A new species of gymnophthalmid lizard is described from the montane forests of the Península de Paria in northeastern Venezuela. The new species is one of three gymnophtalmid species known to be endemic to the region, and the fourth species of Riama from Venezuela. It is likely the sister species to R. shrevei of Trinidad, but can be distinguished from the latter species by having a nasoloreal suture, fewer scale rows encircling the midbody, and by having a higher number of transverse dorsal scale rows.