Tuesday, February 28, 2012

[Herpetology • 2011] A review of Indochinese skinks of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae), with natural history notes and an identification key


Lygosoma angeli, L. haroldyoungi & L. corpulentum

Abstract
We review the supple skinks (Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) known to occur in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). Here, the existence of seven species is documented: L. angeli, L. boehmei, L. bowringii, L. corpulentum, L. haroldyoungi, L. isodactylum (type of Squamicilia Mittleman, 1952), and L. quadrupes (type of Lygosoma). Based on morphological characters, L. carinatum Darevsky & Orlova, 1996 is shown to be a synonym of L. corpulentum. Although L. bowringii is expected to turn out as a complex of cryptic species when molecular methods are applied to a broad sampling, Indochinese representatives form a homogenous group based on morphology. Two further Lygosoma listed by Bourret (2009), viz. L. albopunctatum and L. punctatum (generotype of Riopa Gray, 1839) are distributed further west and probably fail to reach the Indochinese realm. We also provide natural history notes and an identification key for the seven species currently recognized from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Key words: Scincidae; Lygosoma; Indochina; Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam; taxonomy; natural history

Lygosoma angeli



A review of Indochinese skinks of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae), with natural history notes and an identification key. Biologia, 66(6). 1159-1176, doi: 10.2478/s11756-011-0130-2  via http://academia.edu/