Coleonyx elegans elegans Gray
Toocog, 1.
One adult male having a snout-vent length of 89 mm. was found beneath a log in the forest. Locally this gecko is known as escorpión; the natives believe it to be deadly poisonous. The use of the name escorpión seems to be restricted to lizards thought to be venomous. Nearly everywhere in México and Central America some species of lizard carries this appellation. In El Petén I heard the name used only for Coleonyx elegans and Thecadactylus rapicaudus; in the lowlands of Guerrero, México, the name is applied to geckos of the genus Phyllodactylus. The venomous lizards of the genus Heloderma in the lowlands of western México are called escorpiónes. In the mountains of southern México various skinks of the genus Eumeces, as well as lizards of the genus Xenosaurus, carry the same appellation. Abronia in the mountains of México and Gerrhonontus throughout México and Central America likewise are called escorpiónes. Although many people in various parts of Middle America consider most lizards poisonous, there is a unanimity of opinion concerning the venomous qualities of the various kinds of escorpiónes. I know of only two other lizards in Middle America that are so uniformly regarded in native beliefs; these are Enyaliosaurus clarki in the Tepalcatepec Valley in Michoacán, called nopiche, and Phrynosoma asio in western México, called cameleón.
Sphaerodactylus lineolatus Lichtenstein
15 km. NW of Chinajá, 1; Toocog, 1.
These small geckos were much more abundant than the few specimens indicate. They frequently were seen on the trunks of corozo palms, where they quickly took refuge in crevices at the bases of the fronds. The specimen obtained at Toocog was under the bark of a standing dead tree. In life the ventral surface of the tail was orange. The individual from Chinajá was in the leaf litter on the ground at the base of a dead tree.
Thecadactylus rapicaudus (Houttuyn)
15 km. NW of Chinajá, 1; 20 km. NNW of Chinajá, 2.
Two specimens were found beneath the bark of standing dead trees; another was found in the crack in the trunk of a mahogany tree about 13 meters above the ground. In life the dorsum was yellowish tan with dark brown markings; the venter was yellowish tan with brown flecks, and the iris was olive-tan. The largest specimen is a male having a snout-vent length of 95 mm.; all specimens have regenerated tails. Individuals when caught twisted their bodies and attempted to bite; upon grabbing a finger they held on with great tenacity.
Anolis biporcatus (Wiegmann)