Taxonomic resolution to the problem of polyphyly in the New Caledonian scincid lizard genus Lioscincus (Squamata: Scincidae)

Abstract

Recent genetic studies have identified the New Caledonian scincid genus Lioscincus to be polyphyletic, comprising four distinct evolutionary lineages which we recognize at the generic level. The revised concept of Lioscincus s.s. now includes only the type species Lioscincus steindachneri Bocage, 1873 and the recently described Lioscincus vivae Sadlier, Bauer, Whitaker & Smith, 2004. The three remaining lineages identified are: Leiolopisma tillieri Ineich & Sadlier, 1991 and Lioscincus maruia Sadlier, Whitaker & Bauer, 1998 for which the genus Phasmasaurus gen. nov. is proposed; Lygosoma (Mocoa) nigrofasciolatus Peters, 1869 and Leiolopisma greeri Böhme, 1979 for which the genus Epibator gen. nov. is proposed; and Lygosoma (Leiolopisma) novaecaledoniae Parker, 1926 for which the genus Caesoris gen. nov. is proposed. Each of these genera is diagnosed by a suite of morphological apomorphies which in combination is unique within the Eugongylus group of skinks of which each is a member. The revised taxonomy presented here, which recognises an additional three new genera, brings the number of endemic skink genera present in New Caledonia to 17, representing approximately 40% of the generic diversity within the Australian/Pacific region Eugongylus group of skinks as currently recognised. Although we are reluctant to erect new genera to accommodate one or two species, the data at hand suggest this as the most accurate reflection of the available genetic and morphological data.

Phylogenetic relationships in the Eugongylini (Squamata: Scincidae): generic limits and biogeography

“…2013), and two-way immunological comparisons by Baverstock and Donnellan (1990) did not find any closer relationships between Lampropholis and Saproscincus species than to Niveoscincus , Pseudemoia or Carlia . We have been able to demonstrate monophyly of both Lampropholis and Saproscincus , consistent with previous studies (Greer 1989; Sadlier et al . 1993, 2005; Moussalli et al .…”

“…Greer and Kluge (1980) recognised two lineages within Lampropholis (the delicata Group and the challengeri Group), of which the challengeri Group was later generically separated as Saproscincus (Wells and Wellington 1984; Greer 1989). Three lineages were later recognised in Saproscincus (Greer and Kluge 1980; Sadlier et al . 1993, 2005; Moussalli et al .…”

Epibator insularis, a New Species of Scincid Lizard from l'Île Walpole, New Caledonia

“…The individual specimen of the species described here from Île Walpole has a suite of morphological apomorphies in scalation consistent with it being a member of the genus Epibator as defined by Sadlier et al (2015) that includes: no distinct supranasal but the nasal scale with a prominent postnasal suture or crease; primary temporals usually two; upper labials eight (sometimes more), with the sixth subocular and contacting the lower eyelid, and the last divided by an oblique suture into an upper and lower scale; enlarged chinshields 4-5, first pair in broad contact medially, second pair in moderate contact, outer edge of first pair usually in partial contact with lower labials and the outer edge of the remaining chinshields separated from lower labials by one or two rows of smaller scales; basal-most dorsal scales of the toes divided. Within the endemic New Caledonian skink radiation the combination of scalation characters of eight or more upper labials with the last divided by an oblique suture and the separation of the chinshields from the lower labial scales by one or two rows of small intervening scales will distinguish Epibator from all other genera except Phoboscincus, from which it can be distinguished in having no distinct supranasal scale whereas the nasal scale of Phoboscincus is distinctly divided into three separate elements, the plesiomorphic condition.…”

Kuniesaurus albiauris, a New Genus and Species of Scincid Lizard from the Île des Pins, New Caledonia, with Comments on the Diversity and Affinities of the Region's Lizard Fauna

“…The only exception to this was Lioscincus, which was resurrected from synonymy by Bauer and Sadlier (1993) to accommodate a suite of residual New Caledonian taxa formerly included in Leiolopisma and explicitly identified as polyphyletic (Sadlier et al 1998), a concept later supported in the molecular phylogeny presented by Smith et al (2007). Subsequently, Sadlier et al (2015) used a combination of morphological and genetic information to delineate four monophyletic genera from among its constituent species. The only member of the New Caledonian lizard fauna for which significant phylogenetic uncertainty remains is Geoscincus haraldmeieri, an unusual species known only from the two individuals included in the original description in 1976 (Böhme 1976;Sadlier 1986).…”