Brachymeles is a
genus of
skinks (
lizards in the
family Scincidae). The majority of the
species within the genus are
endemic to certain island ecosystems in the
Philippines. In 2018, the
Zoological Society of London through its EDGE of Existence Program listed the Cebu small worm skink (Brachymeles cebuensis) as the 80th most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered reptile species in the world, making it the most endangered member of the genus Brachymeles.
Taxonomy
Brachymeles is usually placed in the
subfamilyScincinae, which seems to be
paraphyletic however. Apparently part of a
clade which does not seem to include the
type genus Scincus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily (Austin & Arnold 2006).
Species
The following
species are accepted at The Reptile Database:[1]
Austin JJ,
Arnold EN (2006). "Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution39 (2): 503–511.
doi:
10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract).
Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Genus Brachymeles, p. 386).
Duméril AMC,
Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Brachymeles, new genus, p. 776). (in French).