Scincinae is a subfamily of lizards. The subfamily contains 33

genera 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 ...

, and the genera contain a combined total of 284

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 ...

, commonly called

skink Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. S ...

s. The systematics is at times controversial. The group is probably

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

. It is one of three subfamilies of 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 ...

Scincidae, the other two being Acontinae and Lygosominae.

Genera

The subfamily Scincinae contains the following 35 genera, of which seven are

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

. *'' Amphiglossus'' (2 species) *'' Ateuchosaurus'' (2 species) *''

Barkudia ''Barkudia'' is a little-known genus of skinks endemic to India. These lizards are thought to be semi-fossorial, and living in coastal areas of the east coast of India. Almost nothing is known about the natural history of this genus, except for c ...

'' (2 species) *'' Brachymeles'' (42 species) *'' Brachyseps'' (8 species) *'' Chalcides'' (32 species) *'' Chalcidoceps'' (monotypic) *'' Eumeces'' (6 species) *'' Eurylepis'' (2 species) *'' Feylinia'' (6 species) *''

Flexiseps ''Flexiseps'' is a genus of skinks. They are all endemic to Madagascar. Some taxonomic authorities place the group in the genus Amphiglossus. Species The following 15 species, listed alphabetically by specific name, are recognized as being vali ...

'' (15 species) *''

Gongylomorphus ''Gongylomorphus'' is a genus of skinks found in Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southea ...

'' (monotypic) *''

Grandidierina ''Grandidierina'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Species The following four species, listed alphabetically by specific name, are recognized as being valid. *'' Grandidierina fierinens ...

'' (4 species) *'' Hakaria'' (monotypic) *'' Janetaescincus'' (2 species) *'' Jarujinia'' (monotypic) *''

Madascincus ''Madascincus'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Some taxonomic authorities place the group in the genus ''Amphiglossus''. Species The following 12 species, listed alphabetically by spec ...

'' (12 species) *''

Melanoseps ''Melanoseps'' is a genus of lizards, known commonly as limbless skinks, in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Species The following eight species are recognized as being valid. *'' Melanoseps ater'' – black ...

'' (8 species) *'' Mesoscincus'' (3 species) *'' Nessia'' (9 species) *''

Ophiomorus ''Ophiomorus'' is a genus of Old World skinks. www.reptile-database.org. The limbs are either reduced or absent, depending on the species. They are sometimes known as limbless skinks or snake skinks. Members of the genus live under rocks or in b ...

'' (12 species) *''

Pamelaescincus Gardiner's burrowing skink (''Pamelaescincus gardineri'') is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. ''P. gardineri'' is the only species in the (monotypic) skink genus ''Pamelaescincus''. Etymology The generic name, ''Pamelaescincus'', ...

'' (monotypic) *'' Paracontias'' (14 species) *''

Plestiodon ''Plestiodon'' is a genus of lizards in the family Scincidae (skinks). The genus contains many species formerly classified under the genus '' Eumeces'', except those now placed in '' Mesoscincus''. They are secretive, agile animals with a cyl ...

'' (50 species) *'' Proscelotes'' (3 species) *''

Pseudoacontias ''Pseudoacontias'' is genus of skinks, lizards in the Family (biology), family Scincidae. Geographic range The genus ''Pseudoacontias'' is Endemism, endemic to Madagascar. Description All species of ''Pseudoacontias'' are large, fossorial skink ...

'' (4 species) *''

Pygomeles ''Pygomeles'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar. Classification There are three species that are recognized as being valid. *'' Pygomeles braconnieri'' – Braconnier's short skink *'' Py ...

'' (3 species) *'' Scelotes'' (22 species) * '' Scincopus'' (monotypic) * '' Scincus'' (5 species) *''

Scolecoseps ''Scolecoseps'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to East Africa. Species Genus ''Scolecoseps'' contains four species.. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Scolecoseps acontias'' – sandy limbless sk ...

'' (4 species) *''

Sepsina ''Sepsina'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae). The genus is endemic to southern Africa. Taxonomy This genus is presently placed in the subfamily Scincinae, a subfamily which seems to be paraphyletic however. ''Sepsina'' belongs to a ma ...

'' (5 species) *''

Sepsophis The spotted Eastern Ghats skink (''Sepsophis punctatus'') is a species of skink. It endemic to India and known from its type locality in Andhra Pradesh (Darakondah, Golconda Hills, then Madras Presidency) and from Odissa Odisha (English: ...

'' (monotypic) *'' Typhlacontias'' (7 species) *''

Voeltzkowia ''Voeltzkowia'' is a genus of skinks. Geographic range The genus ''Voeltzkowia'' is endemic to Madagascar. Species Three species are recognized as being valid."''Voeltzkowia'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Voeltzkowia m ...

'' (3 species)

References

External links

Zipcodezoo.com

jstage.jst.go.jp

JCVI.org
Skinks Taxa named by John Edward Gray {{Skink-stub