Added 13 October 2001. Last updated 11 February 2024: majorly updated the page to incorporate approx 20 years' worth of revisions.

A look at the

SKINKS

Family SCINCIDAE



Introduction

The skinks make up the largest family of lizards, with the number of species once considered to be 800-1,200 but now over 1,700.

Skinks are not "household name" lizards to many people, at least to those in Europe. Most non-herpetophiles have a good idea what a gecko, an iguana or a monitor may like look, but skinks have suffered from relative anonymity despite the recent boom in popularity of lizard pets and the corresponding rise in the number of Blue-Tongue Skinks (Tiliqua species) being kept. Among hobbyists and perhaps "serious" researchers, skinks are often overlooked as shy and rather nondescript lizards.

In fact while many skinks are similar in form and behaviour, as a group they show an interesting variety of lifestyles and biological developments. There are striking gradations of limb reduction or loss within many of the genera, while on the other hand some skinks give genuine live birth to their young: not just ovoviviparity (where the young break out of an egg membrane shortly before birth) but true viviparity whereby the young are born with a placenta. A few species also display some evidence of maternal care. Most skinks are on the small side, being less than 12" in total length, but there are a few medium-sized and highly prized species from Australia and the Pacific.

In shape and form skinks are nevertheless a fairly conservative family. The archetypal skink is often easily distinguished by a rather rounded or "cylindrical" body, tapering tail, and most characteristically, smooth and often shiny scales. There is usually an external ear opening and eyes with eyelids, although a few species have vestigial eyes and one species has a transparent "window" in a fused eyelid. The greatest variation tends to be in the limbs, which range from well-developed to absent, and the number of digits can also vary. Few are particularly colourful, although there are some striking exceptions to this rule.

The general characteristics of skinks are as follows (details from Grzimek):

Top of head covered by large, symmetrically arranged, ossified scales;
Round scales on back and belly are imbricated (overlapping) and usually ossified;
Below the scales are small osteoderms, rounded or hexagonal like the scales themselves and penetrated by symmetrical tubules;
Teeth are pleurodont;
The abdominal musculature is not closely associated with the belly scales;
There are no femoral or preanal pores;
The tongue is free and moderately long, slightly notched at the end and bearing imbricating (overlapping) scale-like papillae;
Body is usually cylindrical;
Head usually ends in sharp snout;
Tail is pointed at the tip.

Legless skinks can be easily distinguished from legless anguid lizards by the form of the tongue.

Distribution

There are a few species in Europe and South America, with a somewhat larger number in North America, but most skinks are distributed fairly evenly throughout Asia, Africa and especially the Australo-Pacific region, where skinks colonised not only Australia but many Pacific islands. New Zealand has two genera of skinks, both of which are interesting from several behavioural aspects of view such as their cool habitat and social structure. Worldwide, terrestrial and fossorial (burrowing) forms predominate, with arboreal and aquatic forms being much rarer.

Taxonomy

Taxonomically, the Scincidae have traditionally been divided into three subfamilies: the Scincinae, found mostly in the Old World except for Australia; the Acontiinae, from southern Africa, and the Lygosomatiinae, which is distributed worldwide and includes any skinks found in Australia or South America (Mattison). Some authorities formerly omitted the Acontiinae and added the Tiliquinae, a subfamily covering the large skinks such as Tiliqua and Egernia and also the probably extinct Macroscincus from Cape Verde: this has however shown to be erroneous. Other authorities recently added the subfamily Eumecinae, but this is still unconfirmed. (See however the 2024 update).

On February 26 2004 Dr Andreas Schmitz of the Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology at the Natural History Museum of Geneva was kind enough to send me a list of the latest changes in the taxonomy of scincid lizards, as well as pointing out a couple of errors on my part. At the risk of doing an injustice to his comprehensive explanation, I will try to summarise the major changes as follows:

There are also a number of other genera mentioned below which are synonyms of other genera. Dr Schmitz also provided a list of literature references containing these changes.

Given the above, and bearing in mind the fluid state of scincid taxonomy, I have decided to add the new genera to the list below. The old names will be retained in the list, mainly because they often occur even in recent literature, but where they are synonyms for other genera, this will be clearly stated. We will also adjust the numbers of species in each genus accordingly, although this will take some time. This does not claim to be an infallible guide, but we do want to make sure that it is accurate as possible.

2024 update

In the twenty or so years since this page went up, there has been a considerable number of revisions to the classification of Scincidae. One of the most significant has been the 2012 revision by Hedges and Conn reclassifying many of the New World Mabuya skinks.

The following changes have occurred within recent years:

As regards subfamilies, the following are now considered valid:

Subfamily

Genera

Acontinae, limbless skinks

Acontias, Typhlosauraus

Egerniinae, social skinks

Bellatorias, Corucia, Cyclodomorphus, Egernia, Liopholis, Lissolepis, Tiliqua, Tribolonotus

Eugongylinae, eugongylid skinks

Ablepharus, Acritoscincus, Alpinoscincus, Anepischetosia, Austroablepharus, Caesoris, Caledoniscincus, Carinascincus, Carlia, Celatiscincus, Cophoscincopus, Cryptoblepharus, Emoia, Epibator, Eroticoscincus, Eugongylus, Geomyersia, Geoscincus, Graciliscincus, Harrisoniascincus, Kanakysaurus, Kuniesaurus, Lacertaspis, Lacertoides, Lampropholis, Leiolopisma, Leptosiaphos, Liburnascincus, Lioscincus, Lobulia, Lygisaurus, Marmorosphax, Menetia, Morethia, Nannoscincus, Nubeoscincus, Oligosoma, Panaspis, Phaeoscincus, Phasmasaurus, Phoboscincus, Proablepharus, Pseudemoia, Pygmeascincus, Saproscincus, Sigaloseps, Simiscincus, Tachygia, Techmarscincus, Tropidoscincus

Lygosominae, lygosomid skinks

Haackgreerius, Lamprolepis, Lygosoma, Mochlus, Riopa, Subdoluseps

Mabuyinae, mabuyid skinks

Alinea, Aspronema, Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Chionina, Copeoglossum, Dasia, Eumecia, Eutropis, Exila, Heremites, Lubuya, Mabuya, Manciola, Maracaiba, Marisora, Notomabuya, Otosaurus, Panopa, Psychosaura, Spondylurus, Toenayar, Trachylepis, Varzea, Vietnascincus

Scincinae, typical skinks

Amphiglossus, Ateuchosaurus, Barkudia, Brachymeles, Chalcides, Chalcidoseps, Eumeces, Eurylepis, Feylinia, Flexiseps, Gongylomorphus, Grandidierina, Hakaria, Janetaescincus, Jarujinia, Madascincus, Melanoseps, Mesoscincus, Nessia, Ophiomorus, Pamelaescincus, Paracontias, Plestiodon, Proscelotes, Pseudoacontias, Pygomeles, Scelotes, Scincopus, Scincus, Scolecoseps, Sepsina, Sepsophis, Typhlacontias, Voeltzkowia

Sphenomorphinae, sphenomorphid skinks

Anomalopus, Calorodius, Calyptotis, Coeranoscincus, Coggeria, Concinnia, Ctenotus, Eremiascincus, Eulamprus, Fojia, Glaphyromorphus, Gyneptoscincus, Hemiergis, Insulasaurus, Isopachys, Kaestlea, Lankascincus, Larutia, Leptoseps, Lerista, Lipinia, Nangura, Notoscincus, Ophioscincus, Ornithuroscincus, Orosaura, Palaia, Papuascincus, Parvoscincus, Pinoyscincus, Praeteropus, Prasinohaema, Protoblepharus, Ristella, Saiphos, Scincella, Sepsiscus, Silvascincus, Sphenomorphus, Tropidophorus, Tumbunascincus, Tytthoscincus



The following is a guide to the skink genera.

NAVIGATION: As this is a large page we have placed a couple of navigation links in each genus box. Click on "B" to go to the Bibliography, or "I" to go back up to the index (Quick Links).

Ablepharus, Lidless/Snake-Eyed Skinks

Acontias, Greater Legless Skinks

Acritoscincus, Cool-Skinks

Alinea, Barbados and Saint Lucia Skinks

Alpinoscincus

Amphiglossus, Common\Water Skinks

Anepischetosia, Highlands Forest-Skink

Anomalopus, Worm Skinks

Aspronema, Lidless Skinks

Ateuchosaurus, Oriental Ateuchosaurus

Austroablepharus, Snake-Eyed Skinks

Barkudia, Madras Spotted Skinks

Bellatorius, Major Skink, Land Mullet, Arnhem Gorge Skink

Brachymeles, Short-Legged Skinks

Brachyseps

Brasiliscincus , New Caledonian Sk nks

Caesoris , Blue-Mouthed Skink

Caledoniscincus , New Caledonian Skinks

Calorodius, Thorton Peak Skink

Calyptotis, Calyptotis Skinks

Capitellum

Carinascincus, Snow Skinks, Cool-Skinks

Carlia, Rainbow Skinks

Celatiscincus, Pale-Hipped Skinks

Chalcides, Barrel Skinks

Chalcidoseps, Thwaite's Skink

Chioninia, Cape Verde Skinks, Cape Verde Mabuyas

Coeranoscincus, Snake-Toothed Skinks

Coggeria, Fraser Island Sand Skink

Concinnia, Bar-Sided Skinks

Copeoglossum

Cophoscincopus, Keeled Water Skink

Corucia, Prehensile-Tailed/Monkey Skink

Cryptoblepharus, Shinning Skinks

Cryptoscincus, Secret Skink

Ctenotus, Ctenotus

Cyclodomorphus, Oak Skinks

Dasia, Dasia Skinks

Egernia, Spiny Skinks

Emoia, Whiptail Skinks

Epibator

Eremiascincus, Sand Swimmers

Eroticoscincus, Elf Skinks

Eugongylus, Sheen Skinks

Eulamprus, Five-Fingered Skinks

Eumeces, Berber Skinks

Eumecia, Western Serpentiform Skinks

Eurylepis, Elf Skinks

Eutropis, Elf Skinks

Exila, Black Mabuya

Feylinia, Feylinias

Flexiseps

Fojia, Fojii Skink

Geomyersia, Australian Island Skinks

Geoscincus, (Bar-Lipped) Skink

Glaphyromorphus, (Bar-Lipped) Skinks

Gnypetoscincus, Prickly Forest Skink

Gongylomorphus, Bojer Skinks

Gongylus, Thick-Tailed Skinks

Graciliscincus, Sadler's Skink

Haackgreerius, Haacke-Greer's Skink

Hakaria

Harrisonia, Rainforest Cool-Skink

Hemiergis, Earless Skinks

Heremites, Grass Skinks and Bridled Skink

Insulasaurus

Isopachys, Isopachys Skinks

Janetaescincus, Janet's Skinks

Jarujinia

Lacertaspis, Lidless Skinks

Kaestlea, Ground Skinks

Kanakysaurus

Kuniesaurus

Lacertoides

Lamprolepis, Emerald Skinks

Lampropholis, Sunskinks

Lankascincus, Tree Skinks

Larutia, Larut Skinks

Leiolopisma, Ground Skinks

Leptoseps, Leptoseps

Leptosiaphos, Five-Toed Skinks

Lerista, Sliders

Liburnascincus, Rainbow Skinks

Liopholis

Lioscincus, New Caledonian Skinks

Lipinia, Lipinia Skinks

Lissolepis, Mourning Skinks

Lobulia, Lobulia Skinks

Lubuya, Lubuya Skinks

Lygisaurus, Litter Skinks

Lygosoma, Writhing Skinks

Mabuya, Typical Skinks

Madascincus

Manciola, Dunn's Mabuya, South American Small-Handed Skink

Maracaiba

Marisora

Marmorosphax, Marmorosphax Skinks

Melanoseps, Limbless Skinks

Menetia, Dwarf Skinks

Mesoscincus

Mochlus, Fire Skinks

Morethia, Morethia/Fire-Tailed Skinks

Nangura, Nangur Skink

Nannoscincus, Elf/Mulch Skinks

Nessia, Nessia Skinks

Notomabuya, Cool Skinks

Notoscincus, Soil-Crevice Skinks

Nubeoscincus, Common Skinks

Oligosoma, Common Skinks

Ophiomorus, Snake-Eyed Skinks

Ophioscincus, Snake Skinks

Ornithuroscincus

Orosaura, Veezuelan Mountain Skink

Otosaurus, Cuming's Sphenomorphus

Palaia

Pamelaescincus, Gardiner's Skink

Panaspis, Snake-Eyed Skinks

Panopa, Carvalho's Mabuya, Horton's Mabuya

Papuascincus, Papuan Skinks

Paracontias, Stone Skinks

Paralipinia

Parvoscincus, Diminutive Skinks

Phaeoscincus, Diminutive Skinks

Phasmasaurus, Maquis Skinks

Phoboscincus, Garnier's Skinks

Pinoyscincus

Plestiodon, Five-Lined Skinks

Praeteropus

Prasinohaema, Green Tree Skinks

Proablepharus, Soil-Crevice Skinks

Proscelotes, Slender Skinks

Protoblepharus

Pseudoacontias, Giant Madagascar Skinks

Pseudemoia, Window-Eyed Skinks

Psychosaura, Vibora, Hoge's Mabuya

Pygmaeascincus, Dwarf Skinks, Dwarf Litter-Skink

Pygomeles, Short Skinks

Riopa

Ristella, Ristella Skinks

Saiphos, Three-Toed Skinks

Saproscincus, Shade/Litter Skinks

Scelotes, Dwarf Burrowing Skinks

Scincella, Smooth/Ground Skinks

Scincopus, Banded Skinks

Scincus, Sandfish

Scolecoseps, Limbless Skinks

Sepsina, Savannah Burrowing Skinks

Sepsiscus, Cape York Worm-Skink

Sepsophis, Spotted Eastern Ghats Skink

Sigaloseps

Silvascincus, Forest Skinks

Simiscincus

Sphenomorphus, Forest Skinks

Sphenops, Sandfish

Spondylurus, Antillean Four-Lined Skinks

Subdoluseps

Sphenops, Sandfish

Tachygia

Techmarscincus, Bartle-Frere Cool-Skink

Tiliqua, Blue-Tongued Skinks

Toenayar, Anderson's Mabuya, Nine-Keeled Sun Skink

Toenayar, Anderson's Mabuya, Nine-Keeled Sun Skink

Trachylepis, Afro-Malagasy Skinks

Tribolonotus, Helmet Skinks

Tropidophorus, Keeled Skinks

Tropidoscincus, New Caledonian Whip-Tailed Skinks

Tumbunascincus, Orange-Speckled Forest-Skink

Typhlacontias, Western Burrowing Skinks

Typhlosaurus, Blind Legless Skinks

Tytthoscincus, Blind Legless Skinks

Varzea

Vietnascincus

Voeltzkowia, Burrowing Blind Skinks




Genus

Common Name

No. of Species

Distribution

Notes

Ablepharus

Lidless/Snake-Eyed Skinks

26

SE Europe, W Russia, C Asia, Middle East

B I

Acontias

Greater Legless Skinks

8

S Africa

B I

Acritoscincus

Cool Skinks

3

S Australia

Former Bassiana species. B I

Alinea

Barbados and Saint Lucia Skinks

2

Barbados and St Lucia Island

Former Mabuya species. B I

Alpinoscincus


2

Papua New Guinea

Former Lobulia skinks. B I

Amphiglossus

Common/Water Skinks

2

Madagascar and neighbouring islands

B I

Anepischetosia

Highlands Forest-Skink

1

Australia

Former Nannoscincus species. B I

Anomalopus

Worm Skinks

4

NE Australia (Queensland, NSW)

Small smooth-scaled skinks with reduced or absent limbs. B I

Aspronema


2


B I

Ateuchosaurus

Oriental Ateuchosaurus

3

China and Japan

B I

Austroablepharus

Snake-Eyed Skinks

3

Australia

Former Proablepharus species. B I

Barkudia

Madras Spotted Skinks

2

India

B I

Bellatorias

Major Skink, Land Mullet, Arnhem Gorge Skink

3

Australia, Papua New Guinea

Former Egernia species. B I

Brachymeles

Short-Legged Skinks

16

Mainly Philippines: also Malaysia

B I

Brachyseps


7

Madagascar

Former Amphiglossus species. B I

Brasiliscincus


3

Brazil

Former Mabuya species. B I

Caesoris

Blue-Mouthed Skink

1

New Caledonia

Former Lioscincus species. B I

Caledoniscincus

New Caledonian Skinks

14

New Caledonia

B I

Calorodius

Thornton Peak Skink

1

Australia (Queensland)

Former Calyptotis species. B I

Calyptotis

Calyptotis Skinks

4

Australia (Queensland and NSW)

B I

Capitellum

Marie-Galante Skink, Lesser Martinique Skink, Lesser Saint Croix Skink

4

Caribbean

Former Mabuya species. B I

Carinascincus

Forest Cool-Skinks

1

Australia (NSW, Victoria, Tasmania)

Former Niveoscincus species. Small skinks with typical shiny scales and well-developed limbs. B I

Carlia

Rainbow Skinks

46

Mainly Australia (esp. Queensland): Papua New Guinea, Indonesia & islands

B I

Celatiscincus


2

New Caledonia

B I

Chalcides

Barrel Skinks

20

N Africa, Europe, W Asia

Cylindrical-shaped skinks with varying degrees of reduced limbs: C. ocellatus is a popular terrarium subject. B I

Chalcidoseps

Thwaite's Skink

1

Sri Lanka

Monotypic genus. B I

Chioninia

Cape Verde Skinks, Cape Verde Mabuyas


Cape Verde islands

Species formerly considered to be part of the large Mabuya genus. It now also includes Chioninia coctei, the probably extinct species formerly classified as Macroscincus coctei, the Cape Verde Giant Skink. B I

Coeranoscincus

Snake-Toothed Skinks

2

Australia (NSW & Queensland)

B I

Coggeria

Fraser Island Sand Skink

1


B I

Concinnia


7


Former Eulamprus species. B I

Copeoglossum


5


Former New World Mabuya species. B I

Cophoscincopus

Keeled Water Skinks

4

West Africa.

B I

Corucia

Prehensile-Tailed/Monkey-Tailed/Solomon Islands Skink

1

Solomon Islands

B I

Cryptoblepharus

Shinning Skinks

53

Indo-Pacific region, as far west as S Africa

Small skinks with well-developed limbs. Often found on shorelines. B I

Ctenotus

Ctenotus

108

Australia

B I

Cyclodomorphus

Oak Skinks/ Bluetongues [NB not to be confused with the Blue-Tongue Skinks of the Tiliqua genus]

9

Australia (inc. Tasmania)

Now includes the Pink-Tongued skink formerly assigned to the genus Hemisphaeriodon ("Blue-Tongued" Skinks) but similar in form and build. B I

Dasia

Dasia Skinks

10

India and SE Asia

B I

Egernia

Spiny Skinks

18

Australia

A genus of mainly "spiky" skinks with well-developed limbs and true viviparous reproduction. Some have become popular terrarium subjects. Latterly some species have been split off to other genera. B I

Emoia

Whiptail Skinks, Mangrove Skinks

84

S Pacific, inc. Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Solomon Islands, Australia

A very successful Indo-Pacific genus. Mattison notes that their predilection for shoreline or mangrove forest habitats has undoubtedly aided their distribution. These are unusual skinks in several ways: they have long limbs, many are arboreal or semi-arboreal, and of these treedwelling species, many are green with some having brightly coloured tails, often blue (Mattison). B I

Epibator


3

New Caledonia

Former Lioscincus species. B I

Eremiascincus

Sand Swimmers

15

Australia

B I

Eroticoscincus

Elf Skink

1

SE Queensland, Australia

B I

Eugongylus

Sheen Skinks

5

Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Pacific Islands

B I

Eulamprus

Five-Fingered Skinks

5

Australia

Now at least partially reassigned to Concinnia. B I

Eumeces

Berber Skinks

7

N Africa through Middle East and C Asia to India

This small genus includes the Berber Skink, more usually known scientifically as Eumeces schneideri. These are medium-sized (up to 12") and attractive skinks. B I

Eumecia

Western Serpentiform Skinks

2

Sub-Saharan Africa

B I

Eurylepis

Elf Skinks

2

Middle East, C Asia and esp. Indian subcontinent

Genus of 3 skinks of which 2 were formerly considered to be part of Eumeces. B I

Eutropis


48

Asia 

Contains those Asian lizards formerly considered part of the large Mabuya genus (see Taxonomy). B I

Exila

Black Mabuya

1

Brazil, Peru and Boliva

Former Mabuya species. B I

Feylinia

Feylinids/Limbless Skinks

6

Africa (not south)

Legless lizards considered a separate family by some. B I

Flexiseps


15

Madagascar

Former Androngo and Amphiglossus species. B I

Fojia

Fojia Skink

1

New Guinea

B I

Geomyersia

Australian Island Skinks

2

S Pacific

B I

Geoscincus

(Bar-Lipped) Skink

1

New Caledonia

Formerly considered a Eugongylus species. B I

Glaphyromorphus

(Bar-Lipped) Skinks, Pygmy Tree Skinks

12

Australia, Indonesia

B I

Gnypetoscincus

Prickly Forest Skink

1

Australia (Queensland)

B I

Gongylomorphus

Bojer's Skink

3

Mauritius, possibly neighbouring islands

B I

Gongylus

Thick-Tailed Skinks

3

Australia

B I

Graciliscincus

Sadler's Skink

1

New Caledonia

B I

Grandidierina


4

Madagascar

Former Voeltzkowia species. B I

Haackgreerius

Haacke-Greer's Skink

1

Somalia

 Formerly considered a Lygosoma species. B I

Hakaria

 

1

Socotra Island

B I

Harrisonia

Rainforest Cool Skink

1

Australia (NSW and Queensland)

B I

Hemiergis

Earless Skinks

7

Australia

B I

Hemisphaeriodon

Pink-Tongued Skink

1

Australia

Not quite as popular as the closely related Tiliqua species (Blue-Tongued Skinks) but still does well in captivity, with a marked preference for snails and other land molluscs. B I

Heremites

Grass Skinks and Bridled Skink

3


Former Eurasian Mabuya/Trachylepis species. B I

Insulasaurus


4

Philippines

Former Sphenomorphus species. B I

Isopachys

Isopachys Skinks

4

Thailand and Burma

B I

Janetaescincus

Janet's Skinks

2

Seychelles

Formerly considered Amphiglossus species. B I

Jarujinia


1

Thailand

B I

Kaestlea

Ground Skinks

5

S India

Former Scincella and Lygosoma species. Found in the Western and Eastern Ghats. B I

Kanakysaurus


2

New Caledonia

B I

Kuniesaurus


1

New Caledonia

B I

Lacertaspis

Lidless Skinks

5

Equatorial Africa

Obscure skink: even the EMBL listing for this species contains no information. The only information I have been able to find on the Internet is at http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/mhng/page/erpiamre.htm B I [Needs updating]

Lacertoides

New Caledonian Leopard Skink

1

New Caledonia

B I

Lamprolepis

Emerald Skinks?

3

Indonesia

Formerly larger: some species reassigned to the Dasia genus instead. B I

Lampropholis

Sunskinks

11

Australia

One species has been introduced in New Zealand and Hawaii. B I

Lankascincus

Tree Skinks

9

Sri Lanka

B I

Larutia

Larut Skinks

9


B I

Leiolopisima

Ground Skinks

3

Fiji, Indian Ocean (Mauritius and La Reunion)

The nine species of this genus seem to be either extinct or possibly synonymous with different creatures. See the EMBL database for more details. Originally this genus was much larger, comprising species (especially New Zealand skinks, now Cyclodina and Oligosoma ) which are now placed in their own genera. As such it was believed to be a link between the lizards of Australia and New Zealand (Mattison). Now restricted to just three oceanic islands. B I

Leptoseps

?

2

Thailand, Vietnam

B I

Leptosiaphos

Five-Toed Skinks

18

Africa

B I

Lerista

Sliders

97

Australia

This extremely large genus shows varying degrees of limb reduction from well-developed fore- and hind limbs through to just hind legs and finally complete limblessness. These are all burrowing skinks: most are brown, often with dark longitudinal lines or dark flanks (Mattison). All are insectivorous and some are associated with termite nests. B I

Liburnascincus

Rainbow Skinks

4

Australia

3 of this genus are former Carlia species. B I

Lioscincus

New Caledonian Skinks

6

New Caledonia

B I

Liopholis


12

Australia

Former Egernia species. B I

Lipinia

Lipinia Skinks

28

Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and other Indian and Pacific oceanic islands

B I

Lissolepis

Mourning Skinks

2

Australia

Former Egernia species. B I

Lobulia

Lobulia Skinks

7

New Guinea

Now reduced in size, with some species being reassigned to four new genera: Alpinoscincus, Nubeoscincus, Ornithuroscincus, Palaia. B I

Lubuya

Ivens' Skinks

1

Somalia

B I

Lygisaurus

Litter Skinks

14

New Guinea (?), mainly Australia

B I

Lygosoma

Writhing Skinks

16

Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent

Formerly referred to as a “waste taxon”, with many Lygosoma species now reassigned to other genera. B I

Mabuya

Typical Skinks

9

Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Indo-Pacific, S America and Caribbean

Once a very large and cosmopolitan genus that was however broken up into four large genera, and later into several more. Under the penultimate organisation, only those species distributed in South America were still considered Mabuya: the others were reassigned to Chioninia, Trachylepis and Eutropis. The most recent major reorganisation by Hedges and Conn also reassigned many New World Mabuya to different genera. B I

Madascincus


12

Madagascar

B I

Manciola

Dunn's Mabuya, South American Small-Handed Skink

1

Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay

Former Mabuya species. B I

Maracaiba


2

Colombia, Venezuela

Considered by some authorities to still be Mabuya skinks. B I

Marisora


13

Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and Colombia and Venezuela

Former Mabuya species. B I

Marmorosophax

?

5

New Caledonia

B I

Melanoseps

Limbless Skinks

8

Africa

Limbless skinks. B I

Menetia

Dwarf Skinks

6

Australia

3 species now reassigned to Pygmaescincus. B I

Mesoscincus

?

3

Central America

 Three species formerly included in the Eumeces genus. B I

Mochlus

Fire Skinks

19

Sub-Saharan Africa

B I

Morethia

Morethia/Fire-Tailed Skinks

3

Australia

B I

Nangura

Nangur Skink

1

Queensland, Australia

B I

Nannoscincus

Elf/Mulch Skinks

12

Mainly New Caledonia, one in Australia

B I

Neoseps

Sand Skink

1

Florida, USA

Now reassigned to Eumeces or Plestiodon by authorities. B I

Nessia

Nessia Skinks

9

Sri Lanka

B I

Notomabuya

Cope's Mabuya

1

Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina

Former Mabuya species.

Notoscincus

Soil-Crevice Skinks

2

Australia

Small skinks with pentadactyl limbs and small ear openings. Not much known about their ecology, etc. B I

Nubeoscincus


2

Indonesia and Papua New Guiniea

Former Lobulia species.

Oligosoma

Common (New Zealand) Skinks

55

New Zealand

This genus was formally reinstated by Patterson and Daugherty in 1995 (see Royal Society of New Zealand). Only one is egg-laying. Now includes former Cyclodina species. B I

Ophiomorus

Snake-Eyed Skinks?

12

Mainly Middle East and Central Asia: also India and Greece

B I

Ophioscincus

Snake Skinks

3

Australia

B I

Ornithuroscincus


9

Pacific, concentrated on Papua New Guinea

Former Lipinia and Lobulia species. One species, O. noctua, is particularly widespread throughout the Pacific. B I

Orosaura

Venezuelan Mountain Skink

1

Venezuela

Former Mabuya species. B I

Otosaurus

Cuming's Sphenomorphus

1

Philippines

Formerly assigned to Sphenomorphus. B I

Palaia


1

Papua New Guinea

Former Lipinia species. B I

Pamelaescincus

Gardiner's Skink

1

Seychelles

Formerly considered a member of Amphiglossus or Scelotes. B I

Panaspis

Snake-Eyed Skinks

21

Sub-Saharan Africa

Terrestrial and fossorial species. B I

Panopa

Carvalho's Mabuya, Horton's Mabuya

2

Venezuela, Brazil

Former Mabuya species. B I

Papuascincus

Papua Skinks

4

New Guinea, Irian Jaya (Indonesia)

B I

Paracontias

Stone Skinks

14

Madagascar

Now includes the species formerly assigned to Cryptoscincus. B I

Paralipinia

Double Subdigital-Pads Skink

1

Vietnam

Now assigned to Scincella. B I

Parvoscincus

Diminutive Skinks

24

Philippines

B I

Phaeoscincus


2

New Caledonia

B I

Phasmasaurus

Maquis Skinks

2

New Caledonia

Former Lioscincus species. B I

Phoboscincus

Garnier's Skinks

2

New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands

B I

Pinoyscincus


5

Philippines

Former Sphenomorphus species. B I

Plestiodon

Five-Lined Skinks, Opaque-Lidded Skinks

51

North America and Asia

Species formerly assigned to Eumeces. Some of the North American species are kept as pets. B I

Praeteropus

Worm-Skinks

4

Australia

Based on former Anomalopus species. B I

Prasinohaema

Green Tree Skink

5

Mainly New Guinea, also Solomon Islands

The name of this genus is derived from the green blood of its species. This green colour is actually caused by a pigment, but the reason for this is as yet unknown. B I

Proablepharus

Soil-Crevice Skinks

2

Australia

B I

Proscelotes

Slender Skinks

3

S & E Africa

B I

Protoblepharus


3

India, China (Tibet)

Genus first created from former Asymblepharus and Scincella species in 2020. B I

Pseudemoia

Window-Eyed Skinks

6

Australia, Indonesia

B I

Pseudoacontias

Giant Madagascar Skinks

2

Madagascar

B I

Psychosaura

Vibora, Hoge's Mabuya

2

Brazil

B I

Pygmaeascincus

Dwarf Skinks, Dwarf Litter-Skink

3

Australia

Former Mabuya species. B I

Pygomeles

Short Skinks

3

Madagascar

Legless skinks. B I

Riopa

Supple Skinks, Writhing Skinks

9

Indian subcontinent to SE Asia

B I

Ristella

Ristella Skinks

4

India

B I

Saiphos

Three-Toed Skink

1

Australia (NSW and Queensland)

B I

Saproscincus

Shade Skinks/ Litter Skinks

12

Australia (NSW and Queensland)

B I

Scelotes

Dwarf Burrowing Skinks

22

Mainly S Africa, one in Tanzania

B I

Scincella

Smooth Skinks /Ground Skinks

39

Mainly Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia, but also N America and Mexico

B I

Scincopus

Banded Skink

1

North Africa and Sahara

B I

Scincus

Sandfish

5

N Africa, Sahara, C Africa, Arabia, Middle East, C Asia and Pakistan

Burrowing skinks with four limbs but shovel-like snout. B I

Scolecoseps

Limbless Skinks?

4

Tanzania and Mozambique

B I

Sepsina

Savannah Burrowing Skinks

5

Sub-Saharan Africa

B I

Sepsiscus

Cape York Worm-Skink

1

Australia (Queensland)

Former Anomalopus species. B I

Sepsophis

Spotted Eastern Ghats Skink

1

India


Sigaloseps

?

6

New Caledonia

B I

Silvascincus

Forest Skinks

2

Australia

Considered Karma species by some authorities.

Simiscincus

?

1

New Caledonia

B I

Sphenomorphus

Forest Skinks

115

SE Asia, Indonesia, Pacific and Australia

B I

Spondylurus

Antillean Four-Lined Skinks

17

Caribbean

Former Mabuya species. B I

Subdoluseps


8


Former Lygosoma species. B I

Tachygia

?

1

Tonga

Probably extinct: see Reptile Database entry. B I

Techmarscincus

Bartle-Frere Cool-Skink

1

NE Australia (Queensland, Cape York peninsula)

Formerly assigned to Bartleia. B I

Tiliqua

Blue-Tongued Skinks, Pine Cone Skink

7

Australia, New Guinea

Popular terrarium subjects, these are large skinks with no limb reduction and somewhat cylindrical bodies. All are viviparous. The genus now includes what was formerly Trachydosaurus. B I

Toenayar

Anderson's Mabuya, Nine-Keeled Sun Skink

1

SE Asia

Former Mabuya/Eutropis species. B I

Trachylepis

Afro-Malagasy Skinks

87


Contains all African and Malagasy skinks formerly referred to Mabuya and (briefly) to Euprepis.

Tribolonotus

Helmet Skinks

10

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and neighbouring islands.

These are rather atypical-looking skinks, having heavily keeled and spiny scales. Their preferred habitat seems to be streams; running water in any captive situation appears to be highly beneficial if not mandatory. All lay a single egg per clutch apart from T. schmidtii, which gives birth to a single young. B I

Tropidophorus

Keeled Skinks

29

Mainly SE Asia, also China and Indonesia

Similar in form to the Tribolonotus genus. B I

Tropidoscincus

New Caledonian Whiptailed Skinks?

3

New Caledonia

A recently described genus. B I

Tumbunascincus

Orange-Speckled Forest Skink

1

Australia (Queensland)

Considered to belong to Magmellia by some authorities. B I

Typhlacontias

Western Burrowing Skinks

7

S Africa

B I

Typhlosaurus

Blind Legless Skinks

5

S Africa

Very fossorial genus. B I

Tytthoscincus


22

SE Asia

Former Sphenomorphus species. B I

Varzea


2

South America

Former Mabuya species. B I

Vietnascincus


1

Vietnam

No data yet available. B I

Voeltzkowia

Burrowing Blind Skinks

3

Madagascar

B I

Bibliography - Skinks

There seems to be no one single work (at least outside academic circles) dealing with the family Scincidae in its entirety, the nearest popular treatment being Walls' Skinks (see below). Skinks are mentioned in most books dealing with lizards as a whole, but even then usually concentrate (understandably) on that relative handful which are kept on a regular basis in captivity. It is to be hoped that a larger book similar to TFH's Agamid Lizards or Iguanid Lizards will soon appear.

Skinks, Jerry G Walls, TFH 1996. This is a good basic introduction to the family, written from a keeper's point of view and dealing with the better known or more unusual species continent by continent. Walls is a good writer on most herpetocultural and other animal subjects, and this is a good place to start.

Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 6: Reptiles, Grzimek,1975 provided an overview of the general characteristics of skinks and of some of the lesser-known families.

Index of Skink-related articles from herpetological magazines.

Bibliography: specific genera

Tiliqua, Blue-Tongued Skinks

Blue-Tongued Skinks: Keeping and Breeding Them in Captivity, Jerry G Walls, TFH 1996. Walls writes well on most herpetological and invertebrate subjects, and this brief book is no exception, covering the taxonomy and requirements not only of the Tiliqua species but also of Cyclodomorphus (Oak Skinks), Hemisphaeriodon [Cyclodomorphus] (Pink-Tongued Skink) and Trachydosaurus [Tiliqua] (Pine Cone Skink).


Corucia, Monkey/Prehensile-Tailed Skinks

General Care and Maintenance of Prehensile-Tailed Skinks, Philippe de Vosjoli, Herpetocultural Library. A very handy book covering the necessary requirements for these lizards. TFH have also produced a book by John Coborn covering these unique skinks.

Links

Our thanks as always to the Reptile Database for the taxonomic information.



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