Sphenomorphus anotus GREER, 1973

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Higher Taxa	Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies
Common Names
Synonym	Sphenomorphus anotus GREER 1973 Sphenomorphus anotus — MYS 1988: 142 Sphenomorphus anotus — GREER & SHEA 2004
Distribution	Papua New Guinea Type locality: “Morobe district of the Territory of New Guinea at Masba Creek [...] at an elevation of approximately 2000 feet”
Reproduction
Types	Holotype: AMNH 95880
Diagnosis	Diagnosis, This species is a typical representative of the fasciatus species group of Sphenornorphus (Greer and Parker, 1967) except that it has a scaly auricular depression instead of the more usual external ear opening. In other words, it is the only "earless" member of the fasciatus species group known to date (Greer 1973).
Comment	The species name calls attention to the absence of the external ear (an = without, otus = ear).
Etymology	The species name anotus calls attention to the absence of an external ear (an — without and otus — ear).
References	Greer, A.E. 1973. Two new lygosomine skinks from New Guinea with comments on the loss of the external ear in lygosomines and observations on previously described species. Breviora (406): 1-25 - get paper here Greer, A.E. & Shea, G. 2004. A new character within the taxonomically difficult Sphenomorphus group of Lygosomine skinks, with a description of a new species from New Guinea. Journal of Herpetology 38 (1): 79-87 - get paper here Mys, Benoit 1988. The zoogeography of the scincid lizards from North Papua New Guinea (Reptilia: Scincidae). I. The distribution of the species. Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belgique (Biologie) 58: 127-183
External links	IUCN Red List http://nsdb.bishopmuseum.org/?w=PBIF&id=-1767153827 Google images

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