The genetic relationships of the Scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives

Abstract

Osteological and morphological characters are used to divide the skinks traditionally placed in the catchall genus Leiolopisma and their relatives into three major groups comprising 22 genera. Group I includes Scincella, Ablepharus, Lobulia, gen. nov., Lipinia, and Prasinohaema, gen. nov.; Group II includes Eugongylus, Tachygia, Phoboscincus, gen. nov., Morethia, Emoia, Cryptoblepharus, Leiolopisma, Proablepharus, and Anotis; Group III includes Lampropholis, Geomyersia, Notoscincus, Carlia, Menetia, Panaspis, Cophoscincopus, and Afroablepharus. A diagnosis, generic key, and a discussion of broad phylogenetic relationships are provided for each major group, and a generic synonymy, diagnosis, list of species, range map and a discussion of distribution and intergeneric relationships are provided for each genus.