Lygosominae is the largest subfamily of skinks in 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 subfamily can be divided into a number of

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 nom ...

groups. If the rarely used

taxonomic rank In biological classification, taxonomic rank is the relative level of a group of organisms (a taxon) in an ancestral or hereditary hierarchy. A common system consists of species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain. While ...

of infrafamily is employed, the genus groups would be designated as such, but such a move would require a formal description according to the ICZN standards.

Genera

Several Lygosominae genera were notorious " wastebin taxa" in the past, with scientists assigning more or less closely related

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of 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 the appropriate s ...

to them in a haphazard fashion and without verifying that the new species were close relatives of the genera's

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specime ...

. What was once placed in '' Lygosoma'', for example, is now divided among some 15 genera, not all in this subfamily. Similarly, ''

Mabuya ''Mabuya'' is a genus of long-tailed skinks restricted to species from various Caribbean islands. They are primarily carnivorous, though many are omnivorous. The genus is viviparous, having a highly evolved placenta that resembles that of euther ...

'' and ''

Sphenomorphus The genus ''Sphenomorphus'' – vernacularly known as the common skinks – currently serves as a " wastebin taxon" for numerous skinks. While most or all species presently placed here are probably rather close relatives, the genus as p ...

'' are having species moved elsewhere. *''

Haackgreerius ''Haackgreerius'' is a genus of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. Etymology The generic name, ''Haackgreerius'', is in honor of South African herpetologist Wulf Dietrich Haacke and Australian herpetologist Allen E. Greer. Beolens B, W ...

'' (monotypic: endemic to coastal Somalia) *'' Lamprolepis'' – tree skinks *'' Lygosoma'' – writhing skinks *'' Mochlus'' - African spp. (synonym ''Lepidothyris'') *''

Riopa ''Riopa'' is a genus of skinks. It is easy to tell the species apart from most other skinks by bright red coloring on their sides from which they get their name. They also have a bule that runs down the side of their tail. Diet The riopas are o ...

'' *'' Subdoluseps''

Now placed elsewhere

;''Egernia'' group: now Subfamily Egerniinae *''

Corucia The Solomon Islands skink (''Corucia zebrata''), also known as prehensile-tailed skink, monkey-tailed skink, giant skink, zebra skink, and monkey skink, is an arboreal species of skink endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago. It is the larg ...

'' – Solomon Islands skink *''

Cyclodomorphus ''Cyclodomorphus'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae)."''Cyclodomorphus'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. It belongs to the ''Egernia'' group which also includes the blue-tongued skinks (Austin & Arn ...

'' *''

Egernia ''Egernia'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae) that occurs in Australia. These skinks are ecologically diverse omnivores that inhabit a wide range of habitats. However, in the loose delimitation (which incorporates about 30 species) the gen ...

'' – ( paraphyletic: including ''Bellatorias'', ''Liopholis'' and ''Lissolepis'', which are better regarded as distinct) *'' Tiliqua'' – blue-tongued skinks *''

Tribolonotus ''Tribolonotus'' is a genus of lizards, commonly known as crocodile skinks. Geographic range Species in the genus ''Tribolonotus'' are found in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. Species The genus includes the foll ...

'' – crocodile skinks ;''Eugongylus'' group: now Subfamily

Eugongylinae Eugongylinae is a subfamily of skinks within the family Scincidae. The genera in this subfamily were previously found to belong the '' Eugongylus'' group in the large subfamily Lygosominae. Genera The subfamily Eugongylinae contains 469 speci ...

*''

Bassiana ''Acritoscincus'' is a genus of Australian skinks (family Scincidae). It belongs to the ''Eugongylus'' group; the genus ''Oligosoma ''Oligosoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae) found only in New Zealand, Norfol ...

'' (= ''Acritoscincus'') – "cool-skins" *''

Carlia ''Carlia'' is a genus of skinks, commonly known as four-fingered skinks or rainbow skinks, in the subfamily Eugongylinae. Before being placed in this new subfamily, ''Carlia'' was recovered in a clade with the genera ''Niveoscincus'', ''Lamprop ...

'' – four-fingered skinks *'' Cryptoblepharus'' – snake-eyed skinks, shining-skinks *''

Emoia ''Emoia'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the subfamily Eugongylinae. The genus ''Emoia'' belongs to a group of genera mainly from the southwestern Pacific-Australian region. These small skinks are commonly known as emoias or skinks. Species ...

'' – emoias *''

Eugongylus ''Eugongylus'' is a genus of skinks in the subfamily Eugongylinae. It was previously recognised as namesake of the ''Eugonglyus'' group of genera within Lygosominae, where it occupied a quite basal position. Members of this genus are commonly ca ...

'' – mastiff skinks, short-legged giant skinks *''

Lampropholis ''Lampropholis'' is a genus of skinks, Common name, commonly known as sunskinks, in the lizard subfamily Eugongylinae of the Family (biology), family Scincidae. The genus ''Lampropholis'' was previously found to belong to a clade with the Genus, ...

'' – Indo-Australian ground skinks *''

Leiolopisma ''Leiolopisma'' is a genus of skinks. Most species occur in the region of New Caledonia-New Zealand, and they are related to other genera from that general area, such as ''Emoia''; these and others form the ''Eugongylus'' group. One living and ...

'' *'' Lobulia'' *''

Niveoscincus ''Carinascincus'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae), commonly called snow skinks or cool-skinks and residing mainly in Tasmania or Victoria, Australia. Then recognised as the genus ''Niveoscincus'', it was found to belong to a clade with ...

'' – snow skinks, "cool-skins" *''

Oligosoma ''Oligosoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae) found only in New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. ''Oligosoma'' had previously been found to belong to the ''Eugongylus'' group of genera in the subfami ...

'' *''

Saproscincus ''Saproscincus'' is a genus of skinks native to Australia, sometimes referred to as shadeskinks. It contains the following species: *'' Saproscincus basiliscus'' ( Ingram & Rawlinson, 1981) - pale-lipped shadeskink *'' Saproscincus challengeri ...

'' – shade skinks ;''Mabuya'' group: now Subfamily

Mabuyinae Mabuyinae is a subfamily of skinks within the family Scincidae. The genera in this subfamily were previously found to belong the ''Mabuya'' group in the large subfamily Lygosominae. They have a pantropical distribution, being found throughout ...

*'' Chioninia'' – Cape Verde mabuyas (formerly in ''Mabuya'') *'' Dasia'' — Southeast Asian tree skinks, including '' Apterygodon'' (now considered to be part of ''Dasia'') *'' Eumecia'' — Central African elongated skinks *''

Eutropis ''Eutropis'' is a genus of skinks belonging to the subfamily Mabuyinae. For long, this genus was included in the " wastebin taxon" ''Mabuya''; it contains the Asian mabuyas. They often share their habitat with the related common skinks (''Sph ...

'' – Asian (formerly in ''Mabuya'') *'' Heremites'' — Mediterranean (North Africa and Middle Eastern species) *''

'' – American mabuyas *'' Toenayar'' — composed of a single species in India/Indochina *''

Trachylepis ''Trachylepis'' is a skink genus in the subfamily Mabuyinae found mainly in Africa. Its members were formerly included in the " wastebin taxon" ''Mabuya'', and for some time in ''Euprepis''. As defined today, ''Trachylepis'' contains the clade ...

'' – Afro-Malagasy mabuyas (formerly in ''Mabuya'') Ctenotus pantherinus ocellifer

;''Sphenomorphus'' group: now in subfamily

Sphenomorphinae Sphenomorphinae is a large subfamily of skinks, lizards within the family Scincidae. The genera in this subfamily were previously found to belong to the '' Sphenomorphus'' group in the large subfamily Lygosominae. Genera The subfamily Sphenomo ...

*'' Anomalopus'' – worm-skinks *''

Ctenotus ''Ctenotus'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae). The genus belongs to a clade in the ''Sphenomorphus'' group which contains such genera as '' Anomalopus'' and the close relatives '' Eulamprus'' and '' Gnypetoscincus''. Lizards in the gen ...

'' – comb-eared skinks *'' Eulamprus'' – water skinks *''

Eremiascincus ''Eremiascincus'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Australia, Indonesia, and East Timor. Species The genus contains the following 15 valid species, listed alphabetically by specific name.

'' *'' Glaphyromorphus'' *'' Gnypetoscincus'' – Prickly Skink *''

Insulasaurus ''Insulasaurus'' is a genus of skinks. They are all endemic to the Philippines. Species The following four species, listed alphabetically by specific name, are recognized as being valid: *'' Insulasaurus arborens'' (Taylor, 1917) *'' Insul ...

'' *''

Lerista ''Lerista'' is a diverse (~ 90 species) genus of skinks endemic to Australia, commonly known as sliders. The genus is especially notable for the variation in the amount of limb reduction. The variation ranges from short-bodied forms with la ...

'' *''

Lipinia ''Lipinia'' is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. Species in the genus ''Lipinia'' are commonly called lipinias. Taxonomy The genus ''Lipinia'' belongs to the ''Sphenomorphus'' group of genera in which ''Lipinia'' has a rat ...

'' – lipinias *''

Otosaurus ''Otosaurus cumingii'', commonly called Cuming's sphenomorphus or the Luzon giant forest skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links ...

'' *'' Parvoscincus'' *'' Pinoyscincus'' *'' Scincella'' – ground skinks *''

'' – common skinks (paraphyletic) *'' Tytthoscincus''

''
Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
'' and obsolete genera

*'' Euprepis'' - obsolete genus *'' Hemisphaeriodon'' – pink-tongued skinks *"''Hinulia elegans''", described by Grey in 1838, is unidentified, but may be '' Eulamprus tenuis''.

References

{{Lygosominae-stub

Genera

Now placed elsewhere

''Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...'' and obsolete genera

References

''
Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
'' and obsolete genera