Potamites, Doan & Castoe, 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 : 410

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF POTAMITES GEN. NOV.

1a. Dorsal scales in longitudinal rows of large, keeled scales with smaller scales on either side of rows.................................................................................... 2

1b. No longitudinal rows of large, keeled dorsal scales....................................... P. strangulatus

2a. Single frontonasal scale.......................................................................... 3

2b. Frontonasal scale replaced by a series of irregular scales..................................... P. apodemus

3a. Tail annuli in complete rings of enlarged keeled scales................................................ 4

3b. Tail annuli rings not complete, large keeled scales interrupted by small flat scales......................... 5

4a. Tympanum at surface of the head......................................................... P. ocellatus

4b. Tympanum slightly recessed............................................................. P. cochranae

5a. Two to three reduced scales transversely between two paravertebral tubercular rows at mid-dorsum................................................................... P. juruazensis

5b. Four to six reduced scales transversely between two paravertebral tubercular rows at mid-dorsum.......................................................... P. ecpleopus It differs from Echinosaura by lacking basal spines on the hemipenes, from Teuchocercus by lacking conical scales on the tail, and from Potamites (character states for Potamites in parentheses) by having a strongly compressed tail (slightly compressed), ventral scales imbricate (subimbricate ventral scales), and hemipenes lacking calcareous spinules on flounces (calcareous spinules on hemipenes).