Meroles Gray 1838

Type species. Meroles knoxii (Milne-Edwards 1829)

Content. Meroles anchietae (Bocage 1867), Meroles ctenodactylus (Smith 1838), Meroles cuneirostris (Strauch 1867), Meroles knoxii (Milne-Edwards 1829), Meroles micropholidotus Mertens 1938, Meroles reticulatus (Bocage 1867), Meroles squamulosus (Peters 1854), Meroles suborbitalis (Peters 1869)

Characterization and diagnosis. The inclusion of M. squamulosus requires the genus to be redefined. Head shields normal and usually smooth (rugose in squamulosus), but occipital often very small or absent; nostril pierced between three nasals and widely separated from 1st upper labial; subocular not bordering mouth; lower eyelid scaly, without window; collar distinct (absent in squamulosus); gular fold absent; dorsal scales granular, juxtaposed or subimbricate, (but rhombic, strongly keeled and imbricate in squamulosus); ventral plates smooth, not or feebly imbricate, posterior borders straight; digits subcylindrical, compressed or depressed (feebly compressed in squamulosus), laterally serrated, denticulated or fringed (except in squamulosus); subdigital lamellae smooth or keeled (pluricarinate and spinolose in squamulosus), femoral pores present; parietal foramen present (absent or feebly marked in squamulosus); and tail long and cylindrical (in knoxii, suborbitalis and squamulosus) or depressed basally and feebly compressed distally.

Remark. As the gender of Meroles is masculine the specific ending of squamulosa must be adjusted accordingly to squamulosus.