Family: Alligatoridae - Alligators and Caimans Alligators have mandibular teeth that fit inside the upper jaw so that no teeth are visible when the mouth is closed which distiuguish the members of this family from other crocodilian families. Members of this family have been extensively hunted for their skins. The family has four living genera which hold about eight species. One species occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scientific Name
Local Name
Trinidad
Tobago
Caiman crocodilus crocodilus
Alligator, babiche, caiman
X
X
Source: Murphy, John C. (1997), Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago Krieger Publishing Company This book is highly recommended. For further information please contact the publisher at: Phone in United States 800-724-0025 or 321-724-9542 www.krieger-publishing.com
Turtles and tortoises are highly distinctive reptiles with a shell of dermal bone fused to the vertebrae and ribs in the carapace or upper shell. The plastron, or lower shell is fused to the clavicle and sternum and elements of the pectoral girdle. The carapace and plastron are joined by a bridge. These are long lived, egg laying vertebrates that lack teeth. There are relatively few species, only about 260 in 13 families. Thirteen species in seven families are suspected to inhabit Trinidad and Tobago.
Family: Chelidae - The Austro-American Side-necked Turtles These freshwater turtles have a neck that is incompletely retractile and thus lays to one side. The family contains 37 species in nine genera. Two species occur in Trinidad.
Family: Cheloniidae - Sea Turtles Sea turtles have paddle-like limbs and compressed, streamlined shells; are 75 - 150 cm in length; and may attain weights of 450 kg. These animals mature slowly; some may nor reach sexual maturity until they are 20 -25 year old. Only females of these species leave the water, and only then to lay eggs. Sea turtles are the most economically important reptiles because of demand for their meat, eggs, and shells; and this demand has pushed all of these large turtles to the brink of extinction. Five living genera contain six species, four of which nest on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago.
Scientific Name
Local Name
Trinidad
Tobago
Caretta caretta
Loggerhead
X
X
Chelonia mydas
Green turtle, green, green-back, green sea turtle, edible turtle, green-back turtle, common turtle
Family: Dermochelyidae -Leatherback Turtles This family contains only one living species which is the world's largest turtle. It exceeds 2 m in shell length and reaches weights exceeding 900 kg. It is the most frequently seen turtle on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago. This species has many unique characteristics that distinguish it greatly from other sea turtles. Its metabolic rate is three times higher than one would expect for a reptile of its size, coupled with counter current heat exchangers and large size, allow it to maintain a body temperature above that of the surrounding water. It also has a shell that lacks the bony scutes of other turtles, being comprised of mainly connective tissue.
Family: Emydidae - Pond and River Turtles These turtles have aquatic and terrestrial habits and are omnivorous; about 90 species in more than 31 genera comprise this family. Sizes are variable and range from only 11 cm (Clemmys) to nearly 60 cm (Kachuga) in carapace length. Coloration is also quite variable. The family doesn't have a distinguishing suite of superficial characters. In some species, the carapace is domed, while most have a low-arching carapace. The plastron is hinged and movable in some, while fixed in others. One species occurs in Trinidad.
Family: Kinosternidae - Mud and Musk Turtles These are small, less that 250 mm, carnivorous, aquatic turtles that walk the bottom of ponds and streams in search of food and mates, but occasionally forage on land and use terrestrial retreats. Three genera and about 22 living species make up this family. Only one species occurs in Trinidad.
Family: Testudinidae - Tortoises These are terrestrial turtles. Tortoise is the name given to the land-dwelling reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special shell. Turtles and terrapins are the aquatic species. All living tortoises are members of the order Testudines. Tortoises have both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. All tortoises have a protective shell around their bodies. The top part of their case is called the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The size of tortoises can vary from a few centimetres to up to two meters. Tortoises generally live a long time, some individuals being known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China. Ten genera with more than 40 species comprise the family. Two species occur in Trinidad.
Source: Murphy, John C. (1997), Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago Krieger Publishing Company This book is highly recommended. For further information please contact the publisher at: Phone in United States 800-724-0025 or 321-724-9542 www.krieger-publishing.com
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Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity - Worm Lizards
List of Worm Lizards of Trinidad and Tobago
List of Worm Lizards (Order: Squamata Suborder: Amphisbaenia)
Family: Amphisbaenidae - Two-headed snakes Amphisbaenia is a group of legless squamates distantly related to lizards and snakes in spite of their resemblance to worms. They have degenerated eyes, body scales arranged in rings, blunt tails giving the appearance of having two heads. They feed on invertebrates and most species are oviparous. The family contains 19 genera and about 133 species. Two species occur in Trinidad. The skin of amphisbaenia is only loosely attached to the body. They move in an accordion-like motion, in which the skin moves and the body seemingly just drags along behind it. Uniquely they are also able to perform this motion in reverse just as effectively.
Scientific Name
Local Name
Trinidad
Tobago
Amphisbaena alba
White legless lizard, red worm lizard, bachac snake
X
Amphisbaena fuliginosa fuliginosa
Black and white legless lizard, black and white coral, spotted worm snake
X
Source: Murphy, John C. (1997), Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago Krieger Publishing Company This book is highly recommended. For further information please contact the publisher at: Phone in United States 800-724-0025 or 321-724-9542 www.krieger-publishing.com
Family: Gekkonidae - Geckos Geckos are small lizards that feed on invertebrates, produce small clutches of eggs and have delicate skin covered with tiny scales, some which have unusual shapes. The Gekkonidae is a large, diverse family of lizards containing 85 genera and more than 800 species. Four genera and 8 species are represented in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite folklore to the contrary, their bite is not poisonous. Many species are arboreal while others inhabit human dwellings. Most lack movable eyelids and have characteristic pads on the undersides of their feet that enable them to cling to smooth surfaces and to run upside down on ceilings
Family: Iguanidae - Iguanas The Iguana is the largest of the lizard families and consist of 60 genera and over 700 species. They are considered a "New World" family because they are found mostly on the Americas. Iguanas range in type from the tree dwelling arboreal type to the terrestrial and the semi-aquatic type. They have well developed limbs, short tongues that are barely protrusible, and most have long tails, crest, and dewlaps. Males are bright and varied in coloring. Most lay eggs in the ground but a few are live bearers. The desert and forest dwellers are mainly herbivores while the smaller iguanidae are insectivores or omnivores. Nine species in four genera occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
Family: Scincidae - Skinks Skinks look roughly like true lizards, but most species have no pronounced neck and relatively small legs. Several genera (e.g. Typhlosaurua) have no limbs at all, others, such as Neoseps, have only reduced limbs. Often, their way of moving resembles that of snakes more than that of other lizards. Skinks usually have long, tapering tails that can be shed and regenerated. Many species are good burrowers having a snout with a maximum length to the vent of approximately 12cm. Skinks are generally carnivorous. They are the most specious family of lizards, with 85 genera and about 1, 300 species. Only one of these species occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
Source: Murphy, John C. (1997), Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago Krieger Publishing Company This book is highly recommended. For further information please contact the publisher at: Phone in United States 800-724-0025 or 321-724-9542 www.krieger-publishing.com
Snakes are legless, eyelidless reptiles that have a lizard ancestor. This is evident through the existence of snake-like lizards with reduced legs or no legs, and snakes, particularly the boas and pythons, having residual limbs in the form of anal claws. They usually have elongated bodies and jaws modified for eating relatively large prey. All snakes are predators and some have specialized mechanisms for capturing prey which includes the use of constrictive coils and venom injected by specialized teeth supplied with toxic saliva from specially adapted salivary glands. There are about 2,400 species of snakes in 420 genera and 11 families inhibiting the planet. Trinidad and Tobago has representatives of seven families and a total of 47 species, there being 44 in Trinidad and 21 in Tobago, 3 of which are unique to that island.
Family: Aniliidae - Pipe Snakes Specialized family of burrowing snakes with flattened head, little narrowing in the neck region, cylindrical body and short tail. These snakes are moderate in size, growing up to about 1 m. The scales are smooth and usually brightly colored - red or yellow - with irregular glossy black crossbars. They feed mostly on amphibians and reptiles.
Family: Boidae - Boas and Pythons This family contains some of the largest and best known snakes in the world. Besides their geographical distribution and some anatomical differences, boas differ from pythons in that they do not lay eggs in the usual way. The embryos are retained in the body of the female in a shell-less sac until simultaneous hatching and birth, a condition known as ovoviviparity. Vestiges of hind limbs are present in these snakes, evidence of limbed ancestor. The external claw -like structures tend to be larger in males than females and are used by males of some species during courtship.
Boas and pythons comprise about 21 genera with about 66 species. Four species of boa occur in Trinidad, including the anaconda, the largest boid. Three of the species occurring in Trinidad are also to be found in Tobago. These snakes are relatively large and their feeding on rats and mice, tend to follow human habitation. They are therefore frequently encountered and best recognized of the local snakes. These snakes are generally placid in disposition and some species are popular pets.
Family: Colubridae - Harmless Snakes The family is composed of what is describes as "harmless snakes". While most species are considered harmless, some have mild venom, and a few can make humans sick or even kill, because of secretion from a specialized gland. This oral gland known as Duvernoy's gland, produces enzymes and other molecules that assist the snake in subduing and digesting prey. Secretions for this gland are released during feeding and are usually not delivered during a defensive bite.
Approximately 70% of the world's snakes belong to this family, with about 300 genera and 1,600 species. Trinidad and Tobago has 33 species of colubrids representing 24 genera, grouped into three subfamilies.
Family: Elapidae - Coral Snakes, Cobras, Mambas Elpidae is comprised of about 240 species in 61 genera. This family includes cobras, mambas and corals snakes, all of which have hollow, fixed front fangs for venom delivery. These fangs cannot be erected like those of true vipers belonging to the Viperidae family. Instead, Elapids must actually bite their prey instead of stabbing at it like a true viper. Two species of coral snakes occur in Trinidad, none are found in Tobago.
Family: Leptotyphlopidae - Thread Snakes Small, slender, burrowing snakes frequently associated with ants and termites which they feed on, and are not capable of biting a human. These snakes are slender and wormlike and are often mistaken for earthworms. They live in arid areas of tropical rain forests. This family contains the world's smallest snake. Most species suck out the contents of insect bodies and discard the skin. Leptotyphlopidae has two genera containing about 78 species. Only one species occur in Trinidad.
Family: Typhlopidae - Blind Snakes Small, burrowing, wormlike snakes. Like Leptotyphlopids tend to be associated with ants and termites, which they feed on. Typhlopidae includes three genera, containing about 170 species. Three species occur in Trinidad one of which also occurs in Tobago.
Family: Viperidae - Pit Vipers (Mapepires) Vipers tend to be stout, short-tailed snakes with numerous heavily keeled scales. They have folding front fangs connected to a venom gland and many are dangerously venomous to humans. The pit vipers are so called because they possess an infrared (heat) sensing pit located between the eye and the nostril. The pit is a sense organ used to locate prey and direct feeding strikes.
There are 14 genera and about 187 species of viperidae. Two species representing two genera occur in Trinidad, none are found in Tobago.
