Sphenomorphus loriae

Sphenomorphus loriae
Drawing of Sphenomorphus loriae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Sphenomorphidae
Genus:	Sphenomorphus
Species:	S. loriae
Binomial name
Sphenomorphus loriae (Boulenger, 1897)
Synonyms [2]
Lygosoma loriae Boulenger, 1897

Sphenomorphus loriae is a species of lizard in the subfamily Sphenomorphinae of the family Scincidae (skinks). The species is endemic to Papua New Guinea. ^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, loriae, is in honor of Italian ethnologist Lamberto Loria. ^{[3] : 160}

Description

Dorsally, S.loriae is blackish brown, flecked and vermiculated with lighter yellowish brown. Ventrally, it is yellowish. The holotype has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 66 mm (2.6 in), and a regenerated tail 77 mm (3.0 in) long. ^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of S. loriae is forest, at altitudes of 1,000–1,500 m (3,300–4,900 ft). ^[1]

References

1. Tallowin, O.; Allison, A.; Shea, G. (2015). "Sphenomorphus loriae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015 e.T42485323A42485328. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T42485323A42485328.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Sphenomorphus loriae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 October 2020.
3. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5.
4. de Rooij, N. (1915). The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosauria. Leiden: E.J. Brill. xiv + 384 pp., 132 figures. (Lygosoma loriae, pp. 215–216).

Further reading

• Boulenger, G.A. (1897). "An account of the Reptiles and Batrachians collected by Dr. L. Loria in British New Guinea". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Serie Seconda. 18: 694–710. + Plates VI–VIII. (Lygosoma loriae, new species, p. 698 + Plate VII, figures 1, 1a).
• Goldberg, S.R. (2023). "Anmerkungen zur Fortpflanzung von Sphenomorphus loriae (Squamata: Scincidae) aus Papua-Neuguinea [= Notes on reproduction of Sphenomorphus loriae (Squamata: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea]". Sauria. 45 (3): 61–62. (in German).
• Greer, A.E.; Shea, G. (2004). "A New Character within the Taxonomically Difficult Sphenomorphus Group of Lygosomine Skinks, with a Description of a New Species from New Guinea". Journal of Herpetology. 38 (1): 79–87. (Sphenomorphus loriae, new combination).
• Kinghorn, J.R. (1928). "Notes on some Reptiles and Batrachians from the Northern Division of Papua, With Descriptions of New Species of Apisthocalamus and Lygosoma". Records of the Australian Museum. 16: 289–293. (Lygosoma loriae, p. 292).