Potamites | |
---|---|
Several Potamites species in Peru | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Gymnophthalmidae |
Genus: |
Potamites Doan & Castoe, 2005 |
Potamites is a genus of lizards in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus is restricted to northern South America ( Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and southern Central America ( Costa Rica and Panama). They are semiaquatic and found near streams. [1]
Until 2005, species now placed in Potamites were included in Neusticurus, another genus containing semi-aquatic lizards of South America. [2] Despite the move, some still have an English name that refers to their former genus, including P. strangulatus, the big-scaled neusticurus. [3] Even after this split, genetic studies revealed that Potamites was paraphyletic and to resolve this two species were moved to Gelanesaurus in 2016. [4]
The genus Potamites currently contains 8 valid species. [3] Further changes are likely, as P. ecpleopus as currently defined is paraphyletic, and it has been suggested that trachodus, usually considered a subspecies of P. strangulatus, should be recognized as a separate species. [4]
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Potamites.
Potamites | |
---|---|
Several Potamites species in Peru | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Gymnophthalmidae |
Genus: |
Potamites Doan & Castoe, 2005 |
Potamites is a genus of lizards in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus is restricted to northern South America ( Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and southern Central America ( Costa Rica and Panama). They are semiaquatic and found near streams. [1]
Until 2005, species now placed in Potamites were included in Neusticurus, another genus containing semi-aquatic lizards of South America. [2] Despite the move, some still have an English name that refers to their former genus, including P. strangulatus, the big-scaled neusticurus. [3] Even after this split, genetic studies revealed that Potamites was paraphyletic and to resolve this two species were moved to Gelanesaurus in 2016. [4]
The genus Potamites currently contains 8 valid species. [3] Further changes are likely, as P. ecpleopus as currently defined is paraphyletic, and it has been suggested that trachodus, usually considered a subspecies of P. strangulatus, should be recognized as a separate species. [4]
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Potamites.