Costa Rica
Checklist of Endemic Reptile Species
This list of reptile species found exclusively in Costa Rica is based on the taxonomy used in the EMBL Reptile Database (2005). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
The EMBL Reptile Database CD September 2001 edition. Updated with changes through 2004 making it current to January 2005. http://www.reptile-database.org/db-info/changes2005.html
The current version of this database is the TIGR Reptile Database http://www.reptile-database.org/
Geophis downsi (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Black Wormsnake
Geophis ruthveni (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Collared Wormsnake
Geophis talamancae (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Black-tailed Wormsnake
Geophis zeledoni (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Dark-bellied Wormsnake
Mastigodryas sanguiventris (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Taylor's Tropical Racer
Ninia celata (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae)
Rhadinaea serperastra (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Striped Littersnake
Sibon argus (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Blotched Snaileater
Trimetopon gracile (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Günther's Tropical Ground Snake
Trimetopon pliolepis (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Cope's Tropical Ground Snake
Trimetopon simile (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Dunn's Tropical Ground Snake
Trimetopon viquezi (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae) Viquez's Tropical Ground Snake
Urotheca myersi (Squamata Ophidia - Colubridae)
Lachesis melanocephala (Squamata Ophidia - Viperidae) Black-headed Bushmaster
Porthidium volcanicum (Squamata Ophidia - Viperidae) Costa Rican Hog-nosed Pitviper
Celestus cyanochloris (Squamata Sauria - Anguidae) Green-bellied Lesser Galliwasp
Celestus hylaius (Squamata Sauria - Anguidae) Lesser Forest Galliwasp
Celestus orobius (Squamata Sauria - Anguidae) Lesser Mountain Galliwasp
Anadia metallica (Squamata Sauria - Gymnophthalmidae)
Neusticurus apodemus (Squamata Sauria - Gymnophthalmidae) Short-legged Water Lizard
Anolis achilles (Squamata Sauria - Polychrotidae) Achilles' Anole
Norops altae (Squamata Sauria - Polychrotidae) High Anole
Norops pandoensis (Squamata Sauria - Polychrotidae)
Norops townsendi (Squamata Sauria - Polychrotidae) Cocos Anole
Norops tropidolepis (Squamata Sauria - Polychrotidae) Swift Anole
Lepidophyma reticulatum (Squamata Sauria - Xantusiidae) Costa Rican Tropical Night Lizard
Additional endemic reptile species described too recently to be included in the January 2005 version of the EMBL Reptile Database are given below. This list is primarily based on information from the current version of the TIGR Reptile Database (here) and includes species described through 2008. In addition to the 27 endemic reptile species listed above, the additional species listed below gives a total of 28 species of reptiles known solely from Costa Rica.
Porthidium porrasi (Squamata Ophidia - Viperidae) White-tailed Hog-nosed Viper 2003