''Melanoseps'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s, known commonly as limbless skinks, in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Scincidae. The genus is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the list of sovereign states and ...

Species

The following eight

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

are recognized as being valid. *''

Melanoseps ater The black limbless skink (''Melanoseps ater'') is an extant species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Repub ...

'' – black limbless skink. *''

Melanoseps emmrichi ''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 ...

'' – Uluguru limbless skink. *''

Melanoseps longicauda The Pangani black limbless skink or longtail limbless skink (''Melanoseps longicauda'') is an extant species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found in Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, ...

'' – Pangani black limbless skink, longtail limbless skink *''

Melanoseps loveridgei ''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 ...

'' – Loveridge's limbless skink *''

Melanoseps occidentalis The western limbless skink (''Melanoseps occidentalis'') is an extant species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Central African ...

'' – western limbless skink *''

Melanoseps pygmaeus ''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 ...

'' – pygmy limbless skink *''

Melanoseps rondoensis The Rondo limbless skink (''Melanoseps rondoensis'') is an extant species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found in Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within ...

'' – Rondo limbless skink *''

Melanoseps uzungwensis ''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 ...

'' – Udzungwa limbless skink ''

Nota bene ( ; plural: ) is the Latin language, Latin phrase meaning ''note well''. In manuscripts, ''nota bene'' is abbreviated in upper-case as NB and N.B., and in lower-case as n.b. and nb; the editorial usages of ''nota bene'' and ''notate bene'' fi ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Melanoseps''.

Species

References

Further reading