Abstract
We describe two new whiptail lizard species, previously assigned to Cnemidophorus lemniscatus, from islands of the state of Nueva Esparta and Los Frailes Archipelago, off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The two new species differ from C. lemniscatus in color, pattern, and squamation. The species from the islands of Margarita and Cubagua can be distinguished from the one of Los Frailes Archipelago in having the circumorbital semicircles extending further anteriorly, more scales between supraocular and supraciliaries, and a larger number of scales of a smaller size between the preanal shield and anal spurs. The two new species also differ conspicuously in color and pattern of both sexes and all age classes. Additionally, we comment on the status of the population of Cnemidophorus of Los Testigos Archipelago, discuss the morphological and color variation observed in C. lemniscatus from northern Venezuela and restrict the distribution of the latter species in the country to the mainland.
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