''Pygopus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
belonging to the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of Australian legless
lizards
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia a ...
(
Pygopodidae
Pygopodidae, commonly known as legless lizards, snake-lizards, or flap-footed lizards, is a family of squamates with reduced or absent limbs, and are a type of gecko. At least 35 species are placed in two subfamilies and eight genera. They have u ...
). Members of this genus are also commonly called scaly-foot.
Species
Within the genus ''Pygopus'' the following five
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
are recognized as being valid.
["''Pygopus'' ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.]
*''
Pygopus lepidopodus'' – common scaly-foot
*''
Pygopus nigriceps'' – hooded scaly-foot, western scaly-foot, black-headed scaly-foot, western hooded scaly-foot
*''
Pygopus robertsi''
– Robert's scaly-foot, Cape York scaly-foot
*''
Pygopus schraderi'' – eastern hooded scaly-foot, eastern scaly-foot
*''
Pygopus steelescotti'' – northern hooded scaly-foot
''
Nota bene
(, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well".
It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature
and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atte ...
'': A
binomial authority
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Pygopus''.
References
Further reading
*
Boulenger GA (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ, Eublepharidæ, Uroplatidæ, Pygopodidæ, Agamidæ.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Genus ''Pygopus'', p. 240).
*
Cogger HG (2014). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition''. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. .
*
Merrem B (1820). ''Versuchs eines Systems der Amphibien: Tentamen Systematis Amphibiorum.'' Marburg: J.C. Krieger. xv + 191 pp. + one plate. (''Pygopus'', new genus, p. 77). (in German and Latin).
*Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). ''A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition''. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. .
Legless lizards
Lizard genera
Pygopodidae
Taxa named by Blasius Merrem
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