Pygmy Marsh-Snake (Erythrolamprus pygmaeus) NT
124. Royal Marsh-Snake (Erythrolamprus reginae) LC
125. Small-eyed Marsh-Snake (Erythrolamprus typhlus) LC
126. Tiger Watersnake (Helicops angulatus) LC
127. Mottled Watersnake (Helicops pastazae) LC
128. Hammer Watersnake (Hydrops martii) LC
129. Triangle Watersnake (Hydrops triangularis) LC
130131. Common Blunthead (Imantodes cenchoa) LC
132. Spectacled Blunthead (Imantodes lentiferus) LC
133. Banded Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira annulata) LC
134. Copper Parrot-Snake (Leptophis cupreus) DD
135. Black-lined Parrot-Snake (Leptophis nigromarginatus) LC
136. Common Tropical-Racer (Mastigodryas boddaerti) LC
137. Amazon Coffee-Snake (Ninia hudsoni) LC
138. Brown Vinesnake (Oxybelis aeneus) LC
139. Green Vinensake (Oxybelis fulgidus) LC
140142. Amazon Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus digitalis) LC
143144. Yellow-headed Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus occipitalis) LC
145. Impostor Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus vanidicus) LC
146. Striped Vinesnake (Philodryas argentea) LC
147148. Common Puffing-Snake (Phrynonax polylepis) LC
149. South American Pond-Snake (Pseudoeryx plicatilis) LC
150. Painted Liana-Snake (Siphlophis cervinus) LC
151. Red-eyed Liana-Snake (Siphlophis compressus) LC
152. Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus) LC
153. Yellow-bellied Puffing-Snake (Spilotes sulphureus) LC
154. La Salles Shadow-Snake (Synophis lasallei) VU
155. Short-nosed Litter-Snake (Taeniophallus brevirostris) LC
156157. Black-headed Centipede-Snake (Tantilla melanocephala) LC
158. Common False Fer-de-Lance (Xenodon rabdocephalus) LC
159. Red Leaf-Litter Snake (Xenopholis scalaris) LC
160. Western Ribbon-Coralsnake (Micrurus helleri) LC
161. Black-backed Coralsnake (Micrurus melanotus) LC
162. Black-necked Coralsnake (Micrurus obscurus) LC 207. Gnthers False-Coralsnake (Erythrolamprus guentheri) NT
163. Ornate Coralsnake (Micrurus ornatissimus) LC 208. Eastern False-Coralsnake (Erythrolamprus mimus) LC
164165. Western Worm-eating Coralsnake (Micrurus ortoni) LC 209. Cornaline Marsh-Snake (Erythrolamprus taeniogaster) LC
166. Aquatic Coralsnake (Micrurus surinamensis) LC 210. Ivory-naped Snake (Eutrachelophis bassleri) DD
167. Reticulated Worm-Snake (Amerotyphlops reticulatus) LC 211. Leopard Watersnake (Helicops leopardinus) LC
168. Two-lined Forest-Pitviper (Bothriopsis bilineata) LC 212. Emerald Palmsnake (Philodryas viridissima) LC
169171. Speckled Forest-Pitviper (Bothriopsis taeniata) LC 213. Amazon Scarlet Snake (Pseudoboa coronata) NT
172. Amazonian Toadhead (Bothrocophias hyoprora) LC 214. Splendid Harlequin-Snake (Rhinobothryum lentiginosum) NT
173. Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops atrox) LC 215. Amazon House-Snake (Thamnodynastes pallidus) LC
174. Brazils Lancehead (Bothrops brazili) LC 216. Amazon False Fer-de-Lance (Xenodon severus) LC
175. Amazonian Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) VU 217. Confused Coralsnake (Micrurus langsdorffi) VU
176177. Matamata (Chelus fimbriatus) NT 218. Pigmy Slender-Coralsnake (Micrurus scutiventris) DD
178. Humpback Toadhead-Turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba) NT 219. Amazon Thread-Snake (Epictia signata) DD
179180. Bearded Turtle (Phrynops geoffroanus) NT 220. Sunflower Toadhead-Turtle (Mesoclemmys heliostemma) VU
181. Twist-necked Turtle (Platemys platycephala) NT 221. Amazonian Toadhead-Turtle (Mesoclemmys raniceps) NT
182183. Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta) LC
184185. Scorpion Mud-Turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) NT Help us conserve the 149 reptiles that call the Ecuadorian Amazon their
186187. Big-headed River-Turtle (Peltocephalus dumerilianus) DD home by donating at www.fjocotoco.org
188189. Giant River-Turtle (Podocnemis expansa) EN
190192. Mottled River-Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) VU
193195. Yellow-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata) NT
N ot yet photographed: 26
196. Blue-throated Anole (Anolis bombiceps) DD
197. Long-sleeved Eyed-Lizard (Cercosaura manicata) NT
198. Spotted Oyster-Lizard (Euspondylus maculatus) DD
199. Ringed Spinytail-Iguana (Morunasaurus annularis) LC
200. Upper-Amazon Skink (Mabuya altamazonica) LC
201. Upper-Amazon Whiptail (Kentropyx altamazonica) LC
202. Collared Groundsnake (Atractus collaris) LC
203. Seven-lined Groundsnake (Atractus gaigeae) DD
204. White-naped Groundsnake (Atractus occipitoalbus) LC
205. Wavy Snake (Echinanthera undulata) LC
206. Short-snouted Snake (Erythrolamprus breviceps) VU
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1. Amphisbaena alba (A) 2. Amphisbaena bassleri (A) 3. Caiman crocodilus (a) 4. Caiman crocodilus (j) 5. Melanosuchus niger (A)

6. Melanosuchus niger (a) 7. Melanosuchus niger (j) 8. Paleosuchus trigonatus (A) 9. Paleosuchus trigonatus (j) 10. Anolis fuscoauratus (m)

11. Anolis fuscoauratus (F) 12. Anolis fuscoauratus (F) 13. Anolis fuscoauratus (F) 14. Anolis fuscoauratus (F) 15. Anolis fuscoauratus (j)
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 16. Anolis ortonii (M) 17. Anolis ortonii (F) 18. Anolis punctatus (M) 19. Anolis punctatus (F) 20. Anolis punctatus (j)

21. Anolis scypheus (M) 22. Anolis trachyderma (M) 23. Anolis trachyderma (F) 24. Anolis transversalis (M) 25. Anolis transversalis (M)

26. Anolis transversalis (F) 27. Anolis transversalis (f) 28. Hemidactylus frenatus (A) 29. Hemidactylus frenatus (A) 30. Hemidactylus frenatus (A)
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 31. Hemidactylus frenatus (j) 32. Hemidactylus mabouia (A) 33. Lepidodactylus lugubris (F) 34. Lepidodactylus lugubris (F) 35. Alopoglossus angulatus (M)

36. Alopoglossus atriventris (M) 37. Alopoglossus atriventris (F) 38. Alopoglossus copii (M) 39. Arthrosaura reticulata (F) 40. Bachia trisanale (a)

41. Cercosaura argula (F) 42. Cercosaura oshaughnessyi (M) 43. Cercosaura oshaughnessyi (F) 44. Euspondylus guentheri (A) 45. Iphisa elegans (A)
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46. Loxopholis parietalis (M) 47. Loxopholis parietalis (F) 48. Loxopholis parietalis (j) 49. Potamites ecpleopus (M) 50. Potamites ecpleopus (m)

51. Potamites ecpleopus (F) 52. Potamites strangulatus (m) 53. Potamites strangulatus (F) 54. Potamites strangulatus (F) 55. Ptychoglossus brevifrontalis (A)

56. Enyalioides cofanorum (F) 57. Enyalioides cofanorum (j) 58. Enyalioides laticeps (M) 59. Enyalioides laticeps (m) 60. Enyalioides laticeps (F)
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 61. Enyalioides laticeps (j) 62. Enyalioides microlepis (M) 63. Enyalioides microlepis (F) 64. Thecadactylus solimoensis (M) 65. Thecadactylus solimoensis (j)

66. Polychrus liogaster (j) 67. Polychrus marmoratus (A) 68. Mabuya nigropunctata (A) 69. Gonatodes caudiscutatus (M) 70. Gonatodes caudiscutatus (M)

71. Gonatodes caudiscutatus (F) 72. Gonatodes concinnatus (M) 73. Gonatodes concinnatus (F) 74. Gonatodes humeralis (M) 75. Gonatodes humeralis (F)
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76. Pseudogonatodes guianensis (A) 77. Ameiva ameiva (j) 78. Dracaena guianensis (F) 79. Kendropyx pelviceps (F) 80. Kendropyx pelviceps (j)

81. Tupinambis cuzcoensis (M) 82. Plica plica (j) 83. Plica umbra (M) 84. Plica umbra (F) 85. Uracentron flaviceps (M)

86. Anilius scytale (A) 87. Boa constrictor (A) 88. Boa constrictor (j) 89. Corallus batesii (A) 90. Corallus batesii (j)
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 91. Corallus hortulanus (A) 92. Corallus hortulanus (A) 93. Corallus hortulanus (j) 94. Epicrates cenchria (A) 95. Epicrates cenchria (j)

96. Eunectes murinus (A) 97. Atractus elaps (A) 98. Atractus major (A) 99. Atractus major (a) 100. Atractus major (j)

101. Atractus snethlageae (A) 102. Chironius exoletus (A) 103. Chironius fuscus (a) 104. Chironius fuscus (j) 105. Chironius multiventris (a)
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 106. Chironius scurrulus (A) 107. Chironius scurrulus (a) 108. Chironius scurrulus (j) 109. Clelia clelia (A) 110. Clelia clelia (j)

111. Dendrophidion dendrophis (j) 112. Dipsas catesbyi (A) 113. Dipsas indica (A) 114. Dipsas indica (a) 115. Dipsas pavonina (A)

116. Drepanoides anomalus (j) 117. Drymarchon corais (j) 118. Drymobius rhombifer (A) 119. Drymoluber dichrous (A) 120. Drymoluber dichrous (j)
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121. Erythrolamprus aesculapii (A) 122. Erythrolamprus festae (A) 123. Erythrolamprus pygmaeus (j) 124. Erythrolamprus reginae (A) 125. Erythrolamprus typhlus (A)

126. Helicops angulatus (A) 127. Helicops pastazae (A) 128. Hydrops martii (A) 129. Hydrops triangularis (A) 130. Imantodes cenchoa (A)

131. Imantodes cenchoa (A) 132. Imantodes lentiferus (A) 133. Leptodeira annulata (A) 134. Leptophis cupreus (A) 135. Leptophis nigromarginatus (A)
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136. Mastigodryas boddaerti (A) 137. Ninia hudsoni (A) 138. Oxybelis aeneus (A) 139. Oxybelis fulgidus (A) 140. Oxyrhopus digitalis (M)

141. Oxyrhopus digitalis (F) 142. Oxyrhopus digitalis (j) 143. Oxyrhopus occipitalis (A) 144. Oxyrhopus occipitalis (j) 145. Oxyrhopus vanidicus (A)

146. Philodryas argentea (A) 147. Phrynonax polylepis (A) 148. Phrynonax polylepis (j) 149. Pseudoeryx plicatilis (A) 150. Siphlophis cervinus (A)
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151. Siphlophis compressus (A) 152. Spilotes pullatus (A) 153. Spilotes sulphureus (A) 154. Synophis lasallei (A) 155. Taeniophallus brevirostris (j)

156. Tantilla melanocephala (A) 157. Tantilla melanocephala (j) 158. Xenodon rabdocephalus (A) 159. Xenopholis scalaris (A) 160. Micrurus helleri (A)

161. Micrurus melanotus (A) 162. Micrurus obscurus (A) 163. Micrurus ornatissimus (A) 164. Micrurus ortoni (A) 165. Micrurus ortoni (A)
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166. Micrurus surinamensis (A) 167. Amerotyphlops reticulatus (A) 168. Bothriopsis bilineata (A) 169. Bothriopsis taeniata (A) 170. Bothriopsis taeniata (A)

171. Bothriopsis taeniata (j) 172. Bothrocophias hyoprora (A) 173. Bothrops atrox (A) 174. Bothrops brazili (A) 175. Lachesis muta (A)

176. Chelus fimbriatus (A) 177. Chelus fimbriatus (j) 178. Mesoclemmys gibba (A) 179. Phyrnops geoffroanus (A) 180. Phyrnops geoffroanus (j)
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 181. Platemys platycephala (A) 182. Trachyemis elegans (A) 183. Trachyemis elegans (a) 184. Kinosternon scorpioides (A) 185. Kinosternon scorpioides (A)

186. Peltocephalus dumerilianus (A) 187. Peltocephalus dumerilianus (j) 188. Podocnemis expansa (A) 189. Podocnemis expansa (j) 190. Podocnemis unifilis (A)

191. Podocnemis unifilis (a) 192. Podocnemis unifilis (j) 193. Chelonoidis denticulata (A) 194. Chelonoidis denticulata (A) 195. Chelonoidis denticulata (j)
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