Yellow-spotted Night Lizard
Yellow-spotted Night Lizard

Yellow-spotted Night Lizard

Lepidophyma flavimaculatum

Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Arenal Volcano National Park
41 Verified sightings at Arenal Volcano National Park From 2019 to 2026
164 Verified sightings across all 15 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Yellow-spotted Night Lizard

The yellow-spotted tropical night lizard or yellow-spotted night lizard (Lepidophyma flavimaculatum) is a species of night lizard (family Xantusiidae). The species is distributed from central Mexico, through Central America, south to Panama. It includes two subspecies.

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. Lepidophyma flavimaculatum flavimaculatum A.H.A.Duméril, 1851 Lepidophyma flavimaculatum ophiophthalmum Taylor, 1955 L. flavimaculatum reproduces parthenogenetically. The female gives birth to live, fully developed young lizards. Before birth the egg cells are not fertilized.

L. flavimaculatum is a secretive, terrestrial and nocturnal lizard of tropical wet and moist forests, at altitudes from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft). Mostly found on the ground, it is occasionally found on tree trunks or beneath bark on standing trees. It feeds on small invertebrates.

The yellow-spotted night lizard is sometimes suggested to be the inspiration for the "yellow-spotted lizards" in the children's novel Holes by Louis Sachar. However, in the making of the movie adaptation... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
2 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
3 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
4 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
5 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
6 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
7 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
8 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
9 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
10 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
11 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
12 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
13 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
14 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
15 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Yellow-spotted Night Lizard in Arenal Volcano National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-spotted Night Lizard sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park, based on 41 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Yellow-spotted Night Lizard in Arenal Volcano National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Yellow-spotted Night Lizard in Arenal Volcano National Park in our monthly data.

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