Topic
Trachylepis
About: Trachylepis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 50 publications have been published within this topic receiving 626 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: The molecular analysis suggests that Mabuya consists of several long-separated evolutionary lineages, representing distinct and well-supported monophyletic radiations.
Abstract: The infrageneric phylogenetic position of the Brazilian skink Mabuya atlantica was inferred from 859 bp of the mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA genes. It could be shown that M. atlantica belongs to the Afro-Malagasy rather than to the South American Mabuya radiation. Mabuya atlantica probably represents an independent transmarine colonization directly from the coast of Southwest Africa, thus representing another example of the extraordinary dispersal abilities of members of this group. Moreover, the present analysis revealed that intercontinental relationships within the genus Mabuya are far more complex than previously thought. The molecular analysis suggests that Mabuya consists of several long-separated evolutionary lineages, representing distinct and well-supported monophyletic radiations. To reflect the independent origins of the South American, Asian, Afro-Malagasy and Cape Verdian groups we partition the genus Mabuya into four genera.
144 citations
TL;DR: This key combines previous literature that treated Western and Central African taxa separately and represents the most comprehensive key for Trachylepis in West-Central Africa to date.
Abstract: A new species of skink, Trachylepis gonwouoi sp. nov. is described from Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. It differs from all other species of Trachylepis in Central-West Africa by a combination of number of keels on dorsal scales (3-5); moderate SVL (maximum size of 80 mm); number of scale rows at midbody (28-34); number of supracilliaries (6-10); a well defined lateral white stripe, bordered by black, extending from under the eye to the insertion of the hind limb; and a ventral color in life of bright blue-green. Trachylepis gonwouoi sp. nov. was found in association with disturbed forest at elevations from 50 to 1050m. This species is syntopic with T. affinis and T. maculilabris. In order to aid in the identification of Trachylepis in West and Central Africa with the addition of T. gonwouoi sp. nov., we provide an updated key to the Trachylepis found from Mauritania through the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This key combines previous literature that treated Western and Central African taxa separately and represents the most comprehensive key for Trachylepis in West-Central Africa to date.
106 citations
TL;DR: Coloration pattern and morphological characters confirm the distinctiveness of the west Central African form of T. megalura, and it is here described as a new species.
Abstract: Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are relatively unknown in terms of their herpetological diversity. Based on specimens collected in the Congolese region of the Katanga and the northeast of Angola during the first decades of the twentieth century, de Witte and Laurent independently suggested, based on morphological and coloration differences, that populations of T. megalura of these regions could belong a new “race”. We compared specimens of T. megalura (including the type specimens of T. megalura and T. massaiana ) with Angolan and Katangan museum specimens as well as newly collected specimens from Angola. Coloration pattern and morphological characters, in combination with substantial divergence in the 16S mitochondrial gene, confirm the distinctiveness of the west Central African form, and it is here described as a new species. Data regarding its natural history, ecology and global distribution are presented.
106 citations
TL;DR: Using sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, the phylogeography of six widely distributed Malagasy reptiles was reconstructed and genetic differentiation among major haplotype lineages was high and in some cases indicates or confirms species status of the divergent populations.
102 citations
TL;DR: The oldest available name for this clade is Trachylepis Fitzinger, 1843 (type species Euprepes savignyi Duméril & Bibron, 1839 [syn. Scincus quinquetaeniatus Lichtenstein, 1823]), which thus replaces E uprepis as the appropriate name forThis group.
Abstract: A recent phylogenetic revision placed Afro‐Malagasy Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826 into the genus Euprepis Wagler, 1830, with the type species Lacerta punctata Linnaeus, 1758 (syn. Mabuya homalocephala fide Andersson [1900]). Identification of L. punctatus with Euprepis destabilizes existing name usage for both a common southern African skink and a common south Asian skink. Reconsideration of the types of this taxon reveals another interpretation that maintains nomenclatural stability for both taxa. A lectotype is selected for Lacerta punctata that fixes this name to the Asian species currently known as Lygosoma punctatum. The first type designation for Euprepis is invalid and the oldest valid designation places Euprepis in the synonymy of Mabuya sensu stricto. The name Herini Gray, 1839 is a nomen dubium and is not applicable to Afro‐Malagasy "Mabuya”. The oldest available name for this clade is Trachylepis Fitzinger, 1843 (type species Euprepes savignyi Dumeril & Bibron, 1839 [syn. Scincus quinquetaeni...
87 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |