**Six new species of lizards (Riama, Sauria, Gymnophthalmidae) from the high Andes of Ecuador**

Authors: Alejandro Arteaga,^a,b Angie Tovar-Ortiz,^c Jose Vieira,^b,d Henrik Bringsøe,^e Amanda Quezada,^a,b Jeffrey Camper,^f Kyle Harris.^g

^aKhamai Foundation, Arlequín Reserve, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Ecuador. ^bTropical Herping S.A., Av. Portugal N35-40 y República del Salvador, Quito, Ecuador. ^cDepartment of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. ^dExSitu, Quito, Ecuador. ^eIrisvej 8, 4600 Køge, Denmark. ^fDepartment of Biology, Francis Marion University, Florence, South Carolina, USA. ^gDepartment of Biology, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA.

Abstract: We describe six new species of burrowing lizards of the genus Riama Gray, 1858 from the high Andes of Ecuador. Their status as new species is confirmed based on their unique combination of molecular, meristic, hemipenial, and color pattern characteristics. The taxonomic revision is based on examination of 188 museum specimens, a phylogeographic analysis of 244 locality records, and 53 individuals of Riama sampled for molecular characters. With these additions, the number of Riama in Ecuador increases to 18.

Publication type:	Book chapter, addendum
Publication date:	June 10, 2026
Book name:	Reptiles of Ecuador, 2nd Edition
Book ISBN:	978-9942-7249-1-5
Pagination:	1082–1119
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.47051/GZNM5526
ZooBank Identifier:	http://zoobank.org/99F1AB0F-38D9-45E1-9B7B-1C37553FF847

Citation:

Arteaga A, Tovar-Ortiz A, Vieira J, Bringsøe H, Quezada A, Camper J, Harris K (2026) Six new species of lizards (Riama, Sauria, Gymnophthalmidae) from the high Andes of Ecuador. In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador. Second Edition. Khamai Foundation & Tropical Herping, Quito, 1082–1119. https://doi.org/10.47051/GZNM5526