Ameiva bifrontata

Harvey, Michael B., Ugueto, Gabriel N. & Gutberlet, Ronald L., 2012, 3459, Zootaxa 3459, pp. 1-156 : 89

Ameiva bifrontata Group

Definition.— The following combination of characters distinguishes the Ameiva bifrontata Group ( Table 5) from other groups of Ameiva : frontal always divided, its posterior suture usually contacting third supraocular or aligned with suture between second and third supraoculars; frontal ridge well-developed; interparietal entire; parietal series (including interparietal) composed of five, relatively long plates; narial suture passing in front of nostril; first supralabial distinctly toothy; first subocular usually separated from supralabials by anterior expansion of the second subocular; intertympanic crease present; pectoral sulcus usually absent; ventral scales in 10 longitudinal rows; plate-like antebrachials continuous with or narrowly separated from brachial scales; combined femoral and abdominal pores 26–40; fifth toe reduced; complete row of scales separating supradigital and subdigital lamellae along postaxial edge of each toe; generation glands present; tip of snout of adult males red or reddish; ontogenetic changes in coloration absent or very limited; adults usually with dorsolateral and vertebral stripes (obscured only in A. bifrontata ssp.); flanks without pale ocelli; hemipenis with much fewer distal (five) than proximal laminae (23–26); discontinuous laminae absent; asulcate expansion pleat vestigial.

Content.— Ameiva bifrontata bifrontata Cope, A. b. divisa (Fischer), A. b. insulana Ruthven, A. b. ssp., A. provitaae García-Pérez.

Distribution.—Disjunctly distributed in northern Colombia and Venezuela, including the islands of Margarita, Coche, Cubagua, La Tortuga (García-Pérez personal comment) and the archipelagos of Los Frailes and Los Testigos; also present on the island of Aruba.