''Gelanesaurus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia al ...

s 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 genus contains two

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

, which are native to Colombia and

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar language, Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechuan ...

. Both species were included in the genus ''

Potamites ''Potamites'' is a genus of lizards in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus is restricted to northern South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and southern Central America ( Costa Rica and Panama). They are semiaquatic and ...

'' until 2016 when they were moved to the genus ''Gelanesaurus''. (''Gelanesaurus'', new genus).

Species

The genus ''Gelanesaurus'' contains two

which are recognized as being valid. *''

Gelanesaurus cochranae ''Gelanesaurus cochranae'', also known commonly as Cochran's neusticurus, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is native to northwestern South America. Etymology The specific name, ''cochranae'', was chosen in ho ...

'' – Cochran's neusticurus *''

Gelanesaurus flavogularis ''Gelanesaurus flavogularis'' is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is endemic to Ecuador. Geographic range ''G. flavogularis'' is found in Napo and Tungurahua Provinces, eastern Ecuador. Habitat The preferre ...

'' ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atte ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Gelanesaurus''.

References

Taxa named by Omar Torres-Carvajal Taxa named by Simón E. Lobos Taxa named by Pablo J. Venegas Taxa named by German Chavez Taxa named by Vanessa Aguirre-Peñafiel Taxa named by Daniel Zurita Taxa named by Lourdes Y. Echevarría {{Lizard-stub