Geoscincus

Geoscincus
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Eugongylidae
Genus:	Geoscincus Sadlier, 1987
Species:	G. haraldmeieri
Binomial name
Geoscincus haraldmeieri (Böhme, 1976)
Synonyms [2]
Eugongylus haraldmeieri Böhme, 1976 Geoscincus haraldmeieri — Sadlier, 1987

Geoscincus is a monotypic genus of skink in the subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae. The only accepted species is Geoscincus haraldmeieri, also known commonly as Meier's skink, which is endemic to New Caledonia.

Etymology

Geoscincus haraldmeieri is named after German herpetologist Harald Meier. ^{[2] [3]}

Geographic range

Geoscincus haraldmeieri is only known from two specimens collected near Coula, New Caledonia. ^[1]

Habitat and conservation status

The two specimens of Geoscincus haraldmeieri were collected in forest. However, the habitat at the type locality has been substantially modified since 1976, and in 2021 the status of the species was unknown. ^[1]

Behavior

Geoscincus haraldmeieri is terrestrial and semi-fossorial. ^[1]

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of Geoscincus haraldmeieri is unknown. ^[2]

References

1. Sadlier, R.A.; Bauer, A.M.; Jourdan, H.; Astrongatt, S.; Deuss, M.; Duval, T.; Bourguet, E.; McCoy, S.; Bouteiller, A.; Lagrange, A. (2021). "Geoscincus haraldmeieri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021 e.T176134A123247906. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T176134A123247906.en . Retrieved 19 October 2021.
2. Geoscincus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Geoscincus haraldmeieri, p. 175).

Further reading

• Bauer, A.M.; Sadlier, R.A. (2000). The Herpetofauna of New Caledonia. Contributions to Herpetology 17. Ithaca, New York: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). ISBN   978-0-916984-55-7. 322 pp.
• Adler, G.H.; Austin, C.C.; Dudley, R. (1995). "Dispersal and speciation of skinks among archipelagos in the tropical Pacific Ocean". Evolutionary Ecology. 9: 529–541.
• Böhme W (1976). "Über die Gattung Eugongylus Fitzinger, mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art (Reptilia: Scincidae) [=About the genus Eugongylus Fitzinger, with description of a new species (Reptilia: Scincidae)]". Bonner zoologische Beiträge27: 245–251. (Eugongylus haraldmeieri, new species, pp. 248–249 + photograph on p. 245). (in German).
• Sadlier RA (1987). "A review of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia". Records of the Australian Museum39 (1): 1–66. (Geoscincus, new genus, p. 6; G. haraldmeieri, new combination, pp. 6–7, Figures 4–7).