| Mabuya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dominica skink Mabuya dominicana | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Subfamily: | Mabuyinae |
| Genus: | Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826 |
| Species | |
See text | |
Mabuya is a genus of long-tailed skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is restricted to species from various Caribbean islands. Out of 26 recognized species, six species are only found in Caribbean islands. [1] Species in the genus Mabuya are primarily carnivorous, though many are omnivorous. The genus is viviparous, having a highly evolved placenta that resembles that of eutherian mammals. [2] Formerly, many Old World species were placed here, as Mabuya was a kind of "wastebasket taxon". These Old World species are now placed in the genera Chioninia , Eutropis , and Trachylepis . Under the older classification, the New World species were referred to as "American mabuyas", and as of 2024 include the genera Alinea , Aspronema , Brasiliscincus , Capitellum , Copeoglossum , Maracaiba , Marisora , and Varzea .
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Most species in this genus are feared to be possibly extinct due to introduced predators.
