Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus chrysostictus

Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

125 Verified sightings at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve From 2019 to 2026
199 In all 3 parks
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus chrysostictus, the yellow-spotted spiny lizard or Yucatán spiny lizard, is a species of phrynosomatid lizard. It is most commonly found in the Yucatán Peninsula. It also ranges through Guatemala and Northern Belize.

Species Sceloporus chrysostictus at The Reptile Database Cope, E.D. 1866. Fourth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 18:123-132. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
2 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
3 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~30%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard sighting in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, based on 125 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 46 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve?

September

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in November to January, the lowest months. That is one of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve's wettest months, with about 130 mm of rain against 15 mm in February.

What time of day is best to see a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Calakmul Biosphere Reserve the best place to see a Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard?

Yes

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard sightings, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve (Mexico, about 40%) and Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (Mexico, about 30%).

Where does the Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Yellow-spotted Spiny Lizard is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (125 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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