Hemipenial morphology of nine South American species of Mabuya (Scincidae: Lygosominae) with comments on the morphology of the family

Abstract

Species of the genus Mabuya are barely recognizable because of their highly conservative external morphology, resulting in unstable systematic and taxonomic status. Considering that hemipenial morphology has been extensively used as a source of systematic information for several groups of Squamata, we described the hemipenial morphology of nine species of Mabuya, searching for diagnostic features useful to taxonomic and systematic studies. To have comparative parameters within the family, we also presented the description of the hemipenes of two other Scincidae species (i.e., Trachylepis atlantica and Tiliqua rugosa). This information, together with the available literature, was analyzed in a comparative framework, allowing us to define some variation for the genus and family. The hemipenial morphology of the species of Mabuya studied is very conservative; features that show subtle variation were the shape of the protuberances present on the asulcate face of the hemipenial body and the presence and type of a lateral fold, on the body. Also, within the family, some variation was found in the shape and length of lobes, length of branches of the sulcus spermaticus, and in the kind of folds and protuberances in both faces of the lobes and hemipenial body. Although these features were not tested in a systematic context, this information suggested variations in hemipenial morphology that could contribute to taxonomic diagnostics and phylogenetic characters. The importance of obtaining proper preparations for gathering accurate information is emphasized, and the use of fresh-killed specimens that shows fewer difficulties for the procedures of preparation is highly recommended.

Nomenclature of supra-generic units within the Family Scincidae (Squamata)

“…The Greek neuter noun σομα (soma) has the stem somat-for formation of names in the family group (ICZN 1985: 217). However, in that Lygosominae and the alternatives have been in almost universal use (I can find only 15 uses of Lygosomatinae or alternative levels in the literature: Lang & Böhme (1990); Nussbaum & Raxworthy (1995); Stewart & Thompson (1996, 2003, 2009a; Spawls & Rotich (1997); Shine et al (1998); Razzetti & Mzuya (2002); Bourquin (2004); Stewart et al (2009); Stewart & Ecay (2010); Datta- Roy et al (2013);Sánchez-Martínez et al (2019), andZhao et al (2020), and one of these, Sánchez-Martínez et al (2019), uses it inconsistently, with majority use of Lygosominae), under Article 56.2, the dominant spelling is to be retained (see also Allen et al 2017). A search of the Zoological Record finds 73 uses of Lygosominae between 1979 and 2021, and three uses of Lygosomidae, while Google Scholar identifies over 1130 uses of Lygosominae and 27 uses of Lygosomidae (as of 4 May, 2021), and these numbers are by no means comprehensive, excluding much of the non-scientific literature.…”

Brazilian Boidae hemipenis morphology: Macroscopic and histological aspects

“…copulatory organs, musculature, reproduction, snakes Understanding the hemipenis morphological and physiological aspects related to snake reproduction provides essential data for systematic and taxonomic studies in reptiles and especially snakes (Pesantes, 1994;Sánchez-Martínez et al, 2020).…”