Eugongylus Explained

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.^[1] Members of this genus are commonly called mastiff skinks or short-legged giant skinks.

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.^[2]

• Eugongylus albofasciolatus – white-banded mastiff skink, white-banded giant skink, white-striped cape skink, barred shark skink
• Eugongylus mentovarius – odd-chinned mastiff skink, odd-chinned giant skink

• Eugongylus rufescens – bar-lipped sheen-skink
• Eugongylus sulaensis – Sula skink
• Eugongylus unilineatus

Notabene

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Eugongylus.

Further reading

• Fitzinger L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Eugongylus, new genus, p. 23). (in Latin).

Notes and References

1. (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. (HTML abstract)
2. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/search.php?submit=Search&genus=Eugongylus Eugongylus