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Pamelaescincus

(Genus)

Overview

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Gardiner's Burrowing Skink (Pamelaescincus gardineri) is the only species (monotypic) of the skink genus Pamelaescincus.

It is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic. Probably quite close to Janetaescincus, it belongs to a major clade that does not seem to include the type genus Scincus. Thus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily.5]

Pamelaescincus gardineri is found only in the Seychelles. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, where it buries in the leaf litter and soil.

Populations are locally affected by introduced predators and habitat destruction, but unlike its relatives, it is not considered an endangered species by the IUCN.[6]

t. Hist. (11) 14: 577-584
  • ^ Evans P G H; Evans J B 1980. The ecology of lizards on Praslin Islands, Seychelles. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 191(2): 171-192
  • ^ Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (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)
  • ^ Gerlach, J. & Ineich, I. (1996). Pamelaescincus gardineri. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 10 Jul 2007. Database entry includes justification why this species is of least concern.

    • External links

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    Taxonomy

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    The Genus Pamelaescincus is further organized into finer groupings including:

    References

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    1. ^ Greer, Allen E. 1970. The systematics and evolution of the Subsaharan Africa, Seychelles, and Mauritius Scincine Scincid lizards. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 140 (1): 1-24
    2. ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1909. A list of the freshwater fishes, batrachians and reptiles obtained by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner's expedition to the Indian Ocean. Trans. Linn. Soc. 12: 291-300
    3. ^ Vesey-Fitzgerald, Desmond 1947. Reptiles and amphibians from the Seychelles Archipelago. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (11) 14: 577-584
    4. ^ Evans P G H; Evans J B 1980. The ecology of lizards on Praslin Islands, Seychelles. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (LONDON) 191(2): 171-192
    5. ^ Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (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)
    6. ^ Gerlach, J. & Ineich, I. (1996). Pamelaescincus gardineri. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 10 Jul 2007. Database entry includes justification why this species is of least concern.

    Sources

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    Last Revised: August 24, 2012
    2012/08/24 16:05:38