<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>The high-level classification of skinks (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincomorpha)</strong></p>

Abstract

Skinks are usually grouped in a single family, Scincidae (1,579 species) representing one-quarter of all lizard species. Other large lizard families, such as Gekkonidae (s.l.) and Iguanidae (s.l.), have been partitioned into multiple families in recent years, based mainly on evidence from molecular phylogenies. Subfamilies and informal suprageneric groups have been used for skinks, defined by morphological traits and supported increasingly by molecular phylogenies. Recently, a seven-family classification for skinks was proposed to replace that largely informal classification, create more manageable taxa, and faciliate systematic research on skinks. Those families are Acontidae (26 sp.), Egerniidae (58 sp.), Eugongylidae (418 sp.), Lygosomidae (52 sp.), Mabuyidae (190 sp.), Sphenomorphidae (546 sp.), and Scincidae (273 sp.). Representatives of 125 (84%) of the 154 genera of skinks are available in the public sequence databases and have been placed in molecular phylogenies that support the recognition of these families. However, two other molecular clades with species that have long been considered distinctive morphologically belong to two new families described here, Ristellidae fam. nov. (14 sp.) and Ateuchosauridae fam. nov. (2 sp.). Morphological diagnoses and species content for all nine families of skinks (Scincomorpha) are presented.

The Key to Understanding the European Miocene Chalcides (Squamata, Scincidae) Comes from Asia: The Lizards of the East Siberian Tagay Locality (Baikal Lake) in Russia

“…The taxonomy of skinks follows the proposal of Hedges (), which for the most part is supported by the results of Pyron et al (). Hedges () proposed a taxonomic revision of skinks, elevating the three subfamilies within Scincidae to superfamilies (Acontoidea, Scincoidea, and Lygosomoidea) and also recognizing nine families: Acontidae, Scincidae, Ateuchosauridae, Egerniidae, Eugongylidae, Lygosomidae, Mabuyidae, Ristellidae, and Sphenomorphidae. One exception is Ablepharus which is listed as an eugongylid in Hedges (), but see other authors, e.g.…”

“…The occipital shield of parietal ZIN PH 265/181 is absent and this anatomical feature is almost a rule in non‐lacertid scincomorphans (Borsuk‐Białynicka et al, ). Herein, selected Scincomorpha members ( sensu Hedges, ) and an outgroup are studied for comparison (Fig. ) and pictured in Figures .…”

Molecular phylogeny of Panaspis and Afroablepharus skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa

“…There are currently 154 genera and 1,602 species assigned to the Family Scincidae (Uetz and Hošek, 2015, but see Hedges, 2014 for an alternative arrangement). Several studies have revealed concealed genetic divergence in multiple lineages of skinks from different regions of the world (Daniels et al, 2009; Engelbrecht et al, 2013; Heideman et al, 2011; Portik et al, 2011; Siler et al, 2011).…”

“…Continued use of skull morphology also supported the separation of the family Scincidae into four subfamilies: Acontinae, Feylininae, Lygosominae, and Scincinae (Greer, 1970). Recent molecular and morphological evidence (Skinner et al, 2011; Hedges and Conn, 2012; Hedges, 2014) suggested skinks could be divided into as many as nine families. Although considered controversial, ignored or rejected by subsequent authors (e.g., Pyron et al, 2013; Lambert et al, 2015; Linkem et al, in press), this new subdivision continues to support skinks as a monophyletic group (Hedges, 2014).…”

“…Recent molecular and morphological evidence (Skinner et al, 2011; Hedges and Conn, 2012; Hedges, 2014) suggested skinks could be divided into as many as nine families. Although considered controversial, ignored or rejected by subsequent authors (e.g., Pyron et al, 2013; Lambert et al, 2015; Linkem et al, in press), this new subdivision continues to support skinks as a monophyletic group (Hedges, 2014). Under a modified version of this classification, the genera Afroablepharus , Lacertaspis , Leptosiaphos , and Panaspis are allocated to the Subfamily Eugongylinae (Hedges, 2014; Uetz and Hošek, 2015).…”