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Preliminary Checklist of the Herpetofauna of Guyana
Principal Contributors: Robert Reynolds, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Smithsonian Institution; Ross MacCulloch, Royal Ontario Museum; Mike Tamessar, University of Guyana; Cynthia Watson,University of Guyana; Charles J. Cole, American Museum of Natural History; and Carol Townsend, American Museum of Natural History.
Compiled by: The Biological Diversity of the Guiana Shield Program (BDG), Smithsonian Institution.
This preliminary list of herpetofauna is based upon known collections; it has been compiled from Guyana collections data gathered from several sources which are listed for each taxon. These sources include:
- AMNH - The American Museum of Natural History, New York.
- BMNH - The British Museum, London.
- PCHP - Chelonian Research Institute, Oviedo, Florida; P.C.H. Pritchard, Director.
- ROM - The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.
- UG - University of Guyana, Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity, Georgetown Guyana.
- UMMZ - University of Michigan, Zoology Department. To date only selected genera have been databased by BDG.
- UTA - Universtiy of Texas, Arlington.
- USNM - Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
It is estimated that this list represents approximately 70% of the actual reptile and amphibian species of Guyana. Unidentified specimens may represent taxa new to the list, and listings for multiple institutions at the "sp." level may actually represent more than one taxon.
Note: Some specimen identifications presented in this list have not been verified by the Principal Contributors.
Eretmochelys imbricata, hawksbill sea turtle. Photo T. Hollowell
Download a pdf of the checklist here.
Class Amphibia
Order: Anura
Frogs & Toads
| Family Allophrynidae | |
| Allophryne ruthveni | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Bufonidae | |
| Atelopus spumarius | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Bufo granulosus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Bufo granulosus group | UG |
| Bufo guttatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Bufo margaritifer group | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Bufo marinus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Bufo nasicus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Bufo sp. | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Dendrophryniscus minutus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Oreophrynella macconnelli | BMNH, USNM |
| Oreophrynella quelchii | AMNH, USNM |
| Oreophrynella sp. | ROM |
| Family Centrolenidae | |
| Centrolene papillahallicum | UTA, UG |
| Hyalinobatrachium taylori | BMNH |
| Family Dendrobatidae | |
| Colostethus beebei | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Colostethus brunneus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Colostethus sp. | AMNH |
| Colostethus sp. | ROM |
| Dendrobates leucomelas | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Dendrobates sp. | AMNH |
| Dendrobates tinctorius | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Epipedobates femoralis | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Epipedobates pictus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Epipedobates trivittatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Family Hylidae | |
| Hyla boans | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla calcarata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla crepitans | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla fasciata | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Hyla geographica | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla granosa | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla helenae | BMNH, UMMZ |
| Hyla kanaima | BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla lemai | BMNH, ROM |
| Hyla leucophyllata | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Hyla marmorata | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Hyla miniscula | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Hyla minuta | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Hyla multifasciata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, UMMZ, USNM |
| Hyla ornatissima | AMNH |
| Hyla roraima | BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Hyla sibleszi | BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Hyla sp. | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hyla warreni | BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Osteocephalus buckleyi | AMNH, BMNH |
| Osteocephalus leprieurii | AMNH, USNM |
| Osteocephalus taurinus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Phrynohyas coriacea | AMNH |
| Phrynohyas venulosa | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Phyllomedusa bicolor | BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Phyllomedusa hypocondrialis | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Phyllomedusa tarsius | AMNH |
| Phyllomedusa vaillantii | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Scinax boesemani | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Scinax garbei | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Scinax nebulosus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Scinax proboscideus | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Scinax rostratus | ROM |
| Scinax ruber | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, UMMZ, USNM |
| Scinax ruber group | ROM |
| Scinax trilineatus | AMNH |
| Scinax x-signatus group | AMNH, ROM, UG |
| Sphaenorhynchus lacteus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USMN |
| Stefania ackawaio | ROM, UG |
| Stefania ayangannae | ROM, UG |
| Stefania coxi | ROM, UG |
| Stefania evansi | BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Stefania roraimae | ROM, UG, USNM |
| Stefania scalae | ROM |
| Stefania woodleyi | BMNH, ROM |
| Tepuihyla talbergae | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Leptodactylidae | |
| Adelophryne gutturosa | BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Adenomera andreae | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Adenomera hylaedactyla | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Adenomera lutzi | ROM, USNM |
| Adenomera sp. | BMNH |
| Ceratophrys cornuta | AMNH, UG |
| Eleutherodactylus chiastonotus | BMNH |
| Eleutherodactylus fenestratus | AMNH |
| Eleutherodactylus inguinalis | ROM |
| Eleutherodactylus johnstonei | AMNH, USNM |
| Eleutherodactylus marmoratus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Eleutherodactylus pulvinatus | BMNH, ROM |
| Eleutherodactylus sp. | AMNH, BMNH, ROM |
| Eleutherodactylus urichi | ROM, USNM |
| Eleutherodactylus zeuctotylus | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Leptodactylus bolivianus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus fuscus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus knudseni | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus leptodactyloides | AMNH |
| Leptodactylus longirostris | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus macrosternum | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus mystaceus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus ocellatus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Leptodactylus pallidirostris | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus pentadactylus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Leptodactylus petersii | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus podicipinus | BMNH |
| Leptodactylus rhodomystax | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptodactylus rugosus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM, UG |
| Leptodactylus sp. | UG |
| Lithodytes lineatus | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Physalaemus pustulosus | BMNH |
| Physalaemus sp. | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pleurodema brachyops | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Pseudopaludicola boliviana | AMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Microhylidae | |
| Chiasmocleis hudsoni | BMNH |
| Chiasmocleis shudikarensis | AMNH |
| Chiasmocleis sp. | AMNH |
| Ctenophryne geayi | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Elachistocleis ovalis | AMNH, ROM, UG |
| Hamptophryne boliviana | BMNH |
| Otophryne robusta | AMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Otophryne steyermarki | ROM |
| Synapturanus mirandaribeiroi | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Family Pipidae | |
| Pipa arrabali | AMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Pipa aspera | USNM |
| Pipa pipa | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pipa sp. | AMNH |
| Family Pseudidae | |
| Lysapsus laevis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pseudis paradoxa | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Family Ranidae | |
| Rana cf. palmipes | ROM |
| Rana palmipes | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
Order: Gymnophiona
Caecilians
| Family Caeciliidae | |
| Caecilia gracilis | BMNH, USNM |
| Caecilia pressula | AMNH |
| Caecilia tentaculata | AMNH, BMNH |
| Microcaecilia rabei | BMNH |
| Microcaecilia sp. | AMNH |
| Oscaecilia zweifeli | AMNH |
| Family Rhinatrematidae | |
| Epicrionops niger | ROM |
| Rhinatrema bivittatum | AMNH, BMNH |
Class Reptilia
Order: Amphisbaenia
Worm Lizards
| Family Amphisbaenidae | |
| Amphisbaena alba | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Amphisbaena fuliginosa | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Amphisbaena vanzolinii | AMNH |
Order: Crocodylia
Crocodilians
| Family Alligatoridae | |
| Caiman crocodilus | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Melanosuchus niger | AMNH |
| Paleosuchus palpebrosus | UG, USNM |
| Paleosuchus trigonatus | BMNH |
Order: Squamata
Suborder Lacertilia
Lizards
| Family Gekkonidae | |
| Coleodactylus amazonicus | AMNH |
| Coleodactylus septentrionalis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Gonatodes annularis | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Gonatodes caudiscutatus | AMNH |
| Gonatodes humeralis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Gonatodes sp. | AMNH |
| Gonatodes vittatus | AMNH |
| Hemidactylus mabouia | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Hemidactylus palaichthus | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Pseudogonatodes guianensis | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Sphaerodactylus molei | AMNH, BMNH |
| Thecadactylus rapicauda | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Gymnophthalmidae | |
| Alopoglossus angulatus | AMNH |
| Arthrosaura guianensis | ROM, UG, USNM |
| Arthrosaura reticulata | AMNH |
| Arthrosaura versteegii | AMNH |
| Bachia flavescens | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Cercosaura ocellata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Gymnophthalmus leucomystax | AMNH, UG |
| Gymnophthalmus underwoodi | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Gymnophthalmus vanzoi | AMNH, UG |
| Iphisa elegans | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Leposoma guianense | AMNH, BMNH |
| Leposoma percarinatum | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Neusticurus bicarinatus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Neusticurus rudis | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Prionodactylus argulus | AMNH |
| Riolama leucosticta | BMNH |
| Tretioscinus sp. | AMNH |
| Family Polychrotidae | |
| Anolis aeneus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Anolis auratus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Anolis chrysolepis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Anolis extremus | BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Anolis fuscoauratus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Anolis ortonii | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Anolis punctatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM |
| Anolis roquet | AMNH, UG |
| Anolis sp. | AMNH, UG |
| Iguana iguana | AMNH |
| Polychrus marmoratus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Scincidae | |
| Mabuya bistriata | BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Mabuya nigropunctata | AMNH |
| Family Teiidae | |
| Ameiva ameiva | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Cnemidophorus lemniscatus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Cnemidophorus sp. | USNM |
| Kentropyx borckiana | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Kentropyx calcarata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Kentropyx striata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Tupinambis teguixin | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Tropiduridae | |
| Plica plica | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Plica umbra | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Tropidurus hispidus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Tropidurus sp. | BMNH, USNM |
| Uracentron azureum | BMNH |
| Uranoscodon superciliosus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
Suborder Serpentes
Snakes
| Family Aniliidae | |
| Anilius scytale | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Anomalepidae | |
| Typhlophis squamosus | AMNH |
| Family Boidae | |
| Boa constrictor | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Corallus caninus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Corallus hortulanus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Epicrates cenchria | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Eunectes murinus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Colubridae | |
| Atractus badius | AMNH |
| Atractus favae | AMNH, BMNH |
| Atractus schach | BMNH |
| Atractus sp. | AMNH |
| Atractus steyermarki | BMNH |
| Atractus torquatus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Atractus trilineatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM |
| Chironius carinatus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Chironius exoletus | BMNH |
| Chironius fuscus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Chironius multiventris | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Chironius scurrulus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Chironius sp. | AMNH, ROM |
| Clelia clelia | AMNH, BMNH |
| Dendrophidion dendrophis | AMNH |
| Dipsas catesbyi | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Dipsas copei | BMNH, ROM |
| Dipsas indica | AMNH, BMNH |
| Dipsas pavonina | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Dipsas sp. | ROM |
| Dipsas variegata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Drepanoides anomalus | BMNH |
| Drymarchon corais | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Drymobius rhombifer | AMNH |
| Drymoluber dichrous | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Elapomorphus quinquelineatus | USNM |
| Erythrolamprus aesculapii | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Erythrolamprus bauperhtusii | AMNH |
| Helicops angulatus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Helicops sp. | AMNH |
| Hydrodynastes bicinctus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Hydrops triangularis | AMNH, UG |
| Imantodes cenchoa | BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Imantodes lentiferus | BMNH, USNM |
| Leptodeira annulata | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Leptophis ahaetulla | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Leptophis sp. | AMNH |
| Liophis breviceps | AMNH, UG |
| Liophis cobella | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Liophis lineatus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Liophis miliaris | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Liophis poecilogyrus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Liophis reginae | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Liophis sp. | AMNH |
| Liophis typhlus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Mastigodryas boddaerti | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Mastigodryas sp. | USNM |
| Ninia hudsoni | BMNH |
| Oxybelis aeneus | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Oxybelis fulgidus | AMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Oxyrhopus melanogenys | AMNH |
| Oxyrhopus petola | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Oxyrhopus sp. | AMNH |
| Oxyrhopus trigeminus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG |
| Philodryas olfersii | AMNH, UG |
| Philodryas viridissimus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Phimophis guianensis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pseudoboa coronata | BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pseudoboa neuwiedii | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Pseudoeryx plicatilis | ROM, USNM |
| Pseustes poecilonotus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Pseustes sulphureus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Rhadinea brevirostris | BMNH |
| Rhinobothryum lentiginosum | USNM |
| Sibon nebulata | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Spilotes pullatus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Tantilla melanocephala | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Tantilla sp. | AMNH |
| Thamnodynastes pallidus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Thamnodynastes sp. | AMNH |
| Thamnodynastes strigilis | AMNH, BMNH |
| Tripanurgos compressus | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Waglerophis merremii | AMNH, BMNH |
| Xenodon rabdocephalus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Xenodon severus | AMNH, ROM, USNM |
| Xenodon sp. | AMNH |
| Xenopholis scalaris | AMNH, BMNH |
| Xenoxybellis argenteus | AMNH |
| Family Elapidae | |
| Micrurus hemprichii | ROM, UG |
| Micrurus lemniscatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Micrurus psyches | AMNH, BMNH, ROM |
| Micrurus surinamensis | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
| Family Leptotyphlopidae | |
| Leptotyphlops albifrons | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Leptotyphlops dimidiatus | AMNH, ROM, UG |
| Leptotyphlops macrolepis | ROM, USNM |
| Leptotyphlops septemstriatus | AMNH, BMNH |
| Family Typhlopidae | |
| Typhlops brongersmianus | AMNH |
| Typhlops minuisquamus | AMNH |
| Typhlops reticulatus | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Family Viperidae | |
| Bothriopsis bilineata | AMNH, BMNH, UG |
| Bothrops atrox | AMNH, BMNH, ROM, UG, USNM |
| Bothrops brazili | AMNH, BMNH |
| Bothrops sp. | AMNH |
| Crotalus durissus | AMNH, BMNH, USNM |
| Lachesis muta | AMNH, BMNH, UG, USNM |
Order: Testudines
Turtles
| Family Chelidae | |
| Chelus fimbriatus | PCHP |
| Phrynops geoffroanus | BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
| Phrynops gibbus | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
| Platemys platycephala | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP, UG, USNM |
| Family Cheloniidae | |
| Caretta caretta | PCHP |
| Chelonia mydas | PCHP |
| Eretmochelys imbricata | BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
| Lepidochelys olivacea | BMNH, PCHP |
| Family Dermochelyidae | |
| Dermochelys coriacea | PCHP |
| Family Emydidae | |
| Rhinoclemmys punctularia | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
| Family Kinosternidae | |
| Kinosternon scorpioides | PCHP, USNM |
| Family Pelomedusidae | |
| Podocnemis expansa | PCHP |
| Podocnemis unifilis | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP |
| Family Testudinidae | |
| Geochelone carbonaria | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
| Geochelone denticulata | AMNH, BMNH, PCHP, USNM |
Updated 16 October 2002
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