The nasal capsule and nasal sac of Dibamus taylori are described based on a plate reconstruction of serially sectioned material and are compared with several other squamate taxa. The ethmoidal region of D. taylori is characterized by a short nasal vestibule, a well developed concha, a much reduced and nearly functionless Jacobson's organ, an incomplete nasal roof, and a true nasopharyngeal duct with a complicated secondary palate. Cartilaginous and epithelial structures of the ethmoidal region provide many informative and useful characters for a phylogenetic analysis. Different anatomical features of D. taylori are compared with other burrowing forms (Acontias meleagris, Annietta, pulchra Voetzkowia mira, Feylinia curron) and discussed functionally and phylogenetically. Phylogenetic analysis of all higher squamate taxa using 144 available data derived from many regions of the body indicates relative relationships as (((Dibamidae, Amphisbaenia) Serpentes) Scleroglossa).
Eutropis rugifera has long been identified as a widespread species complex distributed in Nicobar, Peninsular Malaysia, Greater Sundaic Islands, Bali, Sulawesi and the Philippines. This skink was described by Stoliczka in 1870 from Nicobar Island based on a single specimen (holotype by monotypy). Later, Peters (1871), Bartlett (1895) and Werner (1896) described three more species which were morphologically similar to Euprepes percarinatus (from Java), Mabuia rubricollis (Borneo) and M. quinquecarinata (Sumatra) respectively, which are currently considered junior objective synonyms of Eutropis rugifera. We examined all the available synonym types and voucher specimens of Eutropis rugifera deposited at several museums. A morphological examination of the types of this species and mtDNA analysis (584 bp of 16S rRNA) of the samples from different biogeographic regions revealed that Eutropis rugifera from Nicobar Island, Bali Island, and Bawean Island are composed of a monophyletic species. However, the taxonomic status of the above population requires further clarification, and the population in Bawean Island may represent a cryptic species. Finally, we provide a complete redescription of E. rugifera based on its holotype.
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