Sphenomorphus meyeri (DORIA, 1875)
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Sphenomorphus meyeri
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Lygosoma (Hinulia) meyeri DORIA 1875: 332 Scincus erythrolaimus MÜLLER (fide JACOBS & SHEA 2022) Hinulia papuensis MACLEAY 1877: 62 Sphenomorphus meyeri — KRAUS 2004 (online) Sphenomorphus meyeri — SHEA 2012 |
| Distribution | Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea, Aru Islands, Raja Ampat Islands Type locality: Wokan, Aru Islands. |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Syntypes: BMNH 76.7.18.2-3, Aru Islands, presented G. Doria; MSNG 27877 (4 specimens), Wokan, Aru Islands, collected O. Beccari, 1873; NMW (= NHMW) 16650: 1-3, Wokan, Aru Islands, presented G. Doria 25.i.1876; RMNH. RENA 4253; ZMB 7937 (2 specimens), Wokan, Aru Islands, collected O. Beccari, presented G. Doria, 9739, Aru Islands, presented G. Doria; 12 syntypes unlocated. Holotype: AM R31847. Type locality Katow, [Binaturi River, Papua New Guinea] [papuensis] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from all other Sphenomorphus on the basis of the following combination of characters: size large (maximum SVL = 126 mm); prefrontals in contact or separated by an azygous scale; body scales smooth; midbody scales 40–57 (mean = 47.6, sd = 2.71, n = 198); paravertebral scales (A) 76–115 (mean = 94.2, sd = 6.83, n = 191); subdigital lamellae below the fourth toe (A) 14–22 (mean = 17.9, sd = 1.38, n = 187), divided into a larger preaxial series (from which the counts are derived) and a smaller postaxial series; frontal contacting first three (when a total of six) or four (when a total of seven) supraoculars; colour pattern consists of relatively thin, sinuous dark brown crossbars against a light brown background and some indication of a white stripe along the upper lip [SHEA 2012]. |
| Comment | Synonymy: mostly after SHEA 2012. Distribution: see map in SHEA 2012: 24. Similar species: this species has been confused with S. melanopogon. |
| Etymology | Named after Adolf Bernhard Meyer (11 October 1840, Hamburg – 22 August 1911, Dresden), German explorer, naturalist and ethnographer) who collected the type series. (Glenn Shea, pers. comm., 2 Feb 2024) |
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