Riolama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riolama
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Gymnophthalmidae
Subfamily:	Riolaminae
Genus:	Riolama Uzzell, 1973
Type species
Prionodactylus leucostictus Boulenger, 1900
Diversity
6 species (see text)

Riolama is a group of small lizards. They belong to a family of lizards called Gymnophthalmidae. These lizards are often quite tiny.

Where Riolama Lizards Live

You can find Riolama lizards in two countries: Venezuela and Brazil. They live in parts of South America.

Species of Riolama

Scientists have found 6 different kinds, or species, of Riolama lizards. Each species has its own unique features.

• Riolama grandis (discovered in 2020)
• Riolama inopinata (discovered in 2015)
• Riolama leucosticta (discovered in 1900) - also known as the white-spotted riolama
• Riolama luridiventris (discovered in 2004)
• Riolama stellata (discovered in 2020)
• Riolama uzzelli (discovered in 2003)

Sometimes, when a scientist's name is in parentheses next to a species, it means the lizard was first described under a different group name. Later, it was moved into the Riolama group.

New Discoveries

In 2018, scientists found new relatives of the Riolama lizards. They were discovered in the Pico da Neblina National Park in Brazil. These new lizards were given cool nicknames: "The Night Sky" and "The Brown Giant." This shows that there are still many amazing creatures to discover!

See also

In Spanish: Riolama para niños