Another Name Change for a Trinidad Lizard

Anolis planiceps from Lopinot Valley. JCM

The Anolis chrysolepis species group is distributed across the entire Amazon basin and currently consists of A. bombiceps and five subspecies of A. chrysolepis. These lizards are characterized by moderate size, relatively narrow digital pads, and a small dewlap that does not reach the axilla. D'Angiolella et al. (2011) used the mitochondrial gene ND2 to estimate phylogenetic relationships among putative subspecies of A . chrysolepis and taxa previously hypothesized to be their close relatives. They also assessed the congruence between molecular and morphological datasets to evaluate the taxonomic status of group members. On the basis of the two datasets, the authors present a new taxonomy, elevating each putative subspecies of A. chrysolepis to species status.

Anolis planiceps is known from Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, and the states of Roraima and Amazonas in the northern Brazil.It reaches a maximum body length of 76 mm; has a double row of enlarged vertebral scales extending from the nape to base of tail; a few to several rows of weakly keeled scales, increasing in numbertowards the tail, forming a gradual transition between double row of enlarged scales andgranules on flanks; the scales on the upper arms markedly larger than vertebral scales. Supraorbital semicircle scales and enlarged scales, forming pronounced ridge in some specimens. Supraocular region with distinct group of enlarged, weakly keeled, scales surrounded by smaller scales. Interparietal distinctly larger than adjacent scales

Citation
Annelise B. D'angiolella, Tony Gamble, Teresa C. S. Avila-Pires, Guarino R. Colli, Brice P. Noonan, and Laurie J. Vitt. 2011. Anolis chrysolepis Duméril and Bibron, 1837 (Squamata: Iguanidae), Revisited: Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Anolis chrysolepis Species Group. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 160(2):35-63.