Lygosoma is a genus of lizards, commonly known as supple skinks or writhing skinks, which are members of the family Scincidae. Lygosoma is the type genus of the subfamily Lygosominae. The common name, writhing skinks, refers to the way these stubby-legged animals move, snake-like but more slowly and more awkwardly.

Geographic range

Species of Lygosoma are found in India to southeast Asia.

Which specific species are contained within this genus is controversial because of its unresolved historic relation to two other closely related genera: Mochlus and Lepidothyris. Currently, there are 16 known species in Lygosoma, 15 known species in Mochlus, and three known species in Lepidothyris. However, some species under the latter two genera are often listed under Lygosoma, and Lygosoma was recently found to be paraphyletic to the other two genera based on phylogenetic studies. To clear up this confusion, all species (49) pertaining to these three genera are classified as Lygosoma s.l. and the known 16 species under Lygosoma are classified as Lygosoma s.s.

Species

The following species are recognized.

  • Lygosoma angeli <small>(M.A. Smith, 1937)</small> – Angel's writhing skink
  • Lygosoma bampfyldei <small>Bartlett, 1895</small> – Bampfylde's supple skink, Bampfylde's writhing skink
  • Lygosoma boehmei <small>Ziegler et al., 2007</small>
  • Lygosoma corpulentum <small>M.A. Smith, 1921</small> – fat skink
  • Lygosoma haroldyoungi <small>(Taylor, 1962)</small> – banded supple skink, Harold's writhing skink, Harold Young's supple skink
  • Lygosoma isodactylum <small>(Günther, 1864)</small> – Siamese writhing skink, even-toed supple skink
  • Lygosoma kinabatanganense <small>Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun, 2018</small> – Kinabatangan supple skink
  • Lygosoma koratense <small>M.A. Smith, 1917</small> – Korat supple skink, Koraten writhing skink
  • Lygosoma opisthorhodum <small>F. Werner, 1910</small>
  • Lygosoma peninsulare <small>Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun, 2018</small>
  • Lygosoma quadrupes <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small> – short-limbed supple skink, Linnaeus's writhing skink
  • Lygosoma schneideri <small>F. Werner, 1900</small> – Sumatran supple skink
  • Lygosoma siamense <small>Siler, Heitz, Davis, Freitas, Aowphol, Termprayoon & Grismer, 2018</small> – Siamese supple skink
  • Lygosoma singha <small>(Taylor, 1950)</small>
  • Lygosoma tabonorum <small>Heitz, Diesmos, Freitas, Ellsworth & Grismer, 2016</small> – Palawan supple skink
  • Lygosoma veunsaiense <small>Geissler, Hartmann & Neang, 2012</small>

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

References

Further reading

  • (2008). "A replacement name for Sphenomorphus keiensis (Kopstein, 1926) from the southeastern Moluccas, Indonesia (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) with a redescription of the species". Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden 82 (52): 737-747. PDF