List of reptiles of Puerto Rico facts for kids
Puerto Rico is a beautiful group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It includes the main island of Puerto Rico, plus smaller islands like Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. These islands are home to many amazing animals, including a variety of reptiles!
This article will tell you about the reptiles that live and breed in Puerto Rico. Sometimes, people bring new animals to the islands, but if they don't start families and live there permanently, they aren't included here.
You'll see some special words that help describe these animals:
- Endemic: This means the animal is found only in Puerto Rico and nowhere else in the world. How cool is that?
- Introduced: These animals were brought to Puerto Rico by people, either on purpose or by accident.
- Extinct: Sadly, this means the animal no longer exists anywhere on Earth.
- Extirpated: This means the animal no longer lives in Puerto Rico, but you might still find it in other parts of the world.
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Reptiles of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has many different kinds of reptiles, from turtles that swim in the ocean to lizards that climb trees and snakes that slither through the grass. Let's explore some of them!
Turtles of Puerto Rico
Turtles are ancient reptiles known for their hard shells. Puerto Rico is home to both freshwater turtles and giant sea turtles.
Freshwater Turtles
Several types of freshwater turtles live in Puerto Rico's rivers and ponds. One common one is the Puerto Rican slider. You might see them basking in the sun on rocks or logs. Other turtles, like the red-eared slider and Hispaniolan slider, have also been introduced to the island.
Sea Turtles
The waters around Puerto Rico are important homes for several species of sea turtles. These amazing creatures travel vast distances across the ocean.
- The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world. It has a unique leathery shell instead of a hard one.
- The green sea turtle is known for its greenish fat, which gives it its name. They are often seen grazing on seagrass beds.
- The hawksbill sea turtle has a beautiful, pointed beak-like mouth, which it uses to eat sponges from coral reefs.
- The loggerhead sea turtle has a very large head and powerful jaws, perfect for crushing the shells of crabs and conchs.
- The olive ridley sea turtle is one of the smallest sea turtles and is named for its olive-green shell.
Land Tortoises
While most turtles in Puerto Rico are aquatic, there are also land tortoises. The South American yellow-footed tortoise has been introduced to the main island. Sadly, the Mona Island tortoise (Geochelone monensis) is an extinct species that once lived on Mona Island.
Lizards of Puerto Rico
Lizards are a very diverse group of reptiles in Puerto Rico, from tiny geckos to large iguanas.
Geckos: Nighttime Hunters
Geckos are small lizards often heard chirping at night. They have special toe pads that let them climb walls and even ceilings!
- The tropical house gecko is a common sight, often found near lights at night, catching insects. It's an introduced species.
- Many dwarf geckos, like the Puerto Rican leaf-toed gecko and Nichols' dwarf gecko, are endemic to Puerto Rico and its smaller islands. These tiny lizards are often hard to spot!
- The Mona dwarf gecko is special because it only lives on Mona Island.
Ameivas and Skinks: Ground Dwellers
These lizards usually live on the ground, scurrying through leaves and dirt.
- The greater Puerto Rican ameiva is a common lizard found across the main island and its neighbors. It's known for its quick movements.
- The blue-tailed ground lizard is another quick lizard, often seen darting across sunny paths.
- Puerto Rico also has several types of skinks, like the Puerto Rican skink and the Culebra skink. These lizards have smooth, shiny scales and often look a bit like snakes with legs.
Anoles: Tree Climbers
Anoles are very common lizards in Puerto Rico, famous for their ability to change color and for the colorful throat flaps (called dewlaps) that males display to attract mates or warn off rivals.
- The Puerto Rican giant anole is one of the largest anoles on the island.
- The emerald anole is known for its bright green color, helping it blend in with leaves.
- The crested anole is easily recognized by the crest along its back.
- The Puerto Rican anole is one of the most widespread anoles, found in many different habitats.
- Many anoles are endemic, meaning they are found only in Puerto Rico, like the Puerto Rican twig anole and Cook's anole.
Iguanas: Large Lizards
Iguanas are some of the largest lizards in Puerto Rico.
- The green iguana is an introduced species that has become very common on the island.
- The Puerto Rican iguana (Cyclura portoricensis) is an extinct species that once roamed the island.
- The Mona ground iguana is an endemic species found only on Mona Island. These large, impressive lizards are important to their island's ecosystem.
Snakes of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is home to several types of snakes, but don't worry, none of them are venomous!
Blindsnakes: Tiny and Hidden
Blindsnakes are very small, thin snakes that live underground. They have tiny eyes covered by scales, which is why they are called "blind." They mostly eat ants and termites.
- The flat-headed blindsnake and Richard's blind snake are examples of these secretive creatures.
- The Mona blind snake is another endemic species, found only on Mona Island.
Boas: Constrictors
Boas are non-venomous snakes that catch their prey by coiling around them and squeezing.
- The Puerto Rican boa is the largest native snake on the island. It can grow quite long and is an endemic species.
- The Mona Island boa is another endemic boa, found only on Mona Island.
- The Virgin Island tree boa can be found on Culebra and other nearby islands.
Racers and Garden Snakes
These snakes are more active hunters, often seen during the day.
- The Puerto Rican racer is a common snake found across the islands. It's a fast mover, as its name suggests!
- The Puerto Rican garden snake is a smaller snake often found in gardens and forests.
See also
