Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

A review of Indochinese skinks of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae), with natural history notes and an identification key

  • Section Zoology
  • Published:
Biologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We review the supple skinks (Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) known to occur in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). Here, the existence of seven species is documented: L. angeli, L. boehmei, L. bowringii, L. corpulentum, L. haroldyoungi, L. isodactylum (type of Squamicilia Mittleman, 1952), and L. quadrupes (type of Lygosoma). Based on morphological characters, L. carinatum Darevsky & Orlova, 1996 is shown to be a synonym of L. corpulentum. Although L. bowringii is expected to turn out as a complex of cryptic species when molecular methods are applied to a broad sampling, Indochinese representatives form a homogenous group based on morphology. Two further Lygosoma listed by Bourret (2009), viz. L. albopunctatum and L. punctatum (generotype of Riopa Gray, 1839) are distributed further west and probably fail to reach the Indochinese realm. We also provide natural history notes and an identification key for the seven species currently recognized from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Adler K. 2009. Herpetological Exploration, Research, and Conservation in Vietnam. pp. 33–56. In: Nguyen V.S., Ho T.C. & Nguyen Q.T. (eds). Herpetofauna of Vietnam, Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 768 pp. ISBN: 978-3-89973-462-1

  • Anonymous 2011. Unusual Reptile in Laos. Four-legged snake found in Vientiane. Vientiane, Laos.

  • Arnold E.N., Arribas O. & Carranza S. 2007. Systematics of the Palaearctic and Oriental lizard tribe Lacertini (Squamata: Lacertidae: Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa 1430: 1–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer A.M. 2003. On the identity of Lacerta punctata Linnaeus 1758, the type species of the genus Euprepis Wagler 1830, and the generic assignment of Afro-Malagasy skinks. Afr. J. Herpetol. 52(1): 1–7. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2003.9635472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer A. & Günther R. 2006. A syntype of Lacerta serpens Bloch, 1776 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae): The oldest type specimen in the founding collection of the Zoological Museum of Berlin. Bibl. Herpetol. 6(1): 17–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloch M.E. 1776. Beschreibung der Schleicheidexe, Lacerta serpens. [Description of the Serpent Lizard, Lacerta serpen]. Besch. Berlin. Gesell. Naturf. Fr. 2: 28–34, pl. II.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrov V.V. 1992. Notes on lizards (Reptilia, Sauria) from Southern Vietnam. J. Beng. Nat. Hist. Soc. (New series) 11(1): 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrov V.V. 1993. Zoogeograficheckiı analiz fauny yashcherits (Reptilia, Sauria) Vietnama [Zoogeographic analysis of the lizard fauna (Reptilia, Sauria) of Vietnam]. Zool. Zh. 72(8): 70–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrov V.V. & Semenov D.V. 2008. Yashcheritsy Vietnama [Lizards of Vietnam]. Tovarishchestvo Nauchnikh Izdanii KMK, Moscow. XVII + 226 pp. ISBN: 978-87317-498-0

  • Boulenger G.A. 1887. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3, London, XII + 575 pp.

  • Boulenger G.A. 1912. A Vertebrate Fauna of the Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra to Singapore Including the Adjacent Islands. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, 294 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourret R. 2009. Les Lézards de l’Indochine [The lizards of Indochina]. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 624 pp. ISBN: 9733899733006

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan-Ard T., Grossmann W., Gumprecht A. & Schulz K.D. 1999. Amphibians and Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. An illustrated checklist / Amphibien und Reptilien der Halbinsel Malaysia und Thailands. Eine illustrierte Checkliste. Bushmaster Publications, Wuerselen, 240 pp. ISBN: 3980681300

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox M.J., van Dijk P.P., Nabhitabhata J. & Thirakhupt K. 2006. Snakes and other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK), London, 144 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darevsky I.S. & Orlova V.F. 1996. Novyı vid ligozomoı yashcheritsy Lygosoma striata sp. nov. (Sauria: Scincidae) iz Vietnama [A new species of slender skinks Lygosoma carinatum (Sauria, Scincidae) from South Vietnam]. Zool. Zh. 75(5): 791–795.

    Google Scholar 

  • Das I. 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers, London, 376 pp. ISBN: 9781847733474

    Google Scholar 

  • Greer A.E. 1977. The systematics and evolutionary relationships of the scincid genus Lygosoma. J. Nat. Hist. 11(5): 515–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grismer L.L., Chav T., Neang T., Wood J.P.L., Grismer J.L., Youmans T.M., Ponce A., Daltry J.C. & Kaiser H. 2007. The herpetofauna of the Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary and checklist of the herpetofauna of the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia. Hamadryad 31(2): 216–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grismer L.L., Neang T., Chav T. & Grismer J.L. 2008. Checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the Cardamom region of southwestern Cambodia. Camb. J. Nat. Hist. 2008(1): 12–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossmann W. & Harbig P. 2010. Pflege und Vermehrung des Korpulenten Schlangenskinks Lygosoma corpulentum Smith, 1921 im Terrarium — Erste Ergebnisse [Husbandry and breeding of the Annam Supple Skink Lygosoma corpulentum Smith, 1921 in terrarium]. Sauria 32(1): 35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günther A.C.L.G. 1864. The Reptiles of British India. Royal Society, London, XXVII + 452 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnaeus C. 1766. Systema natur classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio duodecima, reformata. Tomus I, Pars I, Laurenti Salvi, Holmia pp.

  • Manthey U. & Grossmann W. 1997. Amphibien & Reptilien Südostasiens [Amphibians and reptiles of South-East Asia]. Natur- und Tier Verlag, Münster. 512 pp. ISBN: 3-931-58712-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin L. 1922. Hans Fruhstorfer. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. “Iris” (Dresden) 36(3/4): 96–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertens R. 1971. Die Rückbildung des Tympanum bei Reptilien und ihre Beziehung zur Lebensweise [Degeneration of tympanum in reptiles and its relation to their ecology]. Senckenberg. Biol. 52(3/5): 177–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mittleman M.B. 1952. A generic synopsis of the lizards of the subfamily Lygosominae. Smiths. Misc. Coll. 117(17): 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moravec J. & Böhme W. 2008. First record of Riopa haroldyoungi from Laos. Herp. Notes 1: 9–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nabhitabhata J., Chan-Ard T. & Chuaynkern Y. 2000. Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles in Thailand. Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Bangkok, 152 pp. ISBN: 974-87704-3-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen T.Q., Schmitz A., Nguyen T.T., Orlov N.L., Böhme W. & Ziegler T. 2011. Review of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Sauria: Scincidae) in Vietnam, with description of a new species from Northern Vietnam and Southern China and the first record of Sphenomorphus mimicus Taylor, 1962 from Vietnam. J. Herpetol. 45(2): 145–154. DOI: 10.1670/09-068.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen V.S., Ho T.C. & Nguyen T.Q. 2009. Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 768 pp. ISBN-13: 978-3-89973-462-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlov N.L. 2006. Riopa corpulenta (Smith, 1921). Russ. J. Herpetol. 13(3): 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlov N.L., Streltzov A.B. & Peney R. 2010. Second record of Lygosoma haroldyoungi (Taylor, 1962) from Laos. Russ. J. Herpetol. 17(2): 128–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauwels O.S.G., Kunya K., McLean M. & Böhme W. 2008. Youngs Laubskink, Riopa haroldyoungi Taylor, 1962 in Thailand. Elaphe 16(2): 56–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Rooij N. 1915. The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosauria. E.J. Brill, Leiden, 384 pp. ISBN-10: 116095898X

  • Smith M.A. 1914. On a rare lizard (Lygosoma isodactylum). J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam 1914(1): 127–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M.A. 1921. New or little known reptiles and batrachians from southern Annam (Indo-China). Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1921(29): 423–440. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1921.tb03271.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M.A. 1935. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II. Sauria. Taylor & Francis Ltd., London, 440 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M.A. 1937a. A review of the genus Lygosoma (Scincidae: Reptilia) and its allies. Rec. Ind. Mus. 39(3): 213–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M.A. 1937b. Un nouveau Lézard de Cochinchine [A new lizard from southern Indochina]. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. 2, 9(6): 366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soderberg P. 1967. Notes on a collection of herpetological specimens recently donated to the centre for Thai National Reference Collections. J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam 22(1/2): 151–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor E.H. 1962. New Oriental reptiles. Univ. Kans. Sci. Bull. 43(7): 209–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, E.H. 1963. The Lizards of Thailand. Univ. Kans. Sci. Bull. 44(14): 687–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teynié A. & David P. 2010. Voyages naturalistes au Laos. Les reptiles [Natural history travels in Laos. Reptiles]. Revoir Editions, Chamalières, 315 pp. ISBN-10: 235265033X

    Google Scholar 

  • Teynié A., David P., Ohler A. & Luanglath K. 2004. Notes on a collection of amphibians and reptiles from southern Laos, with a discussion of the occurrence of Indo-Malayan species. Hamadryad 29(1): 33–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner P., Böhme W., Pauwels O.S.G. & Schmitz A. 2009. A review of the African red-flanked skinks of the Lygosoma fernandi (Burton, 1836) species group (Squamata: Scincidae) and the role of climate change in their speciation. Zootaxa 2050: 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Way W.K. 1975. Re-discovery of Riopa haroldyoungi Taylor, 1962. J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam 26: 163–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch K.R.G., Cooke P.S. & Wright A.S. 1990. Lizards of the Orient: a Checklist. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, V + 162 pp. ISBN-10: 0894643274

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler T., Vu N.T., Le K.Q., Nguyen Q.T., Hallermann J., Le V.K. & Thach M.H. 2006. Neue Verbreitungsnachweise einiger wenig bekannter vietnamesischer Amphibien und Reptilien [New distribution records of some poorly known Vietnamese amphibians and reptiles]. Sauria 28(2): 29–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler T., Schmitz A., Heidrich A., Vu N.T. & Nguyen Q.T. 2007. A new species of Lygosoma (Squamata: Sauria: Scincidae) from the central Truong Son, Vietnam, with notes on its molecular phylogenetic position. Rev. Suisse Zool. 114(2): 397–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler T. & Weitkus S. 1999. Zur Herpetofauna eines nordvietnamesischen Küstenbiotops: Einnischung und Mageninhaltsuntersuchungen [On the herpetofauna of a coastal biotope in North Vietnam: niche occupation and stomach content analyses, Part 2. Herpetofauna 21(2): 25–33.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113, Bonn, Germany

    Peter Geissler, Truong Quang Nguyen, Timo Hartmann & Wolfgang Böhme

  2. Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Truong Quang Nguyen

  3. Dong Khoi 9A, Tam Hiep, Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

    Trung My Phung

  4. Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608, USA

    Robert Wayne Van Devender

  5. Bercsényi u. 21, 2464, H-Gyúró, Hungary

    Balázs Farkas

  6. Cologne Zoo, Riehler Straße 173, D-50735, Cologne, Germany

    Thomas Ziegler

Authors
  1. Peter Geissler
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Truong Quang Nguyen
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Trung My Phung
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert Wayne Van Devender
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Timo Hartmann
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Balázs Farkas
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Thomas Ziegler
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Wolfgang Böhme
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Geissler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Geissler, P., Nguyen, T.Q., Phung, T.M. et al. A review of Indochinese skinks of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae), with natural history notes and an identification key. Biologia 66, 1159–1176 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0130-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0130-2

Key words