Cnemidophorus nigricolor

Harvey, Michael B., Ugueto, Gabriel N. & Gutberlet, Ronald L., 2012, 3459, Zootaxa 3459, pp. 1-156 : 111-112

Cnemidophorus nigricolor Group

Definition.— The following combination of characters distinguishes the Cnemidophorus nigricolor Group ( Tables 9, 11) from other groups of Cnemidophorus : small lizards reaching 101 mm SVL; interparietal entire or broken into smaller scales (particularly anteriorly or laterally) but never longitudinally divided along midline; usually with noticeably enlarged median pair of occipitals flanked by smaller scales (somewhat variable in C. nigricolor , less often so in C. rostralis ); first subocular entire and in contact with supralabials (rarely subocular contacting supralabials but longitudinally divided in C. rostralis ); granules between supraocular and supraciliaries in single row (partially doubled only rarely in C. rostralis ); mesoptychials not or only slightly enlarged; ventral scales in 30–35 transverse and 8 longitudinal rows; proximal subcaudals smooth; preaxial and postaxial brachial scales separated by granular scales, slightly larger towards elbow; preaxial brachial scales from barely to moderately (1–1.5 times as wide as long) enlarged and forming patch near distal end of brachium or extending beyond center of arm; postbrachials moderately enlarged (1–1.5 times as wide as long) and extending beyond center of arm; enlarged antebrachials in continuous row or narrowly separated from enlarged preaxial brachials; combined femoral and abdominal pores 45–58; tibiotarsal shields distinct (conspicuously enlarged transversely in C. rostralis ), although individual shields of frequently divided; juveniles with dorsal striped pattern present but stripes broken into longitudinal series of spots and rather inconspicuous in C. leucopsammus and C. rostralis ; flank spots of adult males small, often completely lost or obscured in old specimens; adult males usually completely melanic, with throat, chest and abdomen uniformly black.

Content.— Cnemidophorus leucopsammus Ugueto and Harvey , Cnemidophorus nigricolor (Peters) , Cnemidophorus rostralis Ugueto and Harvey , Cnemidophorus sp. A .

Distribution.—Venezuelan Antilles (Las Aves Archipelago, Los Roques Archipelago, La Orchila, La Blanquilla and Los Hermanos Archipelago) and the island of La Tortuga ( Venezuela).