In presenting an account of the herpetofauna of southern El Peten three
items need to be considered: (1) The composition of the fauna; (2) the
ecology of the fauna; (3) the relationships of the fauna. Each of these
topics is discussed briefly below. Logically a discussion of the origin
of the fauna should follow, but this is being withheld for inclusion in
a report on the herpetofauna of the entire El Peten by L. C. Stuart and
the author; at that time the above topics will be expanded to cover the
herpetofauna of the whole region.