Carlia nigrauris Zug, 2010
A population of Carlia occurs on Pulau Tindjil off the southwest tip of Java, distant from all other populations and species. A set of unique traits identifies the Tindjil Carlia as a new taxon; it is described herein. The new species has its closest affinities to populations (C. peronii, C. spinauris) living on Timor. Although the latter species has been considered a synonym of the former one, evidence is presented indicating that each name represents a unique species, a lowland and a montane one, respectively. Comparison of Carlia species is aided by the establishment of groups of presumed related species; these species groups are named and morphologically defined here.
Keywords: Squamata, Scincidae, Carlia peronii, Carlia spinauris, Lesser Sunda Islands,
Java, geographic variation, new species, intrageneric relationships, nomenclature.
Distribution.— Known presently only from Pulau Tindjil [Tinjil, an alternate spelling] lying just off the southwest coast of Java.
Etymology.— The specific name derives from the Latin nigra (feminine) for black and auris (f.) for ear in reference to the color of the wall of the ear-openings and the external perimeter of adjacent head scales
Zug, George R. 2010. An outlying Carlia population from Java and comments on species groups within the genus Carlia (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 61(7-18): 389-408
