[1] Until 2005, species now placed in Potamites were included in Neusticurus, another genus containing semi-aquatic lizards of South America.

[2] Despite the move, some still have an English name that refers to their former genus, including P. strangulatus, the big-scaled neusticurus.

[3] Even after this split, genetic studies revealed that Potamites was paraphyletic and to resolve this two species were moved to Gelanesaurus in 2016.

[3] Further changes are likely, as P. ecpleopus as currently defined is paraphyletic, and it has been suggested that trachodus, usually considered a subspecies of P. strangulatus, should be recognized as a separate species.

[4] Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Potamites.