Paracontias rothschildi MOCQUARD, 1905
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Paracontias rothschildi
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Scincinae, Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Rothschild's Skink |
| Synonym | Paracontias rothschildi MOCQUARD 1905: 286 Paracontias rothschildi — ANGEL 1942: 145 Paracontias (Angelias) rothschildi — BRYGOO 1980 Paracontias rothschildi — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 320 Paracontias (Angelias) rothschildi — SCHMITZ et al. 2005 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (Antsiranana Province) Localities: (1) Baie de Sakalava, Forêt d’Orangea, 12°16′24″ S, 49°23′33″ E; and (2) south-east of Ivovona, Forêt d’Orangea, 12°19′58″ S, 49°24′20″ E. [KÖHLER et al. 2010] |
| Reproduction | oviparous (phylogenetic imputation, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Lectotype MNHN-RA 1905.0269 (originally 6 specimens but only one remained in MNHN collections and others were destroyed). Designation by Brygoo (1981) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A member of Paracontias according to the molecular phylogeny based on nuclear and mitochondrial genes by Crottini et al. (2009). Paracontias rothschildi differs from most sympatric limbless members of the genus by the number of scale rows around mid-body being 16 (for the higher numbers in relevant other species, see the diagnosis of P. minimus above); only P. fasika n. sp. also exhibits 16 scale rows. From the syntopic P. minimus, P. rothschildi further differs mainly by colouration, presence of an eye opening and presence of a nasal scal e. Paracontias rothschildi shares with P. brocchii and P. milloti a nostril located at the border between rostral and first supralabial; in the other Paracontias species the nostril originates in the rostral scale and is connected with the first supralabial by a narrow suture only. For separation from P. fasika n. sp., see the diagnosis for the latter species below. From all known limbless species of Pseudoacontias (P. madagascariensis, P. unicolor, P. menamainty), Paracontias rothschildi mainly differs by smaller size, absence of a supranasal scale, and a lower number of scale rows around mid-body (16 versus 32, 30, 25, respectively). From limbless species of Voeltzkowia (V. lineata, V. mira, V. rubrocaudata), P. rothschildi is distinguished mainly by the lower number of scale rows around mid-body (16 versus 18–20), a more rounded snout in lateral view (vs. pointed), and presence of an eye opening (absent in Voeltzkowia). In contrast to Amphiglossus stylus, the only known limbless species in this genus, P. rothschildi has no indication of the former limb positions (minute clawless nubs present in A. stylus) and a lower number of scale rows around mid-body (16 versus 20). [from KÖHLER et al. 2010]. |
| Comment | Limb morphology: Limbless; no ear openings visible. Habitat: sandy soil in shrub forest. Abundance: only known from the type locality (Meiri et al. 2017). |
| Etymology | Named after Baron Maurice de Rothschild (1881-1957), a member of the French branch of the famous banking family. In his youth he was a well-known playboy and quarreled with his relations over an investment they regarded as risky but that turned out to be highly profitable, as did many of his subsequent ventures. |
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