Pseudemoia

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Pseudemoia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Sauria
Infraorder: Scincomorpha
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Pseudemoia
Fuhn, 1967[1]

Pseudemoia is a genus of skinks native to southeastern Australia. For similar skinks see genera Bassiana, Lampropholis, and Niveoscincus.

Reproduction

At least in P. pagenstecheri, a placenta-like structure is formed during pregnancy to pass nutrients to the developing offspring. This mammal-like adaptation is probably unique among reptiles. Even the reptilian ancestors of mammals were egg-laying, and while some other skinks have similar structures, those are not as sophisticated.

Species

Six species are recognized.[2][3]

  • Pseudemoia baudini (A.M.C. Duméril and Bibron, 1839) -- Great Bight cool-skink, Baudin’s skink,[4] Bight Coast skink
  • Pseudemoia cryodroma Hutchinson & Donnellan, 1992 -- alpine bog skink
  • Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii (Kuhl, 1839) -- southern grass skink, tussock cool-skink, tussock skink, Entrecasteaux's skink
  • Pseudemoia pagenstecheri (Lindholm, 1901) -- southern grass tussock skink, southern tussock grass skink
  • Pseudemoia rawlinsoni (Hutchinson & Donnellan, 1988) -- Rawlinson's window-eyed skink, glossy grass skink
  • Pseudemoia spenceri (Lucas & Frost, 1894) -- trunk-climbing cool-skink

References

  1. ↑ Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
  2. ↑ Wilson S, Swan G. 2003. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Second edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishing. 512 pp. ISBN 1877069469.
  3. ↑ Pseudemoia, Reptile Database.
  4. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Pseudemoia baudini, p. 19).


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