Corytophanes is a genus of Neotropical lizards, commonly called helmeted iguanas or basilisks, in the family Corytophanidae. The genus contains three arboreal species and resides in tropical forests.[1]
These species are recognized as being valid:[2]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corytophanes cristatus | helmeted iguana | Chiapas in southern Mexico to north-western Colombia | |
| Corytophanes hernandesii [3] | Hernandez's helmeted basilisk | Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. | |
| Corytophanes percarinatus | Guatemalan helmeted basilisk | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and southern Mexico (Chiapas). | |
A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Corytophanes.
The specific name, hernandesii, is in honor of Spanish naturalist Francisco Hernández (1514-1587).[4]