Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Phylogenetic relationships in the Eugongylini (Squamata: Scincidae): generic limits and biogeography

David G. Chapple https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7720-6280 A B C * , Stephanie N. J. Chapple B C , Sarah A. Smith D , Glenn M. Shea E F , Ian G. Brennan G and Ross A. Sadlier https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-9879 F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.

B Museums Victoria, Division of Sciences, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.

C Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.

D Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699, USA.

E Sydney School of Veterinary Science B01, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.

F Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.

G Division of Ecology & Evolution, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

* Correspondence to: david.chapple@monash.edu

Handling Editor: Steven Cooper

Australian Journal of Zoology 70(6) 165-203 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23007
Submitted: 27 February 2023  Accepted: 28 April 2023   Published: 25 May 2023

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Skinks (Family Scincidae) are the most diverse family of lizards (~1745 described species worldwide), and the Australasian region (Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand) is a recognised global hotspot (>600 species) for skinks. Here we focus on determining the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography within the tribe Eugongylini, one of three lineages in the region. We used mtDNA (ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1, c-mos) DNA sequences and phylogenetic analyses to reveal the presence of three well-supported lineages of Australian Eugongylini. We found a sister relationship between the monotypic genera Eroticoscincus and Harrisoniascincus, and that the monotypic Anepischetosia has close affinities with Carinascincus coventryi and Pseudemoia. C. coventryi represents a separate lineage from the main Carinascincus radiation. Emoia was not found to be monophyletic, with Emoia s.s. part of an Australian lineage, and the remainder of the genus representing an older divergence within the tribe. The widespread and speciose Cryptoblepharus represented a well-supported lineage within an Australian lineage. Our analyses confirm previous suggestions that four Sphenomorphus species (louisiadensis, minutus, bignelli, and aignanus) are misplaced, and are part of the Eugongylini. Our phylogenetic analyses support the hypothesis that the origin of the tribe lies in Asia, with dispersal events to Africa, Australasia, and Oceania.

Keywords: Australia, biogeography, lizard, mitochondrial DNA, New Caledonia, New Zealand, nuclear DNA, Zealandia.


References

Arnold, EN, and Bour, R (2008). A new Nactus gecko (Gekkonidae) and a new Leiolopisma skink (Scincidae) from La Reunion, Indian Ocean, based on recent fossil remains and ancient DNA sequence. Zootaxa 1705, 40–50.
A new Nactus gecko (Gekkonidae) and a new Leiolopisma skink (Scincidae) from La Reunion, Indian Ocean, based on recent fossil remains and ancient DNA sequence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, CC (1999). Lizards took express train to Polynesia. Nature 397, 113–114.
Lizards took express train to Polynesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, JJ, and Arnold, EN (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, 503–511.
Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bauer, AM, and Sadlier, RA (1993). Systematics, biogeography and conservation of the lizards of New Caledonia. Biodiversity Letters 1, 107–122.
Systematics, biogeography and conservation of the lizards of New Caledonia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bavay, A (1869). Catalogue des Reptiles de la Nouvelle-Caledonie et description d’especes nouvelles. Memoires Societe Linniene de Normandie 15, 1–37.

Baverstock, PR, and Donnellan, SC (1990). Molecular evolution in Australian dragons and skinks: a progress report. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 29, 323–331.

Benoit M, Drost H-G (2021) A predictive approach to infer the activity and natural variation of retrotransposon families in plants. In ‘Plant transposable elements. Methods in molecular biology, Vol. 2250’. (Ed. J Cho) pp. 1–14. (Humana: New York, NY). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1134-0_1

Blom, MPK, Horner, P, and Moritz, C (2016). Convergence across a continent: adaptive diversification in a recent radiation of Australian lizards. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283, 20160181.
Convergence across a continent: adaptive diversification in a recent radiation of Australian lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Blom, MPK, Matzke, NJ, Bragg, JG, Arida, E, Austin, CC, Backlin, AR, Carretero, MA, Fisher, RN, Glaw, F, Hathaway, SA, Iskandar, DT, McGuire, JA, Karin, BR, Reilly, SB, Rittmeyer, EN, Rocha, S, Sanchez, M, Stubbs, AL, Vences, M, and Moritz, C (2019). Habitat preference modulates trans-oceanic dispersal in a terrestrial vertebrate. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 286, 20182575.
Habitat preference modulates trans-oceanic dispersal in a terrestrial vertebrate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Böhme, W (1976). Uber die Gattung Eugongylus Fitzinger, mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art (Reptilia: Scincidae). Bonner Zoologische Beiträge 27, 245–251.

Böhme, W, Schmitz, A, and Ziegler, T (2000). A review of the West African skink genus Cophoscincopus Mertens (Reptilia: Scincidae: Lygosominae): resurrection of C. simulans (Vaillant, 1884) and description of a new species. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 107, 777–791.
A review of the West African skink genus Cophoscincopus Mertens (Reptilia: Scincidae: Lygosominae): resurrection of C. simulans (Vaillant, 1884) and description of a new species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Borowiec, ML (2016). AMAS: a fast tool for alignment manipulation and computing of summary statistics. PeerJ 4, e1660.
AMAS: a fast tool for alignment manipulation and computing of summary statistics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bouckaert, R, Vaughan, TG, Barido-Sottani, J, Duchêne, S, Fourment, M, Gavryushkina, A, Heled, J, Jones, G, Kühnert, D, De Maio, N, Matschiner, M, Mendes, FK, Müller, NF, Ogilvie, HA, du Plessis, L, Popinga, A, Rambaut, A, Rasmussen, D, Siveroni, I, Suchard, MA, Wu, C-H, Xie, D, Zhang, C, Stadler, T, and Drummond, AJ (2019). BEAST 2.5: an advanced software platform for Bayesian evolutionary analysis. PLoS Computational Biology 15, e1006650.
BEAST 2.5: an advanced software platform for Bayesian evolutionary analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boulenger, GA (1887a). Report on a zoological collection made by the officers of H.M.S. Flying Fish at Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Proceedings of the Zoological Society London 1887, 516–517.

Boulenger GA (1887b) ‘Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) III. Lacertidae, Gerrhosauridae, Scincidae, Anelytropsidae, Dibamidae, Chamaeleontidae.’ (British Museum (Natural History): London)

Boulenger, GA (1895). III. – On a collection of reptiles and batrachians from Ferguson Island, D’Entrecasteaux group, British New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Ser.6 16, 28–32.
III. – On a collection of reptiles and batrachians from Ferguson Island, D’Entrecasteaux group, British New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boulenger, GA (1898a). Third report on additions to the lizard collection in the Natural-History Museum. Proceedings of the Zoological Society London 1898, 912–923.

Boulenger, GA (1903). XLI.– Descriptions of new lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Ser. 7 12, 429–435.
XLI.– Descriptions of new lizards in the collection of the British Museum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brandley, MC, Bragg, JG, Singhal, S, Chapple, DG, Jennings, CK, Lemmon, AR, Lemmon, EM, Thompson, MB, and Moritz, C (2015). Evaluating the performance of anchored hybrid enrichment at the tips of the tree of life: a phylogenetic analysis of Australian Eugongylus group scincid lizards. BMC Evolutionary Biology 15, 62.
Evaluating the performance of anchored hybrid enrichment at the tips of the tree of life: a phylogenetic analysis of Australian Eugongylus group scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brocchi, P (1876). Sur un Scincoiden nouveau appartenant au genre Eumeces. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris Ser. 6 12, 95–97.

Broom, R (1896). On two new species of Ablepharus from north Queensland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Ser. 6 18, 342–343.

Brown, WC (1954). Notes on several lizards of the genus Emoia, with descriptions of new species from the Solomon Islands. Fieldiana (Zoology) 34, 263–276.
Notes on several lizards of the genus Emoia, with descriptions of new species from the Solomon Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, WC (1991). Lizards of the genus Emoia (Scincidae) with observations on their evolution and biogeography. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 15, 1–94.

Burbrink, FT, Grazziotin, FG, Pyron, RA, Cundall, D, Donnellan, S, Irish, F, Keogh, JS, Kraus, F, Murphy, RW, Noonan, B, Raxworthy, CJ, Ruane, S, Lemmon, AR, Lemmon, EM, and Zaher, H (2020). Interrogating genomic-scale data for Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) shows no support for key traditional morphological relationships. Systematic Biology 69, 502–520.
Interrogating genomic-scale data for Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) shows no support for key traditional morphological relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chapple, DG, Ritchie, PA, and Daugherty, CH (2009). Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52, 470–487.
Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cogger HG (1992) ‘Reptiles and amphibians of Australia.’ 5th edn. (Reed Books: Chatswood)

Copland, SJ (1947). Taxonomic notes on the genus Ablepharus (Sauria: Scincidae). 1. A new species from the Darling River. Proceedings of the Linnean Society New South Wales 71, 282–286.

Copland, SJ (1949). Taxonomic notes on the genus Ablepharus (Sauria: Scincidae). II. The races of Ablepharus burnetti Oudemans. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 73, 362–371.

Couper, PJ, and Hoskin, CJ (2014). A new genus to accommodate three skinks currently assigned to Menetia (Lacertilia: Scincidae). Zootaxa 3884, 597–599.
A new genus to accommodate three skinks currently assigned to Menetia (Lacertilia: Scincidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Couper, PJ, Covacevich, JA, and Lethbridge, PJ (1994). Carlia parrhasius, a new Queensland skink. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35, 31–33.

Couper PJ, Covacevich JA, Amey AP, Baker AM (2006) The genera of skinks (Family Scincidae) of Australia and its island territories: diversity, distribution and identification. In ‘Evolution and biogeography of Australasian vertebrates’. (Eds JR Merrick, M Archer, GM Hickey, MSY Lee) pp. 367–383. (Auscipub: Oatlands)

Couper, PJ, Limpus, CJ, McDonald, KR, and Amey, AP (2010). A new species of Proablepharus (Scincidae: Lygosominae) from Mt Surprise, north-eastern Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 2433, 62–68.
A new species of Proablepharus (Scincidae: Lygosominae) from Mt Surprise, north-eastern Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Couper, PJ, Hoskin, CJ, Potter, S, Bragg, JG, and Moritz, C (2018). A new genus to accommodate three skinks currently assigned to Proablepharus (Lacertilia: Scincidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 60, 227–231.
A new genus to accommodate three skinks currently assigned to Proablepharus (Lacertilia: Scincidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Covacevich, J (1984). A biogeographically significant new species of Leiolopisma (Scincidae) from north eastern Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 21, 401–411.

Czechura, GV (1981). The rare scincid lizard, Nannoscincus graciloides: a reappraisal. Journal of Herpetology 15, 315–320.
The rare scincid lizard, Nannoscincus graciloides: a reappraisal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Datta-Roy, A, Singh, M, and Karanth, KP (2014). Phylogeny of endemic skinks of the genus Lygosoma (Squamata: Scincidae) from India suggests an in situ radiation. Journal of Genetics 93, 163–167.
Phylogeny of endemic skinks of the genus Lygosoma (Squamata: Scincidae) from India suggests an in situ radiation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Desjardin, J (1831). Sur trois espèces de lézard du genre scinque, qui habitent l’île Maurice (Ile-de-France). Annales des Sciences Naturelles Paris 22, 292–299.

De Vis, CW (1884). New Queensland lizards. The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 1, 77–78.
New Queensland lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

De Vis, CW (1888). A contribution to the herpetology of Queensland. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Ser. 2 2, 811–826.
A contribution to the herpetology of Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

De Vis, CW (1892). Zoology of British New Guinea. Part 1.–Vertebrata. Annals of the Queensland Museum 2, 3–12.

Dolman, G, and Hugall, AF (2008). Combined mitochondrial and nuclear data enhance resolution of a rapid radiation of Australian rainbow skinks (Scincidae: Carlia). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49, 782–794.
Combined mitochondrial and nuclear data enhance resolution of a rapid radiation of Australian rainbow skinks (Scincidae: Carlia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Donnellan SC (1985) The evolution of sex chromosomes in scincid lizards. Ph.D. thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney.

Drummond AJ, Ashton B, Buxton S, Cheung M, Cooper A, Duran C, Field M, Heled J, Kearse M, Markowitz S, Moir R (2011) Geneious v5.4. Available at http://www.geneious.com

Dubey, S, and Shine, R (2010). Evolutionary diversification of the lizard genus Bassiana (Scincidae) across southern Australia. PLoS ONE 5, e12982.
Evolutionary diversification of the lizard genus Bassiana (Scincidae) across southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839) ‘Erpétologie générale, ou, histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome 5.’ (Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret: Paris)

Duméril AMC, Duméril AHA (1851) ‘Catalogue méthodique de la collection des reptiles du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris.’ (Gide et Baudry/Roret: Paris)

Edgar, RC (2004). MUSCLE: multiple sequence alignment with high accuracy and high throughput. Nucleic Acids Research 32, 1792–1797.
MUSCLE: multiple sequence alignment with high accuracy and high throughput.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fisher R, Hamilton A, Allison A, Tallowin O (2013) Leiolopisma alazon. IUCN Red List Threatened Spec. 2013, e.T196628A2468178. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T196628A2468178.en

Freitas, ES, Datta-Roy, A, Karanth, P, Grismer, LL, and Siler, CD (2019). Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for African, Asian and Indian supple and writhing skinks (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 186, 1067–1096.
Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for African, Asian and Indian supple and writhing skinks (Scincidae: Lygosominae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fuhn, IE (1969). The “polyphyletic” origin of the genus Ablepharus (Reptilia: Scincidae): a case of parallel evolution. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 7, 67–76.
The “polyphyletic” origin of the genus Ablepharus (Reptilia: Scincidae): a case of parallel evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Giribet, G, and Baker, CM (2019). Further discussion on the Eocene drowning of New Caledonia: discordances from the point of view of zoology. Journal of Biogeography 46, 1912–1918.
Further discussion on the Eocene drowning of New Caledonia: discordances from the point of view of zoology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Glauert, L (1960). Herpetological miscellanea. XII. The family Scincidae in Western Australia. Pt. 3. The genus Ablepharus. Western Australian Naturalist 7, 115–122.

Gray, JE (1838). XXX.–Catalogue of the slender-tongued saurians, with descriptions of many new genera and species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 1, 274–283.
XXX.–Catalogue of the slender-tongued saurians, with descriptions of many new genera and species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gray JE (1845) ‘Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum.’ (Edward Newman: London)

Greer, AE (1967). A new generic arrangement for some Australian scincid lizards. Breviora 267, 1–19.

Greer, AE (1968). Clutch size in the scincid genus Emoia. Copeia 1968, 417–418.
Clutch size in the scincid genus Emoia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE (1974). The genetic relationships of the scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 22, 1–67.
The genetic relationships of the scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE (1977). On the adaptive significance of the loss of an oviduct in reptiles. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 101, 242–249.

Greer, AE (1979). A phylogenetic subdivision of Australian skinks. Records of the Australian Museum 32, 339–371.
A phylogenetic subdivision of Australian skinks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE (1980). A new species of Morethia (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from northern Australia, with comments on the biology and relationships of the genus. Records of the Australian Museum 33, 89–122.
A new species of Morethia (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from northern Australia, with comments on the biology and relationships of the genus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE (1982a). A new species of Leiolopisma (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 34, 549–573.
A new species of Leiolopisma (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE (1982b). A new species of Geomyersia (Scincidae) from the Admiralty Islands, with a summary of the genus. Journal of Herpetology 16, 61–66.
A new species of Geomyersia (Scincidae) from the Admiralty Islands, with a summary of the genus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer AE (1983) On the adaptive significance of the reptilian spectacle: the evidence from scincid, teiid, and lacertid lizards. In ‘Advances in herpetology and evolutionary biology. Essays in honor of Ernest E. Williams.’ (Eds AGJ Rhodin, K Miyata) pp. 213–221. (Museum of Comparative Zoology: Cambridge)

Greer AE (1989) ‘The biology and evolution of Australian lizards.’ (Surrey Beatty and Sons: Chipping Norton)

Greer, AE (1991). Two new species of Menetia from northeastern Queensland, with comments on the generic diagnoses of Lygisaurus and Menetia. Journal of Herpetology 25, 268–272.
Two new species of Menetia from northeastern Queensland, with comments on the generic diagnoses of Lygisaurus and Menetia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE, and Kluge, AG (1980). A new species of Lampropholis (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from the rainforests of northeastern Queensland. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 691, 1–12.

Greer, AE, and Parker, F (1968). Geomyersia glabra, a new genus and species of scincid lizard from Bougainville, Solomon Islands, with comments on the relationships of some lygosomine genera. Breviora 302, 1–17.

Greer, AE, and Shea, GM (2000). A major new head scale character in non-lygosomine scincid lizards. Journal of Herpetology 34, 629–634.
A major new head scale character in non-lygosomine scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greer, AE, Fisher, A, and Horner, P (2004). A new species of Proablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Northern Territory of Australia. The Beagle: Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 20, 199–205.
A new species of Proablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Northern Territory of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Günther, A (1874). A contribution to the fauna of Savage Island. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1874, 295–297.

Hardy, GS (1977). The New Zealand Scincidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia); a taxonomic and zoogeographic study. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 4, 221–325.
The New Zealand Scincidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia); a taxonomic and zoogeographic study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hickson, RE, Slack, KE, and Lockhart, P (2000). Phylogeny recapitulates geography, or why New Zealand has so many species of skinks. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 70, 415–433.
Phylogeny recapitulates geography, or why New Zealand has so many species of skinks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hoang, DT, Chernomor, O, von Haeseler, A, Minh, BQ, and Vinh, LS (2018). UFBoot2: Improving the ultrafast bootstrap approximation. Molecular Biology and Evolution 35, 518–522.
UFBoot2: Improving the ultrafast bootstrap approximation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Honda, M, Ota, H, Kobayashi, M, Nabhitabhata, J, Yong, H.-S, and Hikida, T (2000). Phylogenetic relationships, character evolution, and biogeography of the subfamily Lygosominae (Reptilia: Scincidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 15, 452–461.
Phylogenetic relationships, character evolution, and biogeography of the subfamily Lygosominae (Reptilia: Scincidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Honda, M, Ota, H, Köhler, G, Ineich, I, Chirio, L, Chen, S-L, and Hikida, T (2003). Phylogeny of the lizard subfamily Lygosominae (Reptilia: Scincidae), with special reference to the origin of the New World taxa. Genes & Genetic Systems 78, 71–80.
Phylogeny of the lizard subfamily Lygosominae (Reptilia: Scincidae), with special reference to the origin of the New World taxa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Horner, P (2007). Systematics of the snake-eyed skinks, Cryptoblepharus Wiegmann (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) – an Australian-based review. The Beagle, Records of the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory Supplement 3, 21–198.

Horner, P, and Adams, M (2007). A molecular systematic assessment of species boundaries in Australian Cryptoblepharus (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) – a case study for the combined use of allozymes and morphology to explore cryptic biodiversity. The Beagle, Records of the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory Supplement 3, 1–19.

Hutchinson MN (1981) The systematic relationships of the genera Egernia and Tiliqua (Lacertilia: Scincidae). A review and immunological reassessment. In ‘Proceedings of the Melbourne herpetological symposium’. (Eds CB Banks, AA Martin) pp. 176–193. (Zoological Board of Victoria: Melbourne)

Hutchinson MN (1993) Family Scincidae. In ‘Fauna of Australia. Vol. 2A. Amphibia & Reptilia’. (Eds CJ Glasby, GJB Ross, PL Beesley) pp. 261–279. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra)

Hutchinson, MN, and Donnellan, SC (1988). A new species of scincid lizard related to Leiolopisma entrecasteauxii, from southeastern Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 112, 143–151.

Hutchinson, MN, Schwaner, TD, and Medlock, K (1988). A new species of scincid lizard (Lygosominae: Leiolopisma) from the highlands of Tasmania. Proceedings of the Royal Society Victoria 100, 67–73.

Hutchinson, MN, Donnellan, SC, Baverstock, PR, Krieg, M, Simms, S, and Burgin, S (1990). Immunological relationships and generic revision of the Australian lizards assigned to the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae, Lygosominae). Australian Journal of Zoology 38, 535–554.
Immunological relationships and generic revision of the Australian lizards assigned to the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae, Lygosominae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ineich I (2009) Bocourt’s Terrific Skink, Phoboscincus bocourti (Brocchi, 1876), (Squamata, Scincidae, Lygosominae). In ‘Zoologia Neocaledonica 7. Biodiversity studies in New Caledonia, Vol. 198’. (Ed. P Grandcolas) pp. 149–174. (Mémoires du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle: Paris)

Ineich, I, and Zug, GR (1993–1996). Tachygyia, the gaint Tongan skink: extinct or extant? Cryptozoology 12, 30–35.

Ineich I, Sadlier RA, Bauer AM, Jackman TR, Smith SA (2014) Bocourt’s Terrific Skink, Phoboscincus bocourti (Brocchi, 1876), and the monophyly of the genus Phoboscincus Greer, 1974. In ‘Zoologia Neocaledonica 8. Biodiversity studies in New Caledonia, Vol. 206’. (Eds E Guilbert, T Robillard, H Jourdan, P Grandcolas) pp. 69–78. (Mémoires du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle: Paris)

Ingram, GJ (1977). Three species of small lizards – two of them new – genus Menetia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in Queensland. Victorian Naturalist 94, 184–187.

Ingram, GJ, and Covacevich, J (1988). Revision of the genus Lygisaurus De Vis (Scincidae: Reptilia) in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 25, 335–354.

Ingram, GJ, and Ehmann, H (1981). A new species of scincid lizard of the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygosominae) from south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 20, 311–317.

Ivan, J, Moritz, C, Potter, S, Bragg, J, Turakulov, R, and Hua, X (2022). Temperature predicts the rate of molecular evolution in Australian Eugongylinae skinks. Evolution 76, 252–261.
Temperature predicts the rate of molecular evolution in Australian Eugongylinae skinks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Karin, BR, Metallinou, M, Weinell, JL, Jackman, TR, and Bauer, AM (2016). Resolving the higher-order phylogenetic relationships of the circumtropical Mabuya group (Squamata: Scincidae): an out-of-Asia diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 102, 220–232.
Resolving the higher-order phylogenetic relationships of the circumtropical Mabuya group (Squamata: Scincidae): an out-of-Asia diversification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Katoh, K, Misawa, K, Kuma, K, and Miyata, T (2002). MAFFT: a novel method for rapid multiple sequence alignment based on fast Fourier transform. Nucleic Acids Research 30, 3059–3066.
MAFFT: a novel method for rapid multiple sequence alignment based on fast Fourier transform.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kiester, AR (1982). A new forest skink from Ponape. Breviora 468, 1–10.

Kopstein, PF (1926). Reptilien von den Molukken und den benachbarten Inseln. Zoologische Mededelingen 9, 71–112.

Lee, MSY, Hutchinson, MN, Worthy, TH, Archer, M, Tennyson, AJD, Worthy, JP, and Scofield, RP (2009). Miocene skinks and geckos reveal long-term conservatism of New Zealand’s lizard fauna. Biology Letters 5, 833–837.
Miocene skinks and geckos reveal long-term conservatism of New Zealand’s lizard fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Le Houedec, S, Meynadier, L, Cogné, J-P, Allègre, CJ, and Gourlan, AT (2012). Oceanwide imprint of large tectonic and oceanic events on seawater Nd isotope composition in the Indian Ocean from 90 to 40 Ma. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 13, Q06008.
Oceanwide imprint of large tectonic and oceanic events on seawater Nd isotope composition in the Indian Ocean from 90 to 40 Ma.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lesson R-P (1829) Reptiles Planche 3. In ‘Lesson R.-P., Voyage autour du monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la Corvette de Sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825, sous le Ministère de S.E.M. le Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, et publié sous les auspices de Son Excellence Mgr. le Cte. de Chabrol, Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies, par L.I. Duperrey, Chevalier de Saint-Louis et de la Légion d’Honneur, capitaine de frégate, commandant de l’expédition. Histoire Naturelle. Zoologie. Atlas’. (Arthus Bertrand: Paris)

Lesson R-P (1830) Reptiles Planche 4. In ‘Lesson R.-P., Voyage autour du monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la Corvette de Sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825, sous le Ministère de S.E.M. le Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, et publié sous les auspices de Son Excellence Mgr. le Cte. de Chabrol, Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies, par L.I. Duperrey, Chevalier de Saint-Louis et de la Légion d’Honneur, capitaine de frégate, commandant de l’expédition. Histoire Naturelle. Zoologie. Atlas’. (Arthus Bertrand: Paris)

Lönnberg, E, and Andersson, LG (1913). Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg’s Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-1913. III. Reptiles. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Nya Handlingar 52, 1–173.

Lucas, AHS, and Frost, C (1894). The lizards indigenous to Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society Victoria (ns) 6, 24–92.

Macleay, W (1877). The lizards of the Chevert Expedition. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2, 60–69.

Maurizot P, Campbell HJ (2020) Paleobiogeography of New Caledonia. In ‘New Caledonia: geology, geodynamic evolution and mineral resources, Vol. 51’. (Eds P Maurizot, N Mortimer) pp. 189–213. (Geological Society, London, Memoirs) 10.1144/M51.0

McCoy, M, and Webber, P (1984). Two new species of scincid lizards of the Genus Emoia from Santa Cruz and Duff Islands, Solomon Islands. Copeia 1984, 571–578.
Two new species of scincid lizards of the Genus Emoia from Santa Cruz and Duff Islands, Solomon Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Medina, MF, Bauer, AM, Branch, WR, Schmitz, A, Conradie, W, Nagy, ZT, Hibbitts, TJ, Ernst, R, Portik, DM, Nielsen, SV, Colston, TJ, Kusamba, C, Behangana, M, Rödel, M-O, and Greenbaum, E (2016). Molecular phylogeny of Panaspis and Afroablepharus skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 100, 409–423.
Molecular phylogeny of Panaspis and Afroablepharus skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Melville J, Swain R (1998) Evolutionary relationships with the snow skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Niveoscincus) of Tasmania. In ‘Evolutionary biology at high southern latitudes, Vol. 11’. (Ed. RS Hill) pp. 22–25. Australian Biologist, Hobart, Tasmania.

Melville, J, and Swain, R (2000). Mitochondrial DNA-sequence based phylogeny and biogeography of the snow skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Niveoscincus) of Tasmania. Herpetologica 56, 196–208.

Mertens, R (1931). Ablepharus boutonii (Desjardins) und seine geographische variation. Zoologische Jahrbücher Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 61, 63–210.

Mertens, R (1934). Die Scinciden-Gattung Cophoscincopus Vaillant. Zoologischer Anzeiger 102, 188–190.

Mertens, R (1964). Weitere Mitteilungen über die Rassen von Ablepharus boutonii (Desjardin), III. Zoologischer Anzeiger 173, 100–110.

Meyer, AB (1874). Eine Mittheilung von Hrn. Dr. Adolf Bernhard Meyer über die von ihm auf Neu-Guinea und den Inseln Jobi, Mysore und Mafoor im Jahre 1873 gesammelten Amphibien. Monatsberichte der königlich Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1874, 128–140.

Mittleman, MB (1952). A generic synopsis of the lizards of the subfamily Lygosominae. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection 117, 1–35.

Moussalli, A, Hugall, AF, and Moritz, C (2005). A mitochondrial phylogeny of the rainforest skink genus Saproscincus, Wells and Wellington (1984). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34, 190–202.
A mitochondrial phylogeny of the rainforest skink genus Saproscincus, Wells and Wellington (1984).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nattier, R, Pellens, R, Robillard, T, Jourdan, H, Legendre, F, Caesar, M, Nel, A, and Grandcolas, P (2017). Updating the phylogenetic dating of New Caledonian biodiversity with a meta-analysis of the available evidence. Scientific Reports 7, 3705.
Updating the phylogenetic dating of New Caledonian biodiversity with a meta-analysis of the available evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nguyen, L-T, Schmidt, HA, von Haeseler, A, and Minh, BQ (2015). IQ-TREE: a fast and effective stochastic algorithm for estimating maximum-likelihood phylogenies. Molecular Biology and Evolution 32, 268–274.
IQ-TREE: a fast and effective stochastic algorithm for estimating maximum-likelihood phylogenies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

O’Shaughnessy, AWE (1874). XL.– descriptions of new species of Scincidæ in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Nature History Ser. 4 13, 298–301.
XL.– descriptions of new species of Scincidæ in the collection of the British Museum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Oudemans JT (1894) Eidechsen und Schildkröten. In ‘Zoologische Forschungsreisen in Australien und den Malayischen Archipel, Vol. 5’. (Ed. R Semon) pp. 127–146. (Gustav Fischer: Jena)

Patterson, GB, and Daugherty, CH (1995). Reinstatement of the genus Oligosoma (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Scincidae). Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 25, 327–331.
Reinstatement of the genus Oligosoma (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Scincidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Perret, J-L (1973). Contribution à l’étude des Panaspis (Reptilia, Scincidae) d’Afrique occidentale avec la description de deux espèces nouvelles. Revue suisse de Zoologie 80, 595–630.
Contribution à l’étude des Panaspis (Reptilia, Scincidae) d’Afrique occidentale avec la description de deux espèces nouvelles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Perret, J-L (1975). La différenciation dans le genre Panaspis Cope (Reptilia, Scincidae). Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de Neuchâtel 98, 5–16.

Perret, J-L (1982). Le sous-genre Leptosiaphos (Lacertilia, Scincidae) et ses implications. Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de Neuchâtel 105, 107–121.

Peters, W (1874). Über einige neue Reptilien (Lacerta, Eremias, Diploglossus, Euprepes, Lygosoma, Sepsina, Ablepharus, Simotes, Onychocephalus). Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussische Akademie des Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1874, 368–377.

Peters, W (1881). Drei neue Eidechsen, zu der Familie der Scincoiden gehörig, eine Lipinia (mit geckonenuahnlicher Bildung der Zehen!) aus Neu-Guinea und wie Mocoa aus Neuholland. Sitzungsber. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1881, 81–85.

Pyron, RA, Burbrink, FT, and Wiens, JJ (2013). A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 13, 93.
A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rabosky, DL, Donnellan, SC, Talaba, AL, and Lovette, IJ (2007). Exceptional among-lineage variation in diversification rates during the radiation of Australia’s most diverse vertebrate clade. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 274, 2915–2923.
Exceptional among-lineage variation in diversification rates during the radiation of Australia’s most diverse vertebrate clade.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rankin, PR (1979). A taxonomic revision of the genus Menetia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in the Northern Territory. Records of the Australian Museum 32, 491–499.
A taxonomic revision of the genus Menetia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in the Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rannala, B, and Yang, Z (2007). Inferring speciation times under an episodic molecular clock. Systematic Biology 56, 453–466.
Inferring speciation times under an episodic molecular clock.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rawlinson, PA (1974). Revision of the endemic southeastern Australian lizard genus Pseudemoia (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 35, 87–96.
Revision of the endemic southeastern Australian lizard genus Pseudemoia (Scincidae: Lygosominae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rawlinson, PA (1975). Two new lizard species from the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygosominae) in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 36, 1–15.
Two new lizard species from the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygosominae) in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reeder, TW (2003). A phylogeny of the Australian Sphenomorphus group (Scincidae: Squamata) and the phylogenetic placement of the crocodile skinks (Tribolonotus): Bayesian approaches to assessing congruence and obtaining confidence in maximum likelihood inferred relationships. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 27, 384–397.
A phylogeny of the Australian Sphenomorphus group (Scincidae: Squamata) and the phylogenetic placement of the crocodile skinks (Tribolonotus): Bayesian approaches to assessing congruence and obtaining confidence in maximum likelihood inferred relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reis, Md, and Yang, Z (2011). Approximate likelihood calculation on a phylogeny for Bayesian estimation of divergence times. Molecular Biology and Evolution 28, 2161–2172.
Approximate likelihood calculation on a phylogeny for Bayesian estimation of divergence times.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richmond, JQ, Ota, H, Grismer, LL, and Fisher, RN (2021). Influence of niche breadth and position on the historical biogeography of seafaring scincid lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 132, 74–92.
Influence of niche breadth and position on the historical biogeography of seafaring scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Roux J (1913) Les reptiles de de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et des îles Loyalty. In ‘Nova Caledonia, Recherches scientifiques en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Iles Loyalty. Zoologie, Vol. 1, L. 2’. (Eds F Sarasin, J Roux) pp. 79–160. (C.W. Kreidel’s Verlag: Wiesbaden)

Sadlier, RA (1984). A new Australian scincid lizard, Menetia concinna, from the Alligator Rivers region, Northern Territory. Records of the Australian Museum 36, 45–49.
A new Australian scincid lizard, Menetia concinna, from the Alligator Rivers region, Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sadlier, RA (1987). A review of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia. Records of the Australian Museum 39, 1–66.
A review of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sadlier, RA (1990). The scincid lizard genus Nannoscincus Günther: a revaluation. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 29, 487–494.

Sadlier, RA, Colgan, DJ, and Shea, GM (1993). Taxonomy and distribution of the scincid lizard Saproscincus challengeri and related species in southeastern Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 34, 139–158.

Sadlier, RA, Couper, PJ, Colgan, DJ, Vanderduys, E, and Rickard, E (2005). A new species of scincid lizard, Saproscincus eungellensis, from mid-eastern Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51, 559–571.

Sadlier, RA, Smith, SA, and Bauer, AM (2006a). A new genus for the New Caledonian scincid lizard Lygosoma euryotis Werner, 1909, and the description of a new species. Records of the Australian Museum 58, 19–28.
A new genus for the New Caledonian scincid lizard Lygosoma euryotis Werner, 1909, and the description of a new species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sadlier, RA, Bauer, AM, and Smith, SA (2006b). A new species of Nannoscincus Günther (Squamata: Scincidae) from high elevation forest in southern New Caledonia. Records of the Australian Museum 58, 29–36.
A new species of Nannoscincus Günther (Squamata: Scincidae) from high elevation forest in southern New Caledonia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sadlier, RA, Deuss, M, Bauer, AM, and Jourdan, H (2019). Kuniesaurus albiauris, a new genus and species of scincid lizard from the Ⓘle des Pins, New Caledonia, with comments on the diversity and affinities of the region’s lizard fauna. Pacific Science 73, 123–141.
Kuniesaurus albiauris, a new genus and species of scincid lizard from the Ⓘle des Pins, New Caledonia, with comments on the diversity and affinities of the region’s lizard fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schmidt, KP (1932). Reptiles and amphibians from the Solomon Islands. Field Museum of Natural History Zoology Series 18, 175–190.

Schmidt, KP, and Burt, CE (1930). Herpetological results of the Whitney South Sea Expedition V. Description of Emoia sanfordi, a new lizard from islands of the Western Pacific (Scincidæ). American Museum Novitates 436, 1–3.

Schmitz, A, Ineich, I, and Chirio, L (2005). Molecular review of the genus Panaspis sensu lato (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Cameroon, with special reference to the status of the proposed subgenera. Zootaxa 863, 1–28.
Molecular review of the genus Panaspis sensu lato (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Cameroon, with special reference to the status of the proposed subgenera.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schuster MN (1981) Origins and historical biogeography of eastern Australian rainforest Scincidae. In ‘Proceedings of the Melbourne herpetological symposium’. (Eds CB Banks, AA Martin) pp. 17–21. (Zoological Board of Victoria: Melbourne)

Schwaner, TD (1980). Reproductive biology of lizards on the American Samoan islands. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 86, 1–53.

Shea, GM (2021). Nomenclature of supra-generic units within the Family Scincidae (Squamata). Zootaxa 5067, 301–351.
Nomenclature of supra-generic units within the Family Scincidae (Squamata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Skinner, A (2007). Phylogenetic relationships and rate of early diversification of Australian Sphenomorphus group scincids (Scincoidea, Squamata). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 92, 347–366.
Phylogenetic relationships and rate of early diversification of Australian Sphenomorphus group scincids (Scincoidea, Squamata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Skinner, A, Hugall, AF, and Hutchinson, MN (2011). Lygosomine phylogeny and the origins of Australian scincid lizards. Journal of Biogeography 38, 1044–1058.
Lygosomine phylogeny and the origins of Australian scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Smith, SA, Sadlier, RA, Bauer, AM, Austin, CC, and Jackman, T (2007). Molecular phylogeny of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia and adjacent areas: evidence for a single origin of the endemic skinks of Tasmantis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 43, 1151–1166.
Molecular phylogeny of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia and adjacent areas: evidence for a single origin of the endemic skinks of Tasmantis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Steindachner, F (1870). Herpetologische Notizen (II). Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 62, 326–348.

Sternfeld, R (1918). Zur Tiergeographie Papuasiens und der pazifischen Inselwelt. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft (Frankfurt) 36, 375–436.

Stewart, JR, and Thompson, MB (1998). Placental ontogeny of the Australian scincid lizards Niveoscincus coventryi and Pseudemoia spenceri. Journal of Experimental Zoology 282, 535–559.
Placental ontogeny of the Australian scincid lizards Niveoscincus coventryi and Pseudemoia spenceri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Storr, GM (1976). The genus Menetia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 4, 189–200.

Stuart-Fox, DM, Hugall, AF, and Moritz, C (2002). A molecular phylogeny of rainbow skinks (Scincidae: Carlia): taxonomic and biogeographic implications. Australian Journal of Zoology 50, 39–51.
A molecular phylogeny of rainbow skinks (Scincidae: Carlia): taxonomic and biogeographic implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taylor M (2010) Systematics, biogeography, and evolution of the South Pacific scincid lizard Eugongylus (Reptilia; Scincidae; Lygosominae). B.Sc.(Hons.) thesis, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide.

Thompson, MB, Stewart, JR, Speake, BK, Russell, KJ, and McCartney, RJ (2001). Utilisation of nutrients by embryos of the enigmatic Australian viviparous skink Niveoscincus coventryi. Journal of Experimental Zoology 290, 291–298.
Utilisation of nutrients by embryos of the enigmatic Australian viviparous skink Niveoscincus coventryi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Towns DR, Daugherty CH, Newman DG (1985) An overview of the ecological biogeography of the New Zealand lizards (Gekkonidae, Scincidae). In ‘Biology of Australasian frogs and reptiles’. (Eds G Grigg, R Shine, H Ehmann) pp. 107–115. (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Chipping Norton, Sydney)

Trape J-F, Trape S, Chirio L (2012) ‘Lézards, crocodiles et tortues d’Afrique occidentale et du Sahara.’ (IRD Orstom: Marseille)

Uetz P, Freed P, Aguilar R, Hošek J (Eds) (2022) The reptile database. Available at http://www.reptile-database.org. [Accessed 2 May 2022]

Welch, KRG (1982). Herpetology of the Old World 2. Preliminary comments on the classification of skinks (family Scincidae) with specific reference to those genera found in Africa, Europe and southwest Asia. Herptile 7, 25–27.

Wells, RW, and Wellington, CR (1984). A synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology 1, 73–129.

Wells, RW, and Wellington, CR (1985). A classification of the amphibia and reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series 1, 1–61.

Werner, F (1898). Vorläufige Mitteilung über die von Herrn Prof. F. Dahl im Bismarck-Archipel gesammelten Reptilien und Batrachier. Zoologischer Anzeiger 21, 552–556.

Werner, F (1899). Beiträge zur Herpetologie der pacifischen Inselwelt und von Kleinasien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 22, 371–378.

Whiting, AS, Bauer, AM, and Sites, JW (2003). Phylogenetic relationships and limb loss in sub-Saharan African scincine lizards (Squamata: Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 29, 582–598.
Phylogenetic relationships and limb loss in sub-Saharan African scincine lizards (Squamata: Scincidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wiegmann, AFA (1834). In: Dr. F. J. F. Meyen: Beiträge zur Zoologie gesammelt auf einer Reise um die Erde. Siebente Abhandlung. Amphibien. Nova Acta Physico-Medica Academia Caesarea Leopoldino-Carolina (Halle) 17, 185–268.

Wilson S, Swan G (2021) ‘A complete guide to reptiles of Australia.’ 6th edn. (Reed New Holland: Sydney)

Zhang C, Sayyari E, Mirarab S (2017) ASTRAL-III: increased scalability and impacts of contracting low support branches. In ‘Comparative genomics. RECOMB-CG 2017. Vol. 10562’. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. (Eds J Meidanis, L Nakhleh) pp. 53–75. (Springer: Cham). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67979-2_4

Zheng, Y, and Wiens, JJ (2016). Combining phylogenomic and supermatrix approaches, and a time-calibrated phylogeny for squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) based on 52 genes and 4162 species. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 94, 537–547.
Combining phylogenomic and supermatrix approaches, and a time-calibrated phylogeny for squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) based on 52 genes and 4162 species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zug, GR (1995). A new skink (Reptilia: Sauria: Leiolopisma) from Fiji. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 98, 221–231.

Zug, GR (2004). Systematics of the Carlia “fusca” lizards (Squamata: Scincidae) of New Guinea and nearby islands. Bishop Museum Bulletin of Zoology 5, 1–84.

Zug, GR (2010). An outlying Carlia population from Java and comments on species groups within the genus Carlia (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae). Proceedings of the Californian Academy of Sciences 61, 389–408.