Brachyseps mandady (ANDREONE & GREER, 2002)

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Higher Taxa	Scincidae, Scincinae, Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies
Common Names
Synonym	Amphiglossus mandady ANDREONE & GREER 2002: 144 Amphiglossus mandady — SCHMITZ et al. 2005
Distribution	NE Madagascar Type locality: “at Masoala Peninsula, Campsite 5 (Menamalona), Antalaha Fivondronana, Antsiranana Faritany (Diégo Suarez Province), 15°22.87'S, 49°59.27'E, elevation 780 m.”
Reproduction
Types	Holotype: MRSN R1717
Diagnosis	Diagnosis: Very similar to preceding species but differing in the following features: supraciliaries 6 (vs 7±8); longitudinal scale rows at mid-body 24 (27±30); paravertebrals 69 (70±72); ventrals 73 (70±71); subdigital lamellae 19±20 (21); presacral vertebrae 36 (34); SVL 62mm (79± 81.5mm), 6.3 (5.9±6.1) times head length (9.8mm); as proportion of SVL, front limb 17% (21) and rear limb 27% (31±32), i.e. limbs relatively smaller considering that intraspecifically, smaller individuals usually have relatively longer limbs; underside of tail dark brown (pale) (Andreone et al. 2002). Colour in life. The species is dark brown-reddish dorsally, with a small pale spot or dash in the centre of each scale. The belly is likely pale yellowish (Andreone et al. 2002). Colour in preservative. Similar to Amphiglossus spilostichus, but generally darker brown and with the pale dashes extending more posteriorly on body (Andreone et al. 2002).
Comment	Brachyseps mandady has been “tentatively” assigned to the genus Brachyseps by Erens et al. 2017. Abundance: only known from the type specimen (Meiri et al. 2017).
Etymology	Named after the Malagasy word `mandady' meaning, in general, `to creep' or `creeping'. This is an attribute of the typical locomotory behaviour of the Amphiglossus skinks, including this new species. The phonetic rendition is: man”dad”ee (accented syllables in quotes).
References	Andreone, F. & Greer, A.E. 2002. Malagasy scincid lizards: descriptions of nine new species, with notes on the morphology, reproduction and taxonomy of some previously described species (Reptilia, Squamata: Scincidae). Journal of Zoology 258, 139-181 - get paper here Erens, Jesse; Aurélien Miralles, Frank Glaw, Lars Chatrou, Miguel Vences 2016. Extended molecular phylogenetics and revised systematics of Malagasy scincine lizards. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - get paper here Meiri, Shai; Aaron M. Bauer, Allen Allison, Fernando Castro-Herrera, Laurent Chirio, Guarino Colli, Indraneil Das, Tiffany M. Doan, Frank Glaw, Lee L. Grismer, Marinus Hoogmoed, Fred Kraus, Matthew LeBreton, Danny Meirte, Zoltán T. Nagy, Cristiano d 2017. Extinct, obscure or imaginary: the lizard species with the smallest ranges. Diversity and Distributions - get paper here Schmitz, A.; M.C. Brandley; P. Mausfeld; M. Vences; F. Glaw; R.A. Nussbaum and T.W. Reeder 2005. Opening the black box: phylogenetics and morphological evolution of the Malagasy fossorial lizards of the subfamily “Scincinae”. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34: 118–133 (published online 2004) - get paper here
External links	IUCN Red List Google images

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