Leiolopisma

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Leiolopisma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia (paraphyletic) (unranked) Sauria Order: Squamata (paraphyletic) Infraorder: Scincomorpha Family: Scincidae Subfamily: Lygosominae Genus: Leiolopisma
Species
9 living, and see text
Synonyms
Didosaurus

Leiolopisma is a genus of skinks. Most species occur in the region of New Caledonia-New Zealand, and they are related to other genera from that general area, such as Emoia; these and others form the Eugongylus group. One living and two extinct taxa represent a clade endemic to the Mascarenes.(Austin & Arnold 2006)

Species

• Leiolopisma alazon
• Leiolopisma bardensis
• Leiolopisma ceciliae - extinct
• Leiolopisma eulepis
• Leiolopisma fasciolare
• Leiolopisma fuscum
• Leiolopisma lioscincus
• Leiolopisma mauritiana - extinct (c.1600)
• Leiolopisma paronae
• Leiolopisma telfairii
• Leiolopisma zelandia

An undescribed extinct taxon from Réunion was close to L. mauritiana (Austin & Arnold 2006). These two were formerly separated in Didosaurus. David Day (1979), in Vanished Species, described the Reunion skink as small and fast moving but completely unafraid of humans. Individuals would climb on observer's legs. Efforts to maintain the species in captivity proved futile. The Reunion skink was reported to be completely insectivorous.

[edit] References

• 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 Evolution 39(2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)

• Day, David; 1979. Vanished Species. Gallery Books, London, Great Britain: pp. 254-255.