Trachylepis

Ceríaco, Luis M. P., Marques, Mariana P. & Bauer, Aaron M., 2016, A review of the genus Trachylepis (Sauria: Scincidae) from the Gulf of Guinea, with descriptions of two new species in the Trachylepis maculilabris (Gray, 1845) species complex, Zootaxa 4109 (3), pp. 284-314 : 308

Key to Trachylepis in the gulf of Guinea Islands and Islets

We provide a key allowing identification of adults of all species of the genus Trachylepis presently known from São Tomé & Príncipe Islands and surrounding islets.

1 Four or fewer keels on dorsal scales....................................................................... 2

- Five or more keels on dorsal scales....................................................................... 3

2 Distinct white stripe on the lower part of the flanks, fewer than 30 scales around midbody, prefrontals always separated, digital lamellae smooth......................................................................... Trachylepis affinis

- Dorsum uniformly olive-green with many dark speckles and irregular dots; 34 to 36 scales across the midbody; prefrontals always in contact, finger and toe lamellae keeled and spinose.................................... Trachylepis ozorii

3 One pre-temporal; snout-vent length more than 98 mm in adults; homogenous dark colouration on the dorsum.............................................................................................. Trachylepis adamastor

- Two pre-temporals; snout-vent length less than 96 mm in adults; colouration variable............................... 4

4 Fewer than 51 scales from the nuchals to the base of the tail; body slender and tail usually twice SVL; back uniformly brownish and belly bluish to greenish........................................................ Trachylepis principensis

- More than 54 scales from the nuchals to the base of the tail; body robust and tail usually 1.6 times the SVL; back brownish, with some dark and white speckles and belly light orange-yellow, a thin horizontal line composed of about 7–8 white speckles from the back of the eye to the top of the tympanum......................................... Trachylepis thomensis