Riama, 2005

Doan, Tiffany M. & Castoe, Todd A., 2005, Phylogenetic taxonomy of the Cercosaurini (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae), with new genera for species of Neusticurus and Proctoporus, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 143 (3), pp. 405-416 : 411

RIAMA GRAY COMB. NOV.

Type species: Riama unicolor Gray, 1858: 446 .

Definition: Tongue with imbricate, scalelike papillae. Head scales smooth without striations or rugosities: single frontonasal, frontal, and interparietal; paired frontoparietals and parietals; prefrontals absent; nostril pierced in a single nasal; nasals not in contact. Eyelids developed, lower with a translucent disc divided into several scales. Posterior gulars squarish. Limbs pentadactyl; digits clawed. Dorsal scales quadrangular or hexagonal, elongate, smooth, striate, rugose, or keeled, juxtaposed, forming transverse series only. Ventrals large, smooth, quadrangular, juxtaposed, forming regular longitudinal and transverse series. Femoral pores usually present in males and females; preanal pores present or absent in males or females. Tail cylindrical.

Diagnosis: Riama differs from members of Alopoglossinae by having its tongue covered in imbricate, scale-

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF NEUSTICURUS DUMÉRIL & BIBRON

1a. Single frontonasal...............................................................................2

1b. Paired frontonasals..............................................................................4

2a. Uniformly small dorsal scales.....................................................................3

2b. Heterogeneous dorsal scales: large keeled scales intermixed with small flat scales.................... N. rudis

3a. Deeply recessed tympanum............................................................... N. medemi

3b. Slightly recessed tympanum................................................................. N. tatei

4a. Dorsal scales in longitudinal rows only................................................... N. bicarinatus