Nannoscincus mariei (BAVAY, 1869)
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Nannoscincus mariei
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Anotis mariei BAVAY 1869: 29 Lygosoma (Leiolopisma) mariae — SMITH 1937: 224 Anotis mariae — GREER 1974: 19 Nannoscincus mariei — SADLIER 1987: 56 Nannoscincus mariei — BAUER & VINDUM 1990 Nannoscincus mariei — ADLER, AUSTIN & DUDLEY 1995 Nannoscincus mariei — SADLIER et al. 2014 |
| Distribution | New Caledonia (Mt. Koghis, Goro Plateau) Type locality: “Nouvelle-Calédonie” (by implication). |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Lectotype: BMNH 1946.8.17.79 (formerly 84.12.8.3), designated by Sadlier 1986. Paralectotypes: MNHN |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Nannoscincus mariei can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: frontoparietals paired; loreal single; left oviduct lost in females; lower eyelid 'scaled'; ear opening absent; body scales with 3-4 fine, longitudinal, striations; adult body colour relatively uniform with little or no difference in tone between the dorsal and lateral surfaces; presacral vertebrae 29-32; phalangeal formula for pes 2.3.4.4.3. Nannoscincus mariei is a distinctive species, aside from the suite of derived character states above it also has an enlarged terminal scale to the digits (Sadlier 1986 - Fig. 78) - the significance of this character is unknown, other than the claw appears to retract within the scale to some degree (Sadlier et al. 2002: 238). DESCRIPTION: (based on 9 specimens from the east coast of New Caledonia examined by Sadlier (1985) and a further 40 specimens from the west coast ranges) Measurements are given for specimens with a SVL of 30 mm or greater (n = 39), these being considered of adult size. For the purpose of this review of Nannoscincus mariei certain aspects of scalation (scales on top of fourth finger, lamellae beneath fourth finger, scales on top of fourth toe, division of the basal dorsal finger scales) are based only on the material at hand in the Australian Museum (Sadlier et al. 2002: 238). Measurements: maximum SVL 46 mm; distance from axilla to groin 58.5-65.6% of SVL ( Scalation: prefrontals present, very small and widely separated; supracilialies 7 (91.7%, n = 48) or 8 (7.3%), rarely 6, contact between first supraciliary and frontal variable; ear opening absent; body scales with 3-4 fine striations, midbody scale rows 18-24 ( transversely enlarged scale at the base, or with a single small scale at the base of the second digit and a Single transversely enlarged scale at the base of third and fourth digits only; lamellae beneath fourth finger 3-5 ( Colouration: dorsal and lateral colour mid to dark brown, uniform or occasionally with numerous, small, scattered, pale spots on the body and head, more rarely two-toned with a lighter, well defined, dorsal surface and faint dark markings along the dorsolateral and vertebral axis. Dark dorsolateral markings usually poorly defined, extending from the back of the eye to level of the hindlimbs, breaking up and becoming ill-defined along the tail. Ventral surface pale with scattered brown markings at the ventrolateral edge, and irregular brown markings to the throat (Sadlier et al. 2002: 239). Variation: geographic variation was observed in size, several scalation characters, and osteology. Broad-scale regional variation in scalation was evident between populations from the east coast and those from the west coast and western ranges. A pooled sample comprising specimens from Ngoye and Yate on the east coast had significantly fewer mid body scale rows ( On the western side of the island finer scale regional variation was observed between the two largest samples each represented by more than 10 specimens, the sample from low elevation (approximately 250 m) on Mt Mou (n =15) and that from mid elevation (500 m) on nearby Mt Koghis (n = 15). The sample from Mt Mou had significantly more mid body scale rows ( At a local scale there was an obvious difference in size between high (1000 m) and low (250 m) elevation samples on Mt Mou. The largest specimen from a sample of 5 collected near the summit of Mt Mou had a SVL of 46 mm compared to 40 mm from a sample of 15 specimens collected at approximately 250 m on that mountain. Two specimens collected from 900 m on nearby Mt Dzumac were as large or larger (SVL 41 &: 43 mm) than any specimen collected from low elevation on the west coast (Sadlier et al. 2002: 239). |
| Comment | Synonymy: Nannoscincus fuscus GÜNTHER 1872: 42 has been removed from the synonymy of N. mariei by SADLIER 2014. Abundance: Common where it is found. Distribution: see map in SADLIER et al. 2014: 54. |
| Etymology | Named after E. A. Marie (1835-1889), a French collector who traveled in New Caledonia (1869), Guadeloupe (1874), and Madagascar (1878). |
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