Oligosoma

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Oligosoma
Otago skink.jpg
Otago skink, Oligosoma otagense
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Subfamily: Eugongylinae
Genus: Oligosoma
Girard, 1857
Species

Over 50, see text.

Oligosoma is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae) found only in New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. Oligosoma had previously been found to belong to the Eugongylus group of genera in the subfamily Lygosominae; the Australian genus Bassiana appears to be fairly closely related. [1]

Contents

Species

The currently described species [2] are:

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Oligosoma.

Numerous undescribed species also exist within the genus, including the cobble skink and tātahi skink.

Merger of Oligosoma and Cyclodina

A molecular phylogenetic analysis [3] has merged the genus Cyclodina with Oligosoma, rendering Cyclodina an obsolete taxon.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falla's skink</span> Species of lizard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevron skink</span> Species of lizard

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Hardy's skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Poor Knights Islands of New Zealand.

The slight skink is a skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The precise distribution is unknown; currently it is only known from localities in the Te Paki region of Northland. It closely resembles the copper skink, Oligosoma aeneum, and was considered to be a member of this species until recently when it was described as a new species using morphological, allozyme and DNA methods. O. levidensum is difficult to distinguish morphologically from O. aeneum, which is probably why it had not been recognised until recently. The main distinguishing feature is the slighter overall body form of O. levidensum compared to O. aeneum. The limbs of O. levidensum are reduced compared to O. aeneum and O. hardyi, the other members of the O. aeneum complex.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury spotted skink</span> Species of lizard

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References

  1. Austin, J.J.; Arnold, E.N. (2006). Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution39 (2): 503–511. doi : 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
  2. Uetz, P.; et al. (eds.). "Oligosoma". The Reptile Database . Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  3. Chapple, David G.; Ritchie, Peter A.; Daugherty, Charles H. (August 2009). "Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 52 (2): 470–487. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021. PMID   19345273.

Further reading