Paracontias

Paracontias
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Subfamily: Scincinae
Genus: Paracontias
Mocquard, 1894 [1]
Species

14, see text.

Paracontias is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar.[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

Paracontias is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic however. Probably quite close to Amphiglossus and possibly Androngo trivittatus, it belongs to a major clade which does not seem to include the type genus Scincus. Thus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily. (Austin & Arnold 2006)

Species

The following 14 species are recognized as being valid.[2]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Paracontias.

References

  1. ^ "Paracontias ". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de. (in German).
  2. ^ a b Genus Paracontias at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org

Further reading

  • Austin JJ, Arnold EN (2006). "Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
  • Mocquard F (1894). "Reptiles nouveaux ou insuffisamment connus de Madagascar ". Compte Rendu Sommaire des Séances de la Société Philomatique de Paris 17: 1–8. (Paracontias, new genus, p. 3). (in French).


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