''Riama orcesi'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Gymnophthalmidae
Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards with at least 250 species, sometimes known commonly as spectacled lizards or microteiids. They are called "spectacled" because of their transparent lower eyelids, which allow them to still see with closed ...
.
The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''orcesi'', is in honor of Ecuadorian herpetologist
Gustavo Orcés.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Riama orcesi'', p. 195).]
Geographic range
''R. orcesi'' is found in northeastern Ecuador at altitudes of .
[
]
Reproduction
''R. orcesi'' is oviparous.[
]
References
Further reading
* Doan TM, Castoe TA (2005). "Phylogenetic taxonomy of the Cercosaurini (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae), with new genera for species of ''Neusticurus'' and ''Proctoporus'' ". ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society'' 143: 405–416. (''Riama orcesi'', new combination).
* Kizirian DA (1995). "A New Species of ''Proctoporus'' (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the Andean Cordillera Oriental of Northeastern Ecuador". ''Journal of Herpetology'' 29 (1): 66–72. (''Proctoporus orcesi'', new species).
Riama
Reptiles of Ecuador
Endemic fauna of Ecuador
Reptiles described in 1995
Taxa named by David A. Kizirian
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