Additions to philippine slender skinks of the brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: A new species from Lubang Island

Aaron D. Geheber; Drew R. Davis; Jessa L. Watters; Michelle L. Penrod; Kathryn D. Feller; Conner S. Davey; Elyse D. Ellsworth; Rachel L. Flanagan; Brendan B. Heitz; Tana Moore; Marie D.C. Nguyen; Austyn Roberts; John Sutton; Marites B. Sanguila; Charles W. Linkem; Rafe M. Brown; Cameron D. Siler

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1

Additions to philippine slender skinks of the brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: A new species from Lubang Island

Aaron D. Geheber, Drew R. Davis, Jessa L. Watters, Michelle L. Penrod, Kathryn D. Feller, Conner S. Davey, Elyse D. Ellsworth, Rachel L. Flanagan, Brendan B. Heitz, Tana Moore, Marie D.C. Nguyen, Austyn Roberts, John Sutton, Marites B. Sanguila, Charles W. Linkem, Rafe M. Brown, Cameron D. Siler

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new species of slender skink is described from the Philippines. The species is endemic to Lubang Island, and is assigned to the Brachymeles bonitae Complex based on phenotypic and genetic data. Specimens were collected from Lubang Island between 1991 and 2012, and were examined based on morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements). Published genetic sequence data from phylogenetic studies of the genus reveal the new species to be high-ly divergent from congeners. Brachymeles ligtas sp. nov. is differentiated from other members of the genus based on a number of distinct morphological features, including small body size (SVL 60.7-79.6 mm), bidactyl fore-limbs, digitless hind limbs, high number of presacral vertebrae (50), and the absence of auricular openings. Additionally, the new species has diagnostic, distinct dorsal head scale patterns. This new species becomes the only member of the genus known to occur on the deep-ocean island of Lubang.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Number of pages	14
Journal	Zootaxa
Volume	4132
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1
State	Published - Jun 28 2016
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
©2016 Magnolia Press.

Keywords

Biodiversity
Endemism
Fossorial
Limb reduction
Non-pentadactyl
Pentadactyl
Philippines

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Geheber, A. D., Davis, D. R., Watters, J. L., Penrod, M. L., Feller, K. D., Davey, C. S., Ellsworth, E. D., Flanagan, R. L., Heitz, B. B., Moore, T., Nguyen, M. D. C., Roberts, A., Sutton, J., Sanguila, M. B., Linkem, C. W., Brown, R. M., & Siler, C. D. (2016). Additions to philippine slender skinks of the brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: A new species from Lubang Island. Zootaxa, 4132(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1

Geheber, AD, Davis, DR, Watters, JL, Penrod, ML, Feller, KD, Davey, CS, Ellsworth, ED, Flanagan, RL, Heitz, BB, Moore, T, Nguyen, MDC, Roberts, A, Sutton, J, Sanguila, MB, Linkem, CW, Brown, RM & Siler, CD 2016, 'Additions to philippine slender skinks of the brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: A new species from Lubang Island', Zootaxa, vol. 4132, no. 1, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1

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abstract = "A new species of slender skink is described from the Philippines. The species is endemic to Lubang Island, and is assigned to the Brachymeles bonitae Complex based on phenotypic and genetic data. Specimens were collected from Lubang Island between 1991 and 2012, and were examined based on morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements). Published genetic sequence data from phylogenetic studies of the genus reveal the new species to be high-ly divergent from congeners. Brachymeles ligtas sp. nov. is differentiated from other members of the genus based on a number of distinct morphological features, including small body size (SVL 60.7-79.6 mm), bidactyl fore-limbs, digitless hind limbs, high number of presacral vertebrae (50), and the absence of auricular openings. Additionally, the new species has diagnostic, distinct dorsal head scale patterns. This new species becomes the only member of the genus known to occur on the deep-ocean island of Lubang.",

keywords = "Biodiversity, Endemism, Fossorial, Limb reduction, Non-pentadactyl, Pentadactyl, Philippines",

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AU - Brown, Rafe M.

AU - Siler, Cameron D.

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Additions to philippine slender skinks of the brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: A new species from Lubang Island

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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