Amphibians and reptiles are backboned animals. Amphibians lack any covering of their skin - fur, feathers or scales. Amphibians include the salamanders and frogs. Reptiles are covered by scales. They lay shelled eggs similar to birds, or keep the eggs inside their bodies till they hatch. Reptiles are grouped into turtles, crocodiles, and snakes and lizards.

The total number of reptiles and amphibians in Belize is unknown. New species for the country appear at regular intervals. To date, 139 species have been identified. The reason the total number of species is so tentative, is because of the habitats that retiles and amphibians are found. Amphibains have smooth, thin skin and require water to keep their bodies moist. They can be found under rocks, alongside streams, in swamps and marshes - places which are not the most comfortable for humans. retiles, with their scaley skin, are not restricted to wet habitats. Snakes and lizards can be found in any habitat, from the soil and leaf litter of the forest floor, to the upper canopy of the rainforest, to the mangrove forests of the coastline and Cayes of Belize. The Belize Zoo supports a small display of the more common snakes of Belize including the most dangerous of Belizean snakes, the Fer- de -lance. The Zoo also makes frequent use of the harmless Boa Constrictor in its many environmental education programs. Humans tend to have an irrational fear of snakes, while in reality, poisonous snakes are not frequently sighted. they tend to be secretive and nocturnal. The Belize Zoo education programs tend to focus on the positive aspects of snakes - they help to keep the population of far more prolific creatures which are harmful to humans, the rats, mice and insects of the tropics.

Tree Frog | Iguana | Coral Snake | Crocodile | Boa Constrictor