Parvoscincus decipiens (BOULENGER, 1895)
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Parvoscincus decipiens
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Black-sided Sphenomorphus |
| Synonym | Lygosoma decipiens BOULENGER 1895: 734 Lygosoma (Homolepida) moellendorffi BOETTGER 1897: 162 Sphenomorphus curtirostris TAYLOR 1915: 101 Sphenomorphus curtirostris — TAYLOR 1922: 170 Sphenomorphus decipiens — TAYLOR 1922: 176 Sphenomorphus moellendorffi — TAYLOR 1922: 179 Sphenomorphus decipiens — TAYLOR 1923 Lygosoma (Sphenomorphus) decipiens — SMITH 1937: 220 Otosaurus curtirostris — SMITH 1937: 218 Lygosoma (Sphenomorphus) curtirostris — BROWN & ALCALA 1970: 113 Sphenomorphus decipiens — BROWN & ALCALA 1980: 186 Sphenomorphus decipiens — BROWN et al. 2000 Sphenomorphus decipiens — LINKEM et al. 2010 Parvoscincus decipiens — LINKEM, DIESMOS & BROWN 2011 |
| Distribution | Philippines (Luzon only, see comment); according to Linkem et al. (2013) “Sierra Madre Mountain Range of northeast Luzon in the Provinces of Isabela and Cagayan” Type locality: Isabela Province, Luzon Island. |
| Reproduction | oviparous (phylogenetic imputation, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Syntypes: BMNH 1946.8.16.95–96 (formerly 94.10.24.10-11) Holotype: SMF 15457 [moellendorffi] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Parvoscincus decipiens can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: (1) A small body size (SVL at maturity 35.02–40.62 mm); (2) MBSR = 30–34; (3) PV = 54–63; (4) dorsal scales non-striated without apical pits; (5) apical pits on hind limbs, variably present on forelimbs; (6) four enlarged supraoculars; (7) anterior loreal single; (8) three preoculars; (9) and 14–18 Toe IV SDL. (LINKEM & BROWN 2013) Parvoscincus decipiens is the sister species to P. abstrusus sp. nov. and closely related to P. jimmymcguirei sp. nov., P. arvindiesmosi sp. nov., and P. agtorum sp. nov. (Fig. 2). Parvoscincus decipiens can be distinguished from P. jimmymcguirei sp. nov. by not having apical pits on the dorsum or forelimbs (vs. having apical pits on dorsum and forelimbs); by having white labials and throat (vs. dark brown mottling on labials and throat); having a thin dorsolateral band with a solid tan line dorsally (vs. broad dorsolateral band). Parvoscincus decipiens can be distinguished from P. arvindiesmosi sp. nov. by having a wider rostrum (IND/ Rost > 0.50 vs. < 0.50); lacking apical pits on the dorsum and forelimbs (vs. apical pits present on forelimbs and dorsum); dorsum brown without dark brown spots laterally (vs. dark brown spots extending dorsally from the dorsolateral line); dorsolateral line thin and flanks light tan (vs. dorsolateral line broad, dark brown, and extending ventrally to mid-flank). Parvoscincus decipiens can be distinguished from P. abstrusus sp. nov. by lacking apical pits on dorsum and forelimbs (vs. apical pits weak or absent on dorsum and present on forelimbs); having a single anterior loreal (vs. single or divided anterior loreal); males and females having white throat (vs. males with black throat and females with white throat); dorsolateral band thin with light tan line dorsally (vs. dorsolateral band thin, broken, and occasionally bordered by light tan dorsally). Parvoscincus decipiens can be diagnosed from P. agtorum sp. nov. by the smaller body size (35.02–40.62 vs. 44.91 mm); fewer paravertebral scales (54–63 vs. 71); fewer midbody scale row scales (30–34 vs. 39); light-tan dorsal coloration (vs. dark brown dorsal coloration); by the absence of a brown incomplete gular collar; and by the absence of a white line between the eye and ear. (LINKEM & BROWN 2013) Description of Sphenomorphus curtirostris: TAYLOR 1915: 101 |
| Comment | Synonymy after BROWN & ALCALA 1980. Linkem & Brown 2013 have split up P. decipiens into 8 different species. Given the larger size of P. kitangladensis (SVL 50–60 mm) it is possible that P. kitangladensis is separate from P. curtirostris and that Mindanao specimens previously assigned to P. decipiens should be P. curtirostris and the name should be re-elevated from synonymy (Linkem et al. 2013). Linked photo below may be S. coxi. Distribution: this species has been reported from other islands such as Mindanao, Tablas, Masbate, probably Leyte and Samar. However, they may be misidentifications. Habitat. This species is found in mid-montane forest in leaf litter and under logs. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet was presumably derived, in the nominative case, from the Latin decipio, meaning “deceiving.” |
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