Chasing the Rainbow: Decoupled phenotypic and genotypic evolution in New Guinea’s rainbow skinks (Squamata: Scincidae)

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5583(2), P. 309 - 327

Published: Feb. 3, 2025

With the advent of molecular data, discovery cryptic species has become commonplace. New Guinea, a region high vertebrate biodiversity and complex geological history, been found to contain immense numbers skink species. We present first phylogenetic analysis Carlia Gray, 1845, its sister genus Lygisaurus de Vis, 1884, across mainland Guinea Solomon Islands. find rainbow skinks exhibit significant genetic divergence with minimal morphological variation our data suggest existence many undescribed Due morphologically nature skinks, we demonstrate efficacy COI gene as “barcode” for difficult determinations. Divergence time biogeographic analyses support four separate dispersal events from Australia ~10–5 mya, most groups arriving in East Papua Composite Terrane (EPCT) dispersing there other terranes islands. Exceptions this pattern were observed Lygisaurus, which dispersed West Papuan portion Craton ~8.4mya, island clade fusca group, Vogelkop peninsula ~4.7mya

Language: Английский

A new species of Lepidodactylus (Gekkonidae) from Misima Island, Papua New Guinea

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5601(2), P. 368 - 376

Published: March 6, 2025

We describe a new species of gecko in the Lepidodactylus novaeguineae group from Misima Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. exoris sp. nov. can be distinguished congeners by aspects body size, toe shape, scalation and colouration. This discovery provides first confirmed instance L. orientalis on same island, further emphasises high herpetofaunal endemism recently delimited Province Biodiversity Hotspot far eastern

Language: Английский