Oligosoma levidensum (CHAPPLE, PATTERSON, BELL & DAUGHERTY, 2008)
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Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Slight Skink |
Synonym | Cyclodina levidensa CHAPPLE, PATTERSON, BELL & DAUGHERTY 2008 Cyclodina sp. 1 — JEWELL 2008 Oligosoma levidensa — CHAPPLE et al. 2009 |
Distribution | New Zealand (Northland) Type locality: Radar Bush, Te Paki, Northland (34°289S, 172°459E). |
Reproduction | ovovivparous |
Types | Holotype: NMNZ RE5768 (collected by O. Ball, November 2006). Adult female. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: The scale count ranges are gener- ally lower for C. levidensa than for C. aenea, although the nuchal count is higher. In partic- ular, the midbody scale count range (24–26) is lower than for all other Cyclodina species, except C. aenea (26–32). Cyclodina levidensa is difficult to distinguish morphologically from C. aenea, which is probably why it had not been recognized until now. The main distinguishing feature is the slighter overall body form of C. levidensa compared to C. aenea (Fig. 2D in CHAPPLE et al. 2008). The limbs of C. levidensa are reduced compared to C. aenea and C. hardyi. |
Comment | |
Etymology | The specific name (levidensa, Latin: thin, slight) refers to the thin, elongated body and reduced limbs of this skink. Cyclodina is assumed to be feminine because aenea is the feminine form of the Latin word for copper. |
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