Six-scaled Tegu

<div><p>Loxopholis hexalepis (Ayala & Harris, 1982)</p> <p>Distribution: Known only from the Venezuelan and Colombian plains, in the Orinoco River basin (Molina et al. 2002). In Colombia from the Vichada department in the northeast Orinoquia (Fig. 4D).</p> <p>Similar species: Although Loxopholis hexalepis seems to be allopatric from other cis-Andean species in Colombia, it can be distinguished from these in having hexagonal dorsal scales (rhomboid in L. caparensis, L. parietalis, and L. percarinatum; hexagonal to quadranglar or lanceolate in L. snethlageae); smooth ventral scales (keeled in L. parietalis, L. percarinatum, and L. snethlageae); fourth pair of chin-shields reduced (not reduced in L. parietalis and L. snethlageae); and 32–36 scales around midbody (27–30 in L. caparensis, 23–27 in L. parietalis, 24–27 in L. percarinatum, and 24–26 in L. snethlageae). For a more detailed description see Molina et al. (2002).</p> <p>Remarks: In the species redescription, Molina et al. (2002) stated (in error) that the dorsal scales of this species are pentagonal, but their illustrations and the original description indicate they are hexagonal.</p></div>