Biology:Janetaescincus

Short description: Genus of lizards

Janetaescincus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Subfamily:	Scincinae
Genus:	Janetaescincus Greer, 1970
Species
Two, see text.

Janetaescincus is a genus of burrowing skinks (family Scincidae) endemic to the Seychelles.

Etymology

The generic name, Janetaescincus, is in honor of Janet Greer, who is the younger of the two sisters of Australian herpetologist Allen E. Greer.

Taxonomy

The genus Janetaescincus is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic however. Probably quite close to Pamelaescincus gardineri, the genus Janetaescincus belongs to a major clade which does not seem to include the type genus Scincus. Thus, Janetaescincus will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily. (Austin & Arnold 2006)

Species

Two species are recognized as being valid.

• Janetaescincus braueri (Boettger, 1896)
• Janetaescincus veseyfitzgeraldi (Parker, 1947)

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Janetaescincus.

Further reading

• Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (2006). Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
• Greer, A.E. (1970). The Systematics and Evolution of the Subsaharan Africa, Seychelles, and Mauritius Scincine Scincid Lizards. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard College 140 (1): 1-24. (Janetaescincus, new genus, p. 18).

External links

• Monitoring and conservation of Seychelles reptiles and amphibians

Wikidata ☰ Q147067 entry