| Lygosominae | |
|---|---|
| Unidentified Eutropis species from Wayanad (Kerala, India) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia (paraphyletic) |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| (unranked): | Sauria |
| Infraclass: | Lepidosauromorpha |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Scleroglossa |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Subfamily: | Lygosominae Mittleman, 1952 |
| Genera | |
|
Numerous, see text |
|
Lygosominae is the largest subfamily of skinks in the family Scincidae. The subfamily can be divided into a number of genus-groups. If the rarely used taxonomic rank of infrafamily is employed, the genus-groups would be designated as such, but such a move would require a formal description according to the ICZN standards.[1]
Also, several Lygosominae genera were notorious "wastebin taxa" in the past, with scientists assigning more or less closely related species to them in a haphazard fashion and without verifying that the new species were close relatives of the genera's type species. What was once placed in Lygosoma for example is nowadays divided among some 15 genera. Similarly, Mabuya and Sphenomorphus are having species moved elsewhere even today.[2] Obsolete genera include Euprepis.
Egernia group
Eugongylus group
Mabuya group
Sphenomorphus group
Undetermined
"Hinulia" elegans, described by Grey in 1838, is unidentified, but may be Eulamprus tenuis.[2]