Sphenomorphus Explained
The genus Sphenomorphus - vernacularly also known as the common skinks - currently serves as a "wastebin taxon" for numerous skinks. While most or all species presently placed here are probably rather close relatives, the genus as presently delimited is likely to be not monophyletic and is in need of review.[1] Some species in this genus have been moved to Pinoyscincus.
The namesake of the Sphenomorphus group of Lygosominae genera, most species would probably occupy a rather basal position therein.[2]
Species
"Hinulia" elegans, described by Gray in 1838, is unidentified, but may be Eulamprus tenuis,[5] which is also known as Concinnia tenuis (Gray, 1831).
Geographic range
Species of Sphenomorphus are found mainly in Southeast Asia but have also been found in India and northwards to China.
Further reading
- Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Sphenomorphus, new genus, p. 23). (in Latin).
External links
- (2006). "Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. (HTML abstract)
- (2006). "The Southeast Asian scincid lizard Siaphos tridigitus Bourret, 1939 (Reptilia, Scincidae): a second specimen". Zoosystema 28 (3): 785-790. PDF fulltext
- (2008). "A replacement name for Sphenomorphus keiensis (Kopstein, 1926) from the southeastern Moluccas, Indonesia (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) with a redescription of the species". Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden 82 (52): 737-747. PDF
Notes and References
- Greer et al. (2006).
- Austin & Arnold (2006).
- [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
- . www.reptile-database.org.
- Shea & Michels (2008).
