Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update:
November 6th, 2025.
 
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Genus
Alopoglossus
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Western Shade Lizards, (Forest Lizards)
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 |
Westliche Schattentejus
|
 |
Vestlige Skyggetejuer
|
|
1885 |  |
Alopoglossus Boulenger (type species: Alopoglossus copii Boulenger 1885) |
|
1890 | |
Ptychoglossus Boulenger (type species: Ptychoglossus bilineatus Boulenger 1890; syn. Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020) |
|
1896 | |
Diastemalepis Peracca (type species: Diastemalepis festae Peracca 1896; syn. Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020) |
|
1916 | |
Gonioptychus Werner (type species: Gonioptychus bicolor Werner 1916; syn. Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020) |
Contents:
32 species, of which 18 (56.3%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
Previously assigned to the family
Teiidae or,
more recently, to the family
Gymnophthalmidae.
Goicoechea, Frost, Riva, Pellegrino, Sites, Rodrigues & Padial (2016) raised the subfamily Alopoglossinae to family status (i.e., Alopoglossidae), including the genera
Alopoglossus and Ptychoglossus (now considered a synonym of Alopoglossus).
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Amapa,
Amazonas,
Mato Grosso,
Para
[incl.
Marajo Island],
Rondonia,
Roraima),
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Ecuador,
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Panama,
Peru,
Surinam,
Venezuela.
| |
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Alopoglossus amazonius
|
Amazonian Shade Teju, Amazonian Shade Lizard
|
|
Amazonas-Schattenteju
|
|
Amazonas-skyggeteju
|
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1924 | |
Alopoglossus amazonius Ruthven |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of angulatus (e.g., Avila-Pires 1995; Köhler, Diethert & Veselý 2012).
Revalidated as a separate species by Ribeiro-Junior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck (2020).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Rondonia).
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|
|
Alopoglossus andeanus
|
Puno Shade Teju, Puno Shade Lizard
|
|
Puno-Schattenteju
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Puno-skyggeteju
|
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1952 | |
Alopoglossus andeanus Ruibal |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of angulatus (e.g., Köhler, Diethert & Veselý 2012).
Revalidated as a separate species by Ribeiro-Junior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck (2020).
Distribution:
Peru.
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|
|
Alopoglossus angulatus
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Surinam Shade Teju, Surinam Shade Lizard, (Large-scaled Shade Lizard)
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Surinam-Schattenteju, (Grossschuppige Schattenteju)
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Surinam-skyggeteju, (Storskællet Skyggeteju)
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|
1758 | |
Lacerta angulata Linnaeus |
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| |
Alopoglossus angulatus Hoogmoed 1973 |
|
1946 | |
Alopoglossus copii surinamensis Brongersma (Ribeiro-Júnior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck 2020) |
Remarks:
Previously included amazonius, andeanus, and carinicaudatus, as well as the populations now assigned to avilapiresae and collii.
Records from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and the Brazilian states of Acre, Rondonia, and Mato Grosso refer to these species (Ribeiro-Júnior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck 2020).
Status of Bolivian records (e.g., Pincheira-Donoso 2002; Langstroth 2005; Ribeiro-Júnior & Amaral 2017) is uncertain, but they also do not represent angulatus.
Distribution:
Brazil
(Amapa,
Amazonas,
Para
[incl.
Marajo Island]),
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Surinam.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus atriventris
|
Ecuadorian Black-bellied Shade Teju, Ecuadorian Black-bellied Shade Lizard, Keel-bellied Shade Lizard
|
|
Ecuadorianische Schwarzbauch-Schattenteju
|
|
Ecuadoriansk Sortbuget Skyggeteju
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|
1973 | |
Alopoglossus atriventris Duellman |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Acre,
Amazonas,
Rondonia,
Roraima),
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus avilapiresae
|
Amanã Shade Teju, Amanã Shade Lizard
|
|
Amanã-Schattenteju
|
|
Amanã-skyggeteju
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|
2020 | |
Alopoglossus avilapiresae Ribeiro-Junior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Acre,
Amazonas),
Colombia,
Peru,
|
|
|
Alopoglossus bicolor
|
Tolima Shade Teju, Tolima Shade Lizard, Tolima Swamp Teju
|
|
Tolima-Schattenteju
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|
Tolima-skyggeteju
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1916 | |
Gonioptychus bicolor Werner |
|
| |
Ptychoglossus bicolor Uzzell 1958 |
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| |
Alopoglossus bicolor Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia.
|
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Alopoglossus bilineatus
|
Two-striped Shade Teju, Two-striped Shade Lizard, Two-striped Swamp Teju, Striped Shade Lizard
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Zweistreifen-Schattenteju
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Tostribet Skyggeteju
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1890 | |
Ptychoglossus bilineatus Boulenger |
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| |
Alopoglossus bilineatus Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Remarks:
Refers to the species previously known as picticeps (e.g., Peters & Donoso-Barros 1970), however, Harris (1994) demonstrated that the name Leposoma picticeps Cope 1885 is a synonym of
Arthrosaura reticulata.
Distribution:
Colombia,
Ecuador.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus brevifrontalis
|
Rio Pastaza Shade Teju, Rio Pastaza Shade Lizard, Slender Swamp Teju, Blunt-headed Shade Lizard
|
|
Rio-Pastaza-Schattenteju
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Rio Pastaza-skyggeteju
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1912 | |
Ptychoglossus brevifrontalis Boulenger |
|
| |
Alopoglossus brevifrontalis Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
|
1929 | |
Anadia nicefori Loveridge (Peloso & Avila-Pires 2010) |
|
| |
Ptychoglossus nicefori Dunn 1944 |
Remarks:
Status of nicefori is disputed.
Dixon & Soini (1975) regarded it as a synonym of brevifrontalis, Harris (1994) revalidated it, but Peloso & Avila-Pires (2010) once again synonymized it
with brevifrontalis.
Goicoechea, Frost, Riva, Pellegrino, Sites, Rodrigues & Padial (2016) listed it as a valid species, but without further comments.
Peloso & Avila-Pires (2010) is followed herein, thus regarding nicefori as a synonym of brevifrontalis.
Not included for Guyana by Kuijpers (2024).
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Amapa,
Amazonas,
Para,
Rondonia),
Colombia,
Ecuador,
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Peru,
Surinam,
Venezuela.
|
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Alopoglossus buckleyi
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Smooth-bellied Shade Teju, Smooth-bellied Shade Lizard, Mountain Shade Lizard
|
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Glattbauch-Schattenteju
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Glatbuget Skyggeteju
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1881 | |
Leposoma buckleyi O'Shaughnessy |
|
| |
Alopoglossus buckleyi Boulenger 1885 |
Remarks:
Records from Para are considered erroneous (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Acre,
Amazonas),
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus carinicaudatus
|
Napo Shade Teju, Napo Shade Lizard, Keel-tailed Shade Lizard
|
|
Napo-Schattenteju
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Napo-skyggeteju
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1876 | |
Lepidosoma carinicaudatum Cope |
|
| |
Alopoglossus carinicaudatus Boulenger 1885 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of angulatus (e.g., Köhler, Diethert & Veselý 2012).
Revalidated as a separate species by Ribeiro-Junior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck (2020), although regarded as such previously by other authors
(e.g., Almendárix 1992; Avila-Pires 1995; Pellegrino, Rodrigues, Yonenaga-Yassuda & Sites 2001; Rodrigues, Pellegrino, Dixo, Verdade, Pavan, Argolo & Sites 2007).
Distribution:
Ecuador,
Peru.
|
|
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Alopoglossus collii
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Rondonia Shade Teju, Rondonia Shade Lizard
|
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Rondonia-Schattenteju
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Rondonia-skyggeteju
|
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2020 | |
Alopoglossus collii Ribeiro-Junior, Choueri, Lobos, Venegas, Torres-Carvajal & Werneck |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Mato Grosso,
Rondonia).
|
|
|
Alopoglossus copii
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Drab Shade Teju, Drab Shade Lizard
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Graubraune Schattenteju
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Gråbrun Skyggeteju
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1885 | |
Alopoglossus copii Boulenger |
Remarks:
Two Colombian specimens reported by Boulenger (1913) have been shown to belong to the species
Leposoma southi (Uzzell & Barry 1971). Duellman's (1978) record from Ecuador refer to angulatus (Duellman & Mendelson 1995).
Distribution:
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru.
|
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Alopoglossus danieli
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Antioquia Shade Teju, Antioquia Shade Lizard, Antioquia Swamp Teju
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Antioquia-Schattenteju
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Antioquia-skyggeteju
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1994 | |
Ptychoglossus danieli Harris |
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| |
Alopoglossus danieli Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Remarks:
Formally described as a new species by Harris (1994), although listed already by Ayala (1986).
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus embera
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Chocó Shade Teju, Chocó Shade Lizard
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Chocó-Schattenteju
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Chocó-skyggeteju
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2017 | |
Alopoglossus embera Peloso & Hernández Morales |
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus eurylepis
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Wide-scaled Shade Teju, Wide-scaled Shade Lizard, Wide-scaled Swamp Teju
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Breitschuppige Schattenteju
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Bredskællet Skyggeteju
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1985 | |
Ptychoglossus eurylepis Harris & Rueda |
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Alopoglossus eurylepis Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus festae
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Darién Shade Teju, Darién Shade Lizard, Darién Swamp Teju
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Darién-Schattenteju
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Darién-skyggeteju
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1896 | |
Diastemalepis festae Peracca |
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Ptychoglossus festae Burt & Burt 1931 |
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Alopoglossus festae Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia,
Panama.
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Alopoglossus gansorum
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Tapauá Shade Teju
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Tapauá-Schattenteju
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Tapauá-skyggeteju
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2021 | |
Alopoglossus gansorum Ribeiro-Júnior, Sánchez-Martínez, Lima Moraes, Oliveira, Carvalho, Pavan, Lacerda Choueri, Werneck & Meiri |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Amazonas).
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Alopoglossus gorgonae
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Gorgona Shade Teju, Gorgona Shade Lizard, Gorgona Swamp Teju
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Gorgona-Schattenteju
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Gorgona-skyggeteju
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1994 | |
Ptychoglossus gorgonae Harris |
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Alopoglossus gorgonae Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Remarks:
Formally described as a new species by Harris (1994), although listed already by Ayala (1986).
Distribution:
Colombia,
Ecuador.
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Alopoglossus grandisquamatus
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Large-scaled Shade Teju, Large-scaled Shade Lizard, Large-scaled Swamp Teju, Common Swamp Teju
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Grossschuppige Schattenteju
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Storskællet Skyggeteju
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1985 | |
Ptychoglossus grandisquamatus Rueda |
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Alopoglossus grandisquamatus Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus harrisi
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Vinces Shade Teju, Western Copper Lizard, (Western Shade Lizard)
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Vinces-Schattenteju
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Vinces-skyggeteju
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1904 | |
Alopoglossus festae Peracca [not Diastemalepis festae Peracca 1896] |
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2020 | |
Alopoglossus harrisi Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso [substitute name for Alopoglossus festae Peracca 1904] |
Remarks:
Previously referred to as Alopoglossus festae, however, a substitute name for this species was required, when Ptychoglossus was synonymized with Alopoglossus.
Ptychoglossus included a species with the same specific epithet (i.e., Diastemalepis festae, now Alopoglossus festae), a senior homonym, thus with nomenclatural priority.
For this purpose, the name Alopoglossus harrisi was coined for Alopoglossus festae Peracca 1904 (Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020).
Distribution:
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru.
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Alopoglossus indigenorum
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Carauari Shade Teju
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Carauari-Schattenteju
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Carauari-skyggeteju
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2021 | |
Alopoglossus indigenorum Ribeiro-Júnior, Sánchez-Martínez, Lima Moraes, Oliveira, Carvalho, Pavan, Lacerda Choueri, Werneck & Meiri |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Acre,
Amazonas).
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Alopoglossus kugleri
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Falcón Shade Teju, Falcón Shade Lizard, Falcón Swamp Teju
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Falcón-Schattenteju
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Falcón-skyggeteju
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1927 | |
Ptychoglossus kugleri Roux |
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Alopoglossus kugleri Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Venezuela.
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Alopoglossus lehmanni
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Cauca Shade Teju, Cauca Shade Lizard
|
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Cauca-Schattenteju
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Cauca-skyggeteju
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1984 | |
Alopoglossus lehmanni Ayala & Harris |
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus meloi
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Pará Shade Teju, Pará Shade Lizard
|
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Pará-Schattenteju
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Pará-skyggeteju
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2018 | |
Alopoglossus meloi Ribeiro-Júnior |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Amazonas,
Para).
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Alopoglossus myersi
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Pirre Mountains Shade Teju, Pirre Mountains Shade Lizard, Pirre Mountains Swamp Teju
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Pirre-Schattenteju
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Pirre-skyggeteju
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1994 | |
Ptychoglossus myersi Harris |
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| |
Alopoglossus myersi Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia,
Panama.
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Alopoglossus plicatus
|
Costa Rican Shade Teju, Costa Rican Shade Lizard, Costa Rican Swamp Teju
|
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Costaricanische Schattenteju
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Costaricansk Skyggeteju
|
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1949 | |
Alopoglossus plicatus Taylor |
|
| |
Ptychoglossus plicatus Ruibal 1952 |
Distribution:
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Panama.
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Alopoglossus romaleos
|
Santa Marta Shade Teju, Santa Marta Shade Lizard, Santa Marta Swamp Teju
|
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Santa-Marta-Schattenteju
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Santa Marta-skyggeteju
|
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1994 | |
Ptychoglossus romaleos Harris |
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| |
Alopoglossus romaleos Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Remarks:
Formally described as a new species by Harris (1994), although listed already by Ayala (1986) as Ptychoglossus "romalus".
Distribution:
Colombia.
|
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Alopoglossus stenolepis
|
Western Colombian Shade Teju, Western Colombian Shade Lizard, Western Colombian Swamp Teju
|
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Westkolumbianische Schattenteju
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Vestcolombiansk Skyggeteju
|
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1908 | |
Euspondylus stenolepis Boulenger |
|
| |
Ptychoglossus stenolepis Uzzell 1973 |
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| |
Alopoglossus stenolepis Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Alopoglossus stenolepis
© Henrik Bringsøe
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Alopoglossus tapajosensis
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Itaituba Shade Teju
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Itaituba-Schattenteju
|
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Itaituba-skyggeteju
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2021 | |
Alopoglossus tapajosensis Ribeiro-Júnior, Sánchez-Martínez, Lima Moraes, Oliveira, Carvalho, Pavan, Lacerda Choueri, Werneck & Meiri |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Para).
|
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Alopoglossus theodorusi
|
Oyapok Shade Teju
|
|
Oyapok-Schattenteju
|
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Oyapok-skyggeteju
|
|
2020 | |
Alopoglossus theodorusi Ribeiro-Júnior, Meiri & Fouquet |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Amapa),
French Guiana,
Surinam.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus vallensis
|
Cali Shade Teju, Cali Shade Lizard, Cauca Swamp Teju
|
|
Cali-Schattenteju
|
|
Cali-skyggeteju
|
|
1994 | |
Ptychoglossus vallensis Harris |
|
| |
Euspondylus vallensis Castro-Herrera & Vargas-Salinas 2008 |
|
| |
Alopoglossus vallensis Hernández-Morales, Sturaro, Nunes, Lotzkat & Peloso 2020 |
Remarks:
Formally described as a new species by Harris (1994), although listed already by Ayala (1986).
Distribution:
Colombia.
|
|
|
Alopoglossus viridiceps
|
Green-headed Shade Teju, Green-headed Shade Lizard
|
|
Grünkopf-Schattenteju
|
|
Grønhovedet Skyggeteju
|
|
2014 | |
Alopoglossus viridiceps Torres-Carvajal & Lobos |
Distribution:
Ecuador.
|
Alopoglossus viridiceps
© Henrik Bringsøe
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|