Saproscincus mustelinus (O’SHAUGHNESSY, 1874)
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Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Weasel Shadeskink, Weasel Skink, Southern Weasel Skink |
Synonym | Mocoa mustelina O’SHAUGHNESSY 1874: 299 Lygosoma (Mocoa) orichalceum BOETTGER 1878 Lygosoma (Mocoa) sonderi PETERS 1878: 191 Lygosoma (Mocoa) lacrymans PETERS & DORIA 1878: 348 Mocoa mustelina — O’SHAUGHNESSY 1879: 300 Liolepisma mustelinum — LUCAS & FROST 1894: 72 Lygosoma (Liolepisma) pseudotropis WERNER 1903: 247 (non Mocoa pseudotropis GÜNTHER 1875) Lygosoma (Liolepisma) mustelinum — WERNER 1910: 44 Lygosoma paraeneum AHL 1925 (nom. nov. pro Lygosoma (L.) pseudotropis) Lygosoma (Leiolopisma) mustelinum — SMITH 1937: 223 Lygosoma mustelinum — BRATTSTROM 1971 Lampropholis mustelina — GREER 1974: 21 Lampropholis mustelina — COGGER 1983: 168 Saproscincus mustelinus — WELLS & WELLINGTON 1983 Saproscincus mustelina — COGGER 2000: 574 Saproscincus mustelinus — WILSON & SWAN 2010 Saproscincus mustelinus — COGGER 2014: 682 |
Distribution | Australia (New South Wales, Victoria) Type locality: New South Wales |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Lectotype: BMNH 1946.8.16.86 (formerly 64.7.9.19), Sydney, NSW, presented A. Günther. Designation by Wells & Wellington (1985). Holotype: SMF 14675 (or 14657?), from Australia [Lygosoma (Mocoa) orichalceum]. Holotype: ZMB 9374, from Port Phillip, Vic. [Lygosoma (Mocoa) sonderi] Holotype: MSNG 27967, from Mt. Victoria, N. S. W. [lacrymans]. Holotype: RIB 1105, from N. S. W. [Lygosoma (Liolepisma) pseudotropis] |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus): Saproscincus is a genus of small semi-cryptozoic skinks inhabiting relictual rainforest and montane habitats along east coastal Australia. Separated from Lampropholis with which they have been included in the past, by the possession of the following characters: fronto-parietals separated; fingers 4 or 5; hind limb pentadactyl; transparent palpebral disk in lower eyelid reduced; nasals separated at least anteriorly; mid-body scales smooth in 21-28 mid-body rows; SVL 30 to 50 mm. (WELLS & WELLINGTON 1984: 102) Additional details (54 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
Comment | Type species: Mocoa mustelina O’SHAUGHNESSY 1874: 299 is the type species of the genus Saproscincus WELLS & WELLINGTON 1984. |
Etymology | Presumably named after the Greek mustela (a weasel) plus the feminine diminutive suffix -ina, alluding to the elongate body shape of this species. (G. Shea, pers. comm., 9 Feb 2024) |
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