taxonID	type	description	language	source
39191A7F071FFFE02DA9ECF67D6DFF0B.taxon	type_taxon	Type genus. Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F071FFFE02DA9ECF67D6DFF0B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuyid lizards with cylindrical bodies, four limbs, digits present (pentadactyl), smooth dorsal scales, no distinct boundary between gulars and ventrals, lower eyelid with semitransparent disc, 28 – 31 presacral vertebrae, no pterygoid teeth, no auricular lobules, smooth (not keeled) dorsal scales, and 24 – 36 scale rows around midbody (Mausfeld et al. 2002; Miralles et al. 2009 a; data herein). Although placentotrophic viviparity has been mentioned as a diagnostic character for this group (Mausfeld et al. 2002; Miralles et al. 2010), it also occurs in some African species (Flemming & Blackburn 2003). Content. Sixty-one species placed in 16 genera: Alinea gen. nov., Aspronema gen. nov., Brasiliscincus gen. nov., Capitellum gen. nov., Copeoglossum, Exila gen. nov., Mabuya, Manciola gen. nov., Maracaiba gen. nov., Marisora gen. nov., Notomabuya gen. nov., Orosaura gen. nov., Panopa gen. nov., Psychosaura gen. nov., Spondylurus, and Varzea gen. nov. (Table 1). Species Distribution Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov.; Marie-Galante Skink Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe Capitellum metallicum (Bocourt 1879); Lesser Martinique Skink Martinique Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov.; Lesser Saint Croix Skink St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands Copeoglossum arajara (Reboucas-Spieker 1981); Caatinga Brazil Bronze Skink Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov.; Greater Windward Skink St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, & Tobago. Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov.; Margarita Skink Isla de Margarita, Venezuela Copeoglossum nigropunctatum (Spix 1825); South American Eastern Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Spotted Skink Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, & Venezuela Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov.; Redonda Skink Redonda Exila nigropalmata (Andersson 1918); Amazonian Gracile Skink Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, & southern Peru Mabuya cochonae sp. nov.; Cochons Skink Îlet à Cochons, Guadeloupe Mabuya desiradae sp. nov.; Désirade Skink La Désirade & Terre de Bas (Îles de la Petite Terre), Guadeloupe Mabuya dominicana Garman, 1887; Dominica Skink Dominica Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov.; Grande-Terre Skink Grande Terre, Guadeloupe Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov.; Guadeloupe Skink Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov.; Hispaniolan Two-lined Skink Hispaniola Mabuya mabouya (Bonnaterre 1789); Greater Martinique Skink Martinique Mabuya montserratae sp. nov.; Montserrat Skink Montserrat Manciola guaporicola (Dunn 1935); Neotropical Small-handed Bolivia & Brazil Skink Maracaiba meridensis (Miralles et al. 2005 b); Merida Skink Venezuela Maracaiba zuliae (Miralles et al. 2009); Maracaibo Skink Venezuela Marisora alliacea (Cope 1876); Costa Rican Four-lined Skink Eastern Costa Rica & southeastern Nicaragua Marisora aurulae sp. nov.; Lesser Windward Skink St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, & Tobago. Marisora brachypoda (Taylor 1956); Middle American Short- Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras (including Utila limbed Skink & Guanaja islands), Nicaragua, & western Costa Rica Marisora falconensis (Mijares-Urrutia & Arends 1997); Venezuela & Colombia Venezuelan Coastal Skink Marisora magnacornae sp. nov.; Corn Island Skink Great Corn Island, Nicaragua Marisora roatanae sp. nov.; Roatán Skink Isla de Roatán, Honduras Marisora unimarginata (Cope 1862); Middle American Long- Western Costa Rica & Panama limbed Skink Notomabuya frenata (Cope 1862); Southern Neotropical Skink Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, & Paraguay Orosaura nebulosylvestris (Miralles et al. 2009); Venezuelan Venezuela Cloud Forest Skink Panopa carvalhoi (Reboucas-Spieker & Vanzolini 1990); Brazil & Venezuela Amazonian Blue-tailed Skink Species Distribution Panopa croizati (Horton 1973); Turimiquire Blue-tailed Skink Venezuela Psychosaura agmosticha (Rodrigues 2000); Caatinga Sharp- Brazil nosed Skink Psychosaura macrorhyncha (Hoge 1946); Atlantic Forest Sharp- Brazil nosed Skink Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov.; Anegada Skink Anegada, British Virgin Islands Spondylurus caicosae sp. nov.; Caicos Islands Skink Caicos Islands, Turks & Caicos Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov.; Culebra Skink Culebra & Culebrita, Puerto Rico Spondylurus fulgidus (Cope 1862); Jamaican Skink Jamaica Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov.; Hispaniolan Four-lined Skink Hispaniola Spondylurus lineolatus (Noble & Hassler 1933); Hispaniolan Ten- Hispaniola lined Skink Spondylurus macleani (Mayer & Lazell 2000); Carrot Rock Skink Carrot Rock, British Virgin Islands Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov.; Greater Saint Croix Skink St. Croix & Green Cay, U. S. Virgin Islands Spondylurus martinae sp. nov.; Saint Martin Skink St. Martin Spondylurus monae sp. nov.; Mona Skink Mona, Puerto Rico Spondylurus monitae sp. nov.; Monito Skink Monito, Puerto Rico Spondylurus nitidus (Garman 1887); Puerto Rican Skink Cayo Luis Peña, Cayo Norte, Culebra, Desecheo, Icacos, Puerto Rico, & Vieques Spondylurus powelli sp. nov.; Anguilla Bank Skink Anguilla, Dog Island, & St. Barts Spondylurus semitaeniatus (Wiegmann 1837); Lesser Virgin U. S. Virgin Islands, including Capella Island, Little Islands Skink Buck Island, and St. Thomas; British Virgin Islands including Fallen Jerusalem, Ginger Island, Great Camanoe Island, Guana Island, Little Thatch Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Round Rock, Salt Island, Tortola Island, and Virgin Gorda Spondylurus sloanii (Daudin 1803); Virgin Islands Bronze Skink U. S. Virgin Islands, including Capella Island, Little Buck Island, Little Saba Island, Water Island, and St. Thomas; British Virgin Islands including Little Tobago Island, Norman Island, Peter Island, and Salt Island. Spondylurus spilonotus (Wiegmann 1837); Greater Virgin Islands St. Thomas & St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands Skink Spondylurus turksae sp. nov.; Turks Islands Skink Grand Turk Island & Gibbs Cay, Turks & Caicos Varzea altamazonica (Miralles et al. 2006); Upper Amazon Bolivia, Peru Floodplain Skink Varzea bistriata (Spix 1825); Lower Amazon Floodplain Skink Brazil, & French Guiana	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F071FFFE02DA9ECF67D6DFF0B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mabuyinae is restricted to the Western Hemisphere (Americas) and is distributed from central Mexico (Colima in the west and Veracruz in the east) throughout Middle America and South America (primarily east of the Andes) as far south as central Argentina and Uruguay (Fig. 8). Most (38 species) of the currently known species of Mabuyinae are distributed only on islands in the Caribbean: the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Puerto Rico Bank and region (including Mona, Monito, and St. Croix), the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, Isla de Margarita, Great Corn Island, Isla de San Andrés, and Isla de Providencia (Figs. 1, 9 – 11; no localities on the latter three islands are known with precision and therefore they are not individually mapped). Most species are lowland, occurring below 1000 m, but four species (unrelated) occur primarily above 1000 m, with one of those reaching nearly 4000 m (Miralles et al. 2009 b).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F071FFFE02DA9ECF67D6DFF0B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The subfamily name Mabuyinae is derived from the Genus Mabuya Fitzinger (1826), which is in turn the name used by native peoples of the Americas, especially the Antilles, for various types of lizards.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F071FFFE02DA9ECF67D6DFF0B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Skinks have been placed in one of the earliest-branching families of squamates, Scincidae Oppel (1811; see comment below), splitting from other scinciformatan families at 170 Ma (Hedges et al. 2009). That is twice as old as the mean age (84 million years) and nearly three times the modal age (67 million years) of any squamate family lineage (Hedges & Kumar 2009). The divergence times of the informal groups of lygosomine skinks (the Egernia, Eugongylus, Lygosoma, Mabuya, and Sphenomorphus groups; Skinner et al. 2011) are comparable to divergences among squamate families. Scincidae (sensu lato) is also the largest of the 26 families of lizards, containing more than one-quarter (27 %; 1,503 species) of the 5,537 known lizard species (Uetz et al. 2011). As a result, skink genera and higher taxa have become too large to be manageable, inhibiting taxonomic revision and description of new species (e. g., species comparisons are simpler for a small genus than for a large genus). At the same time, phylogenetic studies have shown significant support for informal groups and higher-level taxa (Honda et al. 2000; Reeder 2003; Honda et al. 2003; Austin & Arnold 2006; Skinner et al. 2011). Considering all of this, it is appropriate at this time to make taxonomic adjustments to facilitate skink systematics. We recognize seven families of skinks, with content corresponding to the currently recognized subfamilies Acontinae and Scincinae, and those five informal groups of Lygosominae (type genera in parentheses): Acontidae Gray, 1839 (Acontias Cuvier 1817); Egerniidae Welch, 1982 (Egernia Gray 1838 b); Eugongylidae Welch, 1982 (Eugongylus Fitzinger 1843); Lygosomidae Mittleman, 1952 (Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray 1827); Mabuyidae Mittleman, 1952 (Mabuya Fitzinger 1826); Scincidae Oppel, 1811 (Scincus Laurenti 1768); and Sphenomorphidae Welch, 1982 The authorship of the Family Scincidae has been ambiguous (Speybroeck et al. 2010), being attributed to either Oppel (1811) or Gray (1825). Both authors were explicit in proposing a family group name for Scincus but used spellings different from that which is currently used for the family. Regardless of those spellings, and following either ICZN Article 29.5 or the Law of Priority, we consider Oppel (1811) to be the author. We agree with Skinner et al. (2011) in placing Feyliniidae Camp (1923) in the synonymy of Scincidae (sensu stricto). Under this arrangement, and considering the relationships of the families (Skinner et al. 2011), we erect the Superfamily Lygosomoidea for the families Egerniidae, Eugongylidae, Lygosomidae, Mabuyidae, and Sphenomorphidae. We consider the Infraorder Scincomorpha Camp (1923) to contain only the seven families of skinks. At a higher level (Vidal & Hedges 2009), the Suborder Scinciformata Vidal & Hedges (2005) includes the Scincomorpha + Cordylomorpha; the latter taxon includes Cordylidae Mertens (1937), Gerrhosauridae Boulenger (1884), and Xantusiidae Baird (1859). This proposed rearrangement now provides more taxonomic " room " for partitioning, organizing, and better managing the great diversity of skink species. Within the Family Mabuyidae, formal and informal suprageneric groups have been recognized based on morphological and molecular data over the past four decades (Greer 1970 a, b; Greer 1979; Honda et al. 2000; Mausfeld et al. 2002; Mausfeld & Vrcibradic 2002; Carranza & Arnold 2003; Honda et al. 2003; Jesus et al. 2005; Austin & Arnold 2006; Miralles et al. 2011; Skinner et al. 2011). Knowledge of mabuyid phylogeny has increased sufficiently such that a more structured and formal taxonomy of this large family (formerly the Mabuya Group) is warranted. Family group names (subfamilies and tribes) have been used for some clades in the past, and we propose that the subfamily rank be used for them, in addition to the Subfamily Mabuyinae for the group under study here. Those subfamilies include, along with their former informal group name and type genus (for new taxa): Chioniniinae subfam. nov. (Cape Verde Skinks, Chioninia Gray 1845), Dasiinae subfam. nov. (Asian Mabuya Group, Dasia Gray 1839), and Trachylepidinae subfam. nov. (African Mabuya Group, Trachylepis Fitzinger 1843). Taxonomic content, as well as morphological and molecular support for each of these taxa, are included in the studies cited above. The Subfamily Mabuyinae is a monophyletic and well-defined group including all members of what was previously the Genus Mabuya, a clade of American skinks (Mausfeld et al. 2002; Miralles & Carranza 2010). Moreover, we have identified 16 clades within Mabuyinae that can be defined by molecular and morphological evidence. Most of these clades were already identified in earlier molecular phylogenies (Vrcibradic et al. 2006; Whiting et al. 2006; Miralles et al. 2009 b; Miralles & Carranza 2010). Some have been recognized informally as species groups and " complexes " in the past (and in two cases, genera), but the membership of these groups has come into focus. Giving them formal taxonomic recognition now is appropriate. Initially we considered the rank of subgenus but realized that the number of species (61) would place the genus among the largest genera of skinks; i. e., those likely to be partitioned into multiple genera in the near future. We also considered that dozens of additional species are likely to be described from Central and South America in coming years, based on molecular phylogenies indicating the presence of undescribed species (Miralles et al. 2009 b; Miralles & Carranza 2010; and analyses herein). Moreover, time estimates among the American clades (see below) are comparable to those among skink genera in other parts of the world (Skinner et al. 2011). It is also normal taxonomic practice to create superspecific taxa in order to organize biodiversity, especially, as in this case, when many new species are added to a genus (Simpson 1961). While it is true that new binomials necessitate some changes in databases and guides, partitioning of large genera is beneficial for systematic work because it creates manageable taxa for study. Thus, for all of these reasons we have chosen to recognize these clades at the generic level. There is one species name within Mabuyinae that we must address here: Tiliqua albolabris (Gray 1838 b). The name is based on a single specimen of unknown locality, presumably from the Americas. It was synonymized in " Mabouya agilis " only a few years later by the original author (Gray 1845), and then placed under " Mabuia aurata " (= Trachylepis aurata) by Boulenger (1887: 189). Dunn (1936) placed it in the synonymy of his wideranging " Mabuya mabouya " distributed through much of the Americas. Otherwise the name has been conspicuously absent from the literature, including synonymies and the latest databases (Uetz et al. 2009). The original description is but a single sentence that says, " Golden-green with a brown streak on each side [of] the head and body (enclosing the eyes and ears) edged above and below with a pale streak; lips white; tail elongate " (Gray 1838: 292). This short description is consistent with many species of mabuyines. However, the holotype (the only described by Gray (1838). Without a specimen, figure, locality, or useful (diagnostic) description, the name is a nomen nudum.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0714FFE22DA9EF1A790AFBEC.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya lanceolata Cope, 1862: 187.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0714FFE22DA9EF1A790AFBEC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 4 – 5, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent (rarely prefrontals in point contact in Alinea luciae), (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, 1 – 3, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 136, (8) total digital lamellae, 231 – 259, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, absent (weakly visible, anteriorly, in A. berengerae), and (12) dark ventral stripes, present (A. lanceolata and A. luciae). Maximum body sizes in this genus range from 60 – 109 mm SVL (Table 2). Prefrontal Parietal Nuchal Dorsals + Total Genus contact contact rows ventrals lamellae Exila Y Y 2 – 3 unknown unknown Mabuya N (Y) Y 1 (2) 116 – 138 211 – 253 (32) Manciola N (Y) Y 1 136 – 141 147 – 154 (2) Maracaiba N (Y) Y (N) 1 127 Unknown Marisora N (Y) Y (N) 1 (2) 109 – 131 184 – 229 (16) Notomabuya N (Y) Y (N) 1 111 – 130 217 – 228 (3) Orosaura N Y (N) 1 unknown Unknown Panopa Y Y 3 – 5 115 – 126 191 – 209 (3) Psychosaura N Y 1 – 2 114 201 (1) Spondylurus N (Y) Y (N) 2 (1, 3) 108 – 135 159 – 238 (40) Varzea Y, N Y 1 116 – 126 208 (1) Dark Dark Dark Maximum middorsal dorsolateral lateral Dark ventral Palm and sole adult SVL Genus stripe stripe stripe stripes color (mm) Alinea N N N (Y) Y, N pale, dark 60 – 109 Aspronema Y Y Y N pale, dark 76 – 84 Brasiliscincus N Y (N) Y N pale 69 – 86 Capitellum N N Y N dark 68 – 78 Copeoglossum N N Y N pale, dark 91 – 121 Exila N N Y N dark 60 Mabuya N N (Y) Y N dark 93 – 106 Manciola Y Y Y N pale 98 Maracaiba Y, N Y, N Y N dark 77 – 101 Marisora N N (Y) Y N pale, dark 82 – 95 Notomabuya N N Y N pale 91 Orosaura N? Y N dark 97 Panopa N Y Y N pale, dark 69 – 76 Psychosaura N Y Y N dark 74 – 85 Spondylurus N Y Y N pale, dark 64 – 107 Varzea N Y (N) Y N pale, dark 97 Although each character is not present in all four species, the combination of multiple rows of nuchals, high total digital lamellae counts (> 230), elongate bodies, ventral stripes, and lack of dorsal stripes distinguishes Alinea from other genera. The high lamellae counts alone distinguish this genus from all genera except Copeoglossum, Mabuya, and Spondylurus (only one species of Spondylurus, S. fulgidus, has such high counts). Alinea differs from Copeoglossum in having contact (versus usually no contact) between parietals. In having four supraoculars, Alinea is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). It differs from Spondylurus (and most other genera) in lacking dark dorsolateral and lateral stripes.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0714FFE22DA9EF1A790AFBEC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed in the Lesser Antilles (on the islands of Barbados and St. Lucia) and on the western Caribbean islands of Isla de San Andrés and Isla de Providencia (Figs. 1, 8 A, and 11 G – H).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0714FFE22DA9EF1A790AFBEC.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name Alinea is a feminine noun derived from the Latin and Greek prefix a- (away from, without) and the Latin noun linea (line), referring to the absence of lines on the dorsum of species in this genus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0714FFE22DA9EF1A790AFBEC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Miralles (2006 a) considered Alinea berengerae to be closely related to A. pergravis based on an " extremely elongate and pointed " snout. In part, that is correct; the snouts are more acuminate than other species when viewed from above and laterally. Their snouts and heads are long (~ 18 – 19 % SVL) but not exceptionally so in the subfamily. Barbour (1921) saw Old World affinities in Alinea pergravis, but Dunn and Saxe (1950) noted similarities between A. pergravis (A. berengerae had not yet been described) and species in the southern Lesser Antilles. They used this to argue against an origin for A. pergravis from the geographically closer landmass of Central America. Besides the absence of distinct body stripes in A. pergravis and skinks from Barbados, they also mentioned high ventral scale counts. However, the ventral scale counts of Alinea (except for A. pergravis) are not especially high compared with other genera. Further building a Lesser Antillean connection with A. pergravis, they noted that water currents will carry a ship from the southern Lesser Antilles to Providencia and gave historical accounts as evidence. Miralles et al. (2009), on the other hand, did not agree with a Lesser Antillean connection and instead associated A. berengerae and A. pergravis with a complex of species in middle and northern South America. We concur with the explanation of Dunn and Saxe (1950) for the origin of A. pergravis (and A. berengerae) based on the diagnostic characters that join them with A. lanceolata and A. luciae and the direction of current flow in the Caribbean (Hedges 1996 b). Climbing behavior has been noted in one species (Alinea pergravis; Dunn & Saxe 1950), and it is likely a characteristic of its close relative A. berengerae. Given the elongate bodies of all four species and their high digital lamellae counts (a functional correlate of climbing), the behavior may even be characteristic of the Genus Alinea. Three of the species (all except A. pergravis) are known from only one or a few individuals. No specimens of any of the four species have been taken in recent years, and they are here considered to be Critically Endangered.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	description	(Figs. 12 A, 13 A, 14)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 1). San Andrés Island, Colombia. UMMZ 127884 (holotype), an unsexed adult, collected on San Andrés Island, Colombia, by C. F. Walker, 1967. The only known specimen.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Alinea berengerae is characterized by (1 – 2; the holotype, the only known specimen, was not sexed in the original description) SVL, 59.5 mm; (3) snout width, 2.55 % SVL; (4) head length, 19.0 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.43 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 12.8 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, six; (13) nuchal rows, one (see Remarks); (14) dorsals, 59; (15) ventrals, 65; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 124; (17) midbody scale rows, 28; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y (weakly visible, anteriorly); (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Alinea, it is distinguished from A. lanceolata by having fewer midbody scale rows (28 versus 30 – 32), a longer head (head length 19.0 % versus 16.3 – 17.8 % SVL), longer toes (toe-IV length 12.8 % versus 9.25 – 10.8 % SVL), an attenuate body shape (non-attenuate in A. lanceolata), and absence of ventral striping. From A. luciae, it is distinguished by having supralabial six (versus five) below the eye, a higher number of dorsals (59 versus 54 – 57), an attenuate body shape (not attenuate in A. luciae), and an absence of ventral striping. From A. pergravis, it differs by having fewer dorsals (59 versus 62 – 63), fewer ventrals (65 versus 70 – 73), and fewer combined dorsals and ventrals (124 versus 132 – 136).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 12 A, 14). An unsexed adult in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL 59.5 mm; tail length, 28.8 mm (regenerated); HL 11.3 mm; HW 7.07 mm; SW 1.52 mm; EL 0.85 mm; and toe-IV length 7.62 mm; ear-opening medium in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular. Two upper and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 59 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 65 in a longitudinal row; 28 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portion of tail, one enlarged row each of middorsal and midventral scales and lateral scale rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 19 under toe-IV. Preanal plate with scales similar to ventrals. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated portion of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with medium-sized dark brown spots, uniformly distributed on head, body, tail, and limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent, although longitudinal rows of thin (onehalf scale) dark stripes faintly evident on dorsum. Dark lateral stripes very faintly present (trace), dark brown, extending from loreal region to midbody. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. No other specimens are known. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype are presented in Tables 3 – 5.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is known only from the holotype, collected at an imprecise location, between Morgan's Cave and Punta Sur, on San Andrés Island (map not shown). Morgan's Cave is in the middle of the island, and Punta Sur is at the southern tip.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is associated with this specimen. But given that its closest relative, Alinea pergravis, on Isla de Providencia appears to be arboreal (Dunn & Saxe 1950), and both species have morphological traits associated with scansorial habits (attenuate body, long toes), A. berengerae is likely scansorial as well. Unfortunately for a tree-dwelling species, the tropical rainforests of San Andrés that once covered the island are " now almost completely destroyed, " being replaced with agriculture (especially coconut palms) and cattle farming (World Wildlife Fund 2007). Heavy use of pesticides and expanding urbanization stemming from tourism are cited as severe threats to the biodiversity. Moreover, brown rats are present on San Andrés in abundance (World Wildlife Fund 2007). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011) we assess the conservation status of Alinea berengerae as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from habitat alteration and a secondary threat from introduced predators. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, if the species still exists. It has not been seen in 44 years and only one specimen is known. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (berengerae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the first name of the spouse of the describer, Bérengère (Miralles 2006 a).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0716FFD12DA9EABA7811F894.taxon	discussion	Remarks. In the description of this species, Miralles (2006 a) provided a definition of nuchal scales, giving the total nuchal count of A. berengerae as 5 – 6, which if correct would be the highest number in the subfamily. However, we have examined the holotype and score that specimen (Figs. 3 G, 12 A) as having a single row of nuchals (see Materials and methods for discussion of nuchals counts in Mabuyinae).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	description	(Figs. 12 B, 13 B, 15)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	description	Theodore Gill on Barbados. Mabuya agilis — Boucourt, 1979: 395 (part). Mabuia sloanii — Boulenger, 1887: 193 (part). Mabuia agilis — Fielden, 1889: 297 (part). Mabuya lanceolata — Barbour, 1914: 320. Mabuya mabouia — Barbour, 1930: 105 (part). Mabuya mabouia — Barbour, 1935: 129 (part). Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Dunn, 1936: 544 (part). Mabuya mabouia — Barbour, 1937: 147 (part). Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Grant, 1959: 101 (part). Mabuya lanceolata — Underwood, 1963: 83. Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Peters & Donoso-Barros, 1970: 200 (part). Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Schwartz & Thomas, 1975: 141 (part). Mabuya mabouya mabouya — MacLean et al., 1977: 40 (part). Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988: 150 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991: 457 (part). Mabuya bistriata — Powell et al., 1996: 82 (part). Mabuya bistriata — Malhotra & Thorpe, 1999: 97 (part). Mabuya sloanii — Mayer & Lazell, 2000: 883 (part). Mabuya mabouya — Breuil, 2002: 267 (part). Mabuya mabouya — Miralles, 2005: 49 (part). Mabuya mabouya — Henderson & Powell, 2009: 292 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 3). Barbados. USNM 6041 (lectotype), USNM 572080 (paralectotype), both collected by Theodore Nicholas Gill, no specific locality, 1858 (see Remarks); BMNH 89.7. 5.13, Colonel H. W. Fielden, Graeme Hall Swamp, ca. 1889 (see Remarks).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Alinea lanceolata is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 82.2 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 93.8 mm; (3) snout width, 1.90 – 2.71 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.3 – 17.8 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.2 – 12.8 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.23 – 2.24 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.25 – 10.8 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (67 %), five (33 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (67 %), six (33 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 59 – 61; (15) ventrals, 63 – 71; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 122 – 130; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (33 %), N (67 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (33 %), N (67 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, N; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Alinea, A. lanceolata is distinguished from A. berengerae by having more midbody scale rows (30 – 32 versus 28), a shorter head (head length 16.3 – 17.8 % SVL versus 19.0 % in A. berengerae), shorter toes (toe-IV length 9.25 – 10.8 % SVL versus 12.8 %), and a non-attenuate body shape (attenuate in A. berengerae). It differs from A. luciae by having more dorsals (59 – 61 versus 54 – 57) and one row of nuchals (2 – 3 rows in A. luciae). From A. pergravis, it differs by having fewer dorsals + ventrals (122 – 130 versus 132 – 136 in A. pergravis), shorter toes (toe-IV 9.25 – 10.8 % SVL versus 11.4 – 13.2 %), and a non-attenuate body shape (attenuate in A. pergravis).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Fig. 15 C – D). An adult male in poor state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 82.2 mm; tail length not measured (broken); HL 13.4 mm; HW 9.24 mm; SW 2.17 mm; EL 1.01 mm; and toe-IV length 7.60 mm; ear-opening small in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <II <V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal rectangular and posterior loreal squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. One or two upper and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 59 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 71 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color faded but appears medium brown without visible dark brown spots. Dark dorsolateral stripes, dark lateral stripes, pale middorsal stripe, pale dorsolateral stripes, and pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body mostly without visible pattern, probably due to poor preservation, but throat (ventral) striping still visible. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color in life of the lectotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the other material resembled the lectotype (Tables 4 – 5), in general. The paralectotype, 65.3 mm SVL (a young adult, unsexed) is also in poor condition, but agrees in scalation with the lectotype (except 30 midbody scale rows, 63 ventrals, 13 finger-IV lamellae, and 15 toe-IV lamellae). As with the lectotype, there is virtually no color pattern visible, almost certainly from the poor state of preservation. Nonetheless, the paralectotype shows some evidence of ventral striping, especially along edges of throat. The third and largest specimen, BMNH 89.7. 5.13 (Fig. 15 A – B and E – F), a 93.8 mm SVL female, is in excellent condition and retains details of coloration. It differs somewhat in scalation from the lectotype (30 midbody scale rows, 61 dorsals, 67 ventrals, 15 finger-IV lamellae, and 18 toe-IV lamellae, five supraciliaries, supralabial six below eye, and supranasals in contact). In coloration (Fig. 15 E – F) it has a pale gray-green dorsum with many small brown spots on the body and limbs, sometimes in broken lines, and blue-green pale dorsolateral stripes (as noted elsewhere, the blue-green color of many preserved specimens may be an artifact of preservation).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is known only from the island of Barbados in the Lesser Antilles (Fig. 11 H). The only localities known are Greame Hall Swamp and Chancery Lane (Fielden 1889), about 8 km apart and at the southern tip of the island.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is associated with the types. However, the collector of the third specimen writes that it occurs in " damp and rushy situations " (Fielden 1889). He also notes how the mongoose (Urva auropunctata), even by the late 1800 s, had already severely impacted the endemic reptiles of the island. Barbados is one of the ten most densely populated countries in the World (World Resources Institute 2008) and has essentially no original forest remaining (FAO 2005). Besides the mongoose, black rats (Rattus rattus Linnaeus) are on Barbados as well, and are arboreal, and thus the endemic skink would be unable to evade the black rat by climbing trees. Barbour (1937) considered skinks to be extinct on Barbados, as did Underwood (1963), although confirming this would be difficult. Carrington et al. (2003), in their book on Barbados heritage, noted only that the skink species that occurs on Barbados and elsewhere is " often found under rocks or old timber and moves with a snake-like slither " (thus not presenting any evidence of its presence or of new records). The two known localities are both nature preserves, but with no sightings of the species since 1889, there is no evidence that they are preserving that species. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Alinea lanceolata to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It is known from only three specimens, and there are no records since 1889 despite search efforts by herpetologists, including one of us (S. B. H.). It faces a primary threat Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. The adult female, BMNH 89.7.5.13 (93.8 mm SVL), contained seven fetuses, not fully developed. No specific date of collection is available.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (lanceolata) is a feminine Latin adjective, meaning spear-like, referring to the acuminate head shape, although this feature is a characteristic of the entire genus Alinea and even more evident in A. pergravis.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0726FFCF2DA9EEAA7EF4FCEF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The collector of the type specimens, Theodore Nicholas Gill (1837 – 1914), is known to have made only a single expedition to the West Indies (including Barbados), in the first few months of 1858 (Dall 1916). This constrains the date of collection of those specimens, only 4 – 5 years before their description by Cope (1862 a). The third specimen (BMNH 89.7.5.13) was accessioned in 1889, donated by " Col. Fielding. " Almost certainly this refers to Col. H. W. Fielden, who wrote an article on the reptiles of Barbados that same year (Fielden 1889). In it he mentioned the collection of specimens, referred to as Mabuya agilis, from Graeme Hall Swamp and Chancery Lane. He noted that the local name for it is " scorpion. " This provides the only locality information for the species, which has not been recorded since then. More recently, Grant (1959) commented on skinks from Barbados, doubting that they ever occurred on the island. However, we disagree with that opinion and have no doubt that these three specimens came from Barbados, especially given the biographic information on Gill, the account by Fielden, and the specimens that they collected.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	description	(Figs. 12 C, 13 C, 16)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 5). St. Lucia. MCZ R- 6046 (holotype), Samuel Walton Garman, no specific locality, April, 1879; BMNH 89.8.14.20 – 23, George A. Ramage, no specific locality, 1888 – 89 (see Remarks).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Alinea luciae is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 109 mm; (3) snout width, 2.90 – 3.22 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.5 – 18.4 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.7 – 14.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 0.983 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 11.9 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (60 %), five (40 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, two (40 %), three (60 %); (14) dorsals, 54 – 57; (15) ventrals, 61 – 69; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 125; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17 – 20; (20) finger-IV + toe- dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, N; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Alinea, A. luciae is distinguished from A. berengerae by having fewer dorsals (54 – 57 versus 59), a wider head (head width 12.7 – 14.1 % SVL versus 11.9 %), a wider snout (2.90 – 3.22 % SVL versus 2.55 %), shorter toes (toe-IV length 11.9 % SVL versus 12.8 %), 2 – 3 rows of nuchals (versus one row), and a non-attenuate body shape (attenuate in A. berengerae). Alinea luciae differs from A. lanceolata by having a wider snout (snout width 2.90 – 3.22 % SVL versus 1.90 – 2.71 %), fewer dorsals (54 – 57 versus 59 – 61), and 2 – 3 rows of nuchals (versus one row). From A. pergravis, it differs by having fewer dorsals (54 – 57 versus 62 – 63), fewer ventrals (61 – 69 versus 70 – 73), fewer dorsals + ventrals (116 – 125 versus 132 – 136), and a non-attenuate body shape (attenuate in A. pergravis).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	description	Description of holotype. An unsexed adult (presumably female based on size) in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL 108.8 mm; tail length 153 mm (complete); HL 19.0 mm; HW 13.8 mm; SW 3.16 mm; EL 1.07 mm; and toe-IV length 12.9 mm; ear-opening small in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye on the right and four on the left comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials on the right and eight on the left. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Three rows of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 56 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 69 in a longitudinal row; 29 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 19 under toe-IV. Six preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with small dark brown spots, sparsely distributed on head, body, tail, and limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes, dark lateral stripes, pale middorsal stripe, pale dorsolateral stripes, and pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body patterned with distinct dark brown stripes extending from the throat to the tail. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. The four BMNH specimens are similar to the holotype in scalation and pattern (Tables 4 – 5). One (BMNH 89.8.14.20) has prefrontal contact, which is otherwise rare in Mabuyinae. Another (BMNH 89.8.14.23) lacks supranasal contact. In coloration (Fig. 16 A – D) they have a pale brown, tan, or grayish-green dorsum with a scattering of small dark brown spots and occasional white spots. All have the ventral stripes.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is known only from the island of St. Lucia in the Lesser Antilles (Fig. 11 G). No precise localities are known.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is associated with the types. Several authors, beginning in 1937, have considered skinks to be extinct on St. Lucia (Barbour 1937; Corke 1987, 1992), and skinks were not encountered in a recent survey of the herpetofauna (Daltry 2009) or in two short visits to the island by one of us (S. B. H.). Confirming the extinction of a small species on a large island like St. Lucia would be difficult. As with many other islands in the Caribbean, the mongoose has been considered to be largely responsible for the decimation of reptile species on St. Lucia, with some qualifications (Corke 1987, 1992). Alinea has not been recorded from the Maria Islands off of southeast St. Lucia (Corke 1987; Buley et al. 1997), which are mongoosefree. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Alinea luciae to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (luciae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on St. Lucia.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073BFFC82DA9EDB17DCDFC1F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Although Garman himself is listed as the collector of the holotype of Alinea luciae, he did not mention an exact locality within the island or ecological notes on the specimen, and nothing is noted in the MCZ database. The four specimens in the BMNH (89.8.14.20 – 23) have no other data except that they were collected by " G. A. Ramage " and accessioned in 1889. Almost certainly, the collector of those specimens was George A. Ramage (1864 – 1933), who was employed as a naturalist to collect plants and animals in the Lesser Antilles (1888 – 89), especially on Dominica and St. Lucia, for the Royal Society and the British Association for the Exploration of the Lesser Antilles (Anonymous 1889; Boulenger 1891). Boulenger (1891) listed those four specimens in his report but made no mention of a specific locality or of ecological information. Barbour (1914) was impressed that Boulenger (1891) recognized Garman's taxon, even as a trinomial, causing him to recognize it as a valid species (A. luciae) as well. Miralles et al. (2009) also recognized Alinea luciae as valid and listed five characters as diagnostic: dark ventral striping, " white, brown-edged ocelli on the flanks (unique within the genus) ", brown marbling on the sides of the neck, four supraoculars, and the presence of one or two secondary nuchal scales. However, those characters are not diagnostic of A. luciae. The ventral striping is also present in A. lanceolata (Fig. 15) and there are no ocelli (eye spots), but rather scattered white scales. Those white scales and neck marbling are found in A. lanceolata and other species, with and without brown edges (e. g., Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov.). Four supraoculars are known in other populations confused with Mabuya mabouya (Dunn 1936), including those on Dominica (here recognized as M. dominicana) and Barbados (here recognized as A. lanceolata). Multiple nuchals (more than one row) are found in the closely related species A. pergravis and occur in the Lesser Antilles (e. g., Dominica, Martinique), albeit uncommonly. Miralles et al. (2009) recorded the palms and soles of A. luciae as being pale, but they have distinctly dark pigment (Fig. 16).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	description	(Figs. 12 D, 13 D, 17)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	description	Mabuya mabouya pergravis — Peters & Donoso-Barros, 1970: 200.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	materials_examined	Material Examined (n = 6). Isla de Providencia, Colombia. MCZ R- 14294 (paratype; no collector, specific locality, or date available); ANSP 25791 – 95, collected by the Catherwood-Chaplin Expedition, no specific locality, 4 May 1948. Material not examined (n = 1). Isla de Providencia, Colombia. USNM 13875 (holotype), Albatross Expedition, Isla de Providencia, April, 1884.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Alinea pergravis is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 87.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 90.9 mm; (3) snout width, 2.65 – 3.07 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.5 – 19.2 % SVL; (5) head width, 10.8 – 12.8 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.54 – 1.84 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 11.4 – 13.2 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (20 %), six (80 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (80 %), two (20 %); (14) dorsals, 62 – 63; (15) ventrals, 70 – 73; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 132 – 136; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 15 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17 – 20; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 32 – 36; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (80 %), N (20 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe N; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Alinea, it is separated from all other species by having a higher number of dorsals (62 – 63 versus 54 – 61 in those other species) and combined dorsals and ventrals (dorsals + ventrals 132 – 136 versus 116 – 130 in those other species). It also differs from A. berengerae and A. luciae in having more ventrals (70 – 73 versus 61 – 69 in those other species) and by having a larger auricular opening (ear length 1.54 – 1.84 % SVL versus 1.43 % SVL in A. berengerae and 0.983 % SVL in A. luciae). From A. lanceolata it differs, additionally, by having a longer toe (toe-IV length 11.4 – 13.2 % SVL versus 9.25 – 10.8 % SVL in A. lanceolata). Alinea pergravis also differs from A. lanceolata and A. luciae in body shape (attenuate versus expanded at midbody) and ventral coloration (unpatterned versus ventral striping).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	description	Description of material. Five adults (four male and one female) in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 82.1 – 90.9 mm; tail length 116 – 164 mm (complete); HL 15.6 – 16.7 mm; HW 9.78 – 10.8 mm; SW 2.25 – 2.69 mm; EL 1.35 – 1.61 mm; and toe-IV length 10.4 – 10.8 mm; ear-openings large and round; toe length in the following order: I <II = V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long or approximately as wide as long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first (and sometimes second) supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal roughly heptagonal, in contact with the first and / or second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. Two or three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven or eight supralabials, the fifth temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven or eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two or three pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First one or two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; second and / or third (and sometimes fourth) pair (s) separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One to two rows of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 62 – 63 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 70 – 73 in a longitudinal row; 28 – 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 15 – 16 under finger-IV and 17 – 20 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale grayish-green with medium-sized dark brown spots, distributed on body, tail, and limbs and on the head of one specimen (ANSP 25791). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes absent; instead a series of discontinuous brown spots (not a stripe) extend from loreal region to region of forelimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent, pale dorsolateral stripes, and pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces pale, but with scattered brown flecks on ventral surface of some digits. No information is available on color in life of the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is known only from the Caribbean island of Providencia, which lies about 240 km due east of the Nicaraguan coast (Fig. 1). However, there are no specific localities recorded from that island, and therefore no distribution map is shown.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. An individual was first spotted on the ground and then went " high into " a tree (Dunn & Saxe 1950). The long toes, high digital lamellae counts, and gracile body shape of this species — the most attenuate species in the Subfamily Mabuyinae — agree with tree-climbing habits. Spondylurus fulgidus (Jamaica), another species known to have scansorial habits, comes close to Alinea pergravis in these traits (Mabuya dominicana, although not known to be scansorial, has long digits and high lamellae counts). Also, the two species of Psychosaura gen nov. have similar traits and habits. One can only speculate that it found this open niche on Isla de Providencia after dispersing there from the Lesser Antilles, with selective pressures strongly favoring survival in trees. This species has not been recorded since 1950 (Dunn & Saxe 1950). The tropical rainforests of Isla de Providencia that once covered the island are " now almost completely destroyed ", being replaced with agriculture (especially citrus fruits) and cattle farming (World Wildlife Fund 2007). Heavy use of pesticides and expanding urbanization stemming from tourism are cited as severe threats to the biodiversity of the island (World Wildlife Fund 2007). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Alinea pergravis as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from habitat alteration and a secondary threat from introduced predators. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, if the species still exists. There have been no records of this species for 60 years. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Not given in original description (Barbour 1921). However, the species name is from the Latin per (very) and gravis (heavy), apparently in reference to the larger size of Alinea pergravis compared with a species (in the Genus Lygosoma) that Barbour considered it to be its close relative. It is not an exceptionally large species of mabuyine skink and is not closely related to Lygosoma.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F073CFFC52DA9EA217E74FE17.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The species was described (Barbour 1921) based on four specimens collected in 1884 on the Albatross Expedition to what is now called Isla de Providencia (formerly " Old Providence Island "). The island is only 17 km 2. No diagnosis was given, and no ecological or collecting notes were provided. Later, Dunn (1936) lumped nearly all species of mabuyines known at that time from Caribbean islands into Mabuya mabouya, although he recognized Alinea pergravis as a distinct species based on its unique, pallid coloration and near absence of stripes. He had available the type series and one other specimen (USNM 78947). Later, Dunn and Saxe (1950) examined five additional specimens collected on the Catherwood-Chaplin expedition of 1948 and discussed pergravis) rather than a distinct species. They noted similarities with skinks from the southern Lesser Antilles, especially from Barbados (A. lanceolata), and pointed out that the winds and current are favorable for dispersal from that region to Providencia. After examining A. pergravis, and before reading Dunn and Saxe (1950), we independently came to the same conclusion regarding the affinities of that species and its possible biogeographic origin. Miralles (2006 a) examined two specimens of A. pergravis and briefly mentioned this species in his description of A. berengerae, noting a sample size of 20 individuals in his Table 1. However, that appears to be in error because he referred to Dunn and Saxe (1950), who took counts on the 10 known specimens. As far as we know, no other material of this species has become available. The local name for the species apparently is " Snakewaiting-boy " (Dunn & Saxe 1950).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC52DA9EC1E78C0FAF6.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuia dorsivittata Cope, 1862: 350.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC52DA9EC1E78C0FAF6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, 1 – 2, (2) supraciliaries, 3 – 4, (3) supraoculars, three (rarely four), (4) prefrontal contact, absent (or contact sometimes in Aspronema dorsivittatum) (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, 0 – 2, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 111 – 132, (8) total digital lamellae, 185 – 193, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, present, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, present, (11) dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Maximum body sizes in this genus are 76 – 84 mm SVL (Vrcibradic & Rocha 2011) (Table 2). The combination of three supraoculars and a narrow, dark middorsal stripe distinguishes this genus from all others. Also, while pale dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes are not rare in Mabuyinae, those stripes in species of the Genus Aspronema are especially distinctive. Content. Two species are placed in this genus: Aspronema cochabambae and A. dorsivittatum (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC52DA9EC1E78C0FAF6.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed in southern South America, from Bolivia and southern Brazil to northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Fig. 8 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC52DA9EC1E78C0FAF6.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Aspronema) is a neuter noun derived from the Greek adjective aspro (white) and noun nema (thread), referring to the distinctive narrow and white dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes present in species of this genus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC52DA9EC1E78C0FAF6.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This pair of species shares a suite of morphological traits and clusters in molecular phylogenies (Mausfeld & Lotters 2001; Harvey et al. 2008; Miralles et al. 2009 b), including our analysis (Fig. 5). Palm and sole color is dark in Aspronema cochabambae and pale in A. dorsivittatum (Harvey et al. 2008).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC42DA9EBBF7D35FAD4.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Scincus agilis Raddi, 1823: 62.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC42DA9EBBF7D35FAD4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 5 – 6 (usually five), (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent, (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 113 – 124, (8) total digital lamellae, 157 – 194, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, usually present (rows of dark dots bordering a light mid-dorsal stripe two half-scales wide), (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent (Table 2). Maximum body sizes in this genus range from 88 – 96 mm SVL (Vrcibradic & Rocha 2011). Brasiliscincus differs from others in having a combination of dorsolateral dark and pale stripes, small hands and feet, short heads, and pale palms and soles. It differs from Alinea, Copeoglossum, Mabuya, Notomabuya, Psychosaura, and Varzea in having fewer total digital lamellae (<195). It differs from Manciola in having more total lamellae (> 156), fewer dorsals + ventrals (113 – 124 versus 136 – 141), and more supraciliaries (5 – 6 versus four). From Maracaiba, Orosaura, and Exila (dark palms and soles) it differs in having pale palms and soles. From Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). The presence of a single nuchal row (versus> 1) separates this genus from Exila, Panopa, and Spondylurus. The presence of contact between the parietals separates this genus from Copeoglossum. It differs from Alinea by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (24 – 27 versus 28 – 36), having dark lateral stripes (present as a trace in only one species of Alinea, A. berengerae), and lacking ventral striping. It is distinguished from Marisora by its 5 – 6 supraciliaries (versus four in nearly all Marisora). Brasiliscincus shares with Capitellum small hands and feet (as reflected in similarly low counts of finger-IV + toe- IV and total lamellae). Brasiliscincus differs from Capitellum in having pale (versus dark) palms and soles and fewer dorsals + ventrals (113 – 124 versus 125 – 128). Content. Three species are placed in this genus: Brasiliscincus agilis, B. caissara, and B. heathi (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC42DA9EBBF7D35FAD4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is distributed in eastern and southern Brazil (Vrcibradic et al. 2006) (Fig. 8 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC42DA9EBBF7D35FAD4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Brasiliscincus) is a masculine noun derived from the Latin scincus (skink) and refers to the distribution of this genus of skinks, centered in Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0731FFC42DA9EBBF7D35FAD4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This genus corresponds closely to group " three " defined by Rodrigues (2000), except that we exclude Manciola guaporicola and Aspronema dorsivittatum. Rodrigues (2000) noted that these species share " vertebral stripes " on the body, although we would describe the dorsal stripes of Brasiliscincus more as " dorsolateral " rather than vertebral. Vrcibradic et al. (2006) also noted the similar pattern in these three species, describing it as consisting of a dark lateral band bordered below by a vivid white stripe, and a middorsal (pale) stripe with irregular dark borders, but acknowledging that it could be referred to as a pair of irregular dark (dorsolateral) stripes. The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) strongly supports the clustering of these three species. This group was found in that earlier study as well (Vrcibradic et al. 2006). The paraphyletic nature of clustering in phylogenetic trees of the species of Brasiliscincus has led to speculation that they represent a single species (Vrcibradic et al. 2006), and recent authors have treated them as such (Miralles & Carranza 2010). It is clear that some sequences obtained in earlier studies have been misidentified (e. g., there are low levels of sequence divergence between sequences labeled as different taxa). However, levels of sequence divergence among some of the sequences (Fig. 5) are greater than among morphologically distinct species of Mabuyinae recognized elsewhere in this classification. It is for this latter reason that we consider the three species to be valid (although in need of revision). Furthermore, those levels of sequence divergence suggest that there may be additional species within Brasiliscincus. One character not scored by us was body shape. The species of Brasiliscincus have a more tubular body shape than most species of skinks, which are more dorsoventrally flattened. This was noticed by Vrcibradic & Rocha (1996) in their comparison of B. agilis and sympatric Psychosaura macrorhyncha. The species of Capitellum have a similar body shape to those of Brasiliscincus, suggesting, along with other character data, a close relationship.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0730FFC72DA9EB627DAEF9F3.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya metallica Bocourt, 1879: 400.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0730FFC72DA9EB627DAEF9F3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 5 – 6, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent, (5) parietal contact, present (except in C. parvicruzae sp. nov.), (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 125 – 128, (8) total digital lamellae, 167 – 190, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Maximum body sizes among species in this genus range from 68 – 78 mm SVL (Table 2). They are smallheaded (head length 15 – 16 % SVL; head length in mabuyines is typically 17 – 21 % SVL). This genus differs from others in having a combination of small hands, small feet, short heads, and lacking dark dorsolateral stripes. It differs from Alinea, Copeoglossum, Mabuya, Notomabuya, Panopa, Psychosaura, and Varzea in having fewer total digital lamellae (<191). It differs from Manciola in having more total lamellae (> 166), fewer dorsals + ventrals (125 – 128 versus 136 – 141), and five or six (versus four) supraciliaries. From Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa, it differs in having two frontoparietals (versus one fused frontoparietal in those other genera). In having four supraoculars, Capitellum is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema separates this genus from Copeoglossum. It differs from Alinea by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (24 – 26 versus 28 – 36), having dark lateral stripes (present as a trace in only one species of Alinea, A. berengerae), and lacking ventral striping. It is distinguished from Manciola, Maracaiba, and Marisora by its 5 – 6 supraciliaries (versus four in nearly all Marisora). It shares with Brasiliscincus small hands and feet but differs in lacking dark dorsolateral stripes (present in most Brasiliscincus), having dark (versus pale) palms and soles, and having more dorsals + ventrals (125 – 128 versus 113 – 124). From Orosaura, it is distinguished by lacking a dark dorsolateral stripe. Eyelid window size (length 2.21 – 2.42 % SVL) is also relatively large for the genus, where most other species fall within the range 1.5 – 2.0 % SVL. However, we did not score that character in all individuals and species. Content. Three species are placed in this genus: Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov., C. metallicum, and C. parvicruzae sp. nov. (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0730FFC72DA9EB627DAEF9F3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed on the islands of Martinique and Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe) in the Lesser Antilles and on St. Croix in the U. S. Virgin Islands (Figs. 1, 8 A, 10 G, and 11 B – C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0730FFC72DA9EB627DAEF9F3.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Capitellum) is a neuter singular noun (Latin) meaning " small head, " in reference to the relatively small heads of the three included species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0730FFC72DA9EB627DAEF9F3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Each species is represented by a single adult specimen collected 135 – 190 years ago. They occur on islands where the mongoose was introduced in the late 19 th century, likely explaining their subsequent disappearance. We have gleaned some critical information on morphology from fetuses and accounts of lost specimens. Molecular data are unavailable. Nonetheless, the shared set of morphological characters argue that they are close relatives and warrant placement in a single group, distinct from other genera. They have a gracile form and unusually small heads, which suggests that they had (or have, if they still exist) terrestrial (ground-dwelling) and possibly cryptozoic (subterranean-dwelling) habits similar to species of Brasiliscincus (Vrcibradic & Rocha 2002 a). They also have a similar, tubular body shape, as opposed to the dorsoventrally flattened body shape typical of most mabuyines. Although only one adult specimen exists for each species, there are several clues that suggest that they probably have small maximum body sizes. First, all three adults are relatively small (68 – 78 mm SVL). Secondly, one of the species (Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov.) has developing young. Thirdly, they all have a relatively small number (30) of midbody scale rows, a trait correlated with body size: 71 % of species of mabuyines with 30 or fewer midbody scale rows are <80 mm maximum SVL, whereas 78 % of species with 32 or more midbody scale rows are> 80 mm maximum SVL. Although they are scored as being variable in contact between parietals, all three are similar in being at the contact / no contact boundary, with C. parvicruzae sp. nov. having no contact. The closest relative to Capitellum appears to be Brasiliscincus (South America), and therefore an independent overwater dispersal from an ancestor of Brasiliscincus probably led to Capitellum. The fact that each of the three species occurs on a non-adjacent island could be explained by separate dispersal events from the mainland (least likely), or an initial dispersal to the Lesser Antilles (perhaps Martinique) followed by secondary dispersals to Marie-Galante and St. Croix, or to Marie-Galante and then from there to St. Croix. Because these skinks apparently were decimated by the mongoose before extensive herpetological collections were made in the 20 th century, it is possible that the genus was even more widely distributed on Caribbean islands, with one or more extinctions and extirpations occurring before any specimens were collected. Ancient DNA methods may prove useful in addressing the relationships of Capitellum.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	description	(Figs. 18 A, 19 A, 20) M [abuia] aenea — Cope, 1862: 186 (part). Mabuya mabouia — Barbour, 1930: 105 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ANSP 9413, an adult female from Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, containing 6 fetuses. Initially in the MNHN but donated to the ANSP at some time prior to 1862. No other collection information is available, but it was possibly collected in the 1830 s (see Remarks). Paratypes (n = 6). Guadeloupe. Fetuses of the holotype, ANSP 9413.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 78.3 mm (only known specimen); (3) snout width, 2.55 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.8 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.3 % SVL; (6) ear length, 2.12 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.52 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, five; (11) frontoparietals, five; (12) supralabial below the eye, six (83 %), seven (17 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 62; (15) ventrals, 63; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 125; (17) midbody scale rows, 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 10; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 24; (21) supranasal contact, Y (67 %), N (33 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y (point); (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Capitellum, C. mariagalantae sp. nov. differs from C. metallicum by having a higher number of supralabial scales (supralabial six or seven below the eye versus supralabial five below the eye in C. metallicum), a wider head (head width 12.3 % SVL versus 11.5 % SVL in C. metallicum), and three (versus two) lower preoculars. In pattern (Fig. 19 A – B), C. mariagalantae sp. nov. is a more boldly patterned species than C. metallicum (pattern information for C. metallicum based on original description and figures because the lectotype has faded). It has pale and dark lateral and dark ventrolateral stripes that extend the full length of the body and onto the tail, whereas C. metallicum has only a dark lateral stripe in the anterior one-third of the body. Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov. is more similar to C. parvicruzae sp. nov. in pattern (Fig. 19 A, C), although comparison of pattern is difficult because of the poor state of preservation of the holotype of C. mariagalantae sp. nov. and relies mostly on traces of pattern in the fetuses. It can be seen that the two species share bold lateral dark and pale stripes, both of which run the length of the body and onto the tail. They also have pale dorsolateral stripes anteriorly. Other than these general similarities, it is not possible to make a detailed comparison of patterns in the two species. In scalation C. mariagalantae sp. nov. differs from C. parvicruzae sp. nov. in having five supraciliaries (versus six), parietal contact (versus no contact), a larger auricular opening (ear length 2.12 % SVL versus 1.44 % SVL), and 169 (versus 190) total digital lamellae. Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov. also differs from species in other genera inhabiting nearby islands in the Lesser Antilles (Tables 3 – 5). For example, from the species in the same island bank (genus Mabuya; see below), C. mariagalantae sp. nov. differs by having five supraciliaries (not four); four supraoculars (not 2 – 3); fewer finger-IV (10 versus 12 – 15), toe-IV (14 versus 16 – 21), and combined (24 versus 29 – 35) lamellae; and no supraocular- 1 / frontal contact (versus contact present in Mabuya from Guadeloupe).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 18 A, 20). An adult female in poor state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 78.3 mm; tail length not measured (broken); HL 12.4 mm; HW 9.66 mm; SW 2.00 mm; EL 1.66 mm; and toe-IV length 7.45 mm; ear-opening large in size and round or slightly oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and moderately lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Five supraciliaries, approximately equal in length. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Four upper preoculars and three lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Four moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Six infralabials (seven on the left). Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. Both pairs of chin shields separated by smaller cycloid scales. similar to dorsals; 63 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 10 under finger-IV and 14 under toe-IV, 38 on hands, 47 / 46 (L / R) on feet, 169 total lamellae. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color dark gray-brown without visible dark brown spots (dorsal pattern has faded). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, medium brown, extending from loreal region past hindlimbs to tail. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from behind eye to last third of body, bordered below by a narrow (ventrolateral) dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. Despite their early stage of development and fragile condition, some information on scalation and pattern of the fetuses could be ascertained (Tables 4 – 5). They appear to have four supraoculars, five supraciliaries, and no prefrontal contact, as in the holotype. Parietal contact is obvious in one fetus but not scorable in the others. A few could be scored for supralabial scale below the eye, and they showed some variation (scale six or seven below the eye). The lateral pale and dark stripes and the ventrolateral dark lines of the adult are even more evident in the fetuses, probably because they have been obscured from ambient light for two centuries. All extend past the hindlimbs and continue to at least one-third of the length of the tail. The bold lateral pale (white) stripe also forms a ring around the ear opening. Anteriorly, the white lateral stripe extends along the supralabial scales (all pure white) to the nasal. Pale dorsolateral stripes also are evident anteriorly on nape but fade out just past the hindlimbs. Faint traces of dark dorsolateral stripes are evident bordering the pale dorsolateral stripes for a short distance on the nape, but they would have been barely noticeable in life. A pale ventrolateral stripe is faintly visible passing below the forelimbs.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, 158 km 2 (Fig. 11 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No information is available on the ecology of this species (see Remarks for the genus suggesting that the species were likely terrestrial and cryptozoic). Aside from this single specimen collected at least 150 years ago, there are no other specimens or observations of skinks from this island. The mongoose was introduced to Marie-Galante, and rats undoubtedly are present as well, thus probably explaining the subsequent Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. The female holotype (78.3 mm SVL) contained six fetuses. No specific month of collection is available.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (mariagalantae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Marie-Galante. The island was named for Santa Maria Galanda, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, who discovered the island in 1493.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0733FFC22DA9E8427D44FD87.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The first mention of the existence of skinks on Marie-Galante was a footnote in a paper by Cope (1862, p. 186), who remarked, " I have supposed a specimen from the Paris Museum labeled as Eumeces mabuia from Marie Galante, to belong to M. aenea, while new Grenadian and Trinidad specimens have been referred to the Duméril and Bibron (1839) mentioned two collectors who supplied specimens of skinks from Guadeloupe: Joseph L'Herminier (1802 – 1866) and M. Beaupertuis. The botanical literature records both being active collectors in the 1830 s, just prior to the publication of Duméril and Bibron (1839). Thus it is possible that the Marie-Galante specimen was collected in the 1830 s, examined by Duméril and Bibron (1839) for their description of Eumeces mabouia (= redescription of Mabuya mabouya), and later exchanged with the ANSP prior to 1862. This is supported also by Cope's (1862) mention that the MNHN labeled the specimen as " Eumeces mabuia. " The MNHN syntype of S. fulgidus, a species described by Cope (1862) in the same paper that included his footnote on the Marie-Galante specimen, may have been in exchange for that specimen. Unfortunately the description of E. mabouia Duméril and Bibron (1839) does not include sufficient detail on scalation to determine if the Marie- Galante specimen was available to them, and taxonomically it would not matter in any case. Dunn mentioned this specimen in the first sentence of his revision of " American Mabuyas " (Dunn 1936): " the following notes are an attempt to name Mabuyas from the islands of St. Martin, Redonda, and Marie Galante, in the collection of the Academy. "	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	description	(Figs. 18 B, 19 B, 21)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 1). Martinique. MNHN 5424 (lectotype), an adult female, collected on " Martinique " by Auguste Plée in ca. 1820. The only known surviving specimen of the type series. Other material (n = 2). Martinique. MNHN (unknown numbers), paralectotypes, one of which was figured by Bocourt (1879, Plate 22 B, Fig. 1), both apparently lost.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Capitellum metallicum is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 74.0 mm (only known specimen); (3) snout width, 2.41 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.5 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.5 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.53 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.6 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, five; (11) frontoparietals, 2; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 62; (15) ventrals, 66; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 128; (17) midbody scale rows, 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 10; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 24; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Capitellum, C. metallicum differs from C. mariagalantae sp. nov. by having a lower number of supralabial scales (supralabial 5 below the eye versus supralabial 6 or 7 below the eye in C. mariagalantae sp. nov.), a longer toe (toe-IV 10.6 % SVL versus 9.5 % SVL in C. mariagalantae sp. nov.), and a narrower head (head width 11.5 % SVL versus 12.3 % SVL in C. mariagalantae sp. nov.). In pattern, C. metallicum is a less boldly stripes that extend the full length of the body and onto the tail. In scalation, C. metallicum differs from C. parvicruzae sp. nov. in having five supraciliaries (versus six), parietal contact (versus no contact), absence of supranasal contact (versus contact), and 167 (versus 190) total digital lamellae. Capitellum metallicum also differs from species in other genera inhabiting nearby islands in the Lesser Antilles (see Tables 3 – 5). In form it differs from most in being small-headed and gracile, with a tubular-shaped (versus dorsoventrally flattened) body. From the species on the same island, Mabuya mabouya, C. metallicum differs by having five supraciliaries (not 3 – 4); four supraoculars (not three); fewer finger-IV (10 versus 13 – 16), toe-IV (14 versus 17 – 19), and combined (24 versus 30 – 34) lamellae; a shorter head (head length 15.5 % SVL versus 16.2 – 19.2 % in M. mabouya); a narrower head (head width 11.5 % SVL versus 12.1 – 14.9 % SVL in M. mabouya); and no supraocular- 1 / frontal contact (present in M. mabouya).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Figs. 18 B, 21). An adult female in poor state of preservation (soft), without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 74.0 mm; tail length 113 mm (complete); HL 11.5 mm; HW 8.52 mm; SW 1.78 mm; EL 1.13 mm; and toe-IV length 7.85 mm; ear-opening average in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Five supraciliaries, the third the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye (three on the left) comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin fairly straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by smaller cycloid scales. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 62 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals, 66 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 10 under finger-IV and 14 under toe-IV, 38 / 37 (L / R) on hands, 46 / 46 on feet, 167 total lamellae. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Pattern and coloration are mostly not determinable because of fading with age and the poor state of preservation of the specimen, which appears uniformly grayish-brown. The loss of pattern is likely from exposure to light during the last two centuries because the concealed areas (palms, and behind arms and legs folded against side of body) show original brown pigment, indicating that the palms and soles were dark and the limbs were finely mottled. No information is available on color in life of the lectotype. Variation. Bocourt (1879) described three specimens (two now lost) and figured one of them (her Plate 22 B, Fig. 1). Based on subtle details of the head scalation (e. g., narrower separation of prefrontals and different overlap of nuchals), her illustrated specimen is clearly not the lectotype but agrees with the lectotype in two diagnostic characters (four supraoculars and five supraciliaries) and in other general characters (separation of supranasals, separation of prefrontals, contact of parietals). In the text description she states that there are 26 – 28 midbody scale rows (we count 30 in the lectotype); supralabial 5 is below the eye; and one row of nuchals, 55 – 60 dorsals (we count 62 in lectotype), and four supraoculars (she notes three on one side of one specimen) are present. She also mentions four supraciliaries, but her illustration shows five, and we count five in the lectotype, so the mention of four is unexplained. Also the measurements given of a large (98 mm SVL) unsexed specimen (Bocourt 1879) are consistent with Mabuya mabouya in size and head shape, and not with the lectotype, and therefore we have not incorporated those measurements here. In pattern, the species is noted as having " the upper region of the body tinged with sienna metallic greenish reflections. " A brown lateral stripe, bordered below by a yellow stripe, is described on the head and anterior of the body, disappearing behind the forearms. The venter is described as having " metallic tones of a greenish yellow. " Bocourt's figure shows two dark lateral stripes and a lack of dorsal striping, consistent with that description. Mabuya mabouya, also from Martinique, differs only slightly from that description, in having some evidence of pale dorsolateral stripes and dark dorsal flecks. Otherwise Boucourt's description (and figure) of the pattern of Capitellum metallicum is similar to that of M. mabouya.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is known only from a single specimen collected at an unknown locality on Martinique (Fig. 11 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No information is available on the ecology of this species (see Remarks for the genus suggesting that the species were likely terrestrial and cryptozoic). Multiple individuals of two species of ticks are attached in concealed areas behind the left arm. The lectotype was collected nearly two centuries ago, and there are no other existing specimens. The mongoose was introduced to Martinique, and rats are present as well, Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Capitellum metallicum to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. There are islets of Martinique that do not have mongooses and might sustain populations of this skink. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name is a feminine adjective referring to the coppery, metallic color of the preserved specimens described by Bocourt (1879).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0736FFBF2DA9EC947F6CFA3C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Shortly after Capitellum metallicum was described, it was synonymized with Brasiliscincus agilis (Boulenger 1887) and later with Mabuya mabouya (Dunn 1936), where it has remained in synonymy until now. However, this is quite surprising considering how different this species is from M. mabouya, the other species on Martinique. Bocourt (1879) mentioned that she examined three specimens for the description of Capitellum metallicum. However, there is no record of any other specimen numbers besides MNHN 5424 (Brygoo 1985), and therefore they appear to be lost. Fortunately she described some aspects of scalation and pattern in those three specimens and figured one of them, which was not the lectotype (see above, Variation). As noted by Bocourt (1879), at least one of the three specimens (and probably all three) was collected by Plée. Auguste Plée (1787 – 1825) collected in Martinique in ca. 1820 for the MNHN, and his skink material was examined by Duméril and Bibron (1839) and later by Bocourt (1879). Bocourt noted that one of the specimens of C. metallicum (the one with three supraoculars on one side) was treated by Duméril and Bibron (1839) as a variety of Eumeces mabouia (= redescription of Mabuya mabouya). Because M. mabouya has four supraciliaries, a similar pattern, and occasionally four supraoculars, it is possible that one of Bocourt's two lost specimens was an M. mabouya, something that is impossible to confirm. The small head and small number of digital lamellae, characters that we find to be especially diagnostic, were not considered by Bocourt. We accept Bocourt's description of pattern in this species only because her figure of C. metallicum shows an animal with four supraoculars and five supraciliaries on both sides (agreeing with characters of the lectotype), and the illustrated pattern agrees with her description. Otherwise we refrain from accepting other textual information from Bocourt regarding this species because of our concerns that it may pertain to confusion with M. mabouya. Martinique is a large island that is a composite of multiple paleoislands, and other reptiles show geographic variation within Martinique (Breuil 2002; Hedges 2008; Thorpe et al. 2010). There is no specific locality for Capitellum metallicum, and the only specific localities for Mabuya mabouya are on the " North Island " (= northern half of Martinique). Without specific knowledge otherwise, sympatry between the two species on Martinique must be assumed, although C. metallicum may have occupied the South Island, allopatric from M. mabouya on the North Island. The size difference in the two species, and the apparent terrestrial and cryptozoic habits of C. metallicum, would have reduced competition between them in sympatry.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	description	(Figs. 18 C, 19 C, 22)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMUC-R 99, an adult female from St. Croix (no specific locality), U. S. Virgin Islands, collected by " Mr. Eggers " and accessioned on 10 July 1875.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 68.1 mm (only known specimen); (3) snout width, 3.04 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.3 % SVL; (5) head width, 13.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.38 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, six; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, 6 – 7; (13) (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, N; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Capitellum, C. parvicruzae sp. nov. differs from the other two species (C. mariagalantae sp. nov. and C. metallicum) in having six (versus five) supraciliaries, a larger number of total digital lamellae (190 versus 167 – 169), separation of the parietals (versus contact), a wider snout (3.04 % SVL versus 2.41 – 2.55 % SVL), a longer head (16.3 % SVL versus 15.5 – 15.8 % SVL), and a wider head (13.0 % SVL versus 11.5 – 12.3 % SVL). Comparison of pattern differences is made difficult by the poor condition of the specimens of C. mariagalantae sp. nov. and C. metallicum (pattern information for C. mariagalantae sp. nov. is based primarily on developing fetuses and that for C. metallicum is based on the original description and figures because the lectotype has faded). Nonetheless, C. parvicruzae sp. nov. also appears to differ in pattern from the other two species in having narrow pale dorsolateral stripes present in the first third of the body, ending just beyond the forelimb insertion (versus wider pale dorsolateral stripes that extend more than two-thirds of body in C. mariagalantae sp. nov., and no pale dorsolateral stripes in C. metallicum; Fig. 19). Additionally, C. parvicruzae sp. nov. differs from C. metallicum in having a higher number of supralabial scales (supralabial six below the eye versus supralabial five below the eye in C. metallicum), and supranasal contact (versus no contact). Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. is the only member of the Genus Capitellum in the northern Caribbean, including the Bahamas and Greater Antilles. Thus it differs from all other species of skinks in that region, including the Virgin Islands, in generic-level characters. The combination of small hands and feet, a short head, six supraciliaries, a single row of nuchals, and absence of dark dorsolateral stripes will distinguish it from other skinks in the region.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 18 C, 22). An adult female in moderate state of preservation, with an injury in the nuchal area and with an abdominal slit. SVL 68.1 mm; tail length 26.7 mm (broken); HL 11.1 mm; HW 8.83 mm; SW 2.07 mm; EL 0.94 mm; and toe-IV length 7.09 mm; ear-opening large in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal roughly diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, not separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Six supraciliaries, the third the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Two or three upper preoculars and two (right) or three (left) lower preoculars. Eight (left) or nine (right) supralabials, the sixth (left) or seventh (right) being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Six moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly away from tip of snout. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by smaller cycloid scales. Body and limb scalation. One paired row of nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 63 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 63 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 11 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV, 41 / 42 (L / R) on hands, 54 / 53 (L / R) on feet, 190 total lamellae. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brownish-green with scattered dark brown spots. Dark extending from nuchal area to first third of body, with dark brown edges (0.55 – 0.86 mm), too thin and irregular to constitute dark dorsolateral stripes. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye onto tail, bordered below by a narrow (ventrolateral) dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces medium brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. No other specimens are known. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype are presented in Tables 3 – 5.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, 230 km 2 (Fig. 10 G).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No information is available on the ecology of this species (see Remarks for the genus suggesting that the species were likely terrestrial and cryptozoic). Aside from this single specimen collected at least 135 years ago, there are no other specimens or observations of the species. The mongoose was introduced to St. Croix at about that time, thus probably explaining the subsequent lack of records. It co-occurred with the large species Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. (107 mm, maximum SVL) on St. Croix, but that species, too, has not been seen since the late 19 th century. Forest habitats on St. Croix are limited because of occupation by humans and concomitant manipulation of the environment. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The Latin species name (parvicruzae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the smaller size of this species (parvus, small) compared with the other species on St. Croix, Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov., and to its distribution. The island was named " Santa Cruz " by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and later renamed Saint Croix by the French.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074BFFB82DA9E80A7F4CFA44.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This specimen was accessioned in the ZMUC collection after the publication of Reinhardt and Lütken (1863) and thus it was not mentioned in that treatment. We have not found evidence that it has been examined previously for taxonomic reviews of mabuyine skinks, or listed in another publication, which is why we show no synonymy. Unlike the 19 th century ZMH material from " St. Thomas, " some of which appears to have come from other locations (see Remarks under Marisora aurulae sp. nov. and Spondylurus fulgidus), we are more confident with locality information associated with the ZMUC material (14 specimens) from St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. Except for this one specimen, the species represented are all known from the Virgin Islands (based on material in other collections). We immediately noticed that ZMUC-R 99 was a representative of the Genus Capitellum, otherwise known from two very poorly preserved specimens from Marie-Galante and Martinique, 180 – 190 years old. In contrast, this specimen is well-preserved, including its color pattern. Details of the pattern agreed with C. mariagalantae sp. nov. (the pattern on C. metallicum is no longer visible but was figured and described in the original description, before it had faded) to further convince us that it was a Capitellum. The closest mainland species that it might be confused with are in the Genus Brasiliscincus. However, ZMUC-R 99 lacks the middorsal striping of species in that genus and has a higher number of dorsals + ventrals and a smaller ear. Despite being allied with Capitellum, it was sufficiently different in scalation from C. mariagalantae sp. nov. and C. metallicum to warrant recognition as a separate species, endemic to St. Croix. The holotype of Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. was collected in 1875, together with a specimen of Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. (the other species on St. Croix), by " Mr. Eggers. " This almost certainly refers to Henrik Franz Alexander von Eggers, a Danish army captain and naturalist of St. Croix who published a Flora of the island at about that time (Eggers 1879). Unfortunately there are no other collection data associated with the holotype, and no other specimens are known. Besides having a broken tail, it has a large injury behind the head. A puncture wound on the throat, immediately below the dorsal wound, suggests that a knife was used to kill the lizard from above, with the point of the blade exiting the throat.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074CFFBA2DA9EBD27E2CF94F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 3 – 6 (usually 5 – 6), (3) supraoculars, four (rarely three), (4) prefrontal contact, absent (or contact rarely), (5) parietal contact, absent (or contact rarely), (6) rows of nuchals, one (occasionally no rows), (7) dorsals + ventrals, 105 – 120, (8) total lamellae, 196 – 253, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent (chin spotting in Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov.). They are large, with a range of maximum body sizes among the species of 91 – 121 mm SVL (Table 2). The combination of the above characters, but especially the separation of the parietal scales (in almost all individuals) and low dorsal + ventral counts, distinguishes this genus from all other genera. In most (excluding Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov.), the sublabials extend all the way forward to the fused postmental (or nearly so), and this is another useful character, although not unique in the genus (e. g., it occurs in Notomabuya frenata). The dark lateral stripe of species in this genus usually extends all the way back to the hindlimbs (or further), and the dorsum, which lacks dark dorsolateral stripes and a pale middorsal stripe, is usually covered with scattered dark spots, but coloration and pattern are variable. Content. Five species are placed in the genus: Copeoglossum arajara, C. aurae sp. nov., C. margaritae sp. nov., C. nigropunctatum, and C. redondae sp. nov. (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074CFFBA2DA9EBD27E2CF94F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed throughout much of the Amazon basin and other regions of central, northern, and eastern South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela (including Isla de Margarita), Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. It also occurs in the Lesser Antilles (Redonda, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Grenada), Trinidad, and Tobago (Figs. 1, 8 C, 9 D, and 11 D – E, I – J).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074CFFBA2DA9EBD27E2CF94F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Copeoglossum) is a neuter noun, derived from the Greek nouns kopeus (chisel) and glossa (tongue), in allusion to the shape of the tongue.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074CFFBA2DA9EBD27E2CF94F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Avila-Pires (Avila-Pires 1995) redefined Copeoglossum nigropunctatum and designated a neotype from Brazil. Since then, the species has been shown to be distributed even more widely (Miralles et al. 2005 a; Miralles & Carranza 2010). However, molecular phylogenetic evidence here (Fig. 5), and evidence presented previously with most of the same sequences (Whiting et al. 2006; Miralles and Carranza 2010), has revealed that the species is comprised of genetically diverse populations with long branch lengths, indicating the presence of unnamed species. Miralles and Carranza (2010) did not make a revision of C. nigropunctatum, and did not diagnose taxa, but instead suggested that three clades could be recognized within what is currently C. nigropunctatum, and gave them geographic names: (1) the " Occidental Clade, " a northern (including Caribbean islands) and western group that presumably encompasses the type-locality of C. nigropunctatum, (2) the " Oriental Clade, " extending from the Atlantic to western and southern Brazil, and (3) the " Meridional Clade, " distributed in southern Brazil. Miralles and Carranza (2010) further suggested the three clades represent three species, recommending that the name Euprepis surinamensis Hallowell (1857) be used for the Oriental Clade. However, the holotype of that species is missing and presumed lost (Dunn 1936), a serious problem for allocating the name to one of several overlapping clades (within the Oriental Clade) in northeast South America (see below). Also, Tiliqua aenea Gray (1831 a) is an earlier available name for a South American (not Antillean) skink species within the Genus Copeoglossum (see discussion below, in Remarks for C. aurae sp. nov.). No molecular data are yet available for Mabuya arajara, but Miralles and Carranza (2011) suggested that it belongs to the Oriental Clade. Therefore, the Genus Copeoglossum as recognized here is synonymous with the " Mabuya nigropunctata species complex " of Miralles and Carranza (2011). Our interpretation of the number and distribution of unnamed species in Copeoglossum differs from that of Miralles and Carranza (2010). We examined museum material of this genus, from the Occidental and Oriental clades (Appendix 2) and Caribbean islands, and diagnose three new species from Caribbean islands. DNA sequences are not available for two of those (C. margaritae sp. nov. and C. redondae sp. nov.) but sequences from the other species (C. aurae sp. nov.) indicate that it belongs to the Occidental Clade and differs from C. nigropunctatum sequences in that clade (samples 1 – 2, 5 – 9, 31; presumably C. nigropunctatum sensu stricto) by 5 % sequence divergence (cyt b) and from a Venezuelan sample (sample 41) by 2.6 % (Fig. 6). In terms of degree of morphological and molecular divergence, this is consistent with our results for species differences in other genera of mabuyine skinks (Figs. 5 – 7), and therefore, in contrast to Miralles and Carranza (2010), we conclude that each of these three clades of Copeoglossum contain multiple species, instead of a single species. Until a revision is made of the South American material of Copeoglossum, beyond the scope of this study, it is not possible to assign available names or new names to clades in that region. The three clades defined by Miralles and Carranza (2010) overlap broadly, in contrast to their geographic names. Based on the distribution of localities within each clade, their relationships, and levels of sequence divergence, we propose that Copeoglossum contains at least 14 species, including the three diagnosed here from Caribbean islands. We have not used a strict sequence divergence cutoff to diagnose species. Instead, we note that our putative species show a geographic cohesiveness below about 1 – 2 % (cyt b) divergence and lose that cohesiveness above about 2 – 3 % divergence. This is consistent with skink species on Caribbean islands where we find that several morphologically diagnosable species differ by only 1.5 % sequence divergence, and sympatric species (e. g., S. semitaeniatus and S. sloanii) differ by as little as Concerning the Occidental Clade, there are at least five species. We agree with Miralles and Carranza (2010) that the name Copeoglossum nigropunctatum probably goes with this clade, and most likely with samples 5 – 9 in our analysis. Those samples are from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, which contains the type-locality. We also include samples 1 – 2 (Porto Walter, Acre, Brazil) and sample 31 (Puerto Inirida, Guainia, Colombia) in this putative Species A. It is uncertain whether all of these samples represent the same species, yet they have a relatively small amount of sequence divergence (<2 %) considering their great geographic separation (up to ~ 1500 km). Species B, an unnamed species, is represented in the tree by sample 41, from north-central Venezuela (Turiamo, Aragua). It is the closest relative of C. aurae sp. nov. (Figs. 5 – 7). We examined museum material from that region and elsewhere in Venezuela (Appendix 2) as part of our diagnosis of the three Caribbean species. We tentatively treat the other two Caribbean island species, C. margaritae sp. nov. and C. redondae sp. nov., as members of the Occidental clade, based largely on geography, but their relationships within the Genus Copeoglossum are not known. Atlantic ocean currents (Hedges 1996 b) also may have brought the ancestor of C. redondae sp. nov. from eastern South America (Oriental Clade). Within the Meridional Clade, we have identified three putative species (C – E). Species C is from the western Brazilian Highlands (samples 23 – 24, and 26; all from Rondônia, Brazil). As noted by Miralles and Carranza (2010), there is sympatry at that locality with another putative species (our Species I, of the Oriental Clade). We tentatively include sample 10 (Brasilía, Brazil) in this species, from ~ 2000 km to the east. It shows a relatively small amount of divergence (~ 2 %) from the Rondônia samples of Species C in Fig. 6, but it is missing a sequence from the fast-evolving cyt b gene, which would otherwise increase that overall divergence. Species D is represented by sample 15 (Aripuanã, Mato Grosso, Brazil). As noted by Miralles and Carranza (2010), there is sympatry at that locality with another putative species (again, our Species I, of the Oriental Clade). Species E includes Brazilian samples 13 (Niquelandia, Goias) and 16 (UHE Manso, Mato Grosso) with relatively small sequence divergence (1.4 %; Fig. 6) between them despite a large geographic separation (~ 800 km). The cyt b sequence divergence among species C – E is as high as 8 % (Fig. 6). Within the Oriental Clade, we have identified five putative species, each geographically distinct and with several occurring broadly and narrowly in sympatry in the Guiana Highlands, and separated from each other by 3.0 – 8.5 % (Fig. 6). Species F is from the Brazilian Highlands (sample 21; Piaui, Brazil). Species G is broadly distributed and occurs in the central (samples 27 – 30; Mount Roraima) and eastern (samples 17 – 20, 32, and 39; southern Guyana, and Pic Coudreau, French Guiana) Guiana Highlands southward and eastward to the Amazon delta area (samples 27 – 30; three locations in Pará, Brazil) and over to the northeast Brazilian Highlands (samples 11 – 12; Ceara, Brazil). Species H is from the Guiana Highlands (samples 35 – 38, 40, and 42; St. Eugène and Pic Coudreau). Species I is from the western Brazilian Highlands (samples 14, 22, and 25; Mato Grosso Plateau). Species J is also from the Guiana Highlands (samples 3 – 4, and 33 – 34; Mitaraka, French Guiana and Amapá, Brazil). Two species (G and H) are sympatric at Pic Coudreau, French Guiana (samples 39 – 40). These two putative species are not each other's closest relatives, and have a sequence divergence (cyt b) of 4.7 % (Fig. 6). In summary, we suggest here that the Copeoglossum contains at least 14 species, three of which are diagnosed and named below. That interpretation is consistent with morphological and genetic divergence in mabuyine skinks of Caribbean islands. Instead of applying a strict genetic divergence cutoff to arrive at that conclusion, we use phylogenetic pattern, geography, sympatry, and sequence divergence. There were insufficient samples to perform an ABGD analysis (Puillandre et al. 2011). However, this may be a useful tool for species delimitation in mabuyines in the future, as more samples and DNA sequences become available. Until a revision is made of South American members of Copeoglossum, we recommend continued use of the name C. nigropunctatum for the unnamed putative species discussed above.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	description	(Figs. 23 A, 24 A, 25)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	description	Mabuya nigropunctata — Miralles et al., 2005: 833 (part). Mabuya nigropunctata — Miralles et al., 2009: 609 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 185624, an adult male, collected in Kingston, St. George Province, St. Vincent, in April 1886 by W. B. Richardson. Paratypes (n = 32). Grenada. BMNH 86.6. 29.19, G. Murray, " Island of Grenada, " 1886; MCZ R- 79744, James Lazell, Tempe, 22 June 1964. Grenadines. KU 242047 – 48, Albert Schwartz, Park, Bequia Island, 18 March 1961; KU 242051, Albert Schwartz, Grand Bay, Mustique Island, 15 December 1961; MCZ R- 79097 and R- 79099, C. MacIntosh, Carriacou, 1963; MCZ R- 79100, George Gorman, Bequia Island, 30 April 1964; USNM 79131, Paul Bartsch, Petit Martinique, 1929. St. Vincent. BMNH 90.11.25.16 – 17, F. D. Goodman, no specific locality, 1890; CAS 39439, Blake Expedition, Kingston, 18 February 1879; MCZ R- 6040, Samuel W. Garmin, Kingston, 18 February 1879; MCZ R- 6041, R- 185623, R- 185625 – 26, W. B. Richardson, Kingston, April 1886. Trinidad. AMNH R 101327, George Campbell, Chaguaramas, February 1943; CAS 39483, C. S. Cazabon, no specific locality, 1879; CAS 231775, R. Lawson et al. Manzanilla Beach, 18 July 2004; CM 6565, M. Graham Netting, Manzanilla Beach, 22 September 1927; KU 242013, Albert Schwartz, Nariva, 4 May 1963; MCZ R- 6039, Samuel Garmin (no additional information available); MCZ R- 8994, R. Thaxter, Port of Spain, April 1913; MCZ R- 79818, James D. Lazell, Aripe Savannah, 14 July 1964; UMMZ 79919 and 239606, no specific locality, collector, or date; MCZ R- 100481, H. Boos, Huevos Island, 3 May 1966. Tobago. KU 242009 – 11, Albert Schwartz, 4 miles N Mt. St. George, 12 May 1963; MCZ R- 185622, Garth L. Underwood, Scarborough, 5 September 1956.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 98.5 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 109 mm; (3) snout width, 2.64 – 3.63 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.3 – 20.7 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.5 – 16.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.02 – 2.19 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (3 %), four (97 %); (10) supraciliaries, four (3 %), five (66 %), six (31 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, six (91 %), seven (9 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 50 – 59; (15) ventrals, 54 – 65; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 106 – 117; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29 – 32; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (16 %), N (84 %); (24) parietal contact, Y (3 %), N (97 %); (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Table 2). Within the Genus Copeoglossum, C. aurae sp. nov. differs from C. arajara (Rebouças-Spieker 1981) in having more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (29 – 32 versus 26 in C. arajara), more supraciliaries (5 – 6 in 97 %, four in 3 % of C. aurae sp. nov. versus four, or rarely three or five, in C. arajara), and dark palms and soles (pale in C. arajara). Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. differs from C. nigropunctatum in having a narrower frontonasal scale (frontonasal width / length 0.97 – 1.28 versus 1.30 – 2.03 in C. nigropunctatum; Fig. 26), a shorter supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio 0.38 – 0.69 in C. aurae sp. nov. versus 0.68 – 1.23 in C. nigropunctatum; Fig. 27), and supranasals not in contact (in contact in 94 % of C. nigropunctatum). It differs from C. margaritae sp. nov. in having a lower number of ventral scales (54 – 65 versus 66), a shorter supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio 0.38 – 0.69 in C. aurae sp. nov. versus 0.75 – 0.88 in C. margaritae sp. nov.) (Fig. 27), a smaller body size (109 versus 120 mm maximum SVL), and a longer toe-IV (length 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL versus 9.06 %), although the relatively shorter toe-IV in C. margaritae sp. nov. may be related to its large size. Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. also lacks spotting on the chin (present in C. margaritae sp. nov.). Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. differs from C. redondae sp. nov. in having no contact between the first paired chin shields and infralabials (broad contact in C. redondae sp. nov.), a smaller ear (ear length 1.02 – 2.19 % SVL versus 2.42 % SVL in C. redondae sp. nov.), and a longer toe-IV (10.1 – 12.7 % SVL versus 9.43 % in C. redondae sp. nov.). Preserved C. aurae sp. nov. appear to be paler in coloration than C. nigropunctatum and C. margaritae sp. nov., noted also by Ugueto and Rivas (2010), but that was a character difficult to quantify or classify, especially given the effects of preservation and age on coloration. Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. also differs in many ways from a sympatric species, Marisora aurulae sp. nov., described below, in a different genus. One scale character that may be used to separate them readily is parietal contact (not in contact, or rarely just touching, in C. aurae sp. nov.; in contact in M. aurulae sp. nov.). Another involves chin scales in contact with infralabials between postmental and first sublabial. There are none in C. aurae sp. nov. and 2 – 4 in M. aurulae sp. nov. (Fig. 3). In coloration, C. aurae sp. nov. nearly always has a distinctly spotted dorsum and dark lateral stripes that extend to the hindlimbs and onto the tail (Fig. 24 A). Marisora aurulae	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Fig. 25 A – C). An adult male in good state of preservation, without injuries and with two abdominal slits. SVL 90.7 mm; tail length 64.6 mm (regenerated and broken); HL 17.2 mm; HW 12.1 mm; SW 2.92 mm; EL 1.86 mm; and toe-IV length 10.7 mm; ear-opening large in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, fused with right parietal, not separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Six supraciliaries, five approximately equal in length and the sixth smaller than the others. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. Postnasal bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first and second supralabials. Anterior loreal rectangular and posterior loreal squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved toward the tip of the snout. Postmental scale and zero pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 53 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 58 in a longitudinal row; 29 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portion of tail, one enlarged row each of middorsal and midventral scales and 3 – 4 lateral rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 18 under toe-IV. Five preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated portion of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium grayish-green with small-to-medium dark brown spots (usually 1 / 2 to 1 / 5 of a scale in size), uniformly distributed on body, base of tail, and limbs (limbs more densely spotted and with larger spots). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, brown, irregular (series of close medium and dark brown blotches), extending from loreal region onto tail. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes present, greenish-white, extending from below ear to hindlimbs, bordered below by a series of discontinuous brown spots. Two thin dark brown dorsolateral stripes on regenerated part of tail. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration (in preservative), most specimens resembled the holotype, except that dorsal color varies among shades of brown, gray, and green (Table 5). The dorsum of some specimens is heavily spotted, sometimes with dark brown spots aligned dorsolaterally; others have fewer spots. Some specimens have paler areas just above the dark lateral stripes, but on others, the dorsal color is constant. A photo of a live individual from Union Island, Grenadines is shown here (Fig. 25 D). Ugueto and Rivas (2010) noted that skinks from Trinidad and Tobago are paler than those (= C. nigropunctatum) from South America. The photo of a skink from near Arima, Trinidad (Murphy 1997) is of C. aurae sp. nov. (as opposed to M. aurulae sp. nov.) because it shows separated parietal scales. The greenish hue seen in many preserved specimens is an artifact of preservation, as it is not seen in these live individuals.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. is distributed on Grenada, St. Vincent, the Grenadines (Bequia, Carriacou, Mustique, Petit Martinique, and Union Islands), Trinidad (including Huevos Island), and Tobago (Fig. 11 D, I – J). The Union Island record is based on image identification (Fig. 25 D). A DNA sequence from an uncataloged specimen collected on the nearby Peninsula de Paria (Sucre, Venezuela), reported by Miralles and Carranza (2010), clusters with this species in our tree (Fig. 5), indicating that the species also occurs on the mainland, possibly restricted to that peninsula. Previous distributional data in the literature (Murphy 1997; Daudin & de Silva 2007) cannot be used because it confounds C. aurae sp. nov. and Marisora aurulae sp. nov.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is available specifically for this species. Past ecological information reported for skinks from Trinidad and Tobago, summarized in Murphy (1997), probably confounds Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. and Marisora aurulae sp. nov. In those reports, skinks were noted as occurring in a diversity of habitats, including rainforest, forest edge, coconut trash, and cultivated and disturbed areas. In the Grenadines, skinks have been found usually on the ground " in woody underbrush and between cacti " and climbing among cacti and on tree trunks (Daudin & de Silva 2007). According to Barbour (1937), skinks were already extirpated from the large islands of St. Vincent and Grenada by 1937, by the introduced mongoose. However, one specimen of C. aurae sp. nov. was collected in 1964 at Tempe, Grenada. Many herpetologists have visited Grenada and St. Vincent in the last four decades and no sightings of skinks have been reported. Circumstantial evidence suggests that black rats (Rattus rattus) are also predators, and these are on many islands. Skinks have not been extirpated from Trinidad, despite the presence of the mongoose on that island. In the past, Trinidad has had geological connections with South America and has a continental mammalian fauna that included natural predators of skinks, which may explain how they have survived (Murphy 1997). We identified more than twice as many specimens in museums of C. aurae sp. nov. than of Marisora aurulae sp. nov., suggesting that C. aurae sp. nov. is the more abundant species of the two. Now that these two species have been identified and described, studies are needed to assess their ecological relations and further clarify their conservation status. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. as Vulnerable (VU A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extirpation on Grenada and St. Vincent. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists on Grenada and St. Vincent, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Reproduction. Two females (93.0 and 95.3 mm SVL) contained one and three developing young. The dates of collection for those specimens were 12 May 1963 and 18 March 1961, respectively.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (aurae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, from the Latin noun aura (wind), alluding to its distribution on the Windward Islands (the southern Lesser Antilles, sometimes including Trinidad and Tobago). The term " windward " is in reference to early travel across the Atlantic in sailing ships, which encountered these islands first because of wind direction. The Leeward Islands were those encountered subsequent to the Windward Islands. There has been some confusion over the centuries as to which islands should be called windward and leeward, but those in the southern Lesser Antilles (Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Grenada) have always been called windward (Hedges 2011). The first part of the common name (Greater Windward Skink) refers to the larger body size of this species compared with M. aurulae sp. nov. (Lesser Windward Skink), described below.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F074EFFB32DA9E8D17E0CFDCF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The name Tiliqua (Mabuya) aenea (Gray 1831 a) does not to apply to this species. We have examined the two syntypes, BMNH 1946.8.15.12 and 1946.8.19.78, and they agree with populations currently placed in Copeoglossum nigropunctatum from South America. Both specimens have supranasals in broad contact (typical of C. nigropunctatum), whereas all 33 specimens examined of C. aurae sp. nov. (from throughout its range) lack supranasal contact, something alluded to by Boulenger (1891) when he reported on two specimens of what is here called C. aurae sp. nov. (BMNH 90.11.25.16 – 17) from St. Vincent that did not agree with the type of M. aenea. Also the ratios of frontonasal width versus length in the two syntypes of Tiliqua aenea (1.32 and 1.65) agree with C. nigropunctatum (1.30 – 2.03) and not C. aurae sp. nov. (0.97 – 1.28) (Fig. 26). Those syntypes also have 27 – 28 finger-IV + toe-IV digital lamellae, in agreement with modal values in C. nigropunctatum (range, 26 – 32) and fewer than in specimens of C. aurae sp. nov. (29 – 32). Also, one (BMNH 1946.8.15.12) has prefrontal contact, and prefrontals are nearly in contact in the other specimen (BMNH 1946.8.19.78). Prefrontal contact is rare in mabuyines and not present in any C. aurae sp. nov. examined, but it occurs in C. nigropunctatum at a moderate frequency (~ 20 % in those examined). Gray (1831 a) described Tiliqua aenea from " Brazils, " a name generally applied at that time, without precision, to many areas in eastern and northern South America. Later, Gray (1845) listed specimens (now considered the syntypes) " in spirits " from " W. Indies " and " St. Vincents, " and " from the Rev. L. Guilding's collection. " Because the BMNH register starts in 1837 (Underwood 1993), it is not possible and animals on that island (Howard & Howard 1985). There is no record that he collected on the mainland of South America, but he was visited by colleagues who did collect material in South America (Howard & Howard 1985), and that may explain the origin of the syntypes of T. aenea. Confusion in localities (West Indies versus South America) has been documented for other BMNH specimens of reptiles, including skinks, collected in the early nineteenth century (Underwood 1993; Miralles et al. 2009 a). We place Tiliqua aenea Gray (1831 a) in the synonymy of C. nigropunctatum Spix (1825). However, given the great genetic diversity of the latter species (see discussion above, in Remarks for Copeoglossum), it is likely that the name Copeoglossum aeneum will re-emerge in the future as a valid species of South American skink. Miralles et al. (2005; 2006 b; 2009; 2009) and Miralles and Carranza (2010) examined specimens designated here as C. aurae sp. nov. but considered them to be members of C. nigropunctatum. Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. is broadly sympatric with another new species, Marisora aurulae sp. nov. (described below). They have remarkably similar distributions, with both occurring on St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago. They are similar in appearance in that both lack dark dorsolateral stripes but have dark lateral stripes. It is not known whether they have similar microhabitats, but they have been taken together at two localities (Carriacou Island, Grenadines and Scarborough, Tobago), each on the same date and by the same collector. The first museum specimens of what is here called C. aurae sp. nov. turned up nearly 132 years ago, and those of what is here called Marisora aurulae sp. nov. first appeared about 129 years ago, and old specimens of each are from multiple islands. There is no indication that either species was introduced to the islands or among the islands, and it is unlikely they were a significant food source for native Americans (another possible explanation for distribution among islands). Thus, their current distribution on multiple islands is probably natural, transported by flotsam before the arrival of humans.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	description	(Figs. 23 B, 24 B, 28) Mabuya nigropunctata — Miralles et al., 2005: 833 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. USNM 217141, an adult female, collected 3 km NE La Asuncion, Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela (11 ° 03 ' N, 63 ° 51 ' W, 410 m), in February, 1967. Collector unrecorded. Field number SVP 12355 (Smithsonian Venezuelan Project). Paratypes (n = 2). Margarita Island, Venezuela. MHNLS 3401 – 02, Cerro Copey (Collected in 1953 by Felipe Martín). Photographs examined.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) SVL of holotype female, 118.8 mm; SVL of unsexed paratype MHNLS 3401 (probably female), 121 mm; (3) snout width, 2.93 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.1 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.6 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.14 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.06 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two (n = 3); (9) supraoculars, four (n = 3); (10) supraciliaries, six (n = 3); (11) frontoparietals, two (n = 3); (12) supralabial below the eye, six (n = 2) or seven (n = 1); (13) nuchal rows, one (n = 2); (14) dorsals, 53 – 55 (n = 3); (15) ventrals, 66 (n = 2); (16) dorsals + ventrals, 119 – 120 (n = 2); (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 31 (n = 2); (18) finger-IV lamellae, 15 – 16 (n = 2); (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 17 (n = 2); (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 32 – 33 (n = 2); (21) supranasal contact, N (n = 3); (22) prefrontal contact, N (n = 3); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N (n = 3); (24) parietal contact, N (n = 2); (25) pale middorsal stripe, N (n = 3); (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N (n = 3); (27) dark lateral stripe, Y (n = 3); (28) pale lateral stripe, Y (n = 3); and (29) palms and soles, dark (n = 3); data based on holotype unless indicated (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Copeoglossum, C. margaritae sp. nov. differs from all other species by having a higher number of ventral scales (66 versus 54 – 65 in other species), a larger body size (121 mm maximum SVL versus 100 – 113 mm maximum SVL), and chin spotting (absent in the other species). It differs from C. arajara (Rebouças- Spieker 1981), additionally, in having more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (32 – 33 versus 26), more supraciliaries (six versus 3 – 5), and dark palms and soles (pale in C. arajara). It differs from C. aurae sp. nov., additionally, by having a longer supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio 0.75 – 0.88 in C. margaritae sp. nov. versus 0.38 – 0.69 C. aurae sp. nov.) (Fig. 27) and in having a shorter toe-IV (9.06 % SVL versus 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL). It differs from C. nigropunctatum, additionally, in having a narrower frontonasal scale (frontonasal width / length 1.20 – 1.26 (n = 3) versus 1.30 – 2.03 in C. nigropunctatum; Fig. 26), by lacking supranasal contact (in contact in 94 % of C. nigropunctatum), and by having a high number (32 – 33) of finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (versus 94 % of C. nigropunctatum with fewer than 32 lamellae). It differs from C. redondae sp. nov., additionally, by having a longer supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio 0.75 – 0.88 in C. margaritae sp. nov. versus 0.58 in C. redondae sp. nov.; Fig. 27), more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (32 – 33 versus 29), and a smaller ear (ear	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 23 B, 28). An adult female in excellent state of preservation, with a small ventral injury and an abdominal slit. SVL 118.8 mm; tail length 135 mm (regenerated); HL 20.3 mm; HW 15.0 mm; SW 3.48 mm; EL 1.35 mm; and toe-IV length 10.8 mm; ear-opening small in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with primary postocular and upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Six supraciliaries, approximately equal in length (third largest, fifth and sixth smallest). Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial (left) and first and second supralabials (right). Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals on the right and four on the left; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and zero pairs of chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. Two pairs of chin shields in contact medially. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 54 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 66 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portion of tail, one row each of enlarged middorsal and midventral scales with 1 – 2 lateral scale rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 15 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Six preanals, with scales similar to ventrals. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color dark grayish-brown with small-to-medium dark brown spots distributed on body, tail, and limbs (limbs more densely spotted and mottled). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to tail. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye to hindlimbs, bordered below by a series of irregular dark brown spots. The entire chin is patterned with small dark brown spots and flecks. The remainder of the ventral surface is unpatterned. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and (where available) paratypes are presented in Tables 3 – 5. Examination of the paratypes (unsexed) was made using photographs. Both paratypes had major ventral incisions and some damage to dorsal scalation, precluding the scoring of some characters. Measurement of SVL from images was done by following the curvature of the specimens, and checked by measuring from dorsal and ventral views. Ugueto and Rivas (2010) considered the mabuyine skinks on Margarita to belong to C. nigropunctatum, but they noted paler coloration in individuals from the island.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Isla de Margarita (920 km 2), Venezuela (Fig. 9 D).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Ugueto and Rivas (2010) report, concerning the occurrence of this species on Isla de Margarita, that " it has been found in premontane evergreen and cloud forests at 200 – 700 m. Although frequently observed on the ground, this skink is also occasionally observed perched on tree trunks, shrubs, and bushes. " Ecological notes associated with the holotype (provided by the USNM) indicate that it was taken on a ridge top in moist evergreen forest scrub, captured at night under partly cloudy skies with a light breeze. The island continues to be developed as a tourist destination, domestically and internationally. A critically endangered primate, Cebus apella margaritae, occurs on the island, and one of the reasons it is threatened is because of forest fragmentation and " ongoing habitat loss " (IUCN 2011). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov. as Vulnerable (VU A 2 ac). It faces a primary threat from habitat alteration (as for the primate). Its apparent preferred habitat (montane forest) is only a small portion of the island (and is shrinking because of development), and the small number of specimens (three) in museums suggests that it is uncommon. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Reproduction. The female holotype does not contain developing young, which is perhaps consistent with its capture in the mountains (410 m) during February. Notes on reproduction in Ugueto and Rivas (2010), for C. nigropunctatum, apparently are not specific to this species on Isla de Margarita.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0747FFAC2DA9EC517E7BFDE4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The fact that two of the three known specimens of Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov. are larger than any other species in the Subfamily Mabuyinae further supports its distinction and suggests that this species may reach an even larger size. Also, that it is found on an island is consistent with the general pattern of body size extremes often evolving on islands. Apparently this is because there are more open ecological niches on islands — whether from excess extinction or the filtering effect of overwater dispersal — permitting species that are present to evolve larger or smaller body sizes (Hedges 2008). The size difference is even more remarkable given that the species with which C. margaritae sp. nov. has been confused, Copeoglossum nigropunctatum, is widespread in South America and known from many hundreds of museum specimens, yet the largest specimen of that species (113 mm SVL) is smaller (Avila-Pires 1995). Miralles et al. (2005 a, 2006 b, 2009), Rivas et al. (2005), and Miralles and Carranza (2010) examined specimens (MHNLS 3401 – 02) designated here as C. margaritae sp. nov. but considered them to be members of C. nigropunctatum. USNM 217141, which was collected much earlier, was not examined or noted by those authors.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	description	(Figs. 23 C, 24 C, 29)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ANSP 9517, an adult female, collected on Redonda in 1863 – 1873 (see Remarks), and donated to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by Dr. Hendrik van Rijgersma.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 100.1 mm (only specimen); (3) snout width, 2.89 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.1 % SVL; (5) head width, 14.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 2.42 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.43 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, five (50 %), six (50 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (50 %), six (50 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 53; (15) ventrals, 59; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 112; (17) midbody scale rows, 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, N; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (possibly darkened by preservative) (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Copeoglossum, C. redondae sp. nov. differs from all other species except C. nigropunctatum by having a larger auricular opening (ear length 2.42 % SVL versus 1.02 – 2.19 % in those other species). It differs from C. nigropunctatum by having a narrower frontonasal scale (frontonasal width / length 1.20 versus 1.30 – 2.03 in C. nigropunctatum) (Fig. 26), a shorter supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio 0.58 in C. redondae sp. nov. versus 0.68 – 1.23 in C. nigropunctatum; Fig. 27), and supranasals not in contact (in contact in 94 % of C. nigropunctatum). Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov. differs from C. arajara (Rebouças-Spieker 1981) in having more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (29 versus 26) and more supraciliaries (5 – 6 versus four, or rarely three or five, in C. arajara). Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov. differs from C. aurae sp. nov. in having broad contact between the first paired chin shields and infralabials (no contact in C. aurae sp. nov.) and a shorter toe-IV (9.43 % SVL versus 10.1 – 12.7 %). Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov. differs from C. margaritae sp. nov. in having a lower number of ventral scales (59 versus 66), a shorter supraocular- 2 scale (supraocular- 2 / supraocular- 1 length ratio diagnostic traits of that genus (see above), especially the separation of the parietal scales and low dorsal + ventral scale count. It also has dark dorsal spots (no dorsolateral stripes) and dark lateral stripes extending onto tail, both characteristics of the genus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 23 C, 29). An adult female in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 100.1 mm; tail length 145.5 mm (complete, never regenerated, but in two separate pieces); HL 16.1 mm; HW 14.1 mm; SW 2.89 mm; EL 2.42 mm; and toe-IV length 9.44 mm; ear-opening large in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, not separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Six (left) and five (right) supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven (right) and eight (left) supralabials, the fifth (right) and sixth (left) being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Two moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars on the right and three on the left; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields (plus one additional left chin shield) in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 53 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 59 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. The pattern is present but considerably faded from many years in preservative. Dorsal ground color pale brown with medium brown spots, distributed on body and limbs (limbs are more densely spotted and mottled). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, medium brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body and onto tail. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes present, pale tan, extending from behind eye to hindlimbs, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces pale brown to medium brown, similar to ground color. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. No other specimens are known. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype are presented in Tables 3 – 5.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Redonda (Fig. 11 E), only ~ 2 km 2.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is available. Guano mining took place on Redonda from 1869 to about 1920, during which time the island was inhabited. Since then it has been uninhabited, but there are feral goats (Capra aegagrus Erxleben) and black rats (Rattus rattus) (Daltry 2007), which have almost certainly disturbed the habitat. No individuals have been seen since the holotype was collected. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Copeoglossum redondae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0758FFA92DA9ECB27D51FDE4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (redondae) is a feminine genitive singular noun and refers to the distribution of the species on the island of Redonda. animals and sent the latter to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. They were received by Edward Drinker Cope, who acknowledged the collection (Holthius 1959). No information is associated with this specimen other than the island and the donor, but we note that the date of collection can be constrained by a notice published in 1873 (Leidy 1873) stating that a " jar containing a collection of small vertebrates and some invertebrates, from the Isle Redowda, W. I., was presented by Dr. R. E. Van Rijgersma. " Despite the misspellings, this certainly refers to H. E. van Rijgersma and Redonda Island. Dunn mentioned this specimen in the first sentence of his revision of " American Mabuyas " (Dunn 1936): " the following notes are an attempt to name Mabuyas from the islands of St. Martin, Redonda, and Marie Galante, in the collection of the Academy. " Miralles (2005) considered " M. mabouya " to be " the most southern species in the Lesser Antilles " and " endemic to Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia, " but he did not mention or discuss the skinks from northern islands (St. Martin, Redonda or Montserrat) or those south of St. Lucia (St. Vincent, Grenadines, and Grenada).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFA92DA9ECB279DEF907.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya nigropalmata Andersson, 1918: 8.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFA92DA9ECB279DEF907.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, one, (2) supraciliaries, five, (3) supraoculars, four, as reported in original description (Andersson 1918), but supraoculars were not reported by Miralles et al. (2009), (4) prefrontal contact, present, (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, 2 – 3, (7) dorsals + ventrals, undetermined (46 – 58 dorsals and 30 – 47 ventrals as reported by Miralles et al., 2009 a, but those counts were made using a different counting method than used here), (8) total lamellae, not reported, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Body size was not reported by Miralles et al. (2009), but Andersson (1918) noted in the original description that the largest specimen was 60 mm SVL (Table 2). Having a single (fused) frontoparietal separates Exila from all others except Notomabuya and Panopa (single frontoparietal) and Aspronema (1 – 2 frontoparietals). Contact between the prefrontals separates Exila from Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Notomabuya, and Psychosaura (no contact) and from Alinea, Aspronema, Copeoglossum, Mabuya, Manciola, Maracaiba, and Marisora (contact only rarely). From Aspronema, Brasiliscincus, Manciola, Orosaura, Panopa, Psychosaura, and Spondylurus, it is distinguished by the absence of dark dorsolateral stripes. It differs from Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Copeoglossum, Manciola, Maracaiba, Notomabuya, Orosaura, and Varzea by having more than one pair of nuchals. Content. A single species is placed in this genus: Exila nigropalmata (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFA92DA9ECB279DEF907.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is distributed in the Western Amazonian Basin and on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru (Miralles et al. 2009 a; Fig. 8 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFA92DA9ECB279DEF907.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Exila) is a feminine noun derived from the Latin adjective exilis (lean), alluding to the thin body shape and unusually low number of midbody scale rows in this species (24 – 28).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFA92DA9ECB279DEF907.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The single species placed in this genus, Exila nigropalmata, was found to be a unique and divergent lineage in published molecular phylogenies (Miralles et al. 2009 a; Miralles & Carranza 2010) and in our tree (Fig. 5). Its phylogenetic position has not yet been firmly established among the various generic clades (e. g., Copeoglossum, Spondylurus). Its possession of a unique mix of characters (one frontoparietal, contact of prefrontals, multiple nuchals, five supraciliaries, no dark dorsolateral stripes, high number of toe-IV lamellae, and thin body shape) separate it from all other genera. Recently collected material (Miralles et al. 2009 a) added knowledge to the systematics, distribution, and natural history of this otherwise poorly known species and genus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	description	Mabouya — Gray, 1845: 93 (unjustified emendation). Mabuia — Cope, 1862: 185 (unjustified emendation).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	description	Mabuya — Mausfeld et al., 2002: 288.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, four (occasionally three, five, or six), (3) supraoculars, three, in at least some individuals of all species, with two occurring in some individuals of Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. and M. guadeloupae sp. nov., and four occurring in some individuals of M. mabouya and M. dominicana, (4) prefrontal contact, absent (or contact rarely), (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, one (occasionally two), (7) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 138, (8) total lamellae, 211 – 253, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent (thin line on nape in M. guadeloupae sp. nov. and in some M. dominicana), (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Most species are large, with a range of maximum body sizes among the species of 92.3 – 106 mm SVL (Table 2). The presence of three supraoculars (usually) distinguishes this genus from all others except Aspronema, although three supraoculars appears rarely in Copeoglossum, Marisora, Notomabuya, and Spondylurus. The absence of dark dorsolateral stripes (except thin line on nape in M. guadeloupae sp. nov. and in some M. dominicana) distinguishes this genus from Aspronema, Manciola, Orosaura, Panopa, Psychosaura, and Spondylurus. The presence of two frontoparietals (instead of one) distinguishes this genus from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa. The presence of four supraciliaries (rarely three, five, or six) distinguishes Mabuya from Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, and Exila (5 – 6 supraciliaries). Contact of the parietal scales distinguishes Mabuya from Copeoglossum. Content. Eight species are placed in this genus: Mabuya cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., M. dominicana, M. grandisterrae sp. nov., M. guadeloupae sp. nov., M. hispaniolae sp. nov., M. mabouya, and M. montserratae sp. nov. (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is restricted to the West Indies, occurring in the Greater Antilles (Hispaniola) and Lesser Antilles (Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Martinique; Figs. 1, 8 A, 9 B, and 11 B – C, E – F).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name Mabuya is a feminine noun derived from the same name used by native peoples of the Americas, especially the Antilles, for various types of lizards.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075DFFAB2DA8E90F7E2FFE17.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This is a cohesive, well-defined clade of large skinks, with a combination (usually) of three supraoculars, parietal contact, and two dark lateral stripes (Figs. 30 – 32). Seven of the eight species occupy adjacent islands in the central core of the Lesser Antilles, and the eighth occurs on Hispaniola. Aside from the species on Dominica, they are rarely seen, and three (Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov., M. mabouya, and M. montserratae sp. nov.) may be extinct. Sequence data are available for only one species (M. dominicana). We hesitate drawing any conclusions from the morphological data regarding relationships among the eight species. However, it is clear that the geographically disjunct M. hispaniolae sp. nov. is closely related to the other seven species. Water currents in the central and northern Lesser Antilles would carry flotsam directly to Hispaniola in a relatively short period of time, and this is the best explanation for the origin of M. hispaniolae sp. nov. There has been some confusion in the literature regarding the extent of the distribution of the two-lined skinks (formerly " M. m. mabouya " or " M. mabouya "; here primarily the Genus Mabuya) and four-lined skinks (formerly " M. m. sloanii " or " M. sloanii "; here primarily the Genus Spondylurus). Dunn (1936) considered skinks from St. Martin, part of the Anguilla Bank in the northern Lesser Antilles, to be intermediate between his races of " Mabuya mabouya ". He did this because of their possession of dark dorsolateral stripes (a " M. mabouya sloanii " character) and mix of characters from both races (three and four supraoculars, one and> 1 nuchal rows). Schwartz and Thomas (1975) essentially followed Dunn, but inexplicably assigned a break in the distributions to the Lesser Antilles (M. m. mabouya) and Greater Antilles (M. m. sloanii) and thus included skinks of the Anguilla Bank in M. m. mabouya, for which there was no evidence. This was carried through in later taxonomic summaries (Schwartz & Henderson 1988; Schwartz & Henderson 1991). Breuil (2002) correctly included " M. sloanii " (= Spondylurus here) for the Anguilla Bank but assumed that the previous authors were correct about M. mabouya being there as well, so he indicated, incorrectly, that both taxa were sympatric on the Anguilla Bank. Lorvelec et al. (2007) then followed Breuil in showing sympatry. Finally, Miralles (2005) considered M. mabouya to be " the most southern species in the Lesser Antilles " and " endemic to Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia, " but he did not mention what species he thought occurred on Redonda or Montserrat, and, separately, he overlooked that skinks also occur on islands south of St. Lucia (St. Vincent, Grenadines, and Grenada). In part because of that error, Henderson and Powell (2009) incorrectly considered the skinks of Redonda and Montserrat to be allied with M. sloanii. But Dunn (1936), who started this chain reaction of errors, was not correct about the skinks of the Anguilla Bank. They have four stripes and other characters that ally them with the four-lined clade, Spondylurus, and are genetically members of that genus (Fig. 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	description	(Figs. 30 A, 32 A, 33)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. KU 242043, an adult male, collected by Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas on Îlet à Cochons, Guadeloupe, on 30 January – 3 February 1963. Paratype (n = 1). Guadeloupe. KU 242044, an adult female, same locality and information as the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya cochonae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 96.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 98 mm; (3) snout width, 2.68 – 2.78 % SVL; (4) head length, 18.7 – 19.1 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.8 – 13.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.02 – 1.12 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 11.1 – 11.6 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 58 – 62; (15) ventrals, 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 128 – 132; (17) midbody scale rows, 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29 – 31; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. cochonae sp. nov. and the other three species inhabiting Guadeloupe and its islets (M. desiradae sp. nov., M. grandisterrae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov.), here placed in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group, have a similarly-proportioned frontonasal scale that distinguishes them from other species in the genus (Fig. 34). Species in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group have a longer frontonasal compared with M. montserratae sp. nov. (frontonasal length / head length 0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.165 – 0.168) and a shorter frontonasal compared with other species in the genus (0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.205 – 0.239 in M. dominicana, M. hispaniolae sp. nov., and M. mabouya). In addition, M. cochonae sp. nov. differs from M. dominicana by having a shorter, wider supranasal scale (supranasal length / supranasal width 3.13 – 3.25 versus 4.57 – 6.57 in M. dominicana; Fig. 35), and in lacking a well-defined dorsolateral and pale lateral stripe (present in 84 % of M. dominicana). It is separated from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. and M. mabouya by having supranasal contact (versus no contact in all M. hispaniolae sp. nov. and in 88 % of M. mabouya). It differs from M. montserratae sp. nov. by having a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (2.14 – 2.20 versus 1.39 – 1.66 in M. montserratae sp. nov.; Fig. 36). Mabuya cochonae sp. nov. differs from the other three species in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group in having a longer anterior loreal scale (2.26 – 2.47 % SVL versus 1.28 – 1.99 % SVL; Fig. 37), a longer suture length between the upper secondary temporal and the parietal scale (2.12 – 2.29 % SVL versus 1.36 – 2.01 % SVL; Fig. 37 C), and a smaller ear (1.02 – 1.12 % SVL versus 1.26 – 2.08 % SVL). Each of the two specimens has contact between anterior loreal and supraciliary- 1 scales on one side of the head (versus no contact in the other three species of the group); such contact is rare in the genus. Additionally, it differs from each of the species in other ways. From M. desiradae sp. nov., M. cochonae sp. nov. differs in having a smaller separation of the prefrontal scales (0.89 – 1.16 % SVL versus 1.74 – 1.75 % SVL), a shorter dark lateral stripe that extends only to the forelimbs (versus midbody), an orange (versus dull silvery-gray) venter in life, a head that is less red in life, and weaklydefined, pale dorsolateral stripes that extend only one-third (versus two-thirds) of the body. It differs from M. grandisterrae sp. nov. by having a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (2.14 – 2.20 versus 1.67 – 1.79; Fig. 36). From M. guadeloupae sp. nov., Mabuya cochonae sp. nov. differs in having a longer interloreal suture (0.91 – 1.03 % SVL versus 0.64 – 0.85 % SVL; Fig. 37 B), having a longer supralabial- 7 (1.68 – 1.87 % SVL versus 1.36 – 1.44 % SVL; Fig. 37 D) and lacking dark dorsolateral stripes and well-defined pale lateral and dorsolateral stripes (those stripes being present in M. guadeloupae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 30 A, 33 A – D). An adult male in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 96.7 mm; tail complete (length not measured); HL 18.5 mm; HW 12.7 mm; SW 2.69 mm; EL 1.08 mm; and toe-IV length 11.2 mm; ear-opening small in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale (left side only). A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, anterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the first supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the first one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posteromedial projection on latter. Two (left) or three (right) upper preoculars and one (right) or two (left) lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but usually smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by smaller cycloid scales. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 70 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 12 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Median subcaudal scales gradually increasing in size from base to tip of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color dark brown with a few small darker brown spots, distributed on body above the pale dorsolateral stripes, and on the limbs (the latter having a darker ground color). Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, irregular, extending from loreal region to above forelimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, medium gray, extending from nuchal area to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. Only the ventral coloration in life (orange) has been recorded for the holotype (Albert Schwartz field notes at KU). Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratype resembled the holotype, except that the field notes of Albert Schwartz indicated the paratype venter was orange " but a bit darker " than that of the holotype (Tables 4 – 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is known only from Îlet à Cochons (0.2 km 2), Guadeloupe (Fig. 11 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Little has been recorded of the ecological habits of this species. In his field notes, Albert Schwartz mentioned that the specimens were taken among sea grape trees (Coccoloba uvifera), under wood on the ground. No observations have been recorded on this species in the subsequent five decades. Apparently, the mongoose does not occur on Îlet à Cochons (Breuil 2009). This very small island is not protected and is occupied by humans and their domestic animals and pests, and therefore the survival of the species continues to be threatened. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Mabuya cochonae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from introduced mammalian predators, including black rats, and secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (cochonae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on Îlet à Cochons.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F075FFFA12DA9EC197E94FDCF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. KU lists only Albert Schwartz as collector for all of the Schwartz skink material, but he was accompanied by Richard Thomas (Richard Thomas, personal communication). Finding that the skinks of Guadeloupe and surrounding islets form a complex of species is perhaps not surprising given the endemism in other groups of amphibians and reptiles from Guadeloupe. There are two endemic species of frogs on Basse-Terre (Eleutherodactylus barlagnei Lynch and E. pinchoni Schwartz) and a diversity of endemic reptiles, including some species known only from specific islets such as Petite Terre (Anolis chrysops Lazell), Île des Saintes (Anolis terraealtae Lazell, Sphaerodactylus phyzacinus Thomas, and Alsophis sanctonum Barbour), La Désirade (Anolis desiradei Lazell), and Marie-Galante (Anolis ferreus Cope, and Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov.). However, no species previously has been found to be endemic to Îlet à Cochons, which is only a short distance (600 m) from the mainland. Despite that short distance and shallow water depths, M. cochonae sp. nov. is considerably different from nearby M. grandisterrae sp. nov., including the holotype of the latter species which is from Pointe-a-Pitre (only 2 – 3 km from Îlet à Cochons). In considering paleogeography, geologic uplift or subsidence may also have had a bearing on past land connections, in addition to sea level changes. Given the widespread decimation of Caribbean skinks by the mongoose and other mammalian predators, it is also possible that M. cochonae sp. nov. once co-occurred with M. grandisterrae sp. nov. and (or) M. guadeloupae sp. nov., but was extirpated, with Îlet à Cochons representing only a last haven or refuge.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	description	(Figs. 30 B, 32 B, 38)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. KU 242045, an adult male, collected by Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas at Anse d’Echelle, La Désirade, Guadeloupe, on 28 February 1963. Paratype (n = 1). Guadeloupe. KU 242046, an adult male, same locality and information as the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya desiradae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 98.1 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, not available; (3) snout width, 2.56 – 2.86 % SVL; (4) head length, 18.5 – 19.0 % SVL; (5) head width, 13.6 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.45 – 1.47 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.2 – 10.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (50 %), six (50 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 62; (15) ventrals, 68 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 130 – 132; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe- IV lamellae, 29 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (50 %), N (50 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. desiradae sp. nov. and the other three species inhabiting Guadeloupe and its islets (M. cochonae sp. nov., M. grandisterrae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov.), here placed in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group, have a similarly-proportioned frontonasal scale that distinguishes them from other species in the genus (Fig. 34). Species in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group have a longer frontonasal compared with M. montserratae sp. nov. (frontonasal length / head length 0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.165 – 0.168) and a shorter frontonasal compared with other species in the genus (0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.205 – 0.239 in M. dominicana, M. hispaniolae sp. nov., and M. mabouya). In addition, M. desiradae sp. nov. differs from M. dominicana by having a shorter, wider supranasal scale (supranasal length / supranasal width 3.57 – 3.66 versus 4.57 – 6.57 in M. dominicana; Fig. 35), and in lacking a well-defined pale lateral stripe (present in 84 % of M. dominicana). It is separated from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. by having a narrower snout (2.56 – 2.86 % SVL versus 3.08 – 3.47 % SVL) and in lacking well-defined lateral and pale dorsolateral stripes (such stripes are present and well-defined in M. hispaniolae sp. nov.). It is distinguished from M. mabouya by having more dorsals (62 versus 55 – 61) and a longer dark lateral stripe that extends two-thirds (versus one-third) of the body. It differs from M. montserratae sp. nov. by having a wider head (13.6 % SVL versus 12.3 – 13.2 % SVL) and a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (2.11 – 2.34 versus 1.39 – 1.66 in M. montserratae sp. nov.; Fig. 36). Mabuya desiradae sp. nov. differs from M. cochonae sp. nov. by having shorter anterior loreal scale (1.70 – 1.99 % SVL versus 2.26 – 2.47 % SVL; Fig. 37 A), a shorter suture length between the upper secondary temporal and the parietal scale (1.85 – 2.01 versus 2.12 – 2.29 % SVL; Fig. 37 C), a larger ear (1.45 – 1.47 % SVL versus 1.02 – 1.12 % SVL), a larger separation of the prefrontal scales (1.74 – 1.75 % SVL versus 0.89 – 1.16 % SVL), longer dark lateral stripes and weakly defined pale dorsolateral stripes that extend two-thirds (versus one-third) of body, a dull silverygray (versus orange) venter in life, and a head that is more red in life. Mabuya desiradae sp. nov. differs from M. grandisterrae sp. nov. in having more dorsals (62 versus 54 – 61), more dorsals + ventrals (130 – 132 versus 116 – 128), a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (2.11 – 2.34 versus 1.67 – 1.79 in M. grandisterrae sp. nov.; Fig. 36), and a longer dark lateral stripe that extends two-thirds (versus one-third) of body. Mabuya desiradae sp. nov. differs from M. guadeloupae sp. nov. in having a longer anterior loreal (1.70 – 1.99 % SVL versus 1.28 – 1.36 % SVL; Fig. 37 A), a longer interloreal suture (0.92 – 1.07 % SVL versus 0.64 – 0.85 % SVL; Fig. 37 B), and a longer supralabial- 7 (1.65 – 1.81 % SVL versus 1.36 – 1.44 % SVL; Fig. 37 D), and in lacking dark dorsolateral stripes (present on nape in M. guadeloupae sp. nov.), pale lateral stripes (present in M. guadeloupae sp. nov.) and welldefined dorsolateral stripes (weakly-defined versus well-defined in M. guadeloupae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 30 B, 38 A – E). An adult male in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 94.1 mm; tail complete (length not measured); HL 17.4 mm; HW 12.8 mm; SW 2.41 mm; EL 1.38 mm; and toe-IV length 9.57 mm; ear opening small in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal (right side only). Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, first supraciliaries, and frontal. Frontal small and asymmetrical (roughly triangular), in contact with the first supraoculars. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but usually smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven supralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and three pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second, third, and fourth pairs separated by smaller cycloid scales. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 62 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 68 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Median subcaudal scales gradually increasing in size from base to tip of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color dark greenish-brown with small dark brown spots, distributed on tail and limbs and in two dorsolateral bands on body. Limb coloration slightly darker than dorsum. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to hindlimbs and breaking into a series of dark spots around midbody. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, medium gray, extending from behind eye to midbody. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces brown. Color in life was recorded (Albert Schwartz field notes at KU) for holotype (and paratype) as " bronzy " dorsum with " heads distinctly more reddish and venter dull silverish-gray. " Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratype resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on La Désirade island and Terre de Bas, Îles de la Petite Terre (Fig. 11 B). Skinks from the latter island have been noted in the literature (Lorvelec et al. 2000, 2007; Breuil 2002), including photographs (Fig. 38 F). Although we tentatively assign the skinks from Terre de Bas to this species, further study may show that they represent a separate species. As noted by Breuil (2002), an earlier literature reference to skinks on Les Saintes (Lazell 1973) is probably in error and refers to Îles de la Petite Terre, the two groups of islands being frequently confused because they both include a " Terre de Haut " and a " Terre de Bas. "	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Little has been recorded of the ecological habits of this species. In his field notes, Albert Schwartz mentioned that the two known specimens were taken in rock crevices, among sea grape trees (Coccoloba uvifera). The skink observed on Terre de Bas, 19 April 1998 (Lorvelec et al. 2000) was found in a forest on sand, near a lagoon. Four additional individuals were observed in May, 2010 (O. Lorvelec, personal communication). These islets are occupied by humans and their domestic animals and pests, and therefore the survival of the species continues to be threatened. Population numbers of skinks on La Désirade and Terre de Bas have been described as " low " (Breuil 2009). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Mabuya desiradae sp. nov. as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from introduced mammalian predators, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, and efforts should be undertaken to remove all introduced mammalian predators from the islands where it occurs. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (desiradae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on La Désirade.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0757FF9D2DA9EEAA79CAF84C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. KU lists only Albert Schwartz as collector for all of the Schwartz' skink material, but he was accompanied by Richard Thomas when the type and paratype were collected (Richard Thomas, personal communication). As mentioned for Mabuya cochonae sp. nov., finding endemic skinks on the islets of Guadeloupe is not surprising given that they are already known to harbor endemic reptiles. There is an endemic anole (Anolis desiradei Lazell) and a subspecies of gecko (Sphaerodactylus fantasticus hippomanes Thomas) on La Désirade and	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	description	(Figs. 30 C, 32 C, 39)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 57). Dominica. MCZ R- 6049 (lectotype; photographs); AMNH R 135271, Paul G. Howes, no specific locality, 1929; BMNH 1964.1440, Roseau, 1964 (collector unknown); CAS 112317, B. Malkin, Salibia, 27 – 30 January 1968; KU 242015, Albert Schwartz, 2 miles west Melville Hall, St. Andrew, 8 March 1962; KU 242016 – 242018, Albert Schwartz, 0.5 miles west Rosseau, St. David, 23 February 1962; KU 242019, Albert Schwartz, 0.5 miles east Laborie, St. George, 2 April 1961; KU 242020 – 242026, Albert Schwartz, 1.5 miles north Portsmouth, St. John, 22 February 1962 and 12 March 1963; KU 242027 – 272028, Albert Schwartz, Clarke Hall Estate, 1.5 miles northeast Layou, St. Joseph, 12 – 14 March 1963; KU 242029 – 242034, Albert Schwartz, 1 mile north Morne Raquette, St. Joseph, 16 – 18 February and 4 March 1962; KU 242035, Albert Schwartz, Geneva, St. Patrick, 28 February 1962; KU 242036 – 242037, Albert Schwartz, 1 mile east Stowe, St. Patrick, 28 February 1962; KU 242038 – 242040, Albert Schwartz, Canefield Estate, St. Paul, 11 March 1963; KU 242041, Albert Schwartz, 2.5 miles southeast Layou, St. Paul, 26 March 1961; KU 242042, Albert Schwartz, 1 mile north Pont Casse, St. Paul, 22 March 1961; MCZ R- 57814, James Lazell, Moore Park, St. Andrew, 23 June 1958; MCZ R- 127759, James Lazell, Dubuc Grand Bay, 26 February 1966; MCZ R- 127760, James Lazell, botanical garden, Roseau, 26 February 1966; MCZ R- 157108, James Lazell, New Florida Estate, Morne Anglais, 8 June 1973; MCZ R- 182281, “ W. Lu, ” Soufriere, St. John, 19 January 1998; MPM 23266 – 26267, 4.7 miles NNW Mahout, St. Paul, 1987 (collector unknown); UMMZ 83319, Chester Roys, no specific locality, 20 June 1937; UMMZ 83320 – 83322 and 239608 – 239614, Chester Roys, South Central Dominica, 23 – 26 June 1937; UMMZ 83323 and 239615 – 239616, Chester Roys, Top of Divide between Roseau and Grand Bay, Dominica, June 1937; USNM 160610 – 160611, Bredin-Archbold-Smithsonian Biological Survey of Dominica, Clarke Hall, Middle of Plantation, 18 October 1965.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya dominicana is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 92.3 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 101 mm; (3) snout width, 2.41 – 3.45 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.4 – 20.9 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.5 – 15.4 % SVL; (6) ear length, 0.771 – 1.82 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.91 – 13.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (60 %), four (40 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (2 %), four (86 %), five (11 %), six (2 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (70 %), six (28 %), seven (2 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (98 %), two (2 %); (14) dorsals, 54 – 63; (15) ventrals, 63 – 73; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 118 – 136; (17) midbody scale rows, 27 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 27 – 34; (21) supranasal contact, Y (52 %), N (48 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (59 %), N (41 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y (14 %; but only as a Within the Genus Mabuya, M. dominicana differs from all other species by having a longer, narrower supranasal scale (supranasal length / width 4.57 – 6.57 versus 3.13 – 4.28 in those other species; Fig. 35). It is also separated from M. montserratae sp. nov. and M. hispaniolae sp. nov. by having a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (1.77 – 2.30 versus 1.39 – 1.66 in those two species; Fig. 36). It differs from M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., M. grandisterrae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov. by having a longer frontonasal (frontonasal length 20.5 – 23.1 % head length versus 17.8 – 19.9 % in other species; Fig. 34). It differs from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. by having a narrower snout (snout width 13.6 – 17.5 % HL versus 17.4 – 18.0 % in M. hispaniolae sp. nov.; Fig. 40). Except for Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov., M. dominicana has the best-developed stripes in the genus (Fig. 32). These include dark lateral and ventrolateral stripes, dorsolateral and pale lateral stripes (pale lateral stripes in 84 % of specimens), and (occasionally) traces of narrow dark dorsolateral stripes on the nape (Fig. 32 C). These stripes are evident in some fetuses (Fig. 39 D), although M. hispaniolae sp. nov. has lateral dark and pale stripes that are nearly as well-developed.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Figs. 39 A – C). The following is based on our examination of photographs. An adult (sex not determined) in moderate state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL, tail length (regenerated), HL, HW, SW, EL, and toe-IV length not measured; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <II <V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal squarish and posterior loreal rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. One upper and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 71 in a longitudinal row; midbody scale count not possible with photograph. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs and different on regenerated portion of tail. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 18 under toe-IV (finger lamellae not visible in photographs). Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on original portion of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with small dark brown spots, distributed uniformly on limbs (slightly darker ground color) and in two dorsolateral bands on body and tail. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to hindlimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale brown, extending from behind eye onto tail. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below ear to hindlimbs, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. Garman (1887) noted that the syntypes were brownish-olive (bronzed) in base coloration and that the pale bands were white. Variation. In coloration, most specimens resembled the lectotype (Table 5). Dorsal ground color was fairly fairly uniformly across the dorsum posterior to the forelimbs. A distinct white pale lateral stripe bordered below by a dark line was present on some specimens.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is found only on Dominica (Fig. 11 F), where nearly all records come from coastal areas, although it may be found inland in higher elevations as well (Malhotra et al. 2007).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Little is recorded for this species except that it is " widespread in coastal regions of the island " and under " corrugated iron roofs of agricultural sheds " in higher elevations (Malhotra et al. 2007). Based on the large number of specimens, many of which were collected in the last century, and sightings as recently as 2010 (R. Powell, personal communication), the species appears to be relatively common, related probably to the fact that the mongoose does not occur on Dominica. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Mabuya dominicana as Vulnerable (VU D 2). We consider the mongoose to be the primary threat for this species, despite its current absence from the island. An accidental (or not) introduction of the mongoose — which occurs on neighboring islands to the north and south — could be devastating and would likely result in rapid decline and extinction of the species within a short time, based on history (see Discussion). The black rat is a predator of small reptiles (Young 2008) and is on Dominica, and therefore there is a potential for a negative effect on this species as well (as may have occurred with M. montserratae sp. nov.; see below). Captive breeding now is warranted, for protection of the species in case it were to decline rapidly in the future. Reproduction. Thirteen females (72.8 – 100.7 mm SVL) contained 1 – 6 (mean = 3.0) developing young. The dates of collection for those specimens were June 1937; 22 – 23 February, 1962; and 11 – 12 March, 1963. Somma and Brooks (1976) examined seven pregnant females of this species and concluded that litter size averaged 3.3, and that two young lizards at birth measured 29 and 30 mm SVL.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (dominicana) is a feminine singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Dominica.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0768FF992DA9EEAA7947FA67.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Shortly after Garman (1887) described Mabuya dominicana, Günther (1888) reported on an additional collection of Mabuya from the island. Günther noted that his specimens showed a wider variation in some standard scale counts (ventrals and supranasal contact) than those of Garman and synonymized M. dominicana with what is here called Brasiliscincus agilis (a taxon that included several species at that time). Günther also went beyond the science and attacked Garman's reputation as well, alluding to a 19 th century rivalry or feud. The specifics of the data are not of consequence here because the taxonomic context (species to be compared) is quite different now, and the conventional characters used by Garman (1887) to diagnose M. dominicana from close relatives (e. g., M. mabouya) are no longer useful. But Günther (1888) was not correct either, because he failed to see that M. dominicana differs considerably from B. agilis, and his low scale count (57 ventrals chin-to-vent) for two specimens of M. dominicana is considerably lower than the lowest we recorded (63) out of 58 specimens. We suspect it was a miscount, or anomaly. Later, Barbour (1914) also pointed to this error by Günther (1888), reinstated M. dominicana as a valid species, and devoted a full page to a quote from Günther, mainly to chastise him for his " invidious remarks " concerning Garman. Since Dunn (1936) synonymized M. dominicana (and many other taxa) into M. mabouya, it has not been recognized as a species until now.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	description	(Figs. 30 D, 32 D, 41)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. BMNH 1920.1. 20.398, an adult female, collected at Pointe-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, by " Vitrac " and donated to the BMNH by F. Lataste; entered into the BMNH registry on 20 January 1920 (and thus collected at some time before that date). Paratypes (n = 4). Guadeloupe. USNM 11175, USNM 11249 and USNM 565045 – 46, May 1880, Guadeloupe, no specific locality (no collector information available). Material not examined (n = 1). Guadeloupe. BMNH 1920.1. 20.399 (paratopotype), same collecting data as holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 90.8 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 102.1 mm; (3) snout width, 2.34 – 3.44 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.2 – 19.8 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.5 – 13.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.26 – 2.08 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.2 – 12.8 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, two (20 %), three (80 %); (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (80 %), six (20 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 54 – 61; (15) ventrals, 62 – 68; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 128; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 31 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (80 %), N (20 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (20 %), N (80 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. grandisterrae sp. nov. and the other three species inhabiting Guadeloupe and its islets (M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov.), here placed in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group, have a similarly-proportioned frontonasal scale that distinguishes them from other species in the genus (Fig. 34). Species in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group have a longer frontonasal compared with M. montserratae sp. nov. (frontonasal length / head length 0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.165 – 0.168) and a shorter frontonasal compared with other species in the genus (0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.205 – 0.239 in M. dominicana, M. hispaniolae sp. nov., and M. mabouya). In addition, M. grandisterrae sp. nov. differs from M. dominicana by lacking pale dorsolateral stripes and a well-defined pale lateral stripe (such stripes are present in M. dominicana). It is separated from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. by lacking well-defined pale lateral stripes (present in M. hispaniolae sp. nov.). Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. differs from M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov. by having a lower supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (1.67 – 1.79 versus 2.06 – 2.40; Fig. 36). It differs from M. cochonae sp. nov. in having fewer ventrals (62 – 68 versus 70), a shorter anterior loreal scale (1.35 – 1.74 % SVL versus 2.26 – 2.47 % SVL; Fig. 37 A), a shorter suture length between the upper secondary temporal and the parietal scale (1.59 – 1.93 versus 2.12 – 2.29 % SVL; Fig. 37 C), and a larger ear (1.26 – 2.08 versus 1.02 – 1.12 % SVL). Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. differs from M. desiradae sp. nov. in having fewer dorsals (54 – 61 versus 62), fewer dorsals + ventrals (116 – 128 versus 130 – 132), and a shorter dark lateral stripe that extends one-third (versus two-thirds) of body. Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. differs from M. guadeloupae sp. nov. in having a wider head (12.5 – 13.9 % SVL versus 11.6 – 12.0 % SVL), a longer toe (toe-IV 10.2 – 12.8 % SVL versus 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL), a longer interloreal suture (0.90 – 1.16 % SVL versus 0.64 – 0.85 % SVL; Fig. 37 B), a longer supralabial- 7 (1.62 – 2.00 % SVL versus 1.36 – 1.44 % SVL; Fig. 37 D), and absence of dark dorsolateral stripes and well-defined pale lateral and dorsolateral stripes (those stripes present and well-defined in M. guadeloupae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 30 D, 41). An adult female in good state of preservation, although the irregular and asymmetrical head scalation suggests that it sustained a head injury at some point in its life. An abdominal slit is present. SVL 84.3 mm; tail complete (length not measured); HL 15.3 mm; HW 11.7 mm; SW 2.67 mm; EL and toe-IV length not measured; ear-opening moderate in size, round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal (right side only). Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, in contact medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal small and asymmetrical (roughly triangular), in contact with the first supraoculars. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the first one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials on the right and seven on the left, the sixth on the right and the fifth on the left being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Four moderately enlarged scales behind eye (five on the left) comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials (seven on the left). Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields (plus one additional right chin shield) in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 56 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 64 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 15 under finger-IV and 18 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. Median subcaudal scales gradually increasing in size from base to tip of tail. stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with pale bluish-gray spots posterior to hindlimbs, extending from loreal region to first third of body. Pale middorsal stripe, pale dorsolateral stripe, and pale lateral stripe absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information on color in life is available for the holotype, although its pale bluish-green hue suggests that it was tan. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratypes resembled the holotype, although the pattern was much faded in the four USNM specimens, which appeared uniformly brown, apparently from formalin fixation (Tables 4 – 5). The pattern of the holotype is in much better condition; the bluish-green hue is probably a reaction to preservative.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Guadeloupe (1,628 km 2), where the only known locality is the city of Pointe-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre (Fig. 11 B). No specific locality data are associated with the USNM paratypic specimens.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information exists for this species. It has not been observed in about a century, likely because of predation by the introduced mongoose or other mammalian predators. However, Guadeloupe is a large island, and there are small, fringing islets that might provide a mongoose-free haven for this species. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (grandisterrae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on Grand-Terre, Guadeloupe.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076DFF9A2DA9E8297EE6FAA2.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Of the nine known specimens of Mabuya from the main islands of Guadeloupe (Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre), only the holotype and associated paratype (BMNH 1920.1.20.398 – 388) of this species, M. grandisterrae sp. nov., have a specific locality. The three FMNH specimens are quite clearly a different species, described below (M. guadeloupae sp. nov.). It is possible that both species were broadly sympatric on both islands. However, given that they are similar in body size, and therefore would have competed with one another, we think it is more likely that M. grandisterrae sp. nov. evolved on the drier island, Grande-Terre (because two specimens are from that island), and the other species (M. guadeloupae sp. nov.) evolved on the wetter island, Basse-Terre. The coloration of the two species could be viewed as supporting that assumption: M. guadeloupae sp. nov. appears to be a darker species than M. grandisterrae sp. nov., a coloration trend often seen in reptiles, where areas with higher rainfall often have more darkly-colored species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	description	(Figs. 31 A, 32 E, 42)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. FMNH 213, an adult female, " Guadeloupe " (no specific locality, but assumed to be Basse-Terre; see Remarks), collected by Charles B. Cory in ca. 1892. Paratypes (n = 2). Guadeloupe. FMNH 212, an adult female with same data as holotype; FMNH 214, an adult male, " Guadeloupe " (no specific locality), collected by W. W. Brown, Jr, in 1892.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 94.3 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 106 mm; (3) snout width, 2.63 – 2.99 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.4 – 17.3 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.6 – 12.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.28 – 1.82 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 60 – 63; (15) ventrals, 67 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 128 – 133; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 18 – 21; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 32 – 35; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y (short, a thin line on nape); (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. guadeloupae sp. nov. and the other three species inhabiting Guadeloupe and its islets (M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., and M. grandisterrae sp. nov.), here placed in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group, have a similarly-proportioned frontonasal scale that distinguishes them from other species in the genus (Fig. 34). Species in the M. guadeloupae sp. nov. species group have a longer frontonasal compared with M. montserratae sp. nov. (frontonasal length / head length 0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.165 – 0.168) and a shorter frontonasal compared with other species in the genus (0.176 – 0.199 versus 0.205 – 0.239 in M. dominicana, M. hispaniolae sp. nov., and M. mabouya). In addition, M. guadeloupae sp. nov. differs from M. dominicana by having a shorter, wider supranasal scale (supranasal length / supranasal width 3.17 – 3.29 versus 4.57 – 6.57 in M. dominicana; Fig. 35). It differs from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. and M. montserratae sp. nov. in having a longer supraciliary- 2 (supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio 2.06 – 2.40 versus 1.39 – 1.66; Fig. 36). It differs from M. mabouya in having a narrower head (11.6 – 12.0 % SVL versus 12.1 – 14.9 % SVL), shorter toe (toe- IV length 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL versus 10.2 – 12.5 % SVL), dark dorsolateral and pale lateral stripes (absent in M. mabouya), and well-defined dorsolateral stripes (weakly-defined in M. mabouya). Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov. differs from M. cochonae sp. nov. in having a shorter head (16.4 – 17.3 % SVL versus 18.7 – 19.1 % SVL), a narrower head (11.6 – 12.0 % SVL versus 12.8 – 13.1 % SVL), a larger ear (ear length 1.28 – 1.82 % SVL versus 1.02 – 1.12 % SVL), a shorter toe (toe-IV length 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL versus 11.1 – 11.6 % SVL), more digital lamellae (finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae 32 – 35 versus 29 – 31), lack (versus presence) of supranasal contact, a shorter anterior loreal scale (1.28 – 1.36 % SVL versus 2.26 – 2.47 % SVL; Fig. 37 A), a shorter interloreal suture (0.64 – 0.85 % SVL versus 0.91 – 1.03 % SVL; Fig. 37 B), a shorter suture length between the upper secondary temporal and the parietal scale (1.68 – 1.98 % SVL versus 2.12 – 2.29 % SVL; Fig. 37 C), a shorter supralabial- 7 (1.36 – 1.44 % SVL versus 1.68 – 1.87 % SVL; Fig. 37 D), and a pattern consisting of dark dorsolateral stripes and well-defined pale lateral and dorsolateral stripes (versus no dark dorsolateral stripes or well-defined pale lateral stripes). Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov. differs from M. desiradae sp. nov. in having a shorter head (16.4 – 17.3 % SVL versus 18.5 – 19.0 % SVL), a narrower head (11.6 – 12.0 % SVL versus 13.6 % SVL), a shorter toe (toe-IV length 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL versus 10.2 – 10.4 % SVL), a shorter anterior loreal scale (1.28 – 1.36 % SVL versus 1.70 – 1.99 % SVL; Fig. 37 A), a shorter interloreal suture (0.64 – 0.85 % SVL versus 0.92 – 1.07 % SVL; Fig. 37 B), a shorter supralabial – 7 scale (1.36 – 1.44 % SVL versus 1.65 – 1.81 % SVL; Fig. 37 D), and a pattern consisting of dark dorsolateral stripes and well-defined pale lateral and dorsolateral stripes (versus no well-defined dark or pale dorsolateral stripes or pale lateral stripes in M. desiradae sp. nov., only weakly defined pale dorsolateral stripes). Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov. differs from M. grandisterrae sp. nov. in having a narrower head (11.6 – 12.0 % SVL versus 12.5 – 13.9 % SVL), a shorter toe (toe-IV length 8.77 – 9.72 % SVL versus 10.2 – 12.8 % SVL), a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (2.06 – 2.40 versus 1.67 – 1.79; Fig. 36), a shorter interloreal suture (0.64 – stripes (versus no well-defined dark or pale dorsolateral stripes or pale lateral stripes in M. grandisterrae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 31 A, 42). An adult female in poor state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 100 mm; tail length 25.9 mm (broken); HL 17.0 mm; HW 11.6 mm; SW 2.63 mm; EL 1.45 mm; and toe-IV length 8.84 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal octagonal, in contact with the first supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the first one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal squarish and posterior loreal rectangular with posteromedial projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Six moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials (nine on the left). Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 63 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 70 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 18 under toe-IV. Fingers and toes clawed. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Stripe lengths and widths mostly could not be determined due to the preservation status of the specimen. Dorsal ground color dark brown with small dark brown spots. Dark dorsolateral stripes (a thin line on nape) and dark lateral stripes present, darker brown than ground color; the dark lateral stripes extend to the groin. Pale middorsal stripe present, brown. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from behind the ear. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available for color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratypes resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5). All appear to have been darkly colored in life, although the condition of preservation is poor (most scales have fallen off).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Guadeloupe (1,628 km 2), with no specific locality. However, it is assumed here (see Remarks) that the species was collected on Basse-Terre, and that is probably the only island where it was distributed (Fig. 11 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information exists for this species. It has not been observed in about a century, likely because of predation by the introduced mongoose or other mammalian predators. However, Guadeloupe is a large island, and there are small, fringing islets that might provide a mongoose-free haven for this species. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Mabuya guadeloupae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (guadeloupae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on Guadeloupe. In the past, the name " Guadeloupe " was used synonymously with Basse-Terre, where the type material was probably collected and the island where the species is thought to be endemic.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F076EFF962DA9EBF37918FEC4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. See the Remarks for the previous species (Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov.) concerning the presumed distributions of M. guadeloupae sp. nov. and M. grandisterrae sp. nov. Although the locality information for FMNH 212 – 214 only records " Guadeloupe, " and no additional notes (non-electronic) were located for those specimens, we found evidence that they were taken on Basse-Terre and not on Grande-Terre. The collector, Charles B. Cory, published a catalogue of birds (Cory 1892) at about the same time, and in it he refers to the western half of Guadeloupe as " Guadeloupe, " not " Basse-Terre, " and the eastern half as Grande-Terre. Also the islands are labeled as such on his map at the end of the book, and " Guadeloupe island " is written on original labels of birds that he collected, now in the FMNH (John Bates, personal communication). This all suggests that the type-locality for M. populated and had the major port of entry to the country (the city of Basse-Terre), hence it took the name " Guadeloupe. " Eventually, Pointe-à-Pitre on Grande-Terre increased in size, and today it is much larger than the capital city of Basse-Terre. It is most likely that the two species were allopatric on the separate (but nearly connected) islands of Basse-Terre (M. guadeloupae sp. nov.) and Grande-Terre (M. grandisterrae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	description	(Figs. 31 B, 32 F, 43)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. UMMZ 83305, an adult male, collected 7 May 1937 at the Palace Hotel in Ciudad Trujillo (= Santo Domingo), Dominican Republic, by Chester Roys. Paratypes (n = 7). Dominican Republic. UMMZ 239592 – 98 (paratopotypes), same collecting data as holotype (UMMZ 239593 – 97 are fetuses from UMMZ 239592).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 86.6 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 92.6 mm; (3) snout width, 3.08 – 3.47 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.7 – 19.2 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.6 – 14.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.11 – 1.46 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.7 – 11.1 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, four (75 %), five (25 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (50 %), six (50 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 54 – 62; (15) ventrals, 67 – 76; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 123 – 138; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 30 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. hispaniolae sp. nov. is separated from M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., M. grandisterrae sp. nov., M. guadeloupae sp. nov. and M. montserratae sp. nov. by having a longer frontonasal scale (frontonasal length 20.5 – 23.9 % head length versus 16.5 – 19.9 % in those other five species; Fig. 34). It is distinguished from M. dominicana, M. grandisterrae sp. nov., M. guadeloupae sp. nov., and M. mabouya by having a longer supraciliary- 2 scale (supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio 1.43 – 1.49 versus 1.67 – 2.40 in those other species; Fig. 36). Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. additionally differs from M. dominicana by having a wider supranasal scale (supranasal length / width 3.41 – 4.15 versus 4.57 – 6.57 in M. dominicana; Fig. 35). It also has a wider snout than M. dominicana (snout width 17.4 – 18.0 % HL versus 13.6 – 17.5 % in M. dominicana; Fig. 40) and a less dorsoventrally compressed head (not measured). Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. (visible in the holotype) differs from M. mabouya by having a pale lateral stripe bordered below by a narrow dark line (versus no border in M. mabouya). From M. montserratae sp. nov. it is also distinguished by having a smaller ear (ear length 1.11 – 1.46 % SVL versus 1.49 – 1.55 % in M. montserratae sp. nov.). Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. also tends to have fewer midbody scale rows than M. montserratae sp. nov., 30 (six individuals) and 32 (two) versus 32 (four individuals) and 34 (four), and the fetuses of M. montserratae sp. nov. are spotted and lack dark dorsolateral stripes whereas the fetuses of M. hispaniolae sp. nov. have dark dorsolateral stripes, at least anteriorly.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 31 B, 43 A – C). An adult male in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 85.4 mm; tail length not measured (regenerated); HL 16.4 mm; HW 11.1 mm; SW 2.96 mm; EL 1.25 mm; and toe-IV length 9.45 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <II <V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the first supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the first one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal squarish and posterior loreal rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 56 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 69 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. One enlarged dorsal scale row and one enlarged ventral scale row on regenerated tail with rows similar to ventrals on each side. Palmar and Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium gray-brown with small-to-medium dark brown spots, distributed on body (forming two dorsolateral dark bands), tail, and limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body, where they transition to dark spots, while keeping a narrow fringe of dark-edged scales above the pale venter. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray, extending from behind eye to last third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye to last third of body, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available for color in life of the holotype. Variation. Aside from minor variation as shown in the tables, the other specimens agreed with the holotype (Tables 3 – 5). The chin scale configuration was noted in one of the three adults (UMMZ 239598): the postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields are in contact with anterior infralabials; the first pair of chin shields is in contact medially; the second and third pairs are separated by smaller cycloid scales. The five fetuses showed strong banding as is seen in the holotype male, but the mother and the other male both have a faded, reddish-brown appearance often seen in old, formalin-fixed specimens.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Hispaniola, where it is known only from the capital city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Fig. 9 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are recorded for any of the specimens except that they were collected at the " Palace Hotel, " which suggests an artificial, urban habitat such as a park or garden. Historical records (newspaper accounts) indicate that the Hotel " Palace " was located in the colonial part of the city, on street Emiliano Tejera, between streets Arzobispo Meriño and Isabel La Católica, and was demolished in 1944 (Blanca Delgado and Sixto Inchaustegui, personal communication). That location was only about two blocks from the Rio Ozama, the major river at Santo Domingo. No large tracts of forest are in that area today, but there are small patches of trees in the colonial area, including near the river, and there may have been more trees 74 years ago. Because populations and species of mabuyine skinks are rare or possibly extinct on essentially all islands where the mongoose has been introduced, and because this species has not been seen since 1937, it may be extinct. Mongooses are not usually encountered in urban settings in the West Indies, and therefore a city park or hotel garden (e. g., type-locality) may have provided a temporary safe haven for this species, being decimated elsewhere (temporary, because this species of skink apparently no longer occurs in the city). It is unclear why mongooses might avoid urban areas, but the presence of dogs — which can kill a mongoose — may be a factor (Byron Wilson, personal communication). The FAO (2005) lists total forest area of Haiti as 4.0 % and Dominican Republic as 28.4 %, but these numbers are inflated because the FAO definition of total forest includes areas with up to 90 % of the trees missing (10 % canopy). Primary forest area values are not listed by FAO for these countries, but where they are listed elsewhere, they average 10 – 20 % of total forest (Hedges 2006 a). Therefore the primary forest of Haiti is likely to be <1 % of total land area, and that of the Dominican Republic, ~ 5 % of land area. There are national parks and protected areas in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but deforestation takes place within park boundaries and therefore they do not afford complete protection, and often they offer no protection. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and charcoaling, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. All mongoose-free islets of Hispaniola need to be thoroughly surveyed for the possible presence of this species, or the other two species of skinks from Hispaniola. Reproduction. One female, UMMZ 239592 (92.6 mm SVL), contained five developing young (UMMZ 239593 – 97). The date of collection for that specimen was 7 May 1937.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (hispaniolae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Hispaniola.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0762FF932DA9EF527F15FA8C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Ciudad Trujillo was the name given to the capital city of Santo Domingo by the dictator Rafael by Roys with MCZ R- 3617 (herein named S. haitiae sp. nov.), also from Hispaniola, treating all as members of the widespread species Mabuya mabouya. She noted that they agreed " in almost every way, " but her table of characters showed that MCZ R- 3617 differed substantially in scalation (nuchals, midbody scale rows, ventrals) from the other three specimens. Cochran indicated three supraoculars in MCZ R- 3617, but it has four on both sides; supraoculars are another character separating it (S. haitiae sp. nov.) from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. She also considered the patterns to be " very similar, " but MCZ R- 3617 has relatively wide nape stripes as in members of the Genus Spondylurus, while the Roys specimens have a spotted dorsum with lateral stripes and only a hint of dorsolateral stripes, as in members of the Genus Mabuya. Subsequent authors (Schwartz & Thomas 1975; Miralles 2005) appear to have followed Cochran in treating these specimens as members of a single, widespread, species of skink in the Greater Antilles. The fact that this species is represented by three large lizards collected in the capital city of the country during the 20 th century (1937), and at no other location or time, caused us to consider another possibility: that the locality was in error. The type series was collected by Chester Crosby Roys (1912 – 2002), an entomologist and later a professor of marine biology at Tufts University, Boston. The insect literature and UMMZ records indicate that he collected insects, amphibians, and reptiles in the West Indies (Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, and Dominica) in 1937, while a PhD student at the University of Michigan. His collection on Dominica was of particular interest because a close relative of Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov., M. dominicana, occurs there. However, his field notes and records of other material at UMMZ (G. Schneider, personal communication) confirm that he was in Santo Domingo city on 7 – 8 May 1937 and stayed at the " Palace Hotel, " where he indicated that these three Mabuya were collected. He also collected three species of Anolis (A. chlorocyanus, A. cybotes, and A. distichus) at that hotel, on those dates, that are native to the island and which are now in the UMMZ collection. He visited Dominica later in the trip, in June, 1937. Cochran (1941) discussed these specimens and their Hispaniolan locality only a few years after they were collected, indicating that any locality mix-up must have occurred soon after collection. This information, combined with the fact that these three specimens can be distinguished from the other seven species in the genus by several diagnostic characters, as noted above, led us to conclude that the collection data are probably correct. The general rarity of Mabuya in the West Indies, and especially on Hispaniola where the mongoose was introduced, may explain why M. hispaniolae sp. nov. has been seen only once. Besides Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov., two other species of skinks occur on the island: Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov., not seen since the only known specimen (MCZ R- 3617) was collected in 1857 – 58, and S. lineolatus, a rare species that has not been seen since 1985. Both of those other species apparently have been severely impacted by the mongoose. A lizard specimen in the Slater Museum (PSM 10269), labeled as Mabuya mabouya from Restauración, Dominican Republic, was examined by us and found to be Celestus costatus (Anguidae). Also, BMNH 1982.1448 from Port-au-Prince Haiti, cataloged as Mabuya mabouya, is not a skink and probably a Celestus as well (Colin McCarthy, personal communication).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	description	(Figs. 31 C, 32 G, 44)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 9). Martinique. MNHN 5421 (neotype; photographs), donated by Neumann, no other information available; BMNH 53.2. 4.39, accessioned in the BMNH 4 February 1853; MCZ R- 6010, W. B. Richardson; MCZ R- 6047, Samuel Walton Garman, St. Pierre, Martinique, 3 February 1879; MCZ R- 6048 and R- 185621, Samuel Walton Garman, Fort-de-France, Martinique, 8 February 1879; MNHN 1785, Auguste Plée, no specific locality, ca. 1820; MNHN 5110, Droz, no specific locality. “ Antilles. ” MNHN 1889.0664, Gardemal, 1889.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya mabouya is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 83.9 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 101.2 mm; (3) snout width, 2.52 – 3.23 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.2 – 19.4 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.1 – 14.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.09 – 1.91 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 10.2 – 12.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, three (13 %), four (88 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (63 %), six (38 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (88 %), two (13 %); (14) dorsals, 55 – 61; (15) ventrals, 65 – 75; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 122 – 135; (17) midbody scale rows, 26 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 30 – 34; (21) supranasal contact, Y (13 %), N (88 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y (17 %), N (83 %); and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. mabouya is separated from M. cochonae sp. nov., M. desiradae sp. nov., M. grandisterrae sp. nov., and M. guadeloupae sp. nov. by having a longer frontonasal scale (frontonasal length 20.7 – 23.5 % HL versus 17.8 – 19.9 % in those other species; Fig. 34). It differs from M. dominicana by having a wider supranasal (supranasal length / supranasal width 3.61 – 4.28 versus 4.57 – 6.57 in M. dominicana; Fig. 35). It differs from M. grandisterrae sp. nov., M. hispaniolae sp. nov. and M. montserratae sp. nov. by having a higher supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (1.92 – 2.19 versus 1.39 – 1.79; Fig. 36). In pattern (Fig. 32), M. mabouya differs from M. dominicana and M. hispaniolae sp. nov. in having a shorter dark lateral stripe and in lacking a dark ventrolateral stripe.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	description	Description of neotype (Fig. 44 A – C). The following is based on our examination of photographs. An unsexed adult in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL 99.8 mm; tail length not measured (regenerated); HL 19.4 mm; HW, SW, EL, and toe-IV length not measured; ear-opening average in size and round; fingers and toes clawed; order of toe length could not be scored. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraocular, and frontal. Frontal pentagonal, in contact with the first supraocular and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three supraoculars, the first one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five to seven moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 55 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; not counted; 29 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On tail, one enlarged row each of middorsal and midventral scales with lateral rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, not counted on fingers or toes. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with small dark brown spots, distributed on body, limbs, and tail, but largely absent in pelvic region and anterior portion of tail. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to first third of body. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, gray, extending from top of head to approximately the forelimbs. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Color of palmar and plantar surfaces could not be scored. No information is available on color in life of the neotype. Variation. Variation in scalation and coloration (Tables 4 – 5) appears to be slightly greater than seen in other species, but Martinique is a large island that is a composite of multiple paleoislands, and other reptiles show geographic variation within Martinique (Breuil 2002; Hedges 2008; Thorpe et al. 2010). For example, midbody scale rows vary from 26 – 34, and one individual (MCZ R- 6010; Fig. 44 D) is heavily spotted. However the variation appears to be discordant, and most specimens do not have specific locality data, preventing any geographic associations. The pattern of one fetus examined (from MCZ R- 6048) is also heavily spotted, contrasting with fetuses of other species in the genus. There is a trace of throat (ventral) striping in one specimen (BMNH 53.2.4.39), but it is difficult to tell if it is real or an artifact of preservation. We score toe length order in this species as I <V <II <III <IV; Miralles (Miralles 2005) scored the neotype order as I <II <III = V <IV, but we suspect the difference may reflect different methods of scoring this trait.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Martinique, where it is known from two specific localities on the west coast of the island: St. Pierre and Fort-de-France (Fig. 11 C), but likely occurred throughout the island (or at least the north paleo-island), before the mongoose was introduced.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are recorded for any of the specimens. Because populations and species of Mabuya are exceedingly rare or possibly extinct on essentially all islands where the mongoose has been introduced, and because this species has not been seen since 1889, it may be extinct as well (Lorvelec et al. 2007; Breuil 2009). Barbour (1937) considered it to be extinct on Martinique. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of M. mabouya to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. There are islets of Martinique that do not have mongooses and might sustain populations of this skink. Reproduction. MCZ R- 6048 (99.5 mm SVL; coll. 8 February, 1879) has two well-developed young, although both are fragmentary due to poor preservation.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (mabouya) is a feminine singular noun derived from the same name used by native peoples of the Americas, especially the Antilles, for various types of lizards.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0767FF8C2DA9EB9A780DF8FF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Miralles (2005) designated a neotype (MNHN 5421) for Lacertus mabouya Lacepède, but the ICZN (2005) has ruled that the entire work of Lacepède (1788) is rejected as an unavailable, non-binominal work. Therefore the species name reverts to Bonnaterre (1789). However, Bonnaterre did not indicate a type, and thus we have designated MNHN 5421 as the neotype of Lacerta mabouya Bonnaterre (1789). Miralles (2005) reported that MNHN 1889.0664 was from Guadeloupe. However, the MNHN records the locality as " Antilles " (no specific locality). Our examination indicates that it has the diagnostic characters of Mabuya mabouya and therefore is likely from Martinique. Auguste Plée (1787 – 1825) collected in Martinique in ca. 1820 for the MNHN, therefore constraining the date of collection of MNHN 1785.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	description	(Figs. 31 D, 32 H, 45)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 125464, an adult male, collected 6 August 1970 between Killecrankie Mydram, Waterworks Estate, and Molyneux Village, Montserrat, by J. Boos. Paratypes (n = 7). Montserrat. BMNH 94.9. 20.8, F. Watts, no specific locality, accessioned 20 September 1894; and USNM 30850 (n = 6), July 1902 (no additional collection information available).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mabuya montserratae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 85.3 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 98.0 mm; (3) snout width, 2.80 – 3.33 % SVL; (4) head length, 17.1 – 18.6 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.3 – 13.2 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.49 – 1.55 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.51 – 11.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three; (10) supraciliaries, four (only three appear to be present in some fetuses, but they are in poor condition); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (63 %), six (38 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (88 %), two (13 %); (14) dorsals, 57 – 63; (15) ventrals, 64 – 71; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 123 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 14 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 30 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (25 %), N (75 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Mabuya, M. montserratae sp. nov. differs from all other species by having a shorter frontonasal (frontonasal length 16.5 – 16.8 % HL versus 17.8 – 23.9 % in those other species; Fig. 34). It differs from M. dominicana, M. grandisterrae sp. nov., M. guadeloupae sp. nov., and M. mabouya by having a lower supraciliary- 2 / supraciliary- 3 length ratio (1.39 – 1.66 versus 1.67 – 2.40 in those other species; Fig. 36). It differs from M. dominicana and M. mabouya in having a wider supranasal (supranasal length / supranasal width 3.19 – 3.58 versus 3.61 – 6.57 in those other species; Fig. 35). It is separated from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. by having a larger ear (ear length 1.49 – 1.55 % SVL versus 1.11 – 1.46 % in M. hispaniolae sp. nov.). Additionally, M. montserratae sp. nov. tends to have more midbody scale rows than M. hispaniolae sp. nov.: 32 (four individuals) and 34 (four) versus 30 (six) and 32 (two). Also, the fetuses of M. montserratae sp. nov. are spotted and lack dark dorsolateral stripes whereas the fetuses of M. hispaniolae sp. nov. have dark dorsolateral stripes, at least anteriorly. Although hard to quantify in old specimens, the ear of M. montserratae sp. nov. also differs in shape from other species in being dorsoventrally elongated, versus more rounded.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 31 D, 45 A – C). An adult male in good state of preservation, with an injury (in the first half of the body posterior to the left forelimb) and without an abdominal slit. SVL 85.3 mm; tail length not measured (complete); HL 15.9 mm; HW 11.0 mm; SW 2.70 mm; EL 1.32 mm; and toe-IV length 9.71 mm; earopening average in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <II = V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the first supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and gest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Four moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved toward the tip of the snout. Postmental scale and three pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by smaller cycloid scales. Body and limb scalation. One row of two fused nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 67 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 15 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Preanal scales larger than ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with pale spots between forelimbs and midbody, continuous from loreal region to midbody and broken into a series of dark brown spots from midbody to hindlimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes essentially absent; faintly evident in fetuses. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below ear to last third of body, bordered below by a series of dark brown spots. Limbs brownish with darker brown mottling on dorsal surfaces and gray on ventral surfaces. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, other specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5), and the photograph of the live specimen (Fig. 45 D) is similar in showing a nearly uniform brown dorsum with spots and faint traces of pale dorsolateral stripes. Pattern and coloration of the fetuses are consistent with adults.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Montserrat (Fig. 11 E). Only two localities are known. The holotype was collected in the central uplands above the abandoned town of Plymouth. That region was severely affected by the recent volcanic eruptions on the island, and satellite imagery shows no remaining forest in that area. Woodlands (Fig. 45 D) is the other locality, and it is on the central west coast, close to the area affected by the volcanic eruptions.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Although the mongoose is absent, introduced rats are present in the forests of Montserrat, and these mammals are known to have a significant negative effect on native reptiles (Young 2008). Also, forest habitats in the southern and central portions of Montserrat were considerably affected by the volcanic eruptions that began on 26 April 1995. The two known localities of this species are in that zone, and only two other individuals have been seen or collected, the most recent one being photographed in 1984 (Fig. 45 D). All native species of lizards recorded from Montserrat were sighted in a recent and extensive biodiversity survey, except Mabuya (Young 2008). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of M. montserratae sp. nov. as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace) and possibly extinct. It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced predators, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. One female (98.0 mm SVL) contained five developing young. The date of collection for that specimen was July, 1902.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (montserratae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Montserrat.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077BFF892DA9EEAA7DDBF9DF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Two of the three known specimens of Mabuya from Montserrat were in museum collections at the beginning of the 20 th century, but they were overlooked by Barbour (1914: 355) in his detailed review of the zoogeography of the West Indian herpetofauna. Dunn (1936) was the first to note the presence of Mabuya on Montserrat, but he considered them to be members of his wide-ranging species, M. mabouya. Underwood (1963) omitted the island from the distribution of M. mabouya, but it was reinstated again by Schwartz and Thomas (1975) and Schwartz and Henderson (1988, 1991). Most recently, Miralles (2005) inadvertently omitted Montserrat from the distribution of M. mabouya. Mabuya montserratae sp. nov. is the northernmost species in the Genus Mabuya, in the Lesser Antilles.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077DFF882DA9E86678C1FC1F.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya guaporicola Dunn, 1936: 549.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077DFF882DA9E86678C1FC1F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The species in this genus is characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, four, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent or rare, (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 136 – 141, (8) total lamellae, 147 – 154, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, present, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, present, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. The maximum body size in the single included species is 98 mm SVL (Dunn 1936; Table 2). from all other genera (> 157 total lamellae), although this character was not scored in Exila, Maracaiba, and Orosaura. However, Manciola differs from those three genera and Capitellum, Copeoglossum (except C. arajara), Mabuya, and Psychosaura in having pale (versus dark) palms and soles. From Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa, Manciola differs in having two frontoparietals (versus one fused frontoparietal in those other genera). In having four supraoculars, Manciola is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). The presence of a single nuchal row separates this genus from Exila and Panopa (2 – 5 nuchal rows) and from most Spondylurus (usually 2 – 3 rows, rarely one). The presence of contact between the parietals separates this genus from Copeoglossum. It differs from Alinea by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (21 – 22 versus 28 – 36), having dark lateral stripes, and lacking ventral striping. Content. One species is placed in this genus: Manciola guaporicola (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077DFF882DA9E86678C1FC1F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is distributed in eastern and southern Brazil and in Bolivia (Avila-Pires 1995; Fig. 8 b).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077DFF882DA9E86678C1FC1F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Manciola) is a feminine, Latin, noun meaning small hand, in reference to the relatively small hands and feet in these skinks.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077DFF882DA9E86678C1FC1F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) does not clearly establish the relationship of this genus to others. The relationship to Brasiliscincus in the tree is not significant, although Rodrigues (2000) allied Manciola guaporicola with species placed here in Brasiliscincus based on some pattern similarities. The two genera also have relatively small hands and feet as reflected in low numbers of total digital lamellae: 157 – 194 in Brasiliscincus and 147 – 154 in Manciola. No molecular data were available for Capitellum (the three included species are likely extinct) but that genus also is characterized by relatively low numbers of lamellae (167 – 190) and, considering other characters (see below), probably also is a close relative of Brasiliscincus and Manciola. The molecular phylogenies (Figs. 5 – 7) show relatively deep divergences (4 – 5 %, cyt b) among specimens of M. guaporicola from different localities suggesting that there are likely additional species of Manciola not yet recognized.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077CFF8B2DA9EA267D21FCEF.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya meridensis Miralles, Rivas, & Schargel, 2005: 3.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077CFF8B2DA9EA267D21FCEF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, four, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent (or contact very rarely in M. meridensis), (5) parietal contact, present (occasionally no contact in M. zuliae), (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 127 (one specimen examined by us, using our counting method), (8) total lamellae, not counted, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, present and absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent (see Remarks), (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. The range of maximum body sizes among the species is 77 – 101 mm SVL (Table 2). Maracaiba is distinguished from Brasiliscincus, Manciola, and Notomabuya by having dark (versus pale) palms and soles. The presence of two frontoparietals (unfused) separates this genus from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa (one frontoparietal). The presence (versus absence) of dark lateral stripes distinguishes this genus from Alinea. Maracaiba is separated from Brasiliscincus and Varzea by having a higher number of dorsals + ventrals (127 versus 113 – 126). From Capitellum, Maracaiba differs in having four supraciliaries (versus 5 – 6). From Marisora, it differs (weakly) by having a high number of dorsals (63 versus 50 – 63; only three of 80 Marisora examined with 63 dorsals). From Copeoglossum, Maracaiba differs by having parietal contact (versus usually no contact) and a higher number of dorsals + ventrals (127 versus 105 – 120). In having four supraoculars, Maracaiba is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). It differs from Manciola in having fewer dorsals + ventrals (127 versus 136 – 141). The presence of a single nuchal row separates this genus from Exila and Panopa (2 – 5 nuchal rows) and from most Spondylurus (usually 2 – 3 rows, rarely one). It also differs from Spondylurus in having poorly-defined dorsolateral dark and pale stripes (welldefined in Spondylurus). Orosaura has what appears to be a pair of irregular, dark nape stripes or lines of spots immediately adjacent to the pale dorsolateral stripes (Miralles et al. 2009) whereas this pattern is lacking in Maracaiba. Maracaiba differs from Psychosaura in having a typical mabuyine head shape (subacuminate) versus	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077CFF8B2DA9EA267D21FCEF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Species in this genus are found in northern Venezuela, in the general region of Lago de Maracaibo; Fig. 8 C. Their altitudinal ranges differ greatly, with M. meridensis 1300 – 2200 m and M. zuliae 0 – 1500 m.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077CFF8B2DA9EA267D21FCEF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Maracaiba) is a feminine noun and refers to the distribution of the genus, centered around Lago de Maracaibo in northern Venezuela.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077CFF8B2DA9EA267D21FCEF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Maracaiba is most closely related (91 % bootstrap support) to the three other genera in the northern portion of the distribution of Mabuyinae: Mabuya, Marisora, and Orosaura (Fig. 5). Together, along with Alinea (see Discussion), they form the Northern Clade. The two included species in Maracaiba cluster closely (100 % bootstrap support). In the original descriptions of those species, emphasis was placed on their number of dark stripes, in both distinguishing them from one another and from other species: Maracaiba meridensis was characterized as having seven stripes and M. zuliae four stripes (Miralles et al. 2005 b; Miralles et al. 2009 b). Although we have limited experience with these species, having examined only one M. meridensis, our inspection of the photos and illustrations of M. meridensis (Miralles et al. 2005 b) leads us to conclude that it is more dorsally spotted than M. zuliae but otherwise does not have dark dorsolateral stripes (as are normally scored as stripes in mabuyines). The narrow dark middorsal stripe also appears to be weakly defined. We are not questioning the species level distinction of M. meridensis and M. zuliae but rather the count of stripes and how it relates to characterizing and diagnosing this genus. More specimens need to be surveyed for the diagnostic traits that we mention above, but we consider this genus to be well-diagnosed when considering both the molecular and morphological data.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077FFF842DA8EDB67969FCEF.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya unimarginata Cope, 1862: 187.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077FFF842DA8EDB67969FCEF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species of the Genus Marisora are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two (rarely three), (2) supraciliaries, four (occasionally three, five, or six), (3) supraoculars, four (rarely three), (4) prefrontal contact, absent (or contact very rarely), (5) parietal contact, present (or occasionally no contact), (6) rows of nuchals, one (rarely two rows), (7) dorsals + ventrals, 109 – 131, (8) total lamellae, 184 – 229, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, usually absent (present in M. alliacea comb. nov.), (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Species of Marisora are medium to large, with a range of maximum body sizes among the species of 82 – 95 mm SVL (except for one species, M. magnacornae sp. nov., known from a single 77.4 mm specimen; Table 2). All Marisora have a basic pattern, usually bold and well-defined, of a dark lateral band several scales wide bordered below by a narrow pale stripe usually less than one scale wide. In two species (M. aurulae sp. nov. and M. falconensis), this basic pattern is weakly defined, and in another (M. alliacea), there are additional (dorsolateral) dark stripes. The absence of dark dorsolateral stripes (except in M. alliacea) distinguishes this genus from Aspronema, Brasiliscincus (most individuals), Manciola, Orosaura, Panopa, Psychosaura, Spondylurus, and Varzea (most individuals). The presence of one row of nuchals (rarely two) distinguishes the Genus Marisora from Exila and Panopa (2 – 5 rows) and most Spondylurus (usually 2 rows). The presence of two (rarely three) frontoparietals (instead of one fused scale) distinguishes this genus from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa. The presence of a pale lateral stripe and absence of dark ventral striping distinguish this genus from the Genus Alinea. The absence of a middorsal dark stripe further distinguishes this genus from Aspronema. The presence of four (usually) supraciliaries (versus 5 – 6) distinguishes Marisora from Capitellum and Exila. Contact (usually) of the parietal scales distinguishes this genus from the Genus Copeoglossum (parietals usually not in contact). In having four supraoculars (rarely three), Marisora is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). In having 184 – 229 total lamellae, it is distinguished from Manciola (147 – 154 lamellae) and Alinea (231 – 259 total lamellae). From Maracaiba, it differs (weakly) by having a low number of dorsals (50 – 63 versus 63; only three of 80 Marisora with 63 dorsals). Content. Seven species are placed in this genus: Marisora alliacea, Marisora aurulae sp. nov., Marisora	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077FFF842DA8EDB67969FCEF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The Genus Marisora is distributed throughout Middle America from central Mexico (Colima in the west and Veracruz in the east) to southern Panama, in northern South America (Colombia, and Venezuela; primarily in the Caribbean lowlands), and on Caribbean islands relatively close to mainland areas (Cozumel, Mexico; Bay Islands, Honduras; Great Corn Island, Nicaragua; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada, the Grenadines, and St. Vincent (Figs. 1, 8 A, 9 E, and 11 D, I – J).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077FFF842DA8EDB67969FCEF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Marisora) is a feminine noun derived from the Latin words maris (sea) and ora (coast, or border), referring to the distribution of this genus occurring predominately in low elevations near the coast (Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific), with relatively few inland and upland localities. Three of the seven species occur exclusively on islands.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F077FFF842DA8EDB67969FCEF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. No attempt was made here to conduct a comprehensive revision of mainland mabuyine skinks from Middle America or South America. Nonetheless, it was necessary for us to examine a sufficient number of specimens from those regions to compare with specimens treated here from Caribbean islands. In doing so we were able to evaluate two previously named Middle American species, Mabuya alliacea Cope and Mabuya brachypoda Taylor, that have been recognized by some (Burger 1952; Taylor 1956; Webb 1958; Flores-Villela 1993; Campbell 1998) but not by others (Dunn 1936; Peters & Donoso-Barros 1970; Savage 2002; Miralles et al. 2009 b). Burger (1952) objected to Dunn's (1936) arrangement of placing nearly all American taxa in Mabuya mabouya. He noted variation in some specimens collected in Middle America and resurrected Mabuya mabouya alliacea as a subspecies. However, he examined only four characters, which he admitted were insufficient. The study by Taylor (1956) was more comprehensive. He examined a larger number of specimens, all from Costa Rica, tabulated measurements and scale counts, and concluded that three species were present in that country, naming one of them Mabuya brachypoda. Taylor (1956) used standard measurements and scale counts and some nonstandard characters (e. g., paired chin shields contacting labials) to diagnose the three taxa. Taylor (1956) showed that Cope's Marisora alliacea could be diagnosed and that all of the specimens of that species occurred in eastern Costa Rica, on the Atlantic slope of the cordillera. All had long limbs, a dorsal pattern of dark dorsolateral stripes (absent in other Middle American mabuyine skinks), a low number of midbody scale rows (26 – 29), supranasal separation (or only point contact), and greenish color in life. Except for the dorsal stripe pattern, each of the characters individually can be found in the other two species, albeit rarely or uncommonly, but in combination they are diagnostic. He examined 17 specimens of the species from Costa Rica. We examined five other specimens from eastern Costa Rica (UF 30454, 30459, 30460, 30467, and 30471) and a specimen from adjacent southern Nicaragua (USNM 19542), all conforming to the characterization of this species by Cope (1876) and Taylor (1956). In addition, we note that all of the specimens we examined have dark venters in preservative. We see no evidence that the range of this species occurs beyond eastern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua, although a more comprehensive examination of material is needed to better define its distribution. It appears to be the only species of Marisora occurring on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. Taylor (1956) divided the remaining mabuyine skinks of Middle America into a long-limbed species, here Marisora unimarginata, with dark dorsal spots and a short-limbed species usually lacking spots, which he described as Mabuya brachypodus (later, corrected to M. brachypoda as the species name is adjectival, " shortfooted "). He considered Marisora unimarginata to occur in Panama and western Costa Rica (Pacific slope) and Marisora brachypoda to also occur in western Costa Rica (Pacific slope) north to Mexico, although the only material he examined of both species was from Costa Rica. He found that in most M. unimarginata the sixth supralabial was below the eye (fifth in M. brachypoda) and only one pair of chin scales contacted the infralabials (two pairs contacted the infralabials in M. brachypoda). Both species have primarily 30 or 32 midbody scale rows, but the latter is a rare count in M. brachypoda and the specimens with 32 scale rows may not be M. brachypoda (see below). Because the holotype of Marisora unimarginata (now unlocated and presumably lost) is from Panama, and Cope (1876) made no mention of dark dorsal flecks or spots, Taylor (1956) was concerned that his well-spotted Costa Rican M. unimarginata might be yet another new species. However, some specimens of Marisora that we have examined from Panama (e. g., CM 43594), otherwise agreeing with M. unimarginata, have dorsal spotting, so apparently it is a variable character. Taylor noted that localities for the two species (M. brachypoda and M. unimarginata) in western Costa Rica were as close as 10 km and at the same elevation, suggesting that they do not Limb length has been a standard character in mabuyine systematics, often used in a non-quantitative manner, by scoring whether the adpressed limbs (arms back, legs forward) overlap or not. This comparison can be accomplished with soft specimens, but the limbs of many preserved specimens are too stiff to bend without damaging them. Nonetheless, it is possible in even those specimens to measure arm and leg lengths. Taylor (1956) did this and presented his results in tables. To those data, we have added limb length measurements of specimens we examined, combined arm and leg lengths, and plotted all against SVL (see below). First, it should be acknowledged that there is significant measurement error, given that few limbs can be perfectly straightened and measured (and, considering error in alternate measurements of bent limbs, using string). Nonetheless, most specimens separate into a short-limbed species (Marisora brachypoda) and long-limbed species (M. alliacea and M. unimarginata), consistent with other characters. Savage (2002) disagreed with Taylor (1956) and instead recognized only one Middle American species, Marisora unimarginata, noting that populations of the various species recognized by Taylor (1956) in Costa Rica showed intergradation. However, Savage did not present evidence for this claim, and it disagrees with the evidence provided by Taylor (1956) and by material that we have examined, which includes geographically intermediate populations. The concordant nature of the character variation, and agreement with geography, suggest to us that Cope (1876) was correct in describing M. alliacea, and Taylor (1956) was correct in describing M. brachypoda, and in recognizing all three species. There is evidence that additional species are present on the mainland of Middle America. Taylor (1956) noted that two individuals from Barracana, Costa Rica, had an unusual pattern of dark lines through each scale. We have also noticed that specimens of Marisora brachypoda from Honduras are similarly lineate and additionally possess distinctive pale ventrolateral stripes. Moreover, three specimens (TCWC 80536, UF 143817, and RT 1729) that we examined from Guanacaste, Cost Rica, differ considerably from other M. brachypoda, including specimens from Puntarenas, Costa Rica. They have shorter toes than any M. brachypoda (7.43 – 8.68 % SVL versus 8.90 – 12.7 %) and shorter heads than all but one M. brachypoda (14.9 – 15.7 % SVL versus 15.6 – 21.4 %). Their limb length is at the low extreme (arm + leg length 45.3 – 48.3 % SVL versus 46.4 – 61.7 %), and dorsals + ventrals are at the high extreme (124 – 129 versus 109 – 124). All three specimens have separated supranasals, whereas those scales are in contact in 25 of 29 other M. brachypoda examined, and in the holotype (Taylor 1956). In pattern, they have a more discontinuous dark lateral stripe than others. Otherwise, they have the key characters of M. brachypoda, including short limbs, two pairs of chin shields in contact with infralabials, and fifth supralabial below the eye. Because the holotype of M. brachypoda is from Guanacaste Province, this potential new species may be sympatric with M. brachypoda. Alternatively, it may represent the true M. brachypoda, in which case populations currently assigned to M. brachypoda from elsewhere will require a new name. Relatively deep divergences (4 – 5 %) among populations of Marisora brachypoda in the molecular phylogeny (Fig. 6), and paraphyletic branching, also suggests that multiple species are present. A comprehensive review of all Middle American specimens of Marisora is warranted to determine the number of species present and their distributions. However, we believe that it is more useful for systematists and non-systematists to recognize five diagnosable species (M. alliacea, M. brachypoda, M. magnacornae sp. nov., M. roatanae sp. nov., and M. unimarginata) in Middle America now, even though one (M. brachypoda) is paraphyletic and in need of further study, than to maintain the current taxonomy whereby a single species (M. unimarginata sensu lato), is recognized and known to be a complex of species. Mijares-Urrutia and Arends (1997) described Marisora falconensis from the state of Falcón, Venezuela. Miralles et al. (2005 a) located additional material of M. falconensis in museum collections that extended the distribution of the species, especially along the northern coast east of Falcón to the state of Sucre, Venezuela. They also assigned a specimen (UMMZ 54793) from Guajira, Colombia to that species. We have examined that Colombian specimen and agree that it is similar to M. falconensis in scalation and is a member of the Genus Marisora. However it has a wider (nearly two scale rows) pale lateral stripe and a narrower dark lateral stripe as compared with M. falconensis. Further comparisons with additional specimens are needed to determine whether M. falconensis or a related species occurs in Colombia. Marisora falconensis has not yet been compared with M. unimarginata (sensu stricto) by any authors, morphologically or with molecular data. Available DNA sequences of Marisora from Middle America are from M. from all three new species of the Genus Marisora, described below. However, M. falconensis and M. unimarginata share some characters including long limbs, broadly overlapping scale counts, and a pattern that includes (variably) dorsal spotting, although M. falconensis tends to be a darker species, at least in preservative. However, in having a weakly-defined dark lateral stripe, M. falconensis resembles M. aurulae sp. nov. One character that we found to distinguish most specimens of M. falconensis and M. unimarginata is the chin shield character. In M. unimarginata, there is usually (88 %) one pair of chin shields posterior to the postmental that touch the infralabials (i. e., are not separated by a sublabial), whereas in M. falconensis, there are usually two (79 %) or three (5 %) such pairs of chin shields. However, a large number of Venezuelan and other South American specimens of Mabuya exist in museum collections that have not been examined by us or by previous authors. A comprehensive examination of this material is needed to better understand the systematics of mabuyine skinks from Venezuela and elsewhere in South America. Below we describe three new species of the Genus Marisora from Caribbean islands. One species occurs in the Windward Islands (southern Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago) and is most closely related to M. falconensis. The other two are from islands off of Middle America (Great Corn and Roatán) and appear to be most closely related to species occurring in that geographic region (M. alliacea, M. brachypoda, and M. unimarginata). Morphological data, combined with molecular data for several of the species, show that all seven species form a clade (Genus Marisora) that is most closely related to two genera also occurring in that general geographic region: Mabuya of the Lesser Antilles and Maracaiba of Venezuela. This phylogenetic relationship has been observed previously using many of the same Genbank sequences (Miralles et al. 2005 a; Miralles & Carranza 2010).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	description	(Figs. 46 A, 47 A, 48)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	description	Mabuya falconensis — Miralles et al., 2009: 609 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 38196, an adult female from Young's Island, St. Vincent, collected 11 November 1934 by J. B. Myers. Paratypes (n = 12). Grenada. MCZ R- 79743, James Lazell, Glover Island, 21 June 1964; USNM 72658 – 59, Belmont, St. George (no collection date available). Grenadines. KU 242049, Albert Schwartz, Saline Bay, Mayreau (Mayero) Island, 13 December 1961; KU 242050, Albert Schwartz, Petit Bateau, Tobago Cays, 13 December 1961; MCZ R- 79098, C. MacIntosh, Carriacou, 1963. Tobago. KU 242012, Albert Schwartz, 1 mile E Canaan (13 May 1963); MCZ R- 12079 – 80, W. E. Broadway (no specific locality or collection date available); MCZ R- 55668, Garth Underwood, Scarborough, 5 September 1956. Trinidad. MCZ R- 100482 – 83, J. Boos, La Romain, 14 June 1967. Other material (n = 4). Grenada. MCZ R- 4514, P. Sellinan, no specific locality, ca. 1882 (see Remarks).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Marisora aurulae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 80.9 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 89.0 mm; (3) snout width, 2.47 – 3.08 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.7 – 19.1 % SVL; (5) head width, 13.0 – 15.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.00 – 2.13 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.96 – 10.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (85 %), five (15 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (69 %), six (31 %); (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 57 – 63; (15) ventrals, 57 – 68; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 114 – 129; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 11 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 26 – 32; (21) supranasal contact, Y (46 %), N (54 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Marisora aurulae sp. nov. differs from M. alliacea, M. magnacornae sp. nov., and M. unimarginata in having shorter limbs (arm + leg length 53.7 – 55.9 % SVL versus 55.7 – 69.1 % SVL; Fig. 49). From M. unimarginata and M. magnacornae sp. nov. it also differs in having 2 – 4 pairs of chin shields in contact with the infralabials versus one pair in M. magnacornae sp. nov. and usually one pair (88 %) in M. unimarginata. From M. magnacornae sp. nov. it also differs in having shorter toes (toe-IV length 7.96 – 10.5 % SVL versus 12.4 % in M. magnacornae sp. nov.). Marisora aurulae sp. nov. is separated from M. roatanae sp. nov. in having a longer supraciliary- 1 scale (1.65 – 1.77 % SVL versus 1.04 – 1.29 % in M. roatanae sp. nov.; Fig. 50 A). From M. falconensis, its closest relative (Figs. 5 – 7), M. aurulae sp. nov. differs in having shorter toes (toe-IV length 7.96 – 10.5 % SVL versus 10.8 – 11.9 % in M. falconensis; Fig. 50 B). Also, most M. aurulae sp. nov. that we examined (82 %) have dark palms and soles and we score that as the fixed state in the species, assuming that the coloration has faded in the remaining 18 %. However, M. falconensis is considered to have pale palms and soles (Miralles et al. 2005 a), and thus this may be another diagnostic difference. In body pattern, M. aurulae sp. nov. differs from all other species in the genus, including M. falconensis, in being paler and in having the standard stripe pattern weakly defined or nearly absent (Figs. 47 A, and 48). From M. alliacea it further differs in lacking dark dorsolateral stripes (present in M. alliacea). Marisora aurulae sp. nov. also differs in many ways from a sympatric species, Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov., described above, in the genus Copeoglossum. Two scale characters that may be used to separate them readily are parietal scales (not in contact, or rarely just touching, in C. aurae sp. nov.; in contact in M. aurulae sp. nov.) and paired chin scales (usually completely separated from infralabials by a row of scales in C. aurae sp. nov.; 2 – 4 pairs in contact with infralabials in M. aurulae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Fig. 48 A – B). An adult female in good state of preservation, with minor damage to snout tip and with an abdominal slit. SVL 74.6 mm; tail length 32.8 mm (broken and regenerated); HL 13.9 mm; HW 10.5 mm; SW 2.30 mm; EL 1.11 mm; and toe-IV length 7.40 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal heptagonal (damaged), wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal roughly octagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal rectangular and posterior loreal squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials (eight on the left). Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields (plus a third left chin shield scale) in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 64 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs and paler on regenerated part of tail. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated part of tail. Pattern and coloration (faded slightly, apparently from age and preservation): Dorsal ground color medium grayish-brown with small dark brown spots, distributed on body, tail, and limbs. Forelimbs with larger spots or mottling. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, brown, irregular (series of close blotches), gradually fading from loreal region to hindlimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from behind eye to midbody, bordered below by a series of brown spots. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces pale brown or medium brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed in the southern Lesser Antilles and on Trinidad and Tobago. Specifically, it occurs on Young's Island (off St. Vincent), the Grenadines (Mayero Island, Carriacou, and Petit Bateau in the Tobago Cays), Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago (Fig. 11 D, I – J).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Because of confusion between this species and the sympatric species Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov., published ecological information on skinks from the region cannot be applied to either species with certainty. Past ecological information reported for skinks from Trinidad and Tobago, summarized in Murphy (1997), probably confounds C. aurae sp. nov. and Marisora aurulae sp. nov. In those reports, skinks were noted as occurring in a diversity of habitats, including rainforest, forest edge, coconut trash, and cultivated and disturbed areas. In the Grenadines, skinks have been found usually on the ground " in woody underbrush and between cacti " and climbing among cacti and on tree trunks (Daudin & de Silva 2007). Apparently this species, and C. aurae sp. nov., have been extirpated from the large islands of St. Vincent and Grenada (Barbour 1937), both of which have the introduced mongoose. The mongoose is present on Trinidad, although C. aurae sp. nov. has been collected there in recent years (Murphy 1997); it may have adapted to continental mammalian predators on that island. Photographs of that species confirm its recent presence in the Grenadines (Fig. 25 D). However, the last date of collection for M. aurulae sp. nov. on any island, from material we examined, was 1967 (Trinidad), although two specimens from Tobago (ZFMK 62602 – 03), not examined here, were collected more recently. Black rats (Rattus rattus) are also likely predators, and these are on many islands. We identified more than twice as many specimens in museums of C. aurae sp. nov. than of M. aurulae sp. nov., suggesting that M. aurulae sp. nov., over the years, has been less frequently collected (for whatever reasons) than C. aurae sp. nov. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), and considering that this species has not been seen on any island within its range (except Tobago, which is mongoose-free) in nearly a half-century, we assess the conservation status of Marisora aurulae sp. nov. as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has apparently led to its extirpation from Grenada and Trinidad, and near-extinction. A secondary threat is predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (aurulae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, from the Latin noun aurula (small wind, breeze) alluding to both its smaller size (compared with sympatric Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov.) and its distribution on the Windward Islands: the southern Lesser Antilles, sometimes including Trinidad and Tobago (see Etymology of C. aurae sp. nov. for further comments on the term " windward "). The first part of the common name (Lesser Windward Skink) refers to the smaller body size of this species, compared with C. aurae sp. nov. (Greater Windward Skink), described above.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0770FF7D2DA9EDB17F01FDE4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. There are no records of this species from mainland St. Vincent, but it likely occurred there, prior to the introduction of the mongoose, given its occurrence on the satellite islet, Young's Island. The USNM specimens from Belmont, Grenada, have no date or collector. However, they appear to be from the 19 th century because the catalog number immediately preceding those numbers is from 1885, and the assigned name (" Mabuya aurata ") is one used at about that time (Boulenger 1887). Therefore, there are no definite records of this species on the main island of Grenada subsequent to the introduction of the mongoose. Marisora aurulae sp. nov., like Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov., violates a common pattern of Caribbean island skinks in its occurrence on multiple islands separated by deep water. Most other species are single island (or island bank) endemics. In fact, M. aurulae sp. nov. has a nearly identical distribution as that of C. aurae sp. nov., with both species being taken together at two localities (see discussion above, in Remarks for C. aurae sp. nov.). Literature reports of skinks on these islands (e. g., Murphy 1997) confuse the two species, and therefore the precise ecological habits of each species remain to be determined. The photo of a skink from near Arima, Trinidad (Murphy 1997) is of C. aurae sp. nov. (as opposed to M. aurulae sp. nov.) because it shows separated parietal scales. The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) indicates that the closest relative of M. aurulae sp. nov. is the Venezuelan species M. falconensis, as was shown earlier (Miralles et al. 2009 b). This makes sense from a geographic standpoint, as M. falconensis is the closest species to M. aurulae sp. nov. (in our limited examination of M. Lesser Antilles on flotsam carried by ocean currents known to flow in a southeast to northwest direction (Hedges 1996 b). The systematic evidence indicates that neither of the two species (C. aurae sp. nov. and M. aurulae sp. nov.) was introduced by humans to these islands (see discussion in Remarks for C. aurae sp. nov.). Marisora aurulae sp. nov. exhibits some geographic variation. Three specimens from Tobago (MCZ R- 12079 – 80, 55668) differ from all other M. aurulae sp. nov. in having a higher number of midbody scale rows: 31 – nov. A fifth specimen, the oldest museum specimen of the species (MCZ R- 4514), deserves special comment. It was collected in Grenada (no specific locality indicated) and apparently donated to the MCZ in ca. 1882 by P. Sellinan, who deposited some other reptiles in the MCZ collection. One of those reptiles was later described as an endemic subspecies of snake from Grenada (Greer 1965), and the others are consistent with an origin on Grenada, inferring that the skink (MCZ R- 4514) from Sellinan is likely from Grenada. However, that specimen differs in several characters from other M. aurulae sp. nov.: it has the lowest dorsals + ventrals count (111), lacks parietal contact, has the longest toe-IV (11.4 % SVL), and has a pattern more like C. aurae sp. nov. Nonetheless, its other scale characters, including chin scale configuration, are consistent with M. aurulae sp. nov. and not C. aurae sp. nov. It is also curious that the other specimen with a low dorsals + ventrals count (MCZ R- 79743) was collected in Grenada (Glover Island) as well; however, that specimen agrees more with M. aurulae sp. nov. in other characters. Whether MCZ-R- 4514 represents a geographic variant, a cryptic species, or a hybrid with sympatric C. aurae sp. nov. is unknown. The specimens from Tobago (ZFMK 62602 – 03) identified as M. falconensis by Miralles et al. (2009), although not examined here, are assumed to be M. aurulae sp. nov. One specimen, ZMH R 09305, labeled as " Mabuya agilis " from St. Thomas, was collected in 1877 by " Riise. " It is a member of the genus Marisora (not known from the Greater Antilles) and agrees in all respects (scalation and pattern) with Marisora aurulae sp. nov. Because of the essentially pre-mongoose date of collection, the specific locality, and the collector — Albert Heinrich Riise, a Danish pharmacist and naturalist on St. Thomas — we were intrigued by this specimen and at first considered that it might represent an endemic species to St. Thomas. However, when we discovered that another ZMH specimen (ZMH R 09298) with identical catalog information turned out to be the Jamaican species, Spondylurus fulgidus, we realized there was likely some confusion in collection data of these specimens. Because the mongoose has significantly altered the diversity of Mabuyinae on Caribbean islands, we could not completely dismiss the possibility that the collection data are correct and that St. Thomas was previously inhabited by fulgidus - like and aurulae - like species. However, we were unable to find any unique traits in these specimens that would suggest that they were endemic to St. Thomas. Because of this apparent locality confusion we did not treat this specimen as a paratype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	description	(Figs. 46 B, 47 B, 51)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 26976, an adult male collected between 10 December 1927 and 3 January 1928 on Great Corn Island, Nicaragua by James L. Peters (Peters 1929).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 77.4 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, not available; (3) snout width, 2.71 % SVL; (4) head length, 18.6 % SVL; (5) head width, 14.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.36 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 12.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 57; (15) ventrals, 60; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 117; (17) midbody scale rows, 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. differs from all other species in the Genus Marisora in having a longer toe-IV (12.4 % SVL versus 7.96 – 11.9 % in other species except M. brachypoda; 7.43 – 12.2 % SVL in 89 % of that species). It also differs from individual species in other characters. The limbs of M. magnacornae sp. nov. are longer than most species (arm + leg length 62.3 % SVL), and in this character it differs from M. aurulae sp. nov. (53.7 – 55.9 % SVL), M. brachypoda (45.3 – 61.7 % SVL), M. falconensis (53.5 – 61.6 % SVL), and M. roatanae sp. nov. (54.5 – 56.2 % SVL; Fig. 49). Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. also differs in having fewer dorsals + ventrals (117) than M. roatanae sp. nov. (122 – 125). From M. alliacea it differs in having 30 midbody scale rows (versus 26 – 29) and in lacking dark dorsolateral stripes (present in M. alliacea). From M. roatanae sp. nov. it additionally differs in having 30 midbody scale rows (versus 32), a relatively longer supraciliary- 1 scale (1.61 % SVL versus 1.04 – 1.29 %; Fig. 50 A), and absence of pale ventrolateral stripes. From M. unimarginata it differs in having two pairs (versus one pair) of chin shields in contact with the infralabials, a narrower pale lateral stripe (1.10 % SVL versus 1.43 – 1.89 %) and in having the pale lateral stripe passing through the lower half of the ear opening (that stripe passes through all or most of the ear opening in M. unimarginata). EL 1.05 mm; and toe-IV length 9.59 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal on the left. Frontonasal heptagonal, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale on the left. On the right, a small scale is present between the frontonasal and anterior loreal. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal, and first supralabial. Anterior loreal rectangular and posterior loreal squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Three upper preoculars (four on the left) and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 57 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 60 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 12 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with small dark brown spots, distributed uniformly and in two dorsolateral bands on body, in broken lines on tail, and uniformly on limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, extending from loreal region past hindlimbs and onto base of tail. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes absent. Pale lateral stripes present, pale gray, extending from behind eye past hindlimbs, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color in life of the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	description	Variation. No other specimens are known. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype are presented in Tables 3 – 5.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Great Corn Island (10 km 2), Nicaragua (Fig. 1), located approximately 50 km from the Nicaraguan coast. The precise locality on Great Corn Island where the holotype was collected is unknown, and therefore no map is shown here. It is also unknown whether it or a related species occurs on Little Corn Island (2.9 km 2).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No information is available in the original account of the expedition except that the species is called " slitch " by the islanders (Barbour & Loveridge 1929). The only known specimen of the species was collected nearly a century ago. Recent photographs of this small island show some forest present (apparently unprotected), as well as roads, an airport, settlements, and farm animals. It can be assumed that rats are present, and these may pose the most significant threat to this species. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. as Endangered (EN A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, if the species still exists. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (magnacornae) is a feminine genitive singular noun, referring to the island on which the species occurs. Although formally called Great Corn Island, it is usually called simply " Corn Island, " and hence the English common name, Corn Island Skink. The language of Nicaragua is Spanish, but the Corn Islands were named by the British, and the government of Nicaragua maintains the English name as the official name for the islands. Hence we use that English name as a stem for the species name.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0789FF7F2DA9ECB278DFF841.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Although Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. has unique scale characters that distinguish it from other species, it is not particularly distinctive in pattern, and it probably was medium brown in life with dark brown markings. Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. and M. unimarginata have the longest limbs in the genus, in contrast to geographically proximal M. brachypoda (short limbs). No specimens of M. unimarginata are yet known from adjacent Nicaragua or eastern Coast Rica. However, two specimens of Marisora brachypoda from eastern Nicaragua, USNM 19872 – 73, are unusual in having a mixture of characters (long limbs, two pairs of chin shields in contact with infralabials, long toe-IV (11.2 – 12.7 % SVL), and 30 midbody scale rows) that combined distinguish them from other species. They may represent aberrant specimens of M. magnacornae sp. nov., or of other species such as M. brachypoda or M. unimarginata, or they may represent an undescribed species. Marisora magnacornae sp. nov. may have arisen as a vicariant relict of an ancestral species (a close relative of M. unimarginata) that was more widely distributed during Pleistocene glaciations when low sea levels exposed the continental shelf. Alternatively, it may have rafted to the island at some point in the past, presumably from points south (e. g., Panama) or east based on ocean currents in that portion of the Caribbean. The highest elevation on the island is approximately 110 m, which would have meant that some land would have been emergent during Pleistocene interglacial high stands, assuming that no geological uplift has since occurred.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	description	(Figs. 46 C, 47 C, 52)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. TCWC 21955, an adult female from Jonesville, Isla de Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras, 3 m, collected on 11 April 1965 (collector unknown). Paratype (n = 1). Isla de Roatán, Honduras. UTA R 55232, an adult male from Oak Ridge, Isla de Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras (collected by Gary Ferguson in 1979). Other material. Isla de Roatán, Honduras. Uncataloged, Politilly Bight (east side), Isla de Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras, collected on 16 November 2010 by Stesha Pasachnik (only images of this third specimen were available; no character data were taken).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Marisora roatanae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 74.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 90.2 mm; (3) snout width, 2.38 – 2.96 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.7 – 19.0 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.6 – 14.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 0.95 – 1.15 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.39 – 10.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (67 %), five (33 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, one; (14) dorsals, 57 – 58; (15) ventrals, 65 – 67; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 122 – 125; (17) midbody scale rows, 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (33 %), N (67 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, N; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, N; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Marisora roatanae sp. nov. differs from all other species in the Genus Marisora in having a small supraciliary- 1 scale (1.04 – 1.29 % SVL versus 1.35 – 2.00 % in other species; Fig. 50 A). It also differs from individual species in other characters. From M. alliacea, it differs in having shorter limbs (arm + leg length, 54.9 – 56.2 % SVL versus 58.0 – 70.0 %; Fig. 49), more midbody scale rows (32 versus 26 – 29), more dorsals plus ventrals (122 – 125 versus 113 – 121), and no dark dorsolateral stripes (present in M. alliacea). From M. unimarginata, it differs in having two pairs of chin shields in contact with infralabials (versus usually one pair). From M. magnacornae sp. nov., it differs in having short limbs (arm + leg length 54.9 – 56.2 % SVL versus 62.3 %; Fig. 49), more midbody scale rows (32 versus 30), and more dorsals plus ventrals (122 – 125 versus 117 in M. magnacornae sp. nov.). Marisora roatanae sp. nov. is most closely related to M. brachypoda (Fig. 5). From M. brachypoda, it differs in having more midbody scale rows (32 versus 28 – 30 in M. brachypoda). One of the 36 M. brachypoda examined, from Guanacaste, Costa Rica (TCWC 80536), has 32 midbody scale rows, although this specimen from Guanacaste may represent an undescribed species (see Remarks for Marisora) and therefore has been removed from summary counts for that species. Marisora roatanae sp. nov. also has small ear openings (0.95 – 1.15 % SVL; both ears of both specimens) compared with M. brachypoda (1.22 – 2.18 % SVL; Fig. 53). The holotype of M. roatanae sp. nov. also has unusually small eyelid windows (1.36 – 1.37 % SVL versus 1.50 – 2.82 % in other species of Marisora), although the paratype has more normal eyelid windows (1.79 – 1.85 % SVL). Specimens of M. brachypoda from neighboring islands of Utila and Guanaja have supraciliary- 1 scales, midbody scale counts, and ear lengths typical of M. brachypoda. Two recently collected, uncataloged, specimens of Marisora roatanae sp. nov. (James R. McCranie, personal communication) agree with the type and paratype in having> 30 midbody scale rows (one has 32 and the other has 31 or 32 midbody scale rows). That character separates M. roatanae sp. nov. from other Middle American species (M. alliacea, M. brachypoda, and M. magnacornae sp. nov.), which have 26 – 30 midbody scale rows, except M. unimarginata from lower Middle America (28 – 32 rows) and a possible new species from Costa Rica with 32 rows (see Remarks for Marisora). In pattern Marisora roatanae sp. nov. has the basic elements of Marisora (wide, dark lateral stripe above a narrow, pale lateral stripe) but differs from other species of the genus in having a mostly unspotted, gray-brown dorsum in life. Base (dorsal zone) coloration, in life, in M. brachypoda and other species usually is tan, coppery brown, or reddish-brown with more spotting, and in some cases (M. alliacea), dorsolateral stripes. The pale ventrolateral stripes that extend onto the hindlimbs of M. roatanae sp. nov. (Fig. 47 C) are distinctive in the holotype (but not in the paratype) and absent in nearly all other preserved specimens of Marisora except some M. brachypoda from Honduras (TCWC 19211 – 12; CM 63581 – 87); in those cases they are less well-developed and do not extend onto the hindlimbs.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 46 C, 52 A – D). An adult female in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 90.2 mm; tail length 145.0 mm (complete); HL 14.2 mm; HW 11.4 mm; SW 2.15 mm; EL 1.43 mm; and toe-IV length 7.57 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal decagonal, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. Three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 67 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. In preservative: Dorsal ground color medium brown with relatively few dark brown spots, distributed in two dorsolateral zones on body, in discontinuous stripes on tail, and uniformly on limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes absent. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region past hindlimbs. Pale middorsal stripe absent. Pale dorsolateral stripes present between bands of dorsolateral dark spots and dark lateral stripes. Two pale ventrolateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye to last third of body (upper stripe continues past hindlimbs and lower stripe continues onto hindlimbs), each bordered below by a dark line. Forelimbs and hindlimbs with large dark spots. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. The pattern elements in the paratype and in Specimen PB are similar to those in the holotype, typical of other species of the Genus Marisora, although that difference may not be significant. Different preservatives (e. g., formalin versus ethanol) tend to alter coloration in different ways, and therefore subtle differences in coloration among preserved specimens, and especially between preserved and unpreserved specimens, should be interpreted cautiously.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Isla de Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras (Fig. 9 E), located approximately 60 km from the north coast of Honduras. All three specimens are from a relatively small region in central Roatán.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No published information is available. Ecological information on mabuyine skinks from Utila and Guanaja (McCranie et al. 2005) pertains to Marisora brachypoda. Specimen PB was found recently killed on a road. Forest habitats on Roatán, in practice, are not protected, although some areas are designated as " protected " (S. Pasachnik, personal communication). Deforestation continues for agriculture and commercial development. Rats are present on the island. Besides the two museum specimens, two Roatán skinks were found in 2011 (James R. McCranie, personal communication) and another two (Specimen PB and another near Jonesville) were sighted during a long term field survey of iguanian lizards on Roatán (S. Pasachnik, personal communication). This suggests unnaturally low abundance compared with other island populations of skinks (e. g., Caicos Islands and Dominica) where the mongoose does not occur. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of M. roatanae sp. nov. to be Endangered (EN A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine the health of the remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (roatanae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Roatán.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078AFF7B2DA9EEAA7EDDFA43.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The short limbs and chin shield configuration of Marisora roatanae sp. nov., and its possession of ventrolateral stripes, agree more with M. brachypoda than M. unimarginata, suggesting that M. roatanae sp. nov. and M. brachypoda are closest relatives. Such a relationship is also consistent with geography. Marisora roatanae sp. nov. and Marisora brachypoda - 3 from Honduras have a moderately low sequence divergence (0.8 %; Fig. 6) and their time of divergence is estimated to be 0.6 Ma (Fig. 7), similar to the divergence of a currently recognized species from the Virgin Islands (Spondylurus macleani) and its closest relatives, and between other diagnosable species in the Genus Spondylurus (Figs. 5 – 7). The lower sequence divergence of M. roatanae sp. nov. and M. brachypoda in Fig. 5, on the other hand, is artifactual because the two Honduras specimens of M. brachypoda (samples 2 – 3) lack some fast-evolving mitochondrial sequences (16 S rRNA in both, cyt b in one). Roatán is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras and has several other endemic reptiles (Barbour 1928; McCranie et al. 2005). Bathymetry maps indicate that the island is separated from mainland Honduras by deeper water than other Bay islands such as Utila, and hence it was probably isolated for a longer time when sea levels rose following Pleistocene glaciation events.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078FFF7A2DA9EBD87E16FE2C.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Emoea frenata Cope, 1862: 187.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078FFF7A2DA9EBD87E16FE2C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The species in this genus is characterized by (1) frontoparietals, one, (2) supraciliaries, 4 – 6, (3) supraoculars, 4 (rarely three or five), (4) prefrontal contact, absent or rare, (5) parietal contact, present (or rarely no contact), (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 111 – 130, (8) total lamellae, 217 – 228, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. The maximum SVL in this species is 91 mm (Vrcibradic & Rocha 2011) (Table 2). The presence of one frontoparietal separates this genus from all others except Aspronema (1 – 2 frontoparietals), Exila, and Panopa. From Exila and Panopa, it differs by having one row of nuchals (versus 2 – 5 in those other genera). In lacking dark dorsolateral stripes, it is separated from Aspronema, Manciola, Orosaura, Panopa, Psychosaura, Spondylurus and Varzea (except rarely). In lacking a dark middorsal stripe, it is separated from Aspronema and Manciola. In having pale palms and soles, it differs from Capitellum, Exila, Mabuya, Maracaiba, Orosaura, and Psychosaura (dark palms and soles). Content. One species is placed in this genus: Notomabuya frenata (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078FFF7A2DA9EBD87E16FE2C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay (Fig. 8 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078FFF7A2DA9EBD87E16FE2C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Notomabuya) is a feminine noun derived from the Greek notos (south, southern) and mabuya (a Neotropical skink), hence " Southern Neotropical Skink, " in allusion to the distribution of the included species (frenata) in southern South America.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078FFF7A2DA9EBD87E16FE2C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) shows each of the four samples of Notomabuya frenata, from diverse localities in Brazil, clustering together in a monophyletic group but with long branch lengths, as was shown by earlier studies (Whiting et al. 2006; Miralles et al. 2009 b). Sequence divergence among those four populations (3.4 – 11 %; Fig. 6) is greater than among some recognized species elsewhere in the tree, indicating that Notomabuya frenata is likely a complex of species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078EFF7A2DA9EC7A79C3F8B6.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya nebulosylvestris Miralles et al., 2009: 603.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078EFF7A2DA9EC7A79C3F8B6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The species in this genus is characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, four (rarely five or six), (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent or rare, (5) parietal contact, present (or rarely no contact), (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, unavailable (48 – 56 dorsals and 27 – 38 ventrals, counted by a different method; Miralles et al. 2009), (8) total lamellae, unavailable, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, unknown (see Remarks), (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. The maximum body size for this species is 97 mm SVL (Table 2). The presence of two frontoparietals (unfused) separates Orosaura from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa (one frontoparietal). The presence (versus absence) of dark lateral stripes distinguishes this genus from Alinea. From Capitellum (5 – 6 supraciliaries), Orosaura differs in having four supraciliaries (rarely 5 – 6). From Copeoglossum, Orosaura differs by having parietal contact (versus usually no contact) and a higher number of dorsals + ventrals (127 versus 105 – 120). In having four supraoculars, Orosaura is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). The presence of a single nuchal row separates this genus from Exila and Panopa (2 – 5 nuchal rows) and from most Spondylurus (usually 2 – 3 rows, rarely one). Orosaura also differs from Spondylurus in having poorly-defined dorsolateral dark and pale stripes (well-defined in Spondylurus). Orosaura differs from Psychosaura in having a typical mabuyine head shape (subacuminate) versus a prominent, acuminate head shape in Psychosaura. From Aspronema and Manciola it differs in lacking a dark middorsal stripe. Orosaura has what appears to be a pair of irregular, dark nape stripes or lines of spots immediately adjacent to the pale dorsolateral stripes (Miralles et al. 2009) whereas this pattern is lacking in Maracaiba and Marisora. From Brasiliscincus, Manciola, Notomabuya, and nearly all species of Spondylurus, it differs by having dark (versus pale) palms and soles. In its large maximum body size (to 97 mm SVL) it differs from Aspronema, Capitellum, Exila, Panopa, and Psychosaura (all <86 mm SVL). Content. One species is placed in this genus: Orosaura nebulosylvestris (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078EFF7A2DA9EC7A79C3F8B6.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is distributed in Northern Venezuela, in the northernmost Andes (Cordillera de Mérida) and in the central portion of the Venezuelan Coastal Range, at elevations of 920 – 2360 m.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078EFF7A2DA9EC7A79C3F8B6.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Orosaura) is a feminine noun derived from the Greek oro (mountain) and saura (lizard), referring to the distribution of the genus in the mountains of northern Venezuela.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F078EFF7A2DA9EC7A79C3F8B6.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Miralles et al. (2009) discussed the distribution and elevational limits in this species and others. We do not have experience with it and rely on the original description. Miralles et al. (2009: figs. 1 – 2) highlighted the presence of dark dorsolateral stripes as a diagnostic trait in Orosaura nebulosylvestris, and they are indicated in the their line drawing but are not visible in the photograph of a live individual in that article (see also Remarks for Maracaiba regarding differences in the scoring of stripes). For internal consistency, we have omitted dorsolateral stripe information for this genus in Table 2. Phylogenetically, this clade is well-defined (Fig. 5) but more information on scalation and pattern variation in Orosaura would be welcome, to better define it morphologically.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF752DA9EEAA7F39FBD6.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya croizati Horton, 1973: 75.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF752DA9EEAA7F39FBD6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, one, (2) supraciliaries, 4 – 6, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, present (a single, fused prefrontal), (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, usually 3 – 5, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 115 – 126, (8) total lamellae, 191 – 209, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, present, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. They are intermediately sized, with a range of maximum body sizes among the species of 69 – 76 mm SVL (Table 2). The presence of a single (fused) frontoparietal scale separates Panopa from all other genera (two, or rarely three frontoparietals) except Aspronema (1 – 2 scales) and Exila and Notomabuya (one scale). The presence of prefrontal contact or fusion separates Panopa from Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Notomabuya, and Psychosaura (no prefrontal contact) and from Alinea, Aspronema, Copeoglossum, Mabuya, Manciola, Maracaiba, and Marisora (no or rare contact). The presence of 3 – 5 rows of nuchals separates Panopa from all other genera (fewer than three rows) except Alinea (1 – 3 rows), Exila (2 – 3 rows), and Spondylurus (1 – 3 rows). Panopa also have blue tails in juveniles and adults. The only other mabuyines known to have blue tails are Spondylurus lineolatus of Hispaniola (juveniles and adults) and S. powelli sp. nov. (juveniles only). Content. Two species are placed in this genus: Panopa carvalhoi and P. croizati (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF752DA9EEAA7F39FBD6.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed in two isolated regions: in northeastern Venezuela and in southern Venezuela (Amazonas) and adjoining northern Brazil (Roraima; Fig. 8 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF752DA9EEAA7F39FBD6.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Panopa) is a feminine noun and is derived from the Greek adjective pan (whole, undivided) and noun lopas (flat plate), in allusion to the single (fused) frontoparietal scale.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF752DA9EEAA7F39FBD6.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This pair of species shares a suite of morphological traits (Miralles et al. 2005 a), and they cluster together in molecular phylogenies (Fig. 5; Miralles et al. 2009 b).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF742DA9EA5F787DFDCF.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya macrorhyncha Hoge, 1946: 241.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF742DA9EA5F787DFDCF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 4 – 5, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent, (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, 1 – 2, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 114 in one specimen of P. macrorhyncha scored by us (50 – 58 dorsals and 33 – 38 ventrals, counted by a different method; Rodrigues et al. 2000), (8) total lamellae, 201, (9) dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, present, (11) dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. They are intermediate in size, with a range of maximum body sizes among the species of 74 – 85 mm (Vrcibradic & Rocha 2011) (Table 2). The presence of dark dorsolateral stripes separates Psychosaura from Alinea, Capitellum, Copeoglossum, Exila, Maracaiba, and Notomabuya (dark dorsolateral stripes absent). In several other genera (Mabuya, Marisora, and Varzea), dark dorsolateral stripes are usually absent as well. It differs from Aspronema, Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, and Manciola by having a higher number of total lamellae (201 versus 147 – 194 in those other species). From Aspronema and Manciola, it is distinguished by the absence of a narrow dark middorsal stripe. It differs from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa by having two (versus one) frontoparietals. It differs from Exila and Panopa in lacking prefrontal contact (versus prefrontals in contact or fused). Psychosaura also differs from Panopa in having 1 – 2 rows of nuchals versus 3 – 5 rows. It differs from Orosaura (97 mm maximum SVL) in being slightly smaller (74 – 85 mm maximum SVL) and in having a prominent head. In having dark palms and soles, Psychosaura differs from Brasiliscincus, Manciola, Notomabuya, and most Spondylurus (pale palms and soles, except S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, and S. lineolatus). Content. Two species are placed in this genus: Psychosaura agmosticha and P. macrorhyncha (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF742DA9EA5F787DFDCF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Psychosaura) is a feminine noun from the Greek psyche (mind) and saura (lizard), meaning “ thinking lizard, ” in allusion to the prominent heads, gracile bodies, and agile, active habits of the species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0781FF742DA9EA5F787DFDCF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Rodrigues (2000) summarized information on the two species placed here in Psychosaura. He separated them from all other South American Mabuyinae (except those placed here in Panopa) as having a " prominent head, " although he did not present snout or head length measurements. The two included species cluster strongly (100 % bootstrap support) in the tree (Fig. 5), although the position of the lineage with respect to other genera is not well-established. Psychosaura macrorhyncha (and presumably P. agmosticha) is more scansorial than other species (Vrcibradic & Rocha 1996) and this habit is often correlated with species having gracile bodies, long limbs, long digits, and long, pointed snouts. Other species with this ecology and morphology include Panopa carvalhoi, P. croizati, Alinea pergravis and Spondylurus fulgidus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0780FF772DA9EC567D75FE74.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two (very rarely one or three), (2) supraciliaries, four (occasionally three, five, or six; three commonly in Spondylurus lineolatus and five always in S. fulgidus), (3) supraoculars, four (three commonly in S. martinae sp. nov. and S. monitae sp. nov. and two or three rarely in six other species), (4) prefrontal contact, absent (contact or not in S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., and S. sloanii, and contact rarely in three other species), (5) parietal contact, present (rarely no contact in three species), (6) rows of nuchals, two (rarely one or three), (7) dorsals + ventrals, 108 – 135, (8) total lamellae, 159 – 238, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, present, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Species range from small to large in maximum body sizes, 64 – 107 mm SVL (Table 2). The presence of dark dorsolateral stripes separates Spondylurus from Alinea, Capitellum, Copeoglossum, Exila, Maracaiba, and Notomabuya (dark dorsolateral stripes absent). In several other genera (Mabuya, Marisora, and Varzea), dark dorsolateral stripes are usually absent as well. From Aspronema and Manciola, it is distinguished by the absence of a narrow dark middorsal stripe. It differs from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa (one frontoparietal) by having two frontoparietals (very rarely one or three). It differs from Exila and Panopa in lacking prefrontal contact (versus prefrontals in contact or fused). Spondylurus usually have two rows of nuchals (rarely one or three) and all species have some individuals with more than one row; this differs from Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Copeoglossum, Manciola, Maracaiba, Notomabuya, Orosaura, and Varzea (only one row of nuchals). In having mostly pale palms and soles (except S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, and S. lineolatus), Spondylurus differs from Capitellum, Exila, Mabuya, Maracaiba, Orosaura, and Psychosaura (dark palms and soles). Content. Seventeen species are placed in the genus: Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, S. sloanii, S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0780FF772DA9EC567D75FE74.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The genus is distributed in the northern portion of the West Indies, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Puerto Rico Bank and region (including Mona, Monito, and the U. S. and British Virgin Islands), and on islands of the Anguilla Bank in the northern Lesser Antilles (Anguilla, St. Martin, and St. Barts); Figs. 1, 8 A, 9 A – C, 10, and 11 A.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0780FF772DA9EC567D75FE74.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The etymology was not given in the original description. However, the generic name (Fitzinger 1826) is masculine and probably derived from the Latin noun spondylos (vertebra), in allusion to the distinctive pale middorsal (vertebral) stripe in the type species (also present in most other species of the genus), or to dark dorsolateral (paravertebral) stripes that help define the pale middorsal stripe, or both. We give this genus the common name " Antillean four-lined skinks " in reference to the four major dark stripes (lateral and dorsolateral)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0780FF772DA9EC567D75FE74.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Three species are currently recognized, nine new species are described here, and four older species names are resurrected. Specimens of the nine new species described below have been in collections since at least the early 20 th century but were considered to represent either a single subspecies, " Mabuya mabouya sloanei " (Dunn 1936) or a single species, " Mabuya sloanii " (Miralles 2005; Miralles et al. 2009 b) by previous revisers of Caribbean island skinks. In his description of Spondylurus, Fitzinger (1826) noted that Spondylurus sloanii differs from other skinks in having femoral pores, but this statement is in error; it does not have femoral pores, as was noted subsequently by several authors. We place these 17 species of Spondylurus in seven species groups (see Discussion).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	description	(Fig. 54 A, 55 A, 56)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. UMMZ 80583, an adult female, collected 6 April 1936 on Anegada (no specific locality), British Virgin Islands, by Chapman Grant. Paratypes (n = 37). Anegada, British Virgin Islands. MCZ R- 42381 and UMMZ 239502 – 528 (paratopotypes), same collection data as holotype; CM 17357 – 58, Harry A. Beatty (no additional collection information available); KU 242057, Albert Schwartz, vicinity of The Settlement, 18 August 1964; KU 242058 – 63, Albert Schwartz, The Settlement, 28 March 1968. Associated specimens (n = 2). Anegada?, British Virgin Islands. ZMUC-R 759, A. H. Riise, no specific locality, accessioned in 1862; AMNH R 99522, Harry A. Beatty, Tortola, East-end Hills (probable locality error, see Remarks), 6 November 1966. Material not examined (n = 2). Anegada, British Virgin Islands. AMNH R 99523 – 24, “ Anegada " (no specific locality), collected by Harry A. Beatty.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 67.8 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 70.4 mm; (3) snout width, 2.13 – 3.34 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.4 – 18.6 % SVL; (5) head width, 10.7 – 13.3 % SVL; (6) ear length, 0.96 – 2.10 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.34 – 10.7 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two (97 %), three (3 %); (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (95 %), five (5 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (76 %), six (24 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (5 %), two (87 %), three (8 %); (14) dorsals, 58 – 66; (15) ventrals, 59 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 118 – 133; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 33; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 10 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 13 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 24 – 31; (21) supranasal contact, Y; (22) prefrontal contact, Y (3 %), N (97 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (45 %), N (55 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. anegadae sp. nov. is separated from all other species except S. culebrae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. monae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (1.35 – 3.79 versus 0.115 – 1.27 in those other species). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., and S. sloanii by having essentially no dorsal pattern posterior to the dark contact (versus no contact in those other species). From S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus, it is separated by having a lower number of midbody scale rows (28 – 33 versus 34 in those other species). Compared with S. culebrae sp. nov. (maximum SVL, 98 mm), S. anegadae sp. nov. (maximum SVL, 70.4 mm) is much smaller (e. g., Fig. 2) and also differs by a plot of interparietal width versus SVL (Fig. 57). From S. lineolatus, it differs by having two dark dorsolateral stripes and two dark lateral stripes (versus 10 dark stripes in S. lineolatus) and by having a larger head (head length 15.4 – 18.6 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % in S. lineolatus). Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. differs from S. semitaeniatus by having a shorter, wider nostril (Fig. 58). It differs from S. monitae sp. nov. by having straighter dark dorsolateral stripes (versus dark dorsolateral stripes that bow inward on the parietal scales in S. monitae sp. nov.). In pattern (Fig. 55 A), S. anegadae sp. nov. differs most distinctively from other species in having a pale face (top and side of snout) and dark dorsolateral and lateral stripes that extend only a short distance past the axila and then end abruptly, the dorsolateral stripes being distinctly darker than lateral stripes. Besides those non-overlapping differences, there are frequency differences that distinguish Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. from other species. It differs from S. fulgidus by having fewer supraciliaries (four in 95 % of specimens versus five in S. fulgidus). It is separated from S. haitiae sp. nov. by having a larger ear (ear length 1.26 – 2.10 % SVL in 88 % of specimens versus 1.19 % in S. haitiae sp. nov.). It is distinguished from S. macleani by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (24 – 29 in 86 % of specimens versus 30 – 31 in 80 % of specimens belonging to S. macleani). It is separated from S. martinae sp. nov. by having fewer ventral scales (59 – 67 in 94 % of specimens versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.). It differs from S. monae sp. nov. by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (1.82 – 3.79 in 85 % of specimens versus 0.985 – 1.73 in 89 % of specimens belonging to S. monae sp. nov.). It is distinguished from S. nitidus by having a shorter toe-IV (toe-IV length 8.34 – 10.0 % SVL in 81 % of specimens versus 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL in 93 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus). From S. powelli sp. nov., it is separated by having supranasal contact (versus no supranasal contact in 81 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.). It is separated from S. sloanii by lacking prefrontal contact: no contact in 97 % of specimens of S. anegadae sp. nov. versus contact (or near contact; <0.3 % SVL separation of prefrontals), in 74 % of specimens belonging to S. sloanii). Approximately one-half of S. anegadae sp. nov. have 30 or fewer midbody scale rows, but other species of the genus Spondylurus inhabiting the Virgin Islands (S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, S. sloanii, and S. spilonotus) all have 31 or more scale rows. Except for S. lineolatus and S. powelli sp. nov., Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. is a smaller species than all others within the Genus Spondylurus (maximum adult SVL 70.4 mm versus 77.6 – 98.8 mm in other species).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 54 A, 56 A – C). An adult female in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 67.0 mm; tail length 95.8 mm (complete); HL 10.3 mm; HW 7.16 mm; SW 1.43 mm; EL 1.06 mm; and toe-IV length 5.59 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal tetragonal, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals (fused in holotype), first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, elongate, in contact with the first and second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals fused (rectangular) with posterodorsal projection. One upper and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged postocular scales behind eye; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Six infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 64 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 64 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 12 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale greenish-gray with only a few small dark spots or flecks, paler on top and sides of head and neck. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, wide (2.13 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, tan, irregular (series of close blotches), extending from behind eye to first third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, narrow (1.02 mm), bluish-white, extending from top of head to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, bluish-white, extending from behind eye to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes absent. Forelimbs and hindlimbs slightly darker brown. Ventral surface of body without pattern except for fine tan flecks (on magnification) giving appearance of a slight gray tinge. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information on color in life is available on the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, other specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5). Carey (1972) mentioned that color in life was red-brown with a uniform cream venter, and MacLean (1982) noted that the dorsum was " shiny, metallic bronze. " In the field notes of Albert Schwartz, KU 242058 – 061 were described in life as having " head brown; supraorbitals white, extending to tympanum as stripe; infralabials and gular region white. A brown stripe extends back nearly to midbody; also two chocolate stripes beginning on top of head above the eye and extending back nearly to midbody. Dorsum reddish brown; lighter on tail; sides same as dorsum. Venter uniform cream, mid-tail, forelimbs, and hindlimbs slightly darker brown. " The greenish tinge of all of the UMMZ specimens contrasts strongly with the absence of any green mentioned for color in life, indicating that the greenish tinge is a preservational artifact.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Anegada, British Virgin Islands (Fig. 10 F) (Carey 1972; MacLean et al. 1977; MacLean 1982; Lazell 1983; Schwartz & Henderson 1991; Perry & Gerber 2006). The only specific locality that has been reported is The Settlement.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No new information on this species has been reported since Carey (1972), who noted that " these skinks seemed to reach their greatest abundance in forested limestone areas amongst rock piles accumulated by the natives. They were occasionally seen basking on these piles " and " they were rarely found in trash piles. " Several individuals examined contained nematodes and cysts in their body cavities. Maclean (1982) found one individual among loose piles of dry coral that comprised the foundation of a house in The Settlement on Anegada (no date of collection was reported). He kept it in captivity, where it ate insects and ground beef from his hand. Introduced domestic mammals are almost certainly a threat to the survival of Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov., threatened by rising sea levels in coming decades as a result of global warming. The most recent sighting of Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. was in the late 1990 s (J. D. Lazell, personal communication). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered, if the species still exists. Reproduction. Seven females with the following SVLs (mm) contained 1 – 2 (mean = 1.7) developing young: 54.5 (two young), 57.8 (two), 58.9 (one), 62.7 (two), 63.0 (one), 66.5 (two), and 68.2 (two). At least three other females (61.8 – 66.1 mm SVL) had recently given birth. The largest fetus was 28 mm SVL. Considering that the smallest juvenile measured was 30.9 mm SVL, the young of Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. are approximately 28 – 30 mm SVL at birth. The date of collection for all of those specimens was 6 April 1936.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (anegadae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Anegada.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0783FF6D2DA9EFC27822F997.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The earliest specimen collected was ZMUC-R 759, obtained by the Danish pharmacist Albert Heinrich Riise, with no specific locality (" West Indies "). We treat it as an associated specimen because, although it agrees mostly with S. anegadae sp. nov. in scalation and size, the dark dorsolateral stripes are narrower than typical members of that species. Although Riise's pharmacy was located on St. Thomas, he was known to travel widely in the Greater Puerto Rico Region in his collecting activities (Schmidt 1928). Grant (1937) was the first to report this genus on Anegada, and most of the museum specimens were collected by him. He immediately noticed that they differed in color and size from skinks that he collected on other islands in the Puerto Rico region and sent them to Helen Gaige (UMMZ) for her opinion. She concurred but could not find other differences (Grant 1937). The size and pattern differences are striking (Fig. 2), but we also identified scale differences, as noted above. No tissues were available for molecular phylogenetic analysis, but details of the color pattern (e. g., short dark dorsolateral stripes) suggest a relationship with a species distributed nearby in the U. S. and British Virgin Islands, recognized here as S. semitaeniatus (see below). Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov. is the only skink species known from Anegada, and we have not identified specimens of this species from any other islands, except associated specimen AMNH R 99522, collected in 1966 by Beatty on Tortola (East-end Hills). The specimen is quite damaged from being shot, but it has the typical characters (of those that can be scored) of S. anegadae sp. nov. and not S. semitaeniatus, the only species known from Tortola. For example, it has 30 midbody scale rows (not found in S. semitaeniatus, common in S. anegadae sp. nov.), supraciliary-prefrontal contact (rare in S. semitaeniatus, common in S. anegadae sp. nov.), and pattern characteristics of S. anegadae sp. nov. (very short dorsal stripes, pale snout, virtually no dorsal spotting). Because specimens of S. anegadae sp. nov., collected by Beatty from Anegada (AMNH R 99523 – 24), immediately follow this specimen numerically, it is likely that there was a mix-up in specimen number and locality when the specimen was cataloged (or earlier). Thus, we consider AMNH R 99522 to have an incorrectly labeled locality and that it likely came from Anegada. Only slight ontogenetic change was observed in coloration. Fetuses look identical to adults except that the dark brown dorsolateral stripes extend to the tip of the snout, and pale lateral stripes (absent in adults) are visible (Fig. 56 D). In the smallest juvenile (UMMZ 239525; 30.9 mm SVL), the snout tip stripe is present but reduced, whereas the adult pattern is present in a slightly larger juvenile (UMMZ 239522; 33.7 mm SVL).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	description	(Figs. 54 B, 55 B, 59)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. AMNH R- 80126, an adult male, collected 10 February 1953 on Long Cay off South Caicos, Caicos Islands, Turks and Caicos, by G. B. Rabb. Paratypes (n = 98). Caicos Islands, Turks and Caicos. AMNH R 80125, AMNH R 80127 – 30 (paratopotypes), same collection data as holotype; MCZ R- 42061 – 62, J. C. Greenway, Ambergris Cay, March 1936; MCZ R- 182881, G. Mitchell, Long Cay, 12 May 2000; MCZ R- 183341, N. C. Mitchell, Long Cay, 28 October 2000; MPM 21932 – 37, 0.5 miles E Cockburn Harbor, South Caicos, 14 January 1961 (no collector available); UMMZ 117392 – 93, G. B. Rabb and C. L. Giovannoli, West Caicos, 4 February 1953; UMMZ 117394 – 96, G. B. Rabb and C. L. Giovannoli, West Cay of Six Hill Cays, 12 February 1953; USNM 81448, West Caicos, 4 August 1930 (no collector available). The following were all collected by A. Schwartz and colleagues: KU 242093 – 94, Bay Cay, 24 February 1972; KU 242095, Jacksonville, East Caicos, 22 January 1972; KU 242096, Little Ambergris Cay, 28 March 1972; KU 242097 (12 January 1961), KU 242116 – 29 (12 – 14 January 1961), KU 242130 – 66 (14 January 1961), KU 242167 (22 March 1961), vicinity of Cockburn Harbor, Long Cay; KU 242098, Bambarra, Middle Caicos, 25 January, 1972; KU 242099, Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, 31 January 1972; KU 242100 – 07, Kew, North Caicos, 6 – 21 February, 26 May 1972; KU 242108 – 09, vicinity of Belle Field Landing, North Caicos, 3 April 1974; KU 242110, Wades Green Plantation, North Caicos, 16 February 1972; KU 242111, near Whitby, North Caicos, 26 April 1974; KU 242112, Bottle Creek, North Caicos, 25 May 1971; KU 242113, Blue Hills, Providenciales, 22 February 1972; KU 242114, near Third Turtle Inn, Providenciales, 20 March 1972; KU 242115, Leeward, Providenciales, 16 March 1976; KU 242168 – 69, East Six Hill Cays, Caicos Islands, 18 January 1961.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus caicosae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 72.4 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 77.6 mm; (3) snout width, 2.14 – 3.66 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.0 – 18.5 % SVL; (5) head width, 10.9 – 14.8 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.06 – 2.10 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.86 – 12.2 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (5 %), four (95 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (16 %), four (84 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, four (5 %), five (86 %), six (7 %), seven (2 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (9 %), two (91 %); (14) dorsals, 56 – 65; (15) ventrals, 56 – 72; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 113 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 27 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 9 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 13 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 22 – 32; (21) supranasal contact, Y (46 %), N (54 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (38 %), N (62 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y (weak); and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. caicosae sp. nov. differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe / middorsal stripe ratio (0.238 – 0.805 versus 0.874 – 3.79 in those other species). It is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov. and S. macleani by having distinct dorsal spots posterior to the dark dorsolateral stripes (versus essentially no dorsal pattern posterior to the dark dorsolateral stripes in those other species). It is separated from S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus by having fewer midbody scale rows (27 – 32 versus 34 in those other species). From S. fulgidus, it is separated by having dark lateral stripes with paler (included) spots and irregular pale lateral stripes that extend only half-way (or less) to hindlimbs, ending in vertical bars (versus solid dark lateral stripes and pale lateral stripes continuous to the hindlimbs in S. fulgidus) and by having a lower number of supraciliaries (3 – 4 versus five in S. fulgidus). From S. lineolatus, it differs by having a longer head (head length 15.0 – 18.5 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL in S. lineolatus) and by having two dark dorsolateral stripes and two dark lateral stripes (versus 10 dark stripes in S. lineolatus). It is distinguished from S. monitae sp. nov. by having straighter dark dorsolateral stripes (versus dark dorsolateral stripes that bow inward on the parietal scales in S. monitae sp. nov.). It differs from S. nitidus in having a dark lateral stripe that extends only half-way (or less) to hindlimbs, ending in vertical bars (versus extending mostly to hindlimbs, albeit faintly, in S. nitidus). It differs from S. turksae sp. nov. in having a shorter ear (ear height 0.73 – 1.52 % SVL versus 1.57 – 1.87 % SVL), a narrower pale dorsolateral stripe (1.02 – 1.73 % SVL versus 1.98 – 2.33 % SVL), and a dark lateral stripe that extends only half-way (or less) to Besides those non-overlapping differences, there are frequency differences that distinguish Spondylurus caicosae sp. nov. from other species. It differs from S. nitidus and S. turksae sp. nov. in being smaller (<77.6 mm SVL in 99 specimens versus seven of 13 S. nitidus> 79.6 mm SVL and three of seven S. turksae sp. nov.> 77.7 mm SVL). From S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., and S. spilonotus, it differs by having fewer supralabial scales (supralabial four or five below the eye in 91 % of specimens versus supralabial six or seven below the eye in 83 – 100 % of specimens belonging to those other species). It differs from S. haitiae sp. nov. by having fewer ventral scales (56 – 68 in 98 % of specimens versus 69 – 72 in S. haitiae sp. nov.). From S. macleani, it is distinguished by having fewer midbody scale rows (27 – 31 in 94 % of specimens versus 32 – 34 in S. macleani). It differs from S. martinae sp. nov. by having fewer ventral scales (56 – 65 in 95 % of specimens versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.) and by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (22 – 29 in 92 % of specimens versus 30 – 36 in 89 % of specimens belonging to S. martinae sp. nov.). It differs from S. nitidus by having fewer finger-IV lamellae (9 – 12 in 89 % of specimens versus 13 – 15 in 80 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus). It is distinguished from S. powelli sp. nov. by having fewer midbody scale rows (27 – 31 in 94 % of specimens versus 32 – 34 in S. powelli sp. nov.) and by having fewer dorsals + ventrals (113 – 124 in 85 % of specimens versus 125 – 132 in 93 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.). From S. semitaeniatus, it differs by having a lower number of midbody scale rows (27 – 30 in 92 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov. versus 31 – 34 in S. semitaeniatus). Additionally — and except for S. anegadae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, and S. powelli sp. nov. — S. caicosae sp. nov. is a smaller species than all others within Spondylurus (maximum adult SVL 77.6 mm versus 79.3 – 107 mm in other species).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 54 B, 59 A – B). An adult male in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 55.3 mm; tail length not measured; HL 9.86 mm; HW 6.98 mm; SW 1.84 mm; EL 1.03 mm; and toe-IV length 6.69 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal octagonal, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and elongate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial and posteroventral projections on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars (one medial). Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye (four on the left) comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 58 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 61 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 11 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brownish-gray with small and often triangular-shaped (pointed anteriorly) dark brown spots, distributed in thin lines on body and tail (Fig. 55 B). Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.38 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with whitish spots, extending from loreal region to first third of body and ending in 2 – 3 dark brown vertical bars or spots (Fig. 55 B). Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (2.70 mm), brownish-gray, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes whitish, extending from tip of snout to forelimbs. Forelimbs pale gray with large brown spots and mottling on dorsal surfaces and without pattern on ventral surfaces; hindlimbs slightly darker than ground color and with more subdued brown spotting on dorsal surfaces (than on forelimbs) and without pattern on ventral surfaces. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces dark brown. No information on color in life of holotype is available. Variation. In coloration and scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5), despite being from a large number of different islands in the Caicos archipelago.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is widely distributed throughout the Caicos Islands, Turks and Caicos (Fig. 9 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. One of us (S. B. H.) encountered 3 individuals at Wades Green Plantation on North Caicos in August, 1999. One was under a rock, and the other two were fighting each other on a vertical rock wall. Habitat notes associated with the large KU series include the following observations: 0.3 m above ground on bluff, on the islands. However, current threats include rats and domestic mammals, agriculture, and increased development for tourism, which is reducing habitat quality and area (Reynolds 2011). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus caicosae sp. nov. to be Vulnerable (VU A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine the health of the populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Reproduction. Twenty-two females (61.8 – 76.4 mm SVL) contained 1 – 3 (mean = 2.2) developing young. All of those specimens were collected January – March.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (caicosae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species in the Caicos Islands.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0799FF692DA9E89979DDFCA7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The uniqueness of the skinks from the Caicos Islands has been hinted in earlier work. For example, Mayer and Lazell (2000) noted some pattern differences between skinks from those islands compared with those of the Puerto Rico region. Biogeographic connections between the Turks and Caicos fauna and that of the Puerto Rico region have been noted as well (Thomas & Hedges 2007) and are consistent with the direction of water currents which would have carried animals on flotsam (Hedges 1996 b). Spondylurus caicosae sp. nov. has a smaller body size and wider dorsolateral stripes than S. turksae sp. nov., and the dark lateral stripes usually extend only one-third of the way to the hindlimbs. In these ways, S. turksae sp. nov. resembles S. nitidus more than S. caicosae sp. nov. Nonetheless, both species are small (maximum SVL, 78 – 79 mm) compared to others in the genus, including S. nitidus (96 mm SVL), have proportionately short heads (average head lengths 15.9 – 16.3 % SVL, versus 18.3 % SVL in S. nitidus), and low numbers of midbody scale rows (rarely> 30), suggesting a close relationship. Note added in proof: our DNA sequence analyses indicate a separate origin for S. turksae from the Puerto Rican Bank.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	description	(Figs. 54 C, 55 C, 60)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. UMMZ 73823, an adult male, collected April 1932 on Culebra, Puerto Rico, United States (no specific locality within Culebra) by Chapman Grant. Paratypes (n = 49). Culebra, Puerto Rico. AMNH R- 14005 – 06, K. P. Schmidt & B. A. Wall, no specific locality, 5 October 1919; UMMZ 73819 – 20, UMMZ 73822 – 23, UMMZ 73826, UMMZ 239548 – 80 and 239582 –	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 88.0 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 97.6 mm; (3) snout width, 2.28 – 3.50 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.0 – 21.6 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.4 – 16.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.36 – 2.36 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.42 – 12.9 % SVL; (8) (2 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (4 %), two (88 %), three (8 %); (14) dorsals, 57 – 65; (15) ventrals, 60 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 121 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 36; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 34; (21) supranasal contact, Y (80 %), N (20 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (29 %), N (71 %); (24) parietal contact, Y (98 %), N (2 %); (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. culebrae sp. nov. differs from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.953 – 2.24 versus 0.115 – 0.916 in those other species). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. macleani, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having dark dorsal spots posterior to the dark dorsolateral stripes (versus essentially no dorsal pattern posterior to the dark dorsolateral stripes in those other species). It differs from S. haitiae sp. nov. and S. lineolatus by having a longer head (head length 16.0 – 21.6 % SVL versus 12.9 – 15.8 % SVL in those other species). From S. anegadae sp. nov., it is separated by a plot of interparietal width versus SVL (Fig. 57). It is distinguished from S. fulgidus by having a higher number of combined dorsals and ventrals (121 – 134 versus 108 – 120 in S. fulgidus). It is separated from S. lineolatus by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (30 – 36 versus 26 – 28). It differs from S. monae sp. nov. by having a higher, shorter rostral scale (Fig. 61). From S. monitae sp. nov., it differs by having straighter dark dorsolateral stripes (versus dark dorsolateral stripes that bow inward on the parietal scales). From S. semitaeniatus, it is distinguished by having longer total head scalation (Fig. 62 A). From S. sloanii, it is distinguished by having a relatively longer head and more finger-IV lamellae (Fig. 62 B). The following frequency differences also distinguish Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. from other species. It differs by having supranasal contact in 80 % of specimens versus no contact in 81 – 100 % of specimens belonging to S. martinae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., and S. turksae sp. nov. It is distinguished from S. monitae sp. nov. by having a higher number of supralabial scales (supralabial six or seven below the eye in 84 % of specimens versus supralabial five below the eye in S. monitae sp. nov.). Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. tends to have more midbody scale rows (30 – 36) than S. nitidus (28 – 33); 78 % of S. culebrae sp. nov. have 32 or more whereas 53 % of S. nitidus have 30 or fewer. Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. also tends to have more dorsals + ventrals (121 – 134) than S. nitidus (117 – 129); 88 % of S. culebrae sp. nov. have 123 or more whereas 46 % of S. nitidus have 122 or fewer. From S. sloanii, it differs by having more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (30 – 34 in 81 % of S. culebrae sp. nov. versus 24 – 29 in 95 % of S. sloanii) and by having a greater separation of the prefrontals (frontal / frontonasal suture length 0.51 – 1.2 % SVL in 84 % of S. culebrae sp. nov. versus 0 – 0.38 % SVL in 81 % of S. sloanii). Additionally, S. culebrae sp. nov. is a large species (maximum adult SVL 97.6 mm versus 63.7 – 95.5 mm in all others within Spondylurus except S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 54 C, 60 A – B, D). An adult male in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 85.6 mm; tail length 50.2 mm (broken); HL 14.8 mm; HW 11.0 mm; SW 2.60 mm; EL 1.67 mm; and toe-IV length 8.30 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <II = V <III <IV. laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal octagonal, semi-lanceolate, elongate, in contact with the first and second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars (supraoculars three and four fused on the right), the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posterodorsal projection on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, the first paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 59 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 63 in a longitudinal row; 33 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 18 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale green with small-to-medium dark brown spots, uniformly distributed on body and tail. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, wide (2.85 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, narrow (1.69 mm), pale green, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye to midbody, bordered below by some dark spotting but not a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Forelimbs and hindlimbs with distinct barring or mottling, darker on forelimbs. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information on color in life is available on the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5), except that dorsal ground color varied among shades of brown, gray, bluish-green, and green in adults and gray or tan in juveniles. In some specimens, only a few dark dorsal spots were present; in others, many dark dorsal spots were arranged in broken stripes extending the length of the body. The pale dorsolateral stripes differed in coloration between specimens but often appeared white or some shade of pale blue. In some specimens, the color of the pale middorsal stripe matched that of the pale dorsolateral stripes, but in others, the pale middorsal stripe was darker. Grant (1931) agreed, stating, “ The median line on the head is as light as the white dorso-lateral line in some from Mona and Culebra islands, ” but he noted cream-colored pale dorsolateral stripes in those specimens. Therefore, the bluishgreen coloration we observed probably resulted from preservative. Grant (1931) mentioned similar coloration between adults and juveniles but said that juvenile tails, in life, were lavender with white tips, something that we did not observe in a live juvenile S. culebrae sp. nov. (Fig. 60 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Culebra and the adjacent islet of Culebrita (Fig. 10 D). We tentatively assign the skinks from the islets of Cayo Luis Peña and Cayo Norte to S. nitidus, a species which is also sympatric with S. culebrae sp. nov. on Culebra.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Grant (1931) found specimens among the cactus Opuntia " at sea level just above the beaches and among the rocks on the hills. ” He also stated that they can be found inside houses. Culebra has a human population of ~ 2,000, and the major threats to the skink are introduced mammals, especially the rats. These introduced predators do not recognize the boundaries of the wildlife refuge on Culebra, and therefore the skinks are not actually protected. All of the original, virgin forest on Culebra has been destroyed, including that in the Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration. Studies are needed to determine the health of remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. Eleven females (78.6 – 97.6 mm SVL) contained 2 – 5 (mean = 3.55) developing young. The dates of collection for those specimens were 1 February 1932, March 1932, April 1932, and August 1936.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (culebrae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Culebra.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F079DFF642DA9EDE97DCFFAD4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Wiegmann (1837) described Euprepes semitaeniatus (= Spondylurus semitaeniatus), but its locality was unknown. Although color differences between S. semitaeniatus and S. sloanii were noted by Stejneger (1904) and Schmidt (1928), S. semitaeniatus was later lumped with S. sloanii because of a lack of other distinct morphological differences. Grant (1931) resurrected the name S. semitaeniatus for the skinks on Mona and Culebra based on the color and pattern of his specimens, noting a number of differences between them and skinks from other islands. However, a few years later (Grant 1937) he treated them again as S. sloanii, without comment. As will be shown below, S. sloanii and S. semitaeniatus are both valid species, distinct from S. culebrae sp. nov. and restricted to the Virgin Islands. Although the range of S. sloanii is only ~ 10 km from that of S. culebrae sp. nov. whereas S. monitae sp. nov. is ~ 300 km from both (and separated by the entire island of Puerto Rico, where S. nitidus occurs), the three species show similar levels of sequence divergence (Fig. 5 – 6), lending additional support to their recognition as distinct species. One specimen of the long series of skinks (n = 51) from Culebra, UMMZ 239581, collected by Grant in April 1932, appears to belong to S. nitidus based on scalation and the non-overlapping pattern character noted above. It has a dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio of 0.742 versus 0.953 – 2.24 in S. culebrae sp. nov. and 0.292 – 0.619 in S. nitidus. It has 118 dorsals + ventrals, consistent with S. nitidus (117 – 129) but nonoverlapping with S. culebrae sp. nov. (121 – 134). It also has 30 midbody scale rows, typical of S. nitidus but at the low extreme of S. culebrae sp. nov. (84 % of S. culebrae sp. nov. with> 30 midbody scale rows). Specimens from Cayo Luis Peña (UMMZ 73827) and Cayo Norte (UPRRP 5055), small islets off of Culebra, similarly agree with S. nitidus and not S. culebrae sp. nov. It seems remarkable that these two species occur on and around the small island of Culebra, given the taxonomic history of Caribbean island skinks. But when one considers the reduction in abundance, and likely extinctions, caused by the mongoose, the coexistence of multiple species — as also documented in the Virgin Islands and Windward Islands — should not be surprising. Genetic data from S. nitidus, including those from Puerto Rico and Culebra, would help confirm this apparent case of sympatry in two very closely related species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	description	(Figs. 54 D, 55 D, 63) Lacerta mabouya — Shaw, 1802: 287 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	description	Tiliqua sloanii — Gray, 1838: 293 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	description	Euprepes spilonotus — Peters, 1864: 50 (part). Eupr [epes] spilonotus — Peters, 1871: 400.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 35). Jamaica. USNM 5759 (lectotype), an adult female, Charles B. Adams, no specific locality (date of collection inferred to be either 1844 – 45 or 1848 – 49; see Remarks); UMMZ 53306 – 09, UMMZ 92371 A – D, USNM 572081 – 85 (paralectotypes), same locality data as lectotype; ANSP 13597 – 99, " Dr. Slocum, " donated by Cope (no additional collection information available); BMNH RR 1966.315 – 316, " Mr. Fraser, " Bluefields (before 1887) (Boulenger 1887); BMNH 52.1.21.6 – 7, P. H. Gosse, no specific locality (1844 – 46); MCZ R- 6053, S. Garman, Kingston (1880; date indicated by Grant, 1940); MCZ R- 7344 A – C, T. Barbour, Beacon Hill, Bath, St. Thomas Parish, 1909; ZMH R 09298, “ Riise, ” " St. Thomas " (in error), accessioned 1877. The following were collected by Chapman Grant at Portland Point: MCZ R- 45195 – 96 (18 April 1937), MCZ R- 45197 (31 January 1938), UMMZ 85862 (January 1938), UMMZ 85861 (22 April 1937), UMMZ 239601 – 04 (22 April 1937). Material not examined (n = 7). Jamaica. MNHN 2904 (paralectotype; Brygoo 1985), exchanged from ANSP in ca. 1862, presumably same collecting data as lectotype; SMNS 1261, A. C. Günther, no specific locality or date; USNM 108311 – 313, Portland Point (1922 – 1938; no collector information available); USNM 117674, Portland Ridge (19 August 1941; no collector information available); YPM HERR. 000857, A. Petrunkevitch, Malvern, St. Elisabeth Parish (no collection date available).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus fulgidus is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 77.0 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 84.8 mm; (3) snout width, 2.21 – 3.73 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.3 – 20.9 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.0 – 14.1 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.46 – 2.83 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.07 – 12.9 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, five; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (25 %), six (67 %), seven (8 %); (13) nuchal rows, two (68 %), three (32 %); (14) dorsals, 52 – 58; (15) ventrals, 55 – 65; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 108 – 120; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 27 – 35; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, Y (52 %), N (48 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (48 %), N (52 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. fulgidus is separated from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, S. sloanii, and S. spilonotus by having a higher number of supraciliaries (five versus 3 – 4 in those other species). It differs from S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. martinae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., and S. spilonotus by having a lower number of combined dorsals and ventrals (108 – 120 versus 121 – 134 in those other species). From S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii, it is distinguished by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.115 – 0.759 versus 0.874 – 3.79 in those other species). It is separated from S. haitiae sp. nov. and S. lineolatus by having a longer head (16.3 – 20.9 % SVL versus 12.9 – 15.8 % SVL in those other species). It differs from S. pale lateral stripes continuous to the hindlimbs (versus dark lateral stripes with paler spots and irregular pale lateral stripes that are discontinuous or absent at the hindlimbs in S. caicosae sp. nov. and no lateral stripes in S. macleani; Fig. 55 B, D, G). It differs from S. turksae sp. nov. in having fewer dorsals (52 – 58 versus 59 – 63) and longer toes (toe-IV length 9.07 – 12.9 % SVL versus 7.05 – 8.90 % SVL). It is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., and S. nitidus by having a higher number of supraciliaries (five versus 3 – 4 in 93 – 95 % of specimens belonging to those other species).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Fig. 63 A – C). An adult female in good state of preservation, with injury to anterior dorsum and with an abdominal slit. SVL 58.4 mm; tail broken near tip, not measured; HL 12.2 mm; HW 7.85 mm; SW 1.87 mm; EL 1.63 mm; and toe-IV length 7.04 mm; ear-opening large in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <II = V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal hexagonal, oblong, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal (near-triangular), semi-lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales (near contact with primary temporal). Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Five supraciliaries, approximately equal in length. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 54 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 60 in a longitudinal row; 28 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 14 under toe-IV. Fingers and toes clawed. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brownish-green with only a few small dark brown spots, distributed on body. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (0.75 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from behind eye to last third of body where they fade towards the hindlimb. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (4.06 mm), brownish-green, extending from top of head to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below ear to midbody where they fade toward the hindlimb, bordered below by darker pigment. Forelimbs and hindlimbs with distinct barring, darker on forelimbs. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces medium or dark brown. No information is available on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5). The most distinctive pattern features that we noticed were the pale and dark lines outlining the top of the snout, the wide middorsal pale (tannish) stripe, and the almost zebra-like limb barring. Gosse (1849) described the color in life: " Head, neck and fore-part of back reddish brown, bronzed; a broad band of black runs from the muzzle on each side, enclosing the eye, and passing down to the hind-leg; this band is bounded, both above and below, by a band of yellowish white, gradually becoming obsolete between the fore- and hind-leg; each of these pale bands is again bounded by a line of black, more or less interrupted or maculate, the superior of which extends along the tail; lower back and tail, greenish brown; whole under-parts greenish white, silvery; upper surface of the limbs and feet black, with pale confluent spots. The whole animal reflects a metallic glass. There is no appreciable difference in the sexes. " Gosse also made a color illustration of the Jamaican skink, published 100 years later by Murray (1949). Grant (1940) described color in life, also noting the brown (bronze) to greenish (gray-green) transition, from anterior to posterior. He noted the venter was gray and the legs and toes were " finely checkered " in black, brown, and bluish-gray, with palms and soles dark brown.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is distributed on Jamaica, where all records have come from near the southern coast of the island (Fig. 9 A).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Sloane (1725) noted and figured the species, but he also confused it with other species in his observations. The English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse (1810 – 1888) collected skinks in Jamaica during 1844 – 46 and wrote about their habits (Gosse 1849; 1851). His specimens are in the BMNH. Gosse's observations were made prior to the introduction of the mongoose, which occurred in 1872. In stark contrast to their rarity now, Gosse (1849) found the skinks to be abundant and " most numerous in the lowlands, and on the gently-sloping hills of moderate elevation that form the characteristic feature of the southern side of that beautiful island. The fences there are largely composed of ' dry-wall, ' built of rough unhewn stones, without cement. On these walls the Mabouya may be seen crawling, and often lying quite still in the sunshine; when alarmed it darts with lightning-like rapidity into one of the crevices which abound in all parts of such a structure. Indeed it rarely ventures far from some refuge of this kind, and I presume that the facilities for instant retreat afforded by these pervious walls are the chief cause of its preference for them. It is scarcely ever seen on the ground, except when avoiding danger; nor on the trunk or branches of trees or shrubs; but in the concavity of a pinguin leaf (Bromelia pinguin Linnaeus) it is occasionally observed to lie, basking in the sun " (Gosse 1849). Sixty years later, Barbour's (1910) experiences were much different. " This little skink .. is now one of the rarer members of the island fauna. Along with the other ground-inhabiting creatures of the lowlands near the coast this has been preyed upon extensively by the mongoose. About Kingston we procured three examples, and these were the only ones seen during our stay on the island. " Later (Barbour 1930 a), he remarked that " it has lately been shown to feed on sphaerodactyls. " Grant (1940), in discussing mabuyine skinks in Jamaica, noted " this genus and Alsophis, throughout the Antilles where the writer has collected, has suffered from the mongoose more than any other reptile. It was gratifying to find Mabuya abundant on Portland Point where the very porous, hard limestone offers effective The only observations of Spondylurus fulgidus in recent years have been in a restricted portion of the Hellshire Hills, where it is uncommon and considered the " last stronghold " of the species, and rarely in one or two other locations along the south coast (Wilson 2011). In contrast to Gosse's claim that it does not climb trees, it has been observed climbing tree trunks (Fig. 63 D). Whether that represents selection for individuals that can escape the mongoose or just a behavior not observed by Gosse is unknown. One of us (S. B. H.) has spent, cumulatively, approximately four months surveying reptiles and amphibians throughout Jamaica, including many potential dry forest habitats on the south coast, but has never encountered the species. Likewise, no museum specimens could be identified with collection dates later than 1941, despite intensive survey work by herpetologists during the latter half of the 20 th century. A study of the mongoose in the Hellshire Hills revealed that the skink comprised 10 % of its diet (Lewis et al. 2011), which is an alarming amount of predation pressure on a species already close to extinction. Cats, rats, and mice have been mentioned as additional potential predators, besides the mongoose (B. Wilson, personal communication; Grant 1940). Natural forests in Jamaica have been severely depleted (World Resources Institute 2008) because of agriculture, bauxite mining, tourism, and urbanization, and threats to natural habitats continue even in protected areas. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus fulgidus as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has led to its near-extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine the health and extent of remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on Jamaica. It has been suggested that the species could be introduced to the Goat Islands of Jamaica, to afford survival away from the mongoose (Wilson 2011). Reproduction. Gosse (1849) discussed reproduction in this species on Jamaica, noting that he found several (three?) fetuses in a female killed on February 11 th and five in another killed on 29 th of April. One small adult female (UMMZ 85861, 67 mm SVL) collected at Portland Point, 22 April 1937, has three developing young, as was noted by Grant (1940).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The etymology was not provided in the original description. However, the species name (fulgidus) is a Latin feminine singular adjective meaning shining or brilliant, likely referring to the dorsal coloration of this species, described as " metallic " and " cupreous " (Cope 1862).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0790FF602DA9EB627921FAD4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Charles Baker Adams (1814 – 1853), malacologist and collector of the type series, spent winters of 1844 – 45 and 1848 – 49 in Jamaica (Fletcher & Young 1927), thus constraining the collection date of the lectotype and paralectotypes. Coincidentally, Adams' field work in Jamaica overlapped with that of the Gosse (1844 – 46).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 E, 64 A, 65)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 3617, an adult female from " San Domingo " collected by D. F. Weinland, here restricted to Jérémie, Grand'Anse, Haiti. Date of collection inferred to be 1857 – 58 (see Remarks). Paratypes (n = 4). Haiti. MCZ R- 189392 – 395, fetuses from the holotype.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in female holotype, 85.2 mm; (3) snout width, 2.69 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.8 % SVL, (5) head width, 12.3 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.19 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 9.01 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, one (50 %), two (50 %); (12) supralabial below the eye, six; (13) nuchal rows, two; (14) dorsals, 59 – 60; (15) ventrals, 69 – 72; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 129 – 131; (17) midbody scale rows, 30 – 32; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 13; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29 – 30; (21) supranasal contact, Y (50 %), N (50 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (50 %), N (50 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. haitiae sp. nov. is separated from S. culebrae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a smaller ear (ear length 1.19 % SVL versus 1.23 – 2.83 % in those other species). It differs from S. fulgidus, S. lineolatus, S. macleani, S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. sloanii, S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of ventral scales (69 – 72 versus 55 – 68 in those other species). From S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., and S. semitaeniatus, it is distinguished by having a narrower dark dorsolateral stripe (dorsolateral stripe width 2.12 % SVL versus 2.24 – 4.64 % SVL in those other species). It differs from S. culebrae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, and S. semitaeniatus by having a shorter head (head length 15.8 % SVL versus 15.9 – 21.6 % SVL in those other species). From S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus, it is distinguished by having wider dark dorsolateral stripes (dorsolateral stripe width 2.12 % SVL versus 1.16 – 2.09 % SVL in those other species). It is separated from S. lineolatus by having two dark dorsolateral stripes and two dark lateral stripes (versus 10 dark stripes in S. lineolatus). It differs from S. nitidus by having a shorter toe-IV (toe-IV length 9.01 % SVL versus 9.45 – 12.7 % SVL in S. nitidus). From S. semitaeniatus, it is separated by having a shorter head (head length 15.8 % SVL versus 15.8 – 19.4 % SVL in S. semitaeniatus). Besides those non-overlapping differences, there are frequency differences separating Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov. from other species. From S. anegadae sp. nov. it differs by having a smaller ear (ear length 1.19 % SVL versus 1.23 – 2.10 % in 88 % of specimens belonging to S. anegadae sp. nov.). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov. by having a higher number of dorsals + ventrals (dorsals + ventrals 129 – 131 versus 113 – 127 in 95 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.) and by having a smaller ear (ear length 1.19 % SVL versus 1.26 – 2.18 % SVL in 92 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.). Besides the three diagnostic characters noted above, which separate S. haitiae sp. nov. from S. nitidus (the taxon with which it has been confused), it also has a greater number of dorsals + ventrals: 129 – 131 versus 117 – 127 in 12 specimens of S. nitidus (except for one specimen with 129).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 64 A, 65). An adult female in poor state of preservation posteriorly (soft), with ventral and lateral midbody injuries, abdominal slit, and disappearance of pattern (scale clearing) in posterior half of body. SVL 85.2 mm; tail length 28.4 mm (regenerated); HL 13.5 mm; HW 10.5 mm; SW 2.29 mm; EL 1.01 mm; and toe-IV length 7.68 mm; ear-opening small in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact (but close), contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal pentagonal and lanceolate, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior moderately enlarged scales behind eye on the right and five on the left comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 60 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 72 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs and on regenerated portion of tail. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated portion of tail. Pattern and coloration. Cochran (1941) described the pattern in this specimen when it was in better condition, so we first quote from her account: " Above bronze green, with a pale dorsolateral band extending from the supranasals over the supraciliaries to the middle of the body, where it gradually disappears; this band is bordered above by a narrow dark stripe and below by a broader dark brown band over ear and shoulder, gradually becoming lighter and disappearing on the groin; labials dark edged; a short light stripe beginning on the upper lip, passing beneath the ear, reaching the shoulder and fading out on the sides; lower parts pale bluish gray. " Presently, the dorsal ground color is medium grayish-brown with dark brown spots, distributed on body and tail. Forelimbs brown with darker brown mottling on dorsal surfaces and patternless on ventral surfaces. Hindlimbs without spots or mottling. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.81 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with pale spots, extending from loreal region at least to first third of body, where no pattern remains due to poor preservation. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (2.83 mm), grayish-brown, extending from tip of snout to at least first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray — noticeably paler than middorsal stripe, and especially so in photograph in Cochran (1941) — extending from tip of snout at least to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below ear at least to first third of body, bordered below by irregular brown spots. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. There is no information on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the fetuses all resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is known only from the type-locality of Jérémie, Haiti (Fig. 9 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. There are no ecological data known for this species, and it has not been collected since the holotype was taken in 1857 – 58. As with declines in other species of skinks in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, this species was likely affected by the introduction of the mongoose. Jérémie is located on the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti, and in that region (Massif de la Hotte and foothills) there are small patches of original forest, even at low elevations (where dissected limestone substrate makes agriculture difficult), and therefore it is not possible to say with certainty that this species is extinct. The persistence of the other two Hispaniolan species, Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. and Spondylurus lineolatus, to at least 1937 and 1985 (respectively), demonstrates that the introduction of the mongoose did not result in immediate extinction of all skink species on the island. The FAO (2005) lists total forest area of Haiti as 4.0 % and Dominican Republic as 28.4 %, but these numbers are inflated because their definition of total forest includes areas with up to 90 % of the trees missing (10 % canopy). Primary forest area values are not listed by FAO for these countries, but where they are listed elsewhere, they average 10 – 20 % of total forest (Hedges 2006 a). Therefore the primary forest of Haiti is likely <1 % of total land area, and that of the Dominican Republic, ~ 5 % of land area. There are national parks and protected areas in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but deforestation takes place within park boundaries, and therefore they do not afford protection. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Other major threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and charcoaling, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. All mongoose-free islets of Hispaniola need to be thoroughly surveyed to determine if this species, or the other two species of mabuyines from Hispaniola, still exist. Reproduction. The holotype (85.2 mm SVL) contained four well-developed fetuses, designated here as paratypes. No specific date (month) of collection is available.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (haitiae) is a feminine genitive singular noun derived from the Amerindian (Taino) name for the entire island of Hispaniola, transliterated in English as " Haiti " or " Hayti, " meaning " high mountains. "	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F0794FF5F2DA9EB627E48F84C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This specimen was originally a syntype of Mabuia nitida Garman. Stejneger (1904) placed that species in the synonymy of Mabuya sloanii. Schmidt (1928) retained " Mabuya nitida " in the synonymy of M. sloanii but noticed that this syntype from Hispaniola differed from the Puerto Rican syntypes (and other specimens from Puerto Rico) sufficiently that he restricted the name " Mabuya nitida " to Puerto Rico, should the species ever be considered valid (as it is here). Garman (1887) listed the type-locality of the species as " Porto Rico and San Domingo " (MCZ R- 3617 representing " San Domingo "). The name " San Domingo " has been interpreted by subsequent authors, and the MCZ, as pertaining to the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and global databases have used the GPS coordinates for the city, as the locality. However, this place name (and " Santo Domingo ") was commonly applied to the entire island of Hispaniola during the nineteenth century, as was the name " Haiti " or " Hayti " (Keim 1870; Barbour 1914; see historical maps in Hedges 2011). " San Domingo, " to a lesser extent, was also a name used for the newly independent country now called the Dominican Republic during the late nineteenth century (other names for the country were " Dominica " and " Santo Domingo "). To distinguish the city of Santo Domingo from the country or island, the word " city " was usually used (e. g., " San Domingo city "), and therefore it is nearly certain that Garman was not referring to the city of Santo Domingo. He did not list a collector (perhaps for brevity because there were multiple syntypes and collectors), but the MCZ records the collector as " D. F. Weinland, " with no date of collection or other information. David Friedrich Weinland was a German zoologist and collector of animals who spent six months in Jérémie, Haiti, during 1857 – 58 (Weinland 1858). The MCZ collections record 475 specimens (various animals) associated with his name. Of the large number from Caribbean locations, nearly all are from Jérémie, Haiti, as would be expected. A few are from other specific locations in the country of Haiti, and two snails are from the Bahamas. Barbour's (1914) reference to " Haitian " material of Spondylurus sloanii is uninformative for our purpose because he preferred to use the original Taino name for the entire island (Haiti). Cochran (1941) examined this specimen, referring to the type locality variously as " San Domingo " and " Santo Domingo " and noting a collection date of 1859, information not currently associated with the specimen (and a year after Weinland left the island). Because (1) " San Domingo " or " Santo Domingo " was the common name for the entire island at the time of Weinland and Garman, (2) there is no evidence that Weinland ever collected in the Dominican Republic, and (3) nearly all of his specimens came from the vicinity of Jérémie, Haiti, we have restricted the type-locality of this species to Jérémie, Haiti, with a collection date of 1857 – 58. Cochran's date of 1859 was probably the date that the specimen was received at MCZ. Cochran (1941) concluded that MCZ R- 3617 was " very similar " to specimens that we place here in another species (M. hispaniolae sp. nov.) and genus (Mabuya). However her table of characters for the specimens shows the major differences in ventrals and nuchals that separate the two species. Cochran indicated three supraoculars in MCZ R- 3617, but it has four, another character separating it from M. hispaniolae sp. nov. Other diagnostic characters are noted above. Two photographs of the holotype of Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov. are shown, as " Mabuya mabouya sloanii, " in Cochran (1941). With its mouth preserved in open position, and precise details of pattern matching, it is clearly the same animal that we examined, but the pattern is strikingly bold, compared with its much faded current state. Cochran (1941) also made no mention of its poor state of preservation and described pattern in the posterior half of the body, which is now soft and patternless (scales cleared). Apparently the specimen was in excellent condition after its first 80 years but suffered significant damage in its second 80 years. A specimen in the Slater Museum (PSM 10269), labeled as Mabuya mabouya from Restauración, Dominican Republic, was examined by us and found to be Celestus costatus (Anguidae). Also BMNH 1982.1448 from Portau-Prince Haiti, cataloged as Mabuya mabouya, is not a skink and probably a Celestus as well (Colin McCarthy, BMNH, personal communication).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 F, 64 B, 66)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 10). Dominican Republic. KU 242008, Albert Schwartz, Monte Cristi, Cana (23 km NW Mao), 30 October 1971. Haiti. KU 242001 – 02, Albert Schwartz, Artibonite, 5.6 km W ça Soleil, 10 – 12 July 1978; KU 242003 – 04, Albert Schwartz, Artibonite, 10.6 km W ça Soleil, 21 July 1979; KU 242005 (5 August 1978), KU 242006 (20 July 1979), KU 242007 (no date), Albert Schwartz, Artibonite, 1.9 km W Ennery, 333 m; MCZ R- 156938, Albert Schwartz, Artibonite, 10.6 km W ça Soleil, 121 m, 11 July 1978; USNM 329347, S. B. Hedges & R. Thomas, 10.4 km NW ça Soleil, Haiti, 130 m, 18 July 1985. Material not examined (n = 3). Dominican Republic. AMNH 42145 (holotype), AMNH 57165 – 66 (paratypes), W. G. Hassler, Monte Cristi (near the bank of the Rio Yaque del Norte), 8 January 1930.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus lineolatus is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 63.7 mm; (3) snout width, 1.97 – 2.34 % SVL; (4) head length, 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL; (5) head width, 9.58 – 11.6 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.18 – 1.69 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.23 – 9.16 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, three (63 %), four (38 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, four (11 %), five (89 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (44 %), two (56 %); (14) dorsals, 57 – 67; (15) ventrals, 59 – 67; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 26 – 28; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 8 – 11; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 11 – 16; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 21 – 26; (21) supranasal contact, Y (44 %), N (56 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (11 %), N (89 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (11 %), N (89 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, dark (Tables 3 – 5). Spondylurus lineolatus differs from all other species in the Genus Spondylurus by having a smaller head (head length 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL versus 15.0 – 21.6 % SVL in other species) and by having 10 dark dorsal stripes (versus 2 – 6 stripes).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	description	Description of material. Five adult females, five juveniles in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit in each adult. SVL 34.9 – 63.7 mm; tail length 7.34 – 74.2 mm (broken or regenerated); HL 6.41 – 8.64 mm; HW 4.48 – 6.61 mm; SW 0.90 – 1.49 mm; EL 0.63 – 0.95 mm; and toe-IV length 3.36 – 5.26 mm; ear-openings average in size and round or oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV or I <II <V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact or not, sometimes contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal heptagonal and lanceolate, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated or in contact medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary (rarely), first (and sometimes second) supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal hexagonal or heptagonal, in contact with the second (and sometimes first) supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Three or four supraciliaries, the first (where three are present) or second (where four are present) the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal, and first supralabial (and frontonasal, where supranasal-anterior loreal contact is absent). Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter, in some cases. One to three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Six to seven supralabials, the fourth or fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three to six moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Six or seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight or curved toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and one or two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second (and sometimes third) pair (s) separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One to two rows of paired or unpaired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 57 – 67 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 59 – 67 in a longitudinal row; 26 – 28 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portions of tails, one wide row of scales present on ventral surfaces. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 8 – 11 under finger-IV and 11 – 16 under toe-IV. Four to six preanals similar to ventrals or larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated portions of tails. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale to medium gray with 10 dark brown stripes extending from head to tail. Stripes cover dorsal and lateral body surfaces, the two (or, in some cases, four) most ventral stripes intersecting the axilla. Limbs also pale to medium gray with dark brown stripes. Ventral surface without pattern on Color in life: Noble and Hassler (1933) described the coloration of the type series in life: " the dark stripes were nearly black while the light ones were lemon-yellow, changing into bluish at the tail-base. The tail was blue and the whole color pattern greatly resembled that of Ameiva lineolatus Duméril and Bibron. ”	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Hispaniola, in northern Haiti and northwestern Dominican Republic (Fig. 9 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. The ça Soleil localities are in a xeric coastal region receiving less than 75 cm of rainfall per year, whereas the other localities are somewhat more mesic (75 – 150 cm rainfall). Virtually nothing is known of the habits of this species except that specimens were found under objects on the ground. Remarkably, it has not been seen since 1985 despite the considerable herpetological survey work that has taken place on the island since then. As with declines in other species of mabuyine skinks in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, this species was almost certainly affected by the introduction of the mongoose. The persistence of Spondylurus lineolatus to (at least) the late 20 th century, and of Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov. to at least 1937, demonstrates that the introduction of the mongoose may not necessarily cause immediate extinction. However, neither species was ever commonly encountered, suggesting that their populations were negatively affected long before they were last observed. Shortly after S. lineolatus was discovered, Barbour (1937) noted, " it must be very rare to have eluded collectors for so long. The mongoose is abundant in San Domingo [= Hispaniola] to be sure, but the early collectors all failed to find the skink. " Deforestation is a continuing threat in Hispaniola. See comments regarding the estimation of forest cover, in Remarks for Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov. The primary forest of Haiti is likely <1 % of total land area, and that of the Dominican Republic, ~ 5 % of land area. There are national parks and other protected areas in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but deforestation takes place within park boundaries, and therefore they do not afford complete protection, or sometimes, even partial protection. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus lineolatus to be Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has possibly led to its extinction. Other major threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and charcoaling, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands. All mongoose-free islets of Hispaniola need to be thoroughly surveyed to determine if this species, or the other two species of mabuyines from Hispaniola, still exist. Reproduction. Two females (56.2 – 63.7 mm SVL) each contained two young. The dates of collection for those specimens were 21 July 1979 and 5 August 1978.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Not provided in the original description. However, the species name (lineolatus) is a feminine singular adjective derived from the Latin linea (line), hence lined, referring accurately to the lineate dorsal pattern of this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AAFF582DA9EEAA7DA9F8F0.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The molecular phylogeny shows that Spondylurus lineolatus is a member of the Genus Spondylurus, which agrees with its multiple nuchal scales and distribution in the northern Caribbean. However, in pattern it differs strikingly from other species in the genus. As noted by Noble and Hassler (1933), it resembles, very closely, a sympatric and similarly pin-striped and blue-tailed species of teid lizard, Ameiva lineolata. The two species are virtually identical in body size and have blue tails as adults (blue tails are present only in juveniles of many other lizard species). Stripes are common in animal coloration, providing crypsis, and the consensus on blue tails in lizards is that they have an antipredator function, drawing attention away from the head (Cooper 1985; Hawlena et al. 2006; Bateman & Fleming 2008). This is the most likely explanation for why these lizards resemble one another. If mimicry is involved, the likely mimic would be the skink because its pattern differs the most from its congeners. Also, Ameiva have proportionately larger heads than skinks and will bite at predators (at least fingers of collectors) fiercely. Thus S. lineolatus might gain a slight advantage by resembling Ameiva lineolata in an encounter with a small predator.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 G, 64 C, 67)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	description	Mabuya macleani — Miralles, 2005: 51.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 5). Carrot Rock, British Virgin Islands. MCZ R- 176728 (paratype), M. Hernandez and F. Krause, 26 October 1991; MCZ R- 182270 – 72 (paratype), R. Jenkins and L. Drew, 17 July 1988; USNM 576303, June 2007.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus macleani is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 75.5 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 79.6 mm; (3) snout width, 2.47 – 3.09 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.0 – 17.5 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.1 – 13.8 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.29 – 1.52 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.22 – 10.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, three (20 %), four (60 %), five (20 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (40 %), six (60 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (20 %), two (80 %); (14) dorsals, 62 – 65; (15) ventrals, 62 – 64; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 125 – 127; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 31; (21) supranasal contact, Y (60 %), N (40 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (20 %), N (80 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y (faint); (27) dark lateral stripe, Y (very faint); (28) pale lateral stripe, N; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. macleani differs from all other species except S. anegadae sp. nov. and S. turksae sp. nov. by having short and faded dorsolateral and dark lateral stripes, and essentially no dorsal pattern posterior to those stripes. From S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii, it differs by having a wider middorsal stripe (3.14 – 3.96 % SVL versus 0.953 – 2.81 % in those other species). It differs from S. haitiae sp. nov. and S. fulgidus by having a higher number of dorsal scales (62 – 65 versus 52 – 60 in those other species). It differs from S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal dark stripe width ratio (0.608 – 0.916 versus 0.276 – 0.464 in those other species). From S. culebrae sp. nov., it differs by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.608 – 0.916 versus 0.953 – 2.24 in S. culebrae sp. nov.). It is distinguished from S. lineolatus by having a higher number of finger-IV lamellae (12 – 14 versus 8 – 11 in S. lineolatus). It is separated from S. martinae sp. nov. by having a lower number of ventrals (62 – 64 versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.). It differs from S. turksae sp. nov. in having more midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 30). Frequency differences also separate Spondylurus macleani from other species within the genus. It is separated from S. caicosae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 27 – 31 in 94 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.). It differs from S. monitae sp. nov. by having a lower frequency of supraocular- 1 / frontal contact (no contact in 80 % of specimens versus contact in 86 % of specimens belonging to S. monitae sp. nov.). It is separated from S. nitidus by having a smaller head (head length 16.0 – 17.0 % SVL in 80 % of specimens versus 17.4 – 20.7 % SVL in 87 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus) and by having a shorter toe-IV (toe-IV length 8.22 % – 9.26 % SVL in 80 % of specimens versus 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL in 93 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus). It is distinguished from S. powelli sp. nov. by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.608 – 0.916 versus 0.232 – 0.606 in 87 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	description	Description of material. Three adult females and two adult males in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 64.5 – 79.6 mm, our measurements differing only slightly from those of Mayer and Lazell (2000); tail length 10.7 – 76.2 mm (regenerated, broken, or complete); HL 10.8 – 13.2 mm; HW 8.67 – 10.4 mm; SW 1.73 – 2.33 mm; EL 0.83 – 1.17 mm; toe-IV length 5.90 – 7.11 mm; ear-openings average in size and round; fingers and toes clawed; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV or I <V = II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in or not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary (in some cases), first (and sometimes second) supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second (and sometimes first) supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate or acorn-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Three to five supraciliaries, the first or second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish or rectangular with posterodorsal or posteromedial projection on latter (in some cases). Two or three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven or eight supralabials, the fifth or sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale (if it is present). Body and limb scalation. One or two rows of paired or unpaired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 62 – 65 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 62 – 64 in a longitudinal row; 32 – 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portions of tails, one enlarged row each of middorsal and midventral scales and lateral rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 12 – 14 under finger-IV and 15 – 18 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. Enlarged or no enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale bluish-gray without dark brown spots. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.52 – 2.08 mm), dark brown, extending from nuchal area to forelimbs. Dark lateral stripes, tan and weakly defined, extending from loreal region to forelimbs or first third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (2.27 – 3.04 mm), pale bluish-gray, extending from nuchal area to forelimbs. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale bluish-gray, extending from top of head to forelimbs. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. Color in life: The holotype, in life, was described by Mayer and Lazell (2000) as being pallid beige-gray with lead-gray dark dorsolateral stripes. That color description applies to another live individual (Fig. 67 D – E) and indicates that the bluish color of preserved specimens is an artifact of preservation.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is known only from Carrot Rock (0.013 km 2, 25 m) in the British Virgin Islands (Fig. 10 E).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Carrot Rock is a tiny jumble of rocks with a few small clumps of vegetation, including small trees (Sea Grape, Coccoloba uvifera Linnaeus), several species of cacti, and some vines and grass (Lazell 1983; Mayer & Lazell 2000). The observation by Grant (1932 a), for Puerto Rico, that the favorite hiding place of mabuyine skinks is in dense clumps of cactus, probably applies here as well. In 1988, the total number of individuals of this species was estimated to be 520, based on extrapolation from a sample of eight (Mayer & Lazell 2000). Skink abundance plummeted by the mid- 1990 s as a result of severe droughts and hurricanes, and population levels never fully recovered. Subsequently, only 2 – 3 individuals have been sighted during two-hour visits to the island (Mayer & Lazell 2000). Based on this anecdotal evidence, the total number of individuals of Spondylurus macleani is likely less than 200 (James D. Lazell, personal communication). Given the existing small population size, any future climate change is likely to cause major changes in the skink population as well, and enhanced change as a result of anthropogenic factors could lead to extinction. Also, the probability of human introduction of pests (e. g., rats, invertebrates) that might cause direct or indirect negative effects on the skink population is not insignificant given the proximity of the island to Peter Island (400 m away) and the prevailing winds and currents. The island is currently unprotected, and anyone can visit it. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus macleani as Endangered (EN D). It faces a primary threat from predation by invasive mammals, including black rats, and other pests likely to colonize the island, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration resulting from human activities (the island is unprotected) and from global warming in coming decades. Studies are needed to determine the health of the population, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species (macleani) was named in honor of William P. MacLean III (1943 – 1991) for his contributions to the herpetology of the Virgin Islands (Mayer & Lazell 2000).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07AFFF552DA9EEAA79CAF84F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The small island of Carrot Rock may be no more than 3000 years old (Lazell 1983; Mayer & Lazell 2000). This might seem like too short a time for an endemic species of lizard to evolve, but the island is also the only known locality for another distinct lizard species, Anolis ernestwilliamsi Lazell (1983). The simplest and most likely hypothesis is that they evolved in isolation on Carrot Rock in the last few thousand years. An alternative, but more complex, hypothesis is that they are relict populations of widely distributed species that have since disappeared elsewhere. The timetree (Fig. 7) shows that S. macleani split from other species in the Puerto Rico region in the Pleistocene (0.7 Ma), not Holocene, but the Bayesian credibility interval is wide, as expected given	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 H, 64 D, 68)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZMUC-R 100, from St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, collected by " Mr. Hartmann " and accessioned 30 January 1883. An old, apparently original, label attached to the specimen with handwriting that has almost completely faded says: " Eumeces agilis, St. Croix, [Mai?] 1882, 30 / 1.83. v. 8. " This suggests that the collection date was in 1882. Paratypes (n = 9). St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. BMNH 59.3.14.18 – 21, collected before 14 March 1859 (no specific locality or collector available); KU 242174, Richard Thomas (personal communication), Green Cay, 6 August 1964; ZMUC-R 98, “ Mr. Eggers, ” no specific locality, accessioned 7 October 1875. See Remarks. No specific locality. ANSP 9401, metal tag (plastic tag indicates " 9410 "), " West Indies, " no date, collected by Dr. H. C. Chapman (probably prior to 1862 based on accession number); BMNH (no number or date, but probably mid – 19 th century), " St. Croix? " (no additional collection information available); ZMUC-R 95, " West Indies, " accessioned 30 March 1845 (no collector information available).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 92.9 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 107 mm; (3) snout width, 2.29 – 2.97 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.9 – 18.0 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.3 – 14.3 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.49 – 1.72 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.01 – 10.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (11 %), six (89 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (44 %), two (56 %); (14) dorsals, 60 – 65; (15) ventrals, 59 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 119 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 31; (21) supranasal contact, Y (22 %), N (78 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, N; (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. magnacruzae sp. nov. is distinguished from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.276 – 0.375 versus 0.500 – 3.79 in those other species). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. nitidus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (34 versus 26 – 33 in those other species). It is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. powelli sp. nov., and S. semitaeniatus by having a pale lateral stripe continuous to the hindlimbs. From S. fulgidus, it differs by having a lower number of supraciliaries (four versus five in S. fulgidus). It differs from S. lineolatus by having a larger head (head length 15.9 – 18.0 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % in S. lineolatus) and four dark stripes instead of ten. In terms of slightly overlapping (frequency) traits, it is separated from S. monae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (34 versus 28 – 33 in 91 % of specimens belonging to S. monae sp. nov.). From S. monitae sp. nov., it differs by having a higher number of supralabials (supralabial 6 below the eye in 89 % of specimens of S. magnacruzae sp. nov. versus supralabial 5 below the eye in all S. monitae sp. nov.). It is distinguished from S. powelli sp. nov. by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.276 – 0.375 versus 0.389 – 0.762 in 87 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.). Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. most closely resembles S. spilonotus, which occurs (or occurred) on St. Thomas and St. John. Both species reach 107 mm SVL in the relatively small samples available, making them the largest species in the Genus Spondylurus. They also have a similar general pattern consisting of narrow dark dorsolateral stripes in the anterior portion of the body. However, S. magnacruzae sp. nov. has fewer dorsal body spots (3 – 37 versus 52 – 99), a longer supraciliary- 1 scale (supraciliary- 1 / supraciliary- 2 length ratio 0.52 – 0.69 versus 0.35 – 0.50; Fig. 69 A), and a smaller ear (ear length 1.49 – 1.72 % SVL versus 1.76 – 2.05 %; Fig. 69 B). Also the stripe pattern of S. magnacruzae sp. nov. appears distinctly bolder and with straighter edges to the stripes, compared with that of S. spilonotus, features not obviously related to age of the specimens or differences in preservation.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 64 D, 68 A – D). An adult male in good state of preservation, without injury, and with an abdominal slit. SVL 79.5 mm; tail length 128 mm (complete); HL 13.9 mm; HW 10.3 mm; SW 2.36 mm; EL 1.19 mm; and toe-IV length 6.52 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; fingers and toes clawed; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary (right side only), first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. Postnasal bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first the eyelid. Six moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller, except primary postocular similar in size to primary temporal. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 60 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 65 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium greenish-brown with small dark brown spots distributed sparsely on limbs and on body (posterior to the dark dorsolateral stripes). Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.31 mm), dark brown, extending from nuchal area to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with paler spots increasing from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs, extending from loreal region to hindlimbs. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (3.49 mm), greenish-brown, extending from nuchal area to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, greenish-white, extending from behind eye to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, greenish-white, extending from behind ear to midbody, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces pale or slightly gray. There is no information on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratypes resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5), although some of the consensus pattern elements were more visible (Fig. 55 H).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, 230 km 2 and its satellite Green Cay (Fig. 10 G).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. is sympatric with Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov., apparently a much smaller species (68 mm, only specimen), on St. Croix. The fact that it co-occurred with a smaller species makes sense from an ecological (especially trophic) standpoint, although we know essentially nothing about the ecology and behavior of these species. However, the small head and digits of C. parvicruzae sp. nov. suggest that it is (or was) more ground-dwelling than S. magnacruzae sp. nov., which has a head and limbs more typical in proportion for the Genus Spondylurus. Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. may have climbed trees, but it does not have the attenuate body shape and long digits of the more obviously scansorial species, S. fulgidus and Alinea pergravis. Therefore, S. magnacruzae sp. nov. probably was a species that climbed on rocks, logs, and cacti, and lived under and among them, but unlikely burrowed or lived high in trees. In his book on St. Croix, West (1794) mentioned skinks briefly as (in error) Lacerta sputator (= Sphaerodactylus sputator Sparrman), noting only that the locals consider them to be " deadly. " The four BMNH specimens were collected on St. Croix shortly before 1859 by Alfred and Edward Newton, and their notes on the collection were communicated by Günther (Günther 1859). They mentioned that the locals called the species the " slippery-back, " a name still used in the English-speaking islands of the Caribbean. They considered the species to be more abundant than Thecadactylus (Gekkonidae) but " not often observed. " Two of the four specimens were collected while copulating. No other ecological data exist on this species, and the most recently obtained specimen of Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. from the main island of St. Croix was accessioned in 1883. Considerable herpetological survey work in the Virgin Islands during the 20 th century failed to turn up additional specimens. The species has been found only one other time, in 1964 on Green Cay, off St. Croix, by Richard Thomas for Albert Schwartz (KU 242174). There have been no other sightings of the species on that island either, despite herpetological survey work during the last 10 years (Claudia Lombard, personal communication). The presence of the introduced mongoose on St. Croix undoubtedly explains the absence of the skink on that island today. Black rats have been a problem on Green Cay, and that may explain its apparent absence there. Habitat alteration, another threat to the species, is a continuing problem on these islands and their islets. mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on large islands such as St. Croix, but may be possible on Green Cay. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The Latin species name (magnacruzae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the larger size of this species (magna, large) compared with the other species on St. Croix, Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov., and to its distribution. The island was named " Santa Cruz " by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and later renamed Saint Croix by the French.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A0FF502DA9EEAA7943FA3C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. is probably a close relative of S. spilonotus because it shares several traits, noted above, and occurs on nearby islands. By chance, all of the large Virgin Islands skinks that we examined initially were of S. magnacruzae sp. nov., from St. Croix, and we assumed that it was the long-confused and long-synonymized " spilonotus " of Wiegmann (1837) based on general resemblance to the ZMB holotype of that species, lacking specific locality. But we were surprised that it was given the name spilonotus (" spotted back ") when there were few or no spots on the backs of the St. Croix material. Then, after seeing the more abundantlyspotted material from St. Thomas and St. John (ZMUC, ZMH), more closely examining the S. spilonotus holotype pattern (also spotted), and finding additional diagnostic scale differences, it was clear to us that two large species were involved. These two Virgin Island species, at 107 mm maximum SVL, more or less tie with Alinea luciae (107 mm) and Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov. (109 mm) in being the largest in the West Indies, surpassed only by C. margaritae sp. nov. (121 mm) and C. nigropunctatum (113 mm), in being the largest of 61 species in the Subfamily Mabuyinae. That Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. occurred on St. Croix is without dispute. Collection notes on the BMNH material were published (Günther 1859), and two of the ZMUC specimens (ZMUC-R 98, ZMUC-R 100) are identified as being from St. Croix. Specimen ZMUC-R 98 was collected, during or before 1875, by Danish army captain and naturalist Henrik Franz Alexander von Eggers. He lived on St. Croix and published a flora of the island at about that time (Eggers 1879). Eggers also collected the holotype of Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. (ZMUC-R 99) on St. Croix. The two species differ in many ways and belong to different genera. Maximum body size is not known in C. parvicruzae sp. nov., but the unique specimen (68 mm SVL) is an adult, and the genus appears to be characterized by small species based on body size and small number of midbody scale rows (see Remarks for Capitellum). Two species listed as " probably from St. Croix, " ZMUC-R 91 – 92, are typical of S. spilonotus, and we assign them to that species. They were collected by a St. Croix pharmacist, " P. E. Benzon " (= Peder Eggert Benzon; 1788 – 1848), during or before 1834, but Benzon is known to have collected plant material throughout the Danish West Indies. ZMUC-R 91 – 92, therefore, likely came from either St. Thomas or St. John, where S. spilonotus is known to occur. The holotype of S. magnacruzae sp. nov. was collected by a " Mr. Hartmann " on St. Croix, but we were unable to determine any additional information about him, other than the fact that the Hartmanns were prominent settlers and landholders in St. Croix in the 18 th and 19 th centuries.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 I, 70 A, 71)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 86418, an adult female, collected in the vicinity of Little Bay, St. Martin, by G. A. Scamon (no other data). Date of accession, 1965. Paratypes (n = 8). St. Martin. MCZ R- 86419 (paratopotype), same collection data as holotype; ANSP 9503 – 07 and 9414 – 15, collected by H. E. Rijgersma, no specific locality, date unrecorded, but probably 1863 – 77 (see Remarks).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus martinae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, not available; (2) maximum SVL in females, 83.1 mm; (3) snout width, 2.15 – 2.78 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.0 – 17.1 % SVL; (5) head width, 9.97 – 12.3 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.27 – 1.93 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.22 – 10.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (78 %), four (22 %); (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (56 %), six (44 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (20 %), two (40 %), three (40 %); (14) dorsals, 56 – 65; (15) ventrals, 68 – 71; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 124 – 133; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 17; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 36; (21) supranasal contact, Y (11 %), N (89 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (11 %), N (89 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (67 %), N (33 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. martinae sp. nov. differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., and S. semitaeniatus by having a narrower dark dorsolateral stripe (1.86 – 2.09 % SVL versus 2.12 – 4.64 % SVL in those other species). It is separated from S. fulgidus, S. lineolatus, S. macleani, S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of ventral scales (68 – 71 versus 55 – 67 in those other species). It is distinguished from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a wider middorsal stripe (2.76 – 4.01 % SVL versus 0.953 – 2.62 % SVL in those other species). It is distinguished from S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.500 – 0.742 versus 0.276 – 0.464 in those other species). From S. nitidus, it differs by having a narrower head (head width 9.97 – 12.3 % SVL versus 12.5 – 14.6 % SVL in S. nitidus). From S. fulgidus, it differs by having a lower number of supraciliaries (four versus five in S. fulgidus). From S. haitiae sp. nov., it differs by having a larger ear (ear length 1.27 – 1.93 % SVL versus 1.19 % in S. haitiae sp. nov.). It is separated from S. lineolatus by having a higher number of finger-IV lamellae (13 – 17 versus 8 – 11 in S. lineolatus). From S. turksae sp. nov., it differs in having more midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 30). It is distinguished from S. monitae sp. nov. by having straighter dark dorsolateral stripes (versus dark dorsolateral stripes that bow inward on the parietal scales in S. monitae sp. nov.). Frequency differences also separate Spondylurus martinae sp. nov. from other species within the genus. From S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii, it differs by having a lower frequency of supranasal contact (no contact in 89 % of specimens versus supranasal contact in 80 – 100 % of specimens belonging to those other species). It differs from S. monae sp. nov. and S. nitidus by having a shorter head (head length 15.0 – 17.1 % SVL versus 17.3 – 20.7 % in 83 – 86 % of specimens belonging to those other species). It is distinguished from S. caicosae sp. nov. by having a higher number of ventral scales (68 – 71 versus 56 – 65 in 95 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.) and by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 27 – 31 in 94 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.). From S. powelli sp. nov., it differs by having a higher number of finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (30 – 36 in 89 % of specimens versus 25 – 29 in 94 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Fig. 71). An adult female in good state of preservation, with injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 83.1 mm; tail length 50.1 mm (regenerated and broken); HL 12.8 mm; HW 10.2 mm; SW 1.79 mm; EL 1.60 mm; and toe-IV length 6.83 mm; ear-opening large in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal hexagonal, in contact with the first and second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular except right posterior loreal, which is squarish with a posteromedial projection. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller (except the primary postocular, which is similar in size to temporal). One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and zero pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales and one additional left nuchal. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 65 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 68 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. On regenerated portion of tail, one row each of enlarged middorsal and midventral scales with lateral rows on each side similar to dorsals and ventrals. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV. Six preanals similar to ventrals. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on regenerated portion of tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brownish-green with small dark brown spots, distributed on body (mostly posterior to the forelimbs), tail, and limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.70 mm), irregular, dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with small pale spots, extending from loreal region to midbody and fading from midbody to hindlimbs. Pale to midbody. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish-green, extending from behind ear to forelimbs, bordered below (anterior of forelimbs) by a narrow, dark, broken line (row of spots). Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color in life in the holotype. Variation. Most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 3 – 5), except that the pattern on the older (ANSP) specimens had faded somewhat and could not be discerned on the heads (dorsal surface) of juveniles. Nonetheless, and typical of juveniles and fetuses of mabuyines, the body stripes on the juveniles appear bolder than on the adults. In this case, the dark lateral stripes extend to the hindlimbs.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on St. Martin, where it is known only from Little Bay, although it is assumed to have been island-wide when extant (Fig. 11 A).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. The date of collection of the MCZ holotype and paratype is not known, but they were accessioned in 1965. Aside from those specimens, the only other ones that we could locate were collected in 1863 – 1877, prior to the introduction of the mongoose in 1885 – 1889 (Horst et al. 2001). The 20 th century specimens are promising, but recent authors have suggested that skinks have been extirpated from the island because they have not been seen or collected in decades (Breuil 2002; Powell 2006). Skinks are considered to be common on the nearby islands of the same bank, Anguilla (Hodge et al. 2003) and St. Barts (Breuil 2002). This is almost certainly because the mongoose is absent from those islands. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus martinae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered, and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on an island as large as St. Martin. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species. However, the five juveniles (ANSP 9503 – 07), collected by Rijgersma, are all similar in size (39.2 – 41.5 mm SVL), suggesting that they share the same mother.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (martinae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of St. Martin.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07A4FF4C2DA9E80A78BBF894.taxon	discussion	Remarks. No additional information is available on the holotype and MCZ paratype. The donor and probable collector of the ANSP paratypes, Hendrik E. van Rijgersma (1835 – 1877), was a Dutch naturalist and physician who practiced medicine on St. Martin during 1863 – 1877 (Holthius 1959). He collected plants and animals and sent the latter to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. They were received by E. D. Cope, who acknowledged the collection (Holthius 1959). No collection information is associated with those ANSP specimens, other than the island and the donor, and therefore the date of collection is constrained to Rijgersma's time on the island, 1863 – 1877. Dunn mentioned these ANSP specimens in the first sentence of his revision of " American Mabuyas " (Dunn 1936): " the following notes are an attempt to name Mabuyas from the islands of St. Martin, Redonda, and Marie Galante, in the collection of the Academy. " Dunn (1936) considered skinks from St. Martin, part of the Anguilla Bank in the northern Lesser Antilles, to be intermediate between his races of Mabuya mabouya. He did this because of the presence of dark dorsolateral stripes (a " M. mabouya sloanii " character) and a combination of characters from that race and " M. m. mabouya " (three and four supraoculars, one and multiple nuchal rows). However, supraoculars are frequently variable in species, and our counts of nuchals indicate a higher proportion of specimens of S. martinae sp. nov. with multiple rows of nuchals. Although no DNA data are available, the bold dorsolateral stripes (dark and pale) of S. martinae sp. nov. place that species in the Genus Spondylurus. The smaller maximum body size (83 mm SVL versus ~ 100 mm SVL in species of the Genus Mabuya) and presence of multiple nuchals in most specimens of S. martinae sp. nov. further support its placement in the Genus Spondylurus. Subsequent researchers have interpreted Dunn's (1936) remarks differently, leading to some confusion over what skinks actually occur in the northern Lesser Antilles and whether they are sympatric or not (see Remarks for the genus Mabuya for discussion).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	description	(Figs. 55 J, 70 B, 72)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. UMMZ 73824, from Mona Island, Puerto Rico, United States (no specific locality on Mona), collected in July 1931 by Chapman Grant. Paratypes (n = 34). Mona Island, Puerto Rico (no specific locality unless indicated). CAS 10581 – 82, Harry A. Beatty, September 1944; CAS 14628, Chapman Grant (no additional collection information available); CM 23774 – 76, Harry A. Beatty, Sardinera, August 1944; MCZ R- 36625 – 28, Chapman Grant, May – June 1931; RT 11933, beach woods behind Playa de Mujeres, 22 – 23 April 1994; UMMZ 73817 – 18 and 239529 – 32, Chapman Grant, May 1932; UMMZ 73825 and 239547, Chapman Grant, summer 1931; UMMZ 124819, Harold Heatwole, on road between lighthouse and landing pier, 5 November 1960; UMMZ 239533 – 46, Chapman Grant, July 1931. Material not examined (n = 3). Mona Island, Puerto Rico. ZMH R 09302 – 04, Mona Island (no specific locality), 16 May 1894, C. Bock.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus monae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 85.9 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 85.0 mm; unsexed holotype, 87.0 mm SVL; (3) snout width, 2.25 – 3.58 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.1 – 20.0 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.1 – 13.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.23 – 2.26 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.09 – 10.4 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (3 %), four (97 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (3 %), four (91 %), five (6 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (9 %), six (91 %); (13) nuchal rows, two (74 %), three (26 %); (14) dorsals, 56 – 65; (15) ventrals, 60 – 72; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 119 – 135; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 11 – 16; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe- IV lamellae, 26 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (60 %), N (40 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (59 %), N (41 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. monae sp. nov. is distinguished from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.985 – 2.14 versus 0.115 – 0.916 in those other species). It is distinguished from S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. semitaeniatus, S. sloanii, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a longer rostral scale (Fig. 61). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., and S. macleani, by having dark lateral stripes nearly continuous to the hindlimbs (versus absent or only on anterior body in those other species). It is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. powelli sp. nov., S. sloanii, and S. turksae sp. nov. by the presence of a distinct pale lateral stripe (versus no or faint pale lateral stripe in those other species). From S. haitiae sp. nov., it differs by having a larger ear (ear length 1.23 – 2.26 % SVL versus 1.19 % in S. haitiae sp. nov.). It differs from S. lineolatus by having a longer head (head length 16.1 – 20.0 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL in S. lineolatus) and by having two dark dorsolateral stripes and two dark lateral stripes (versus 10 dark equal-sized and equally-spaced narrow stripes in S. lineolatus). From S. monitae sp. nov., it is distinguished by having parallel (versus concave) dark dorsolateral stripes on the parietal scales. From S. anegadae sp. nov., it is larger (maximum SVL 87.0 mm versus 70.4 mm SVL). Spondylurus monae sp. nov. also differs from other species in slightly overlapping characters. It is distinguished from S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus by having a lower number of midbody scale rows (28 – 33 in 91 % of specimens versus 34 in those other species). From S. fulgidus, it differs by having a lower number of supraciliaries (3 – 4 in 94 % of specimens versus five in S. fulgidus). It is separated from S. martinae sp. nov. by having a longer head (head length 17.3 – 20.0 % SVL in 83 % of specimens versus 15.0 – 17.1 % in S. martinae sp. nov.). It is separated from S. nitidus by having a shorter toe-IV (toe-IV length 8.09 – 10.0 % SVL in 88 % of specimens versus 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL in 93 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus). In coloration, individuals from Mona (S. monae sp. nov.) have been described as being distinctly paler (in life) than those from Puerto Rico (= S. nitidus) and having white dorsolateral lines instead of iridescent bluish lines (Grant 1931; Rivero 1998). Also, S. monae sp. nov. tends to have triangular-shaped dark spots on the dorsum, whereas such spots are lacking in S. nitidus, as noted by Grant (1931).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 70 B, 72 A – C). An adult (unsexed) in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 87.0 mm; tail length 99.3 mm (regenerated); HL 14.2 mm; HW 10.4 mm; SW 2.60 mm; EL 1.77 mm; and toe-IV length 7.51 mm; ear-opening average in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <II = V <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal, lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posteromedial projection on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 61 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 70 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 16 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium tan with small dark brown spots, uniformly distributed on body. Forelimbs with dark brown mottling and hindlimbs mostly unpatterned. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, wide (2.06 mm), dark brown, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, narrow (1.87 mm), medium tan, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below ear to first third of body, bordered below by a narrow dark line of spots. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color of the holotype in life. Variation. In coloration and scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5). The pale dorsolateral stripes have been described as being cream in life (Rivero 1998).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Mona Island, 57 km 2 (Fig. 10 B).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. The island is a roundish, raised limestone block, flat on top, and covered with mostly dry forest and cacti. It is designated as an ecological reserve by the government of Puerto Rico and has no permanent residents. It is maintained by Puerto Rico's Department of Natural Resources and managed on site by several park rangers. Grant (1932 a) made a general comment (for the Puerto Rico area) that the favorite hiding place of mabuyine skinks was in dense clumps of Opuntia cactus. Rivero (1998) noted that skinks on Mona are common in the Sardinera area where they can be seen " sunning on individual piles of coconut palm trash, apparently not more than one specimen per pile " (no date was given for this observation). One current threat is from human disturbance. The island is being used by immigrants, especially Cubans (passing through Hispaniola), who use Mona and Monito as points of first contact on U. S. soil, in response to the U. S. government's Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 and later revisions, now called the " wet feet / dry feet " policy. In 2010 – 2011, dozens of immigrants claimed Mona as home (primitive hotel) until they were rescued by the U. S. Coast Guard, as detailed in news reports. It is likely that some habitat has been disturbed, although this disturbance is probably more severe on Monito, which is much smaller and has far less habitat (see below). At the time of this writing, nothing is being done to prevent this from occurring, and it is not known how much disturbance is taking place or its effects on the biodiversity. and feral cats can have a devastating effect on small lizards (Iverson 1978; García et al. 2001). Many of the threats to the survival of the endemic Mona Iguana, Cyclura stejnegeri (Wiewandt & Garcia 2011), apply to the Mona Skink. The last dated collection of Spondylurus monae sp. nov. was 51 years ago, but one of us (SBH) has seen a recent photograph of a live individual from Mona. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus monae sp. nov. to be Endangered (EN A 3 c; B 1 ab (iii) + 2 ab (iii )). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including cats and black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration (in part, as a result of destruction by feral mammals). Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. Three females (71.4 – 82.3 mm SVL) contained 3 developing fetuses. The date of collection for those specimens was May 1932 and 22 – 23 April 1994.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (monae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Mona.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BBFF482DA9EEAA7961FD14.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Boulenger (1896) appears to have made the first reference to mabuyine skinks occurring on Mona Island. See Remarks under Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov. for discussion of the confusion during the first half of the 20 th century surrounding the name S. semitaeniatus and its application to skinks from Mona and Culebra.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	description	(Figs. 70 C, 73 A, 74)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. USNM 576301, an adult female, collected on Isla Monito, Puerto Rico, United States, 12 – 13 February 1993, by Manuel Leal and Richard Thomas. Field tag USNMFS 192877. Paratypes (n = 6). Isla Monito, Puerto Rico. RT 11377 – 79, 11427, Manuel Leal and Richard Thomas, 3 – 4 April 1993; RT 11391, Miguel Garcia, Manuel Leal, and Richard Thomas, 13 – 14 April 1993; and RT 11430, Richard Thomas, November 1993.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus monitae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 90.3 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 94.5 mm; (3) snout width, 2.42 – 3.16 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.2 – 17.8 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.5 – 13.8 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.35 – 1.59 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.34 – 10.7 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, three (43 %), four (57 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (29 %), four (43 %), five (29 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five; (13) nuchal rows, two; (14) dorsals, 62 – 64; (15) ventrals, 64 – 69; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 126 – 132; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29 – 32; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (86 %), N (14 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. monitae sp. nov. is separated from all other species by having concave (versus parallel) dark dorsolateral stripes on the parietal scales, forming a constriction on the top of the head (Fig. 73 A). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.874 – 1.27 versus 0.115 – 0.805 in those other species). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov. and S. semitaeniatus by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.874 – 1.27 versus 1.35 – 3.79 in those other species). It differs from S. lineolatus and S. turksae sp. nov. by having more midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 26 – 30). From S. anegadae sp. nov., it differs by lacking supranasal contact (versus contact in S. anegadae sp. nov.). It differs from S. lineolatus by having a longer head (head length 16.2 – 17.8 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % in S. lineolatus). It is distinguished from S. macleani by having lateral dark and pale stripes. From S. monae sp. nov., it differs by having a higher rostral scale (Fig. 61). Spondylurus monitae sp. nov. further differs from S. monae sp. nov. in being larger: four of the six adult specimens are larger (88.5 – 94.5 mm SVL) than all of the 35 specimens of S. monae sp. nov. examined (87.0 mm SVL, maximum). Spondylurus monitae sp. nov. also differs from other species in slightly overlapping characters. From S. culebrae sp. nov., S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., and S. spilonotus, it is distinguished by having fewer supralabials (supralabial five below the eye versus supralabial six or seven below the eye in 84 – 91 % of specimens belonging to those other species). From S. nitidus, it differs by having a higher frequency of supraocular- 1 / frontal contact (contact in 86 % of specimens versus no contact in 93 % of specimens belonging to S. nitidus). It is separated from S. semitaeniatus and S. sloanii by lacking supranasal contact (versus contact in 95 – 96 % of specimens belonging to those other species).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 70 C, 74). An adult female in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 89.3 mm; tail length not measured (complete); HL 15.3 mm; HW 11.3 mm; SW 2.45 mm; EL 1.34 mm; and toe-IV length 7.97 mm; ear-opening small and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraoculars, first supraciliary (right side only), and frontal. Frontal mostly tetragonal and shield-shaped, in contact with the first and second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and supralabial. Anterior loreal squarish and posterior loreal rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter. One upper preocular and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials with a small scale between infralabials six and seven on right. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 63 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 69 in a longitudinal row; 34 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 13 under finger-IV and 17 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium grayish-green with small dark brown spots uniformly distributed on body. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (2.19 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (2.51 mm), grayish-green, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish-blue, extending from loreal region to midbody. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish-blue, extending from loreal region to last third of body, not bordered below by a narrow dark line. Forelimbs pale blue and hindlimbs medium gray-green, all with small brown spots on dorsal surfaces and without pattern on ventral surfaces. Ventral surface of body without pattern except for small brown spots. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color of the holotype in life. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the paratypes resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Monito Island, 0.147 km 2 (Fig. 10 B). The highest elevation on the island is 63 m.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No ecological information is available for this species. Monito Island is a very small, uninhabited island located about 5 km NW of Mona Island. It is similar to Mona in being a raised limestone block and flat-topped, although vegetation is more limited in diversity. It has been described as xeric scrub vegetation consisting primarily of cacti, shrubs, and stunted trees growing from cracks in the limestone (Rolle et al. 1964). As with Mona, it is a Natural Reserve administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. The mongoose is not present on Monito. Black rats were present until the 1990 s, at which time concern was expressed that they were responsible for declines in the endemic gecko population (Sphaerodactylus micropithecus Schwartz). An eradication program for the black rat was successful (Garcia et al. 2002). One threat to the survival of Spondylurus monitae sp. nov. is from human disturbance, now at an all-time high. Monito Island is being used by immigrants, especially Cubans (passing through Hispaniola), who use it (and Mona Island) as a point of first contact on U. S. soil (see " Ecology and Conservation " for S. monae sp. nov.). In 2010 – 2011, dozens of immigrants claimed Monito as home until they were rescued by the U. S. Coast Guard. Typically, a dozen persons will stay on the small island at one time, often over one or more nights, until they are picked up by the Coast Guard. Presumably some habitat is disturbed, and perhaps campfires are built with some of the few trees on the island. This also raises the possibility that black rats could be brought to the island, unintentionally, on those boats carrying immigrants. A reintroduction of black rats could be devastating for the populations of endemic lizard species. At the time of this writing, nothing is being done to prevent these activities, and it is not known how much disturbance is taking place and its effects on the biodiversity. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), and because of this threat and small area of the island, we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus monitae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It, and Sphaerodactylus micropithecus, both face a primary threat from the potential introduction of invasive predators (black rats) as a result of unauthorized human activities on the island, and a major secondary threat from habitat alteration as a result of those same activities. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (monitae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species on the island of Monito (it is feminine despite the masculine diminutive Spanish island name).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07BCFF442DA9ED227EAEFE2C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The first mention of a skink from Isla Monito was a sighting of a single specimen by Rolle et al. (1964). We have been unable to locate additional specimens of the species besides the seven examined here, all collected in 1993. It is remarkable that the small island of Monito supports an endemic species of skink (Spondylurus monitae sp. nov.), distinct from the species inhabiting the nearby island of Mona (S. monae sp. nov.). Besides non-overlapping scale and pattern differences, S. monitae sp. nov. is significantly larger than S. monae sp. nov. Based on morphology we suspect that the skinks from Mona and Monito may have been independently derived from Puerto Rico and are not closest relatives.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	description	(Figs. 70 D, 73 B, 75)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 16). Puerto Rico. MCZ R- 6050 (lectotype), Samuel Garman, San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 1879; MCZ R- 176078 – 79 (paralectotypes), A. Stahl, San Juan, 5 February 1880; AMNH R- 6462, R. W. Miner, Ensenada, June 1915; AMNH R- 14007, B. A. Wall, Bayamón, 5 October 1919; CAS 54952, K. P. Schmidt, Ensenada, 22 September 1919; RT 4215, Richard Thomas, North Descalabrado, 4 February 1967; RT 8594, Jorge Moreno and Richard Thomas, Cerro del Muerto, 2 August 1980; UMMZ 73828, Chapman Grant, vicinity of Bayamón, 5 April 1931; UMMZ 73829, Chapman Grant, Cape San Juan, 2 August 1931; UPRRP 5401, Julio Garcia Díaz, Barrio Coto, Isabela, 11 June 1966. Cayo Luis Peña. UMMZ 73827, Chapman Grant, 20 April 1931. Cayo Norte. UPRRP 5055, Cayo Norte, 13 April 1965 (no collector information available). Culebra. UMMZ 239581, C. Grant, no specific locality, April 1932. Icacos. MCZ R- 36624, Chapman Grant, 6 March 1932; UPRRP 2702, Frank Torres, 9 April 1963.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus nitidus is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 87.1 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 95.5; (3) snout width, 2.38 – 3.57 % SVL; (4) head length, 16.6 – 20.7 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.5 – 14.6 % eye, five (27 %), six (73 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (7 %), two (80 %), three (13 %); (14) dorsals, 55 – 63; (15) ventrals, 60 – 66; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 117 – 129; (17) midbody scale rows, 28 – 33; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 15; (19) toe- IV lamellae, 14 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 26 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (53 %), N (47 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (7 %), N (93 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. nitidus differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.292 – 0.619 versus 0.64 – 3.79 in those other species). It is distinguished from S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, and S. martinae sp. nov. by having a wider head (head width 12.5 – 14.6 % SVL versus 9.58 – 12.3 % SVL in those other species). From S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, and S. turksae sp. nov., it is distinguished by having a longer head (head length 16.6 – 20.7 % SVL versus 12.9 – 16.5 % SVL in those other species). From S. lineolatus and S. turksae sp. nov., it is distinguished by having a longer toe-IV (toe-IV length 9.45 – 12.7 % SVL versus 7.23 – 9.16 % SVL in those other species). It differs from S. magnacruzae sp. nov. and S. spilonotus by having a lower number of midbody scale rows (28 – 33 versus 34 in those other species). From S. caicosae sp. nov., it is distinguished by having dark lateral stripes continuous to the hindlimbs (versus dark lateral stripes that are discontinuous or absent at the hindlimbs in S. caicosae sp. nov.). It is separated from S. haitiae sp. nov. by having a larger ear (ear length 1.32 – 2.36 % SVL versus 1.19 % in S. haitiae sp. nov.). It differs from S. macleani by having a darker middorsal stripe (versus middorsal stripe similar in color to pale dorsolateral stripes in S. macleani). It is distinguished from S. martinae sp. nov. by having a lower number of ventrals (60 – 66 versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.). It is separated from S. monitae sp. nov. by having parallel dark dorsolateral stripes on the parietal scales, versus concave stripes that form a constriction on the top of the head in S. monitae sp. nov. (Fig. 73). Spondylurus nitidus also differs from other species in slightly overlapping characters. It differs from S. monae sp. nov. by having a longer toe (toe-IV length 10.1 – 12.7 % SVL versus 8.09 – 10.0 % SVL in 86 % of specimens of S. monae sp. nov.). From S. caicosae sp. nov., it differs by having a higher number of finger-IV lamellae (13 – 15 in 80 % of specimens versus 9 – 12 in 89 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.). From S. fulgidus, it is separated by having a lower number of supraciliaries (four in 93 % of specimens versus five in S. fulgidus) and by having a higher number of dorsals (57 – 63 in 80 % of S. nitidus versus 52 – 56 in 88 % of S. fulgidus). It is distinguished from S. monitae sp. nov. by having a lower frequency of supraocular- 1 / frontal contact (no contact in 93 % of specimens versus contact in 86 % of specimens belonging to S. monitae sp. nov.). It differs from S. powelli sp. nov. by having a lower number of dorsals (55 – 61 in 93 % of specimens versus 62 – 65 in 87 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.) and by having a higher number of finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (29 – 33 in 80 % of specimens versus 25 – 28 in 81 % of specimens belonging to S. powelli sp. nov.). Additionally, S. nitidus is a larger species than S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. macleani, S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, S. sloanii, and S. turksae sp. nov. (maximum adult SVL 95.5 mm versus 63.7 – 94.5 in those other species). In coloration, individuals from Puerto Rico (= S. nitidus) have been described as being " considerably darker " than those from Mona (= S. monae sp. nov.) (Rivero 1998).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Figs. 70 D, 75 A – C). An adult female in moderate state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 84.5 mm; tail complete (length not measured); HL 15.3 mm; HW 11.2 mm; SW 2.87 mm; EL 1.89 mm; and toe-IV length 9.32 mm; ear-opening large in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal hexagonal, semi-diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, barely separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal tetragonal, lanceolate, in contact with the first supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal triangular, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Three and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter on the right; anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posterodorsal projection on latter on the left. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Three moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Eight infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First and second pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of nuchal scales, both paired. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 55 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 63 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brown with small dark brown spots, distributed on body, tail, and limbs. Forelimbs with dark brown mottling. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.52 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to just behind ears. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (4.35 mm), medium brown, extending from eye to last third of body, not bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color of the holotype in life. Variation. In coloration, the pale dorsolateral stripes of S. nitidus have been described as " iridescent bluish " (Grant 1931). However, bluish lines were not seen in a live S. nitidus described later (Rivero 1998). Because Grant (1931) did not specifically say that his specimens of S. nitidus were alive, it is likely they were preserved. The pale (whitish) areas in mabuyines often become greenish-blue in preservative. A narrow, dark ventrolateral stripe (or line of spots), as shown in Fig. 73 B, is present in some individuals but not the holotype. Variation is presented in Tables 3 – 5.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Puerto Rico and its satellites of Cayo Luis Peña, Cayo Norte, Culebra, Desecheo (literature record), Icacos, and Vieques (literature record; see Remarks) (Fig. 10 A, C – D).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Grant (1932 a) made a general comment (for the Puerto Rico area, which includes multiple species) that the favorite hiding place of mabuyine skinks was in dense clumps of Opuntia cactus. Rivero (1998) also made a general comment, perhaps applying to multiple species (as recognized here) that skinks seem " to be more partial to arid and semi-arid regions " and that most specimens have been collected at the base of coconut palms, under rocks or in rock fissures, or under clumps of cacti (Opuntia). Other collecting locations noted included a knot hole in a fence post, trees 1 – 3 m above ground, on the leaf of a terrestrial bromeliad (Bromelia pinguin), and inside a house. Rivero also mentions that this species, on Desecheo, emerges from retreats preferentially during cloudy days. Even as early as 1904, Stejneger remarked about the rarity of skinks in Puerto Rico, noting " its present scarcity is probably due to the mongoose. " Later, Rivero (1978) noted, " The chances of seeing this species in Puerto Rico proper are quite remote .. " Intensive general herpetological survey efforts by resident herpetologists in the last halfcentury have yielded only a few specimens, which were examined here. Further evidence of the scarcity of this species is that a relatively small number of specimens could be located in museum collections (from all years), with the most recent being collected in 1980. There have been more recent observations, but confirmation (e. g., photographic) that this species still exists is needed, especially because it could be confused, in the field with both native (e. g., Diploglossus pleii) and introduced (e. g., Gymnophthalmus underwoodi, Scincella lateralis) species of lizards (see Remarks). The mongoose is throughout Puerto Rico and is likely the primary reason for the rarity of this species, as surmised by Stejneger (1904), although black rats are in all habitats and elevations. These and other introduced predators do not recognize the boundaries of the so-called " protected areas " in Puerto Rico (e. g., wildlife refuges and national parks), and therefore the skinks are not actually protected. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus nitidus to be Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ae). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has greatly reduced its numbers. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is not possible on the main island of Puerto Rico because of its size. Also, genetic studies are needed to confirm the taxonomic status of populations of Spondylurus on the satellite islands of Puerto Rico, here assigned to S. nitidus. Reproduction. One female (95.5 mm SVL) contained two developing young. The date of collection for that specimen was 5 April 1931.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Not provided in the original description. However, the species name (nitidus), a Latin feminine singular adjective meaning " shining " or " polished, " apparently refers to the coloration, described by Garman (1887) as " bronzed. "	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B0FF402DA9EC7A7DB3FD7F.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The earliest reference to mabuyine skinks on the main island of Puerto Rico appears to have been by Cope (1862 a). Skinks were recorded by Riise from Vieques (Reinhardt & Lütken 1863), but no specimens are known to exist. It has never been seen there since then, probably because of the presence of the mongoose, and Grant (1932 b) remarked that " Mabuya was not seen or known to the natives " of Vieques when he visited in 1931. It may have been one of several nearby species — S. nitidus, S. culebrae sp. nov., S. sloanii — or an undescribed species. In the first edition of his book on the amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico, Rivero (1978) did not list who have visited the island in recent decades have not seen it. More out of convenience, we note this old literature record (Reinhardt & Lütken 1863) here, under S. nitidus, but suspect that it was an endemic species that probably occurred only on the island of Vieques and was wiped out by the mongoose before a specimen made it to a museum. Two specimens of skinks collected in southwestern Puerto Rico (CAS 175490 – 491), on the west side of Bahía de Ballena, are not mabuyines but rather appear to be a species from the southeastern United States, Scincella lateralis. Apparently there was no mix-up of museum numbers because the collector recalls collecting those specimens (A. Bauer, personal communication). They are 39 – 40 mm (SVL) and have four supraoculars, seven supraciliaries, paired frontoparietals, frontonasal-frontal contact, 2 – 3 rows of nuchals, 60 – 63 dorsals, 61 – 72 ventrals, 26 midbody scale rows, and 14 toe-IV lamellae. In pattern they are typical of Scincella lateralis, although their dorsal counts are a bit lower than reported in the literature (Smith 1946). Considering that nearly all of the West Indian herpetofauna is derived from South America (Hedges 1996 b), we consider it unlikely that Scincella is native to Puerto Rico, especially since that locality has been visited by many herpetologists during the last century without turning up other specimens. The best explanation is that they were introduced, probably as released pets, at a popular beach on the island.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	description	(Figs. 73 C, 76 A, 77)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. MCZ R- 74343, an adult male, collected 29 May 1963 in Shannon Hill (North of Sandy Ground), Anguilla, by James D. Lazell. Paratypes (n = 15). Anguilla. BWMC 06754 – 55, Robert Powell and Avila REU, Junk’s Hole, 17 June 2000; CM 115518 and CM 115480, Ellen J. Censky, Brimegin, 1987; CM 115481, Ellen J. Censky, no specific locality, 1987; MPM 23178, R. A. Sajdak, North Hill, 1987; RT 8335 – 37, Ava Gaa and Richard Thomas, Shoal Bay, January 1980. St. Barts. KU 242090 – 92, Albert Schwartz, Baie de St. John (no collection dates available); MNHN 1997.6064, M. Breuil, no specific locality, 1997; MNHN 2003.0844, M. Magras, no specific locality, 2003; MPM 23055, 0.5 km E L'Orient Beach (no collection date available).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus powelli sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 71.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 69.8 mm; (3) snout width, 2.28 – 3.02 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.6 – 18.4 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.7 – 14.4 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.36 – 2.64 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.45 – 11.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, two (6 %), three (13 %), four (81 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (6 %), four (94 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (31 %), six (69 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (19 %), two (63 %), three (19 %); (14) dorsals, 59 – 65; (15) ventrals, 62 – 67; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 121 – 132; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 11 – 14; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 25 – 32; (21) supranasal contact, Y (19 %), N (81 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (25 %), N (75 %); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (38 %), N (63 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N (or barely evident on side of neck); and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. powelli sp. nov. is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.232 – 0.762 versus 0.874 – 3.79 in those other species). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. semitaeniatus, and S. spilonotus by lacking a pale lateral stripe. It is separated from S. haitiae sp. nov. by having a larger ear (2.28 – 3.02 % SVL versus 1.19 % SVL in S. haitiae sp. nov.) and by having fewer ventrals (62 – 67 versus 69 – 72 in S. haitiae sp. nov.). It differs from S. fulgidus by having fewer supraciliaries (3 – 4 versus five in S. fulgidus) and more dorsals + ventrals (121 – 132 versus 108 – 120). It is distinguished from S. lineolatus by having a larger head (head length 15.6 – 18.4 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL in S. lineolatus), a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 26 – 28 in S. lineolatus), and four dark stripes instead of 10. From S. macleani, it is distinguished by having a darker middorsal stripe (zone) versus middorsal stripe similar to pale dorsolateral stripes in S. macleani. It is separated from S. martinae sp. nov. by having fewer ventrals (62 – 67 versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.). It differs from S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 30). In terms of slightly overlapping (frequency) traits, Spondylurus powelli sp. nov. differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower frequency of supranasal contact (no contact in 81 % of specimens versus contact in 80 – 100 % of specimens belonging to those other species). From S. martinae sp. nov. and S. nitidus, it differs by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (25 – 28 in 81 % of specimens versus 29 – 36 in 80 – 89 % of specimens belonging to those other species). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 27 – 31 in 94 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.) and by having a higher number of dorsal + ventral scales (125 – 132 in 93 % of specimens versus 113 – 124 in 85 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 76 A, 77 A – B). An adult male in excellent state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL 69.5 mm; tail length not measured; HL 12.1 mm; HW 10.0 mm; SW 2.06 mm; EL 1.55 mm; and toe-IV length 7.31 mm; ear-opening average in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal heptagonal, near-diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, in contact medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first supraoculars and frontal. Frontal tetragonal and lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal acorn- or shield-shaped, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals rectangular with posteromedial projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Three rows of nuchal scales, all paired except the last. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 59 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 62 in a longitudinal row; 32 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 12 under finger-IV and 14 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium grayish-green with small dark brown flecks, sparsely distributed on body, tail, and limbs. Limbs darker than body. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (1.49 mm), dark brown, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with pale spots, extending from loreal region to first third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (2.73 mm), grayishgreen, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes barely evident, whitish, extending from below ear to forelimbs, Variation. In coloration and scalation, other specimens resembled the holotype, although pale lateral stripe weak or absent in most (Tables 4 – 5). Juveniles of this species, at least on St. Barts but presumably on Anguilla as well, have blue tails in life (Fig. 77 G). No adult has been observed with a blue tail on either island, suggesting that the blue tail coloration is lost in adults. Other mabuyine species with blue tails, of which we are aware, are Panopa carvalhoi, P. croizati, and Spondylurus lineolatus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is distributed on Anguilla (91 km 2), including Dog Island (literature record), and Saint-Barthélemy (also called St. Barts, 21 km 2). All are part of the Anguilla Bank in the northern Lesser Antilles (Fig. 11 A). However it is absent from St. Martin, which is also on that bank and is inhabited by another species, Spondylurus martinae sp. nov.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Skinks are considered to be common on Anguilla (Hodge et al. 2003) and St. Barts (Breuil 2002), undoubtedly because the mongoose is absent. In that sense these islands share with Dominica (Mabuya dominicana) and a few other islands the striking contrast between islands lacking the mongoose — and having seemingly healthy populations of skinks — and those where skinks have been severely decimated by the introduction of the mongoose, such as nearby St. Martin. On Anguilla skinks have been found on and in loosely constructed rock walls (Hodge et al. 2003). On St. Barts skinks have been found in sunny situations on cacti and in tall grass, and sometimes in houses (Breuil 2002). Anguilla and St. Barts are not large islands, and threats to the survival of Spondylurus powelli sp. nov. are numerous. Invasive species, including competitors and predators, are of snakes by locals on these islands has led to the killing of not only the native snakes but also the skinks, which are sometimes mistaken for snakes (Breuil 2002; Hodge et al. 2003). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus powelli sp. nov. as Vulnerable (VU A 2 ce). It faces a primary threat from predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, and a secondary threat from habitat alteration as a result of urbanization and tourism. Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (powelli) is in honor of Robert Powell for his contributions to West Indian herpetology.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07B4FF3C2DA9ECD178B6FCA7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. DNA sequences of specimens from Anguilla and St. Barts are virtually identical (Figs. 5 – 6). Also, morphologically, there is no detectable difference between the Anguilla and St. Barts populations. This was surprising given that the two islands are separated by 25 km and by the large island of St. Martin, which has a separate, endemic species (Spondylurus martinae sp. nov.). Any vicariance from the isolation of previously connected land areas of the Anguilla bank, during the Pleistocene and Holocene, would be expected to be reflected in at least some genetic divergence at this relatively fast evolving gene (Cytochrome b). If this low sequence divergence was caused by natural dispersal on flotsam — based on currents, only from St. Barts to Anguilla — that dispersal event must have occurred very recently. Movement between the two islands by humans is a more likely explanation for this low sequence divergence, instead of recent, natural dispersal. Yet another explanation, that they are both recent colonists from another location, is unlikely because there is no other island known with this species. Phylogeographic studies using microsatellites or other fast-evolving markers might be able to resolve which of the two island populations, Anguilla or St. Barts, or both, is native and which (if either) is introduced.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	description	(Figs. 73 D, 76 B, 78)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	description	Euprepes semitaeniatus — Peters, 1864: 50 (holotype clarified as ZMB 1238, same specimen as examined by Schneider [1801: 181], for syntype of Scincus auratus; originally from collection of Bloch). E [uprepes] semitaeniatus — Peters, 1871: 400 (part, inferred).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 53). U. S. Virgin Islands. ZMB 1238 (holotype), from " America, " type-locality restricted here to St. Thomas (no specific locality within island), U. S. Virgin Islands, ex. coll. Marcus Elieser Bloch, probably acquired 1779 – 1799 (examination of photographs) (see Remarks); MCZ R- 36592 – 95 and UMMZ 73821, Chapman Grant, Little Buck Island, between 2 September 1931 and 18 April 1932; MCZ R- 42380, Chapman Grant, Capella Island, 29 April 1936; UMMZ 80585, Chapman Grant, Little Buck Island, 15 March 1936; ZMH R 09300 – 301, St. Thomas, " Calwood leg. 1885. " British Virgin Islands. KU 242064, Albert Schwartz, Great Camanoe Island (between Lee Bay and Cam Bay), 20 August 1964; KU 242071, Albert Schwartz, Virgin Gorda (southeast part of island from Copper Mine Bay; no collection date available); KU 242072 – 73 and 242075 – 78, Albert Schwartz, Virgin Gorda (just north of Garden Rock; no collection date available); KU 242074 and 242079 – 81, Albert Schwartz, Virgin Gorda (inland margin of Salt Pond behind St. Thomas Bay; no collection date available); MCZ R- 166975, James Lazell, Guana Island, 13 July 1984; MCZ R- 170883, P. Shelby, Guana Island, 21 October 1984; MCZ R- 176327, G. Proctor, Guana Island, 20 November 1986; MCZ R- 176328, L. Phipps, Guana Island, 27 December 1987; MCZ R- 176329, C. O. Connell, Guana Island (Shangri La), 19 July 1987; MCZ R- 176330, E. Azevedo, Tortola (Zion Hill), 24 July 1987; MCZ R- 176331, R. Jenkins and J. Randall, Necker Island, 25 July 1987; MCZ R- 176332, R. Jenkins, Tortola (Sage Mountain), 30 August 1988; MCZ R- 176739 – 43, “ Hocking Tech, ” Tortola (Sage Mountain), 30 June 1994; MCZ R- 180273, M. Garcia, Little Thatch Island, 9 October 1994; MPM 26275, Virgin Gorda (inland margin of Salt Pond behind St. Thomas Bay); RT 947, D. C. Leber and R. Thomas, Virgin Gorda (inland margin of Salt Pond behind St. Thomas Bay), 17 August 1964; UMMZ 80581 – 82, 80584, and 239599 – 600, Chapman Grant, Virgin Gorda, 30 March – 7 April 1936; MCZ R- 182093, E. Henry, Tortola (Little Dicks Hill), July 1996; UMMZ 200131, Fred Kraus, Guana Island, 7 March 1991; UPRRP 5489, Island Project Staff, Salt Island, 24 May 1966; UPRRP 5503, Island Project Staff, Necker Island, 6 June 1966; UPRRP 5521 – 22, Island Project Staff, Virgin Gorda (Savanna Bay), 27 June 1966; USNM 304550, Ginger Island (near South Bay), 12 October 1975 (no collector information available); MCZ R- 185692, Clive Petrovic, Mosquito Island, 3 October 2007; USNM 576304, K. Lindsay, Mosquito Island, 12 September 2007. West Indies. ZMUC-R 391, "? Botanical Garden ", accessioned 1893.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus semitaeniatus is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 74.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 82.9 mm; (3) snout width, 1.99 – 3.27 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.8 – 19.4 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.9 – 16.2 % SVL; (6) ear length, 0.953 – 2.27 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.33 – 12.0 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two (98 %), four (2 %); (9) supraoculars, three (1 %), four (99 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (2 %), four (98 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (28 %), six (72 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (14 %), two (80 %), three (6 %); (14) dorsals, 57 – 65; (15) ventrals, 59 – 70; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 119 – 134; (17) midbody scale rows, 31 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 10 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 13 – 19; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 23 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, Y (96 %), N (4 %); (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (38 %), N (62 %); (24) parietal contact, Y (98 %), N (2 %); (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. semitaeniatus differs from all other species except S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. monae sp. nov., and S. sloanii by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (1.54 – 3.36 versus 0.115 – 1.27 in those other species; Fig. 79). From S. anegadae sp. nov., it differs by having a narrower, longer nostril (Fig. 58). It is separated from S. culebrae sp. nov. by having a shorter length of combined head scales (Fig. 62 A). It is distinguished from S. lineolatus by having a longer head (head length 15.8 – 19.4 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL in S. lineolatus) and by having two dark lateral stripes and two dark dorsolateral stripes (versus 10 dark stripes in S. lineolatus). From S. monae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus differs by having a shorter rostral scale (Fig. 61). Additionally, Spondylurus semitaeniatus is distinguished from other species in the genus except S. anegadae sp. nov. and S. lineolatus by having a middorsal stripe that is similar in color to the pale dorsolateral stripes (versus a middorsal stripe that is darker in those other species; Figs. 55 and 73). It is separated from S. fulgidus by having a higher number of supraciliaries (3 – 4 versus five in S. fulgidus), fewer total digital lamellae (178 – 215 versus 238 in S. fulgidus), and nearly non-overlapping dorsals + ventrals (119 – 134 versus 108 – 120 in S. fulgidus). It differs from S. macleani (Fig. 55 G) by having longer dark dorsolateral stripes. It is distinguished from S. monitae sp. nov. (Fig. There are frequency differences that also separate Spondylurus semitaeniatus from other species. From S. caicosae sp. nov., it differs by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (31 – 34 in 94 % of specimens versus 27 – 30 in 92 % of specimens belonging to S. caicosae sp. nov.). It differs from S. martinae sp. nov. by having fewer ventral scales (59 – 67 in 88 % of specimens versus 68 – 71 in S. martinae sp. nov.). The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) shows that Spondylurus sloanii is closer, genetically, to S. culebrae sp. nov., S. macleani, and S. monitae sp. nov. than it is to S. semitaeniatus. However, the greatest confusion in identification of S. semitaeniatus will likely be with S. sloanii because the two species appear superficially similar and occur in close proximity and sympatry in the Virgin Islands. The most reliable character in separating these two species is the width of the dark dorsolateral stripes compared with the pale middorsal stripe as measured at the forelimbs instead of the normal location for this measurement, at the ears (Fig. 80 A). In both species, the dark dorsolateral stripes taper posteriorly until they eventually disappear. However, in S. sloanii, the dark dorsolateral stripes start tapering more quickly, before the forelimbs (e. g., compare pattern in Fig. 78 E with that in Fig. 81 F). The dark dorsolateral stripe / middorsal stripe ratio (at the forelimbs) is 1.25 – 2.68 in S. semitaeniatus versus 0.43 – 1.08 in S. sloanii. A second useful character in separating the two species, although not 100 % diagnostic in itself, is prefrontal separation (length of frontonasal-frontal suture). Spondylurus semitaeniatus has> 0.3 % separation of prefrontals whereas more than two thirds of S. sloanii have contact between prefrontals, or are within 0.3 % SVL of contact (Figure 80 B). In other aspects of pattern, adult S. semitaeniatus usually differ from S. sloanii in having a pale middorsal stripe that is the same color as the pale dorsolateral stripes (darker than the pale dorsolateral stripes in S. sloanii), a dorsum that does not appear braided (versus dorsum with dark-edged scales giving a braided appearance in S. sloanii), and a pale lateral stripe (absent or barely evident in S. sloanii). Both species have been described as bronze or coppery, but the color of living and preserved S. semitaeniatus appears to be less so (more tan) than that of S. sloanii.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 78 A – D). Based on examination of photographs. An unsexed adult in moderate state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL 60.5 mm; tail length not measured (broken); HL, HW, SW, EL, and toe-IV length not measured; ear-opening average in size and oval; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first supraciliary, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye not distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second and third pairs separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. One row of paired nuchal scales and one additional right nuchal scale. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 60 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 65 in a longitudinal row; scales around midbody not counted. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, not countable on fingers or toes. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Pattern elements weakly defined because of age of specimen (232 – 212 years old). Dorsal ground color medium greenish-brown with no visible spots. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, wide (not measured), dark brown, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from behind eye to first third of body (pattern no longer visible posterior to this point). Pale middorsal stripe present, narrow (not measured), medium greenish-brown, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, medium greenish-brown, extending from tip of snout to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available for coloration of the holotype in life. Variation. In scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype (Tables 4). In more recent material, where pattern was more visible, dorsal pattern varied in color and in distribution of small dark brown spots. Limbs appear darker than body, and forelimbs are usually mottled. A Virgin Gorda specimen (KU 242071) was noted by Albert Schwartz as having a copper to bronzy dorsum posteriorly, and venter bluish, becoming grayer posteriorly. A live animal also from Virgin Gorda (Fig. 78 E) shows a tan or reddish tan dorsum with orange anteriorly in the zone of the dark lateral stripe (which appears broken and spotty).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is widely distributed in the U. S. and British Virgin Islands (Fig. 10 E). In the U. S. Virgin Islands it is known from St. Thomas, and from two islets of St. Thomas (Capella and Little Buck). In the British Virgin Islands it is known from Fallen Jerusalem (literature record), Ginger Island, Great Camanoe Island, Guana Island, Little Thatch Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Round Rock (literature record), Salt Island, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda (MacLean et al. 1977; MacLean 1982; Lazell 1983; Schwartz & Henderson 1991; Lazell 1995). Reinhardt and Lütken (1863) mentioned the occurrence of skinks on St. John and Jost van Dyke, citing " Mr. Riises, " = Albert Heinrich Riise, a Danish pharmacist and naturalist on St. Thomas. The only museum specimens that we could locate from those islands were two Spondylurus spilonotus from St. John (ZMUC-R 93 – 94).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. Recent reviews of the herpetofauna of the Virgin islands implicate the mongoose in declines and extirpations of skinks, especially from the large islands (Perry & Gerber 2006; Platenberg & Boulon 2006). On the small islets of St. Thomas (Little Buck Island, Capella Island) where Spondylurus semitaeniatus occurs, the habitat is mostly coastal shrub with introduced Guinea Grass Panicum maximum, Turks Cap Cactus Melocactus intortus, and the shrub Oplonia spinosa, interspersed with Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera, the same as the habitat of S. sloanii. This habitat can be described as low shrubby vegetation or grass, including exposed rocky areas and occasional beaches (R. Platenberg, personal communication). No specimens of Spondylurus semitaeniatus exist from the large island of St. John, but it probably occurred there, based on its distribution on surrounding islands. Two specimens of the larger species, S. spilonotus, are from St. John, collected in 1846, and that species has not been recorded there since, almost certainly having been extirpated by the mongoose. The same fate can be assumed for S. semitaeniatus on St. John. Spondylurus semitaeniatus has been observed in recent decades on mongoose-free islands such as Virgin Gorda, Guana, Little Buck, and Mosquito as well as mongoose-inhabited Tortola. There is general acceptance that it has declined in numbers (Perry & Gerber 2006; Platenberg & Boulon 2006), and continued development of the islands will reduce available habitat of a species already living a fragile existence. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that, while the mongoose is the primary factor responsible for decline in skink numbers in the Virgin Islands, it is not the only factor (see also the account for S. magnacruzae sp. nov.). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus semitaeniatus as Endangered (EN A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which probably led to its extirpation on St. Thomas, and probably other islands where there are no museum records as evidence, such as St. John. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine the health of remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. Three females (71.1 – 77.8 mm SVL) contained 2 – 4 (mean = 3) developing young. The date of collection for one specimens was 7 April 1936 (no collection dates available for the other specimens).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Not provided in the original description. However, the species name (semitaeniatus) is a feminine singular adjective derived from the Latin semi (half) and taenia (ribbon, stripe), hence half-striped, referring quite accurately to the dorsal pattern of this species, although such a pattern is shared with most other species in the Genus Spondylurus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C8FF352DA9EDE97EB5FD5C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Spondylurus semitaeniatus is an old species name that has had a confusing history, some of which was clarified recently by Bauer et al. (2003). Until now the name has generally been considered a synonym of either Spondylurus sloanii or Mabuya mabouya. The type was acquired by Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723 – 1799) and was one of several specimens used by Schneider (1801) to describe Scincus auratus, a species now recognized by the name Trachylepis aurata (Linnaeus) and with a new lectotype (Moravec et al. 2006). The same specimen (ZMB 1238) was then used by Wiegmann (1837) to name Euprepes semitaeniatus. No locality was given for the holotype other than " America, " which has led to some of the confusion. However, characters of this specimen (see above) associate it with specimens of Mabuyinae representing the species in the Virgin Islands with a relatively wide distribution. Bloch had collaborators around the world that sent him material (Paepke 1999), and therefore it is unlikely, but not impossible, that he was the actual collector. His fish collection, at least, was amassed during 1779 – 1799 from a limited number of locations, with St. Croix being the only location in the entire Caribbean region mentioned (Paepke 1999). Thus we might assume from this information that the type of Spondylurus semitaeniatus was collected during 1779 – 1799, in the general region of St. Croix, and sent to Bloch. Because the only skinks known from St. Croix (and its islet Green Cay) are Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov. (records in several museums) and Capitellum parvicruzae sp. nov. (one specimen in ZMUC), we suspect that S. semitaeniatus never occurred there, and thus the type material was probably collected elsewhere. Saint Croix is an island isolated by an expanse of deep water from the remainder of the Virgin Islands, although much of its herpetofauna is shared with the Puerto Rico Bank (including the Virgin islands), indicating that overwater dispersal has been frequent in the recent past. In the late 18 th century, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John were all owned by Denmark, and therefore nearby St. Thomas and St. John would be the next most likely places where the collectors for Bloch would have obtained locality of S. semitaeniatus to St. Thomas. If the specimen actually came from another location in the region (e. g., St. Croix or St. John), it would not affect the taxonomy of this or related species. There has been some additional confusion surrounding the holotype of Spondylurus semitaeniatus as noted by Bauer et al. (2003). Peters (1864) correctly identified the type as ZMB 1238, but Stejneger (1904) listed it as ZMB 5290, an error repeated by later authors (Grant 1931; Dunn 1936; Schwartz & Thomas 1975; Schwartz & Henderson 1988). It is unclear whether Stejneger examined a different specimen or just listed the number incorrectly. He noticed that the pale middorsal stripe was very narrow, narrower than in what he was calling Mabuya sloanii (which included other species recognized here), leading him to consider S. semitaeniatus and S. sloanii different species. Relying on Stejneger's description of the holotype, Schmidt (1928) went further and associated S. semitaeniatus with the boldly-striped skinks from Culebra (here called S. culebrae sp. nov.). However, he did not feel strongly enough about the association to consider them distinct species and therefore placed S. semitaeniatus in the synonymy of S. sloanii. Grant (1931) went a step further and treated S. semitaeniatus as a distinct species, occurring only on Culebra and Mona islands (not mainland Puerto Rico), but he later reversed his decision and called them S. sloanii (Grant 1937).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	description	(Figs. 73 E, 76 C, 81)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	description	Tiliqua sloanii — Gray, 1838: 293.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	description	E [uprepes] semitaeniatus — Peters, 1871: 400 (part).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 24). British Virgin Islands. KU 242065 – 70, Albert Schwartz, Peter Island (Little Harbour), 13 August 1964; MCZ R- 158940, James Lazell, Little Tobago Island, 27 March 1980; MCZ R- 178430, P. Gagne, Norman Island (The Bight), 21 October 1993; MCZ R- 182273, C. O’Connell, Peter Island (Stoney Bay), 17 July 1988; UMMZ 74427, Chapman Grant, Salt Island, 10 – 17 August 1932. U. S. Virgin Islands. MNHN 554 Chapman Grant, Capella Island, 29 April 1936; UMMZ 239605, Chapman Grant, Little Buck Island, 18 April 1932; USNM 576305, 576306 – 576309 (mother and 4 well-developed fetuses), Daniel Nellis, Little Saba Island, 22 April 2004; KU 242175, Albert Schwartz, Water Island, Eastside, 25 July 1964; ZMUC-R 761 – 763, A. H. Riise, St. Thomas, accessioned 1862. West Indies. ZMUC-R 760, A. H. Riise, accessioned 1862. Material not examined (n = 2). U. S. Virgin Islands. MNHN 1088, from St. Thomas (no specific locality), described and figured by Bocourt (1879) (this specimen was collected before 1879 and, based on low accession number, probably in the late 18 th or early 19 th century); holotype of Mabuia cuprescens Cope (1862), from St. Thomas (no specific locality), collected by " A. H. Rüse, " no date or catalog number given, type apparently lost (probably collected by Albert Heinrich Riise around 1862, but between 1838 – 1862; see Remarks).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus sloanii is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 71.6 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 88.9 mm; (3) snout width, 2.10 – 3.11 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.2 – 19.2 % SVL; (5) head width, 11.8 – 13.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.12 – 1.73 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 8.05 – 11.2 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two (95 %), four (5 %); (9) supraoculars, three (2 %), four (98 %); (10) supraciliaries, three (5 %), four (95 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (18 %), six (77 %), seven (5 %); (13) nuchal rows, one (15 %), two (75 %), three (10 %); (14) dorsals, 59 – 64; (15) ventrals, 58 – 68; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 118 – 131; (17) midbody scale rows, 32 – 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 10 – 13; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 14 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 24 – 30; (21) supranasal contact, Y (95 %), N (5 %); (22) prefrontal contact, Y (33 %), N (67 %, although nearly all in near contact); (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (38 %), N (62 %); (24) parietal contact, Y (95 %), N (5 %); (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N (or weak); and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Spondylurus sloanii differs from S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. powelli sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a narrower middorsal stripe (1.11 – 2.42 % SVL versus 2.61 – 10.4 % in those other species). It differs from all other species except S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., and S. semitaeniatus by having a higher dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (1.09 – 2.96 versus 0.115 – 0.916 in those other species; Fig. 79). Spondylurus sloanii is distinguished from S. lineolatus and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (32 – 34 versus 26 – 30 in those other species). From S. macleani, it differs by having distinct dark lateral stripes (versus dark lateral stripes barely evident or absent in S. macleani). It is separated from S. fulgidus by having a higher number of dorsals (59 – 64 versus 52 – 58). From S. haitiae sp. nov., it differs by having fewer ventral scales (58 – 68 versus 69 – 72 in S. haitiae sp. nov.). From S. monae sp. nov., it differs by having a taller rostral scale: rostral height / length 1.26 – 1.71 versus 0.84 – 1.01 in S. monae sp. nov. (Fig. 61). It is separated from S. monitae sp. nov. by having straighter dark dorsolateral stripes (versus dark dorsolateral stripes that bow inward on the parietal scales in S. monitae sp. nov.; Fig. 73 A, E) and in having a high frequency (95 %) of supranasal contact (versus no contact in S. monitae sp. nov.). Additionally, S. sloanii is a larger species (maximum SVL 88.9 mm) than S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. macleani, S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. turksae sp. nov. (maximum SVL 63.7 – 85.9 mm in those other species). Spondylurus sloanii differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having fewer total lamellae (190 – 198 versus 202 – 238 in those other species), although sample sizes are lower for this character (Table 4). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. sloanii is separated from most species by having a high frequency (67 %) of prefrontal contact or near contact (prefrontal separation within 0.3 % SVL = ~ 0.2 mm). One-third of specimens (eight of 24) have contact between prefrontals, which is generally rare in Mabuyinae (6 % overall). In other species of Spondylurus, prefrontal contact is common only in S. fulgidus (52 %) and S. haitiae sp. nov. (50 %); uncommon or rare in S. anegadae sp. nov. (3 %), S. lineolatus (11 %), S. martinae sp. nov. (11 %), and S. powelli sp. nov. (25 %); and not observed in S. caicosae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. nitidus, S. semitaeniatus, S. spilonotus, and S. turksae sp. nov. From its closest relative, S. culebrae sp. nov. (Fig. 55 C), S. sloanii (Fig. 73 E) is distinguished by having shorter dark dorsolateral stripes (tapering at or before forelimbs versus posterior to forelimbs), shorter dark lateral stripes (extending to midbody versus to hindlimbs), in having limbs with only small dark spots (boldly mottled or nov.) and is a smaller species, with a mean of 70.8 mm SVL (19 adults) compared with S. culebrae sp. nov. (mean = 82.1 mm SVL, 45 adults). The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) shows that Spondylurus sloanii is closer, genetically, to S. culebrae sp. nov., S. macleani, and S. monitae sp. nov. than it is to S. semitaeniatus, but the greatest confusion in identification will likely be with the latter species because the two (S. sloanii and S. semitaeniatus) appear superficially similar and occur in close proximity and sympatry in the Virgin Islands. The most reliable character in separating these two species is the width of the dark dorsolateral stripes compared with the pale middorsal stripe as measured at the forelimbs instead of the normal location for this measurement, at the ears (Fig. 80 A). In both species, the dark dorsolateral stripes taper posteriorly until they eventually disappear. However, in S. sloanii, the dark dorsolateral stripes start tapering more quickly, before the forelimbs (e. g., compare pattern in Fig. 78 E with that in Fig. 81 F). The dark dorsolateral stripe / middorsal stripe ratio is 0.43 – 1.08 in S. sloanii and 1.25 – 2.68 in S. semitaeniatus. A second useful character in separating the two species, although not 100 % diagnostic, is prefrontal separation, already noted above. More than two thirds of S. sloanii have contact between prefrontals, or are within 0.3 % SVL of contact, versus all S. semitaeniatus with> 0.3 % separation of prefrontals (Figure 80 B). In other aspects of pattern, adult S. sloanii usually differ from S. semitaeniatus in having a pale middorsal stripe that is darker than the pale dorsolateral stripes (versus the same color as the dorsolateral stripes in S. semitaeniatus), a dorsum with darkedged scales giving a braided appearance (versus lacking a braided appearance in S. semitaeniatus), and in lacking a pale lateral stripe, or having one that is barely evident (versus having a distinct pale lateral stripe in S. semitaeniatus). Both species have been described as bronze or coppery, and more observations are needed, but the color of living and preserved S. sloanii appears to be more bronze or coppery than that of S. semitaeniatus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Fig. 81 A – C). The following is based on examination of photographs supplied by MNHN (I. Ineich, personal communication). Absolute measurements could not be taken accurately from the photos, but diagnostic pattern ratios were scorable. An unsexed adult in moderate state of preservation, with broken tail — complete when examined by Duméril and Bibron (1839) — cuts to jaw, and an abdominal slit. SVL 64.0 mm (Brygoo 1985); tail length not measured (broken); ear-opening large in size and round; toe length order not recorded. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal biconvex, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, in contact medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals (which appear to be fused), first supraciliary, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal hexagonal, oblong and semi-lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal, near-triangular, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye not distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals fused into one roughly rectangular scale. Two or three upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. A single row of small scales across the dorsal edge of the eyelid window. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller (except for one large primary postocular). One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin curved slightly toward tip of snout. Postmental scale and two pairs of adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First pair of chin shields in contact medially; second pair damaged; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Two rows of paired nuchal scales. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, not counted; ventrals similar to dorsals; not counted; scales around midbody not countable in photographs. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, not countable on finger-IV or toe-IV. Preanal scales similar to ventrals. No enlarged Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium brownish-gray with small dark brown spots, distributed on body and limbs. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, wide at ear level, dark brown, extending from the nuchal scales (anterior to which the pattern is no longer visible because external, pigmented layer of scales is missing on most of head) to first third of body, tapering distinctly anterior to forelimbs. The dark dorsolateral stripe / middorsal stripe ratio at ear level is 2.45 and at forelimbs is 0.658. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, visible from behind eye to first third of body (although faded and difficult to discern). Pale middorsal stripe present, narrow at ear level, medium brownish-gray, visible from nuchal scales to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray, visible from nuchal scales to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information is available on color in life; however, color and pattern of the 230 – 222 - year-old specimen was described by Duméril and Bibron (1839) only ~ 50 years after it was preserved. They recorded a greenish-bronze dorsum with two black dorsolateral stripes beginning on the supraocular region and ending in the first half of the back and replaced with a series (lines) of black dots on the second half of the back. The lateral stripes were described as similarly fading into a double or triple series of dots and extending to the hindlimbs. The venter was recorded as glossy greenish-gray. Of possible diagnostic importance is their comment that scales not colored black have a light brown edge. This was also noticed in the recently collected specimens from Little Saba (Fig. 81 E) and conveyed an overall braided appearance not seen in Spondylurus semitaeniatus. Variation. In pattern and scalation, most specimens resembled the holotype, with dorsal ground color varying from grayish-brown to greenish-brown (Tables 4 – 5). Limbs appear slightly darker than body. Dark dorsolateral stripes taper before the forelimbs and dark lateral stripes extend one-third of body or midbody. Pale lateral stripes, which are present in most species of Spondylurus, are absent (or weakly defined) in S. sloanii. Albert Schwartz recorded the color in life of Peter Island specimens as having a " tannish-brown " and " not metallic " dorsum, pale stripes " creamy " anteriorly, and venter " pale yellowish-tan "; he described the Water Island specimen as having its dorsum " tannish bronze, " pale dorsolateral stripes " dull creamy, " and venter " dirty cream. " The color in life of the large adult from Little Saba is bronze or coppery (e. g., Fig. 81 F). Overall, we find that S. sloanii tends to be more bronze and coppery than S. semitaeniatus, which is usually tan (greenish in preservative), although more information on color in life is needed. The greenish or bluish color seen in preserved specimens is an artifact of preservation.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The species is known from the British and U. S. Virgin Islands (Fig. 10 E). In the British Virgin Islands it is known from Little Tobago, Norman Island, Peter Island, and Salt Island. From the U. S. Virgin Islands it is known from St. Thomas and its islets of Capella Island, Little Buck Island, Little Saba Island, and Water Island.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. The species has not been recorded from St. Thomas since 1862, although it still likely occurs on the smaller mongoose-free islands within its distribution. The most recent sighting of the species (2004) was on Little Saba. There, the habitat is mostly coastal shrub with introduced Guinea Grass Panicum maximum, Turks Cap Cactus Melocactus intortus, and the shrub Oplonia spinosa, interspersed with Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera. This habitat can be described as low shrubby vegetation or grass, including exposed rocky areas and occasional beaches (R. Platenberg, personal communication). Little Saba is a wildlife refuge, but its small size — essentially constituting one population of the skink — and presence of introduced mice pose a threat (R. Platenberg, personal communication). Albert Schwartz found the Peter Island specimens under objects (leaves, rocks) near the coast, and the Water Island specimen under driftwood on a cobble beach. Molecular phylogenetic analyses are needed to determine whether the skinks from these diverse islands all belong to Spondylurus sloanii, as they appear to based on morphology. Also, the current existence of the skink on Water Island, known from a single specimen collected in 1964, should be verified in that the mongoose apparently was released there between 1930 and 1983 (Barbour 1930 a; Horst et al. 2001). Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), the conservation status of Spondylurus sloanii is Endangered (EN A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which probably led to its extirpation on St. Thomas and other islands on which it may have occurred (e. g., St. John, St. Croix) and are now inhabited by mongooses. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine the health of remaining Reproduction. The female collected on 22 April 2004 (88.9 mm SVL) contained four developing young (Fig. 81 G). They measured 24.1 – 30.2 mm SVL and appeared nearly fully developed. The female collected 18 April 1932 (77.6 mm SVL) also contained four young.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species (sloanii) was named in honor of Sir Hans Sloane (1660 – 1753), a British physician who studied the natural history of the West Indies, describing a skink from Jamaica which Daudin (1803) believed to be the same species as the specimen he described from St. Thomas.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C1FF332DA9ECEA7E9BFD37.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Spondylurus sloanii is the second oldest name in the Subfamily Mabuyinae, recognized as a valid species here, and, as expected, it has had a long and confused history. Daudin (1803) described the species based on a visit to the MNHN in Paris, where he saw the specimen. He did not mention locality or catalog number — not uncommon at that time — but focused rather on its unusual appearance (to him) in having three (pale) stripes. He compared it with other lined skinks, citing descriptions in Schneider (1799, 1801). He mentioned that it was brownish above and whitish below, with four dark stripes starting at the snout tip and continuing to the mid-body. Of importance here (diagnostically) is that he stated that two dark stripes, " a little more narrow, continue to the mid-back " (English translation). Such narrow, dark dorsolateral stripes distinguish S. sloanii from skinks on most of the remaining Virgin Islands (S. semitaeniatus), where the dorsolateral stripes are more similar in width to the lateral stripes. Daudin also illustrated the holotype, which shows a wide dark lateral stripe and narrow dark dorsolateral stripes. Daudin (1803) compared the specimen with a Jamaican skink described and figured by Sir Hans Sloane in his book on the natural history of Jamaica (Sloane, 1725), hence Daudin's (1803) recognition of Sloane in the name of the species. This apparently led Gray (1845) to state that the species was confined to Jamaica, an error repeated by Garman (1887), although it had been corrected by Duméril and Bibron (1839). Duméril and Bibron (1839) cleared up some of the confusion by describing the type specimen in the MNHN more thoroughly and stating the locality (" Saint-Thomas ") and collector: " Richard père. " Richard père was almost certainly Louis Claude Richard (1754 – 1821), a French botanist who collected plants in French possessions in the Americas, including the Caribbean islands, during 1781 – 89 and then returned to France (Anonymous 2011). This information constrains the date of collection of the holotype of Spondylurus sloanii to 1781 – 89, about a decade before it was examined by Daudin (1803) for the description. Duméril and Bibron (1839: 642) noted that their description " is from the same individual " described by Daudin, thus fixing the type-locality and collector; confirmed later by Bocourt (1879) and by the similarity in SVL measurements given by Daudin (~ 66 mm, converted), Duméril and Bibron (65 mm), and Brygoo (1985) (64 mm). Even prior to Duméril and Bibron (1839), Gray (1831) described Tiliqua richardi based on the same specimen (Daudin's holotype), indicating it was from St. Thomas and in the Paris Museum. That specimen exists today and is MNHN 554, a number that first appeared in the literature much later (Schwartz & Thomas 1975; Brygoo 1985; Schwartz & Henderson 1988; Miralles 2005). Bocourt (1879): plate 22 B, figure 3) did not mention the specimen catalog numbers but illustrated two specimens of Spondylurus sloanii Daudin: one from " Saint-Thomas " and the other " collected by Richard père " (showing only head scales). The text of Bocourt and records of the MNHN show that the specimen illustrated from " Saint-Thomas " is MNHN 1088, obtained from the Museum of Copenhagen, and the specimen collected by Richard père is the holotype, MNHN 554. Bocourt's illustration of MNHN 1088 shows relatively narrow dark dorsolateral stripes and point contact of prefrontals, which agrees with St. Thomas material and not S. semitaeniatus. The second (holotype) shows broad contact of prefrontals, again agreeing with other St. Thomas material (i. e., Cope's lost holotype of Mabuia cuprescens and recent material from St. Thomas). The holotype was also illustrated by Miralles (2005) and photographs of it are shown here (Fig. 81 A – C). The molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) also supports the species distinction of Spondylurus sloanii and S. semitaeniatus: S. sloanii (represented in the tree by three specimens from Little Saba) is more closely related to S. macleani, S. culebrae sp. nov., and S. monitae sp. nov. than to S. semitaeniatus. The diagnostic characters in the types of S. sloanii and S. semitaeniatus (Fig. 80) agree with the specimens used in the molecular phylogenies and other material assigned here to those species. Nonetheless, more material of S. sloanii is needed to better characterize the species. Of the 18 adults of S. sloanii that we had available, two (ZMUC-R 761 and USNM 576305) were larger (86 and 89 mm SVL, respectively) than all 64 of the S. semitaeniatus we examined (83 mm SVL, maximum), suggesting that it is a larger species. In coloration, the fresh adult specimen, USNM 576305, and its four well-developed fetuses (USNM 576306 – 309) differ from S. semitaeniatus in having a bronze, braided Another question concerns the status of the mabuyine skinks on the islands of Water, Capella, and Little Buck off of St. Thomas (Little Buck should not be confused with Buck island off of St. Croix). Little Buck and Little Saba are both only about 3 – 4 km away from St. Thomas, and Water Island is even closer (500 m). Although it may seem unusual that different species of skinks inhabit these small islets of St. Thomas, the alsophine snakes of those islands show taxonomic differentiation as well: Little Saba and Water Island share with St. Thomas the subspecies Borikenophis portoricensis richardi whereas Little Buck has a different (endemic) subspecies, B. p. nicholsi (MacLean 1982; Schwartz & Henderson 1991; Hedges et al. 2009). Cope (1862 a) described Mabuia cuprescens based on a specimen from St. Thomas, obtained from " Mr. A. H. Rüse, " now apparently lost. The collector was undoubtedly Albert Heinrich Riise (1810 – 1882), a prominent Danish pharmacist and naturalist active in St. Thomas after his arrival in 1838, thus dating the collection between 1838 – 1862. Cope's description accurately pertains to S. sloanii, including the character he noted as being important: frontal scale not truncate anteriorly. This is another way of saying that the prefrontals are in contact, a character of S. sloanii. Cope also noted the coppery color (hence the species name cuprescens), which, although certainly not unique to S. sloanii — many skinks are characterized and even named after their metallic, bronzy, or coppery coloration — appears more striking than in the several geographically proximal species. Cope further described the dark dorsolateral bands as being " narrow " (relative to the lateral bands described), which again is consistent with S. sloanii and not S. semitaeniatus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	description	(Figs. 73 F, 76 D, 82)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	description	Eupr [epes] spilonotus — Peters, 1871: 400 (Jamaica, in error).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (n = 6). U. S. Virgin Islands. ZMB 1240 (lectotype; images examined), type-locality restricted here to St. Thomas or St. John, coll. 1779 – 1799 (see Remarks); ZMH R 09299, A. H. Riise, St. Thomas, 1877; ZMUC-R 91 – 92, P. E. Benzon, " probably St. Croix " (considered here to be from St. Thomas or St. John; see Remarks for Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov.), accessioned 4 September 1834; ZMUC-R 93 – 94, Professor A. S. Oersted, St. John, collected 1845 – 46 (see Remarks) and accessioned 27 June 1846.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus spilonotus is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 91.7 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 106.5 mm; (3) snout width, 2.74 – 3.05 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.4 – 18.5 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.0 – 13.9 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.76 – 2.05 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.30 – 10.5 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four; (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, six; (13) nuchal rows, two (67 %), three (33 %); (14) dorsals, 62 – 64; (15) ventrals, 63 – 68; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 125 – 132; (17) midbody scale rows, 34; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 13 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 16 – 18; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 29 – 33; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (17 %), N (83 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, Y; and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. spilonotus is distinguished from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. martinae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.287 – 0.464 versus 0.500 – 3.79 in those other species; Fig. 79). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. caicosae sp. nov., S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., S. lineolatus, S. nitidus, and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (34 versus 26 – 33 in those other species). It is separated from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. macleani, S. powelli sp. nov., S. sloanii and S. turksae sp. nov. by having a distinct pale lateral stripe (absent or barely evident in those species). From S. fulgidus, it differs by having a lower number of supraciliaries (four versus five in S. fulgidus). It differs from S. lineolatus by having a larger head (head length 15.4 – 18.5 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % in S. lineolatus) and four major dark stripes (lateral and dorsolateral) instead of 10 dark pin stripes. From S. monitae sp. nov., it differs by having a higher number of supralabials (supralabial six below the eye versus supralabial five in S. monitae sp. nov.) and in lacking the guitar-shaped dark dorsolateral stripe pattern as on the parietal scales of S. monitae sp. nov. It differs from S. monae sp. nov. by having a higher number of midbody scale rows (34 versus 28 – 33 in 91 % of specimens belonging to S. monae sp. nov.). From S. anegadae sp. nov., it differs in lacking supranasal contact (versus contact in that species) and is much larger (maximum SVL, 107 mm versus 70.4 mm in S. anegadae sp. nov.). Spondylurus spilonotus most closely resembles S. magnacruzae sp. nov., which occurs (or occurred) on St. Croix. Both species reach 107 mm SVL in the relatively small samples available, making them the largest species in the Genus Spondylurus. They also have a similar general pattern consisting of narrow dark dorsolateral stripes in the anterior portion of the body. However, S. spilonotus has more dorsal body spots (52 – 99 versus 3 – 37), a shorter supraciliary- 1 scale (supraciliary- 1 / supraciliary- 2 length ratio 0.35 – 0.50 versus 0.52 – 0.69; Fig. 69 A), and a larger ear (ear length 1.76 – 2.05 % SVL versus 1.49 – 1.72 %; Fig. 69 B). Also, the stripe pattern of S. spilonotus appears faded and with more irregular edges to the stripes, compared with that of S. magnacruzae sp. nov. (bold stripes with straighter edges), features not obviously related to age of the specimens or differences in preservation.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	description	Description of lectotype (Fig. 82 A – D). The following is from our examination of detailed images of ZMB 1240. Some measurements and characters are omitted because they could not be taken accurately from the photographs. An unsexed adult in good state of preservation, without injuries and without an abdominal slit. SVL ~ 70 mm; tail length (complete) ~ 110 mm; HL ~ 13.0 mm; ear-opening round; fingers and toes clawed. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in full contact (close), contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale. A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior and posterior loreals, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal and lanceolate, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal near-triangular, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars, the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries, the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. Postnasal bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior loreal rectangular and posterior loreal squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Eight supralabials, the sixth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Five moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller, except primary postocular similar in size to primary temporal. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all adjoining chin shields in contact with anterior infralabials. First two pairs of chin shields in contact medially; third pair separated by a smaller cycloid scale. Body and limb scalation. Three rows of nuchal scales, two paired (three scales on left, two on right). Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 62 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 64 in a longitudinal row. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Six preanals similar to ventrals. No enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color pale gray-green with small dark brown spots distributed sparsely on head, body, limbs, and tail. Limbs darker than ground color and forelimbs with denser spotting. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow, dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown with paler spots increasing from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs, extending from loreal region to last third of body. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide, pale gray-green, extending from top of head to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, whitish, extending from top of head to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes present, whitish, extending from below eye to last third of body, bordered below by a narrow dark line. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. There is no information on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration, most specimens resembled the lectotype, except that the dorsal ground color varied from pale gray-green to darker green or brown, and some specimens had more dark brown dorsal spots than the holotype and shorter lateral stripes (Table 5).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is distributed in the U. S. Virgin Islands, on St. John (52 km 2) and St. Thomas (77 km 2) (Fig. 10 E).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. This species reached 107 mm maximum SVL and was sympatric with Spondylurus semitaeniatus (83 mm, maximum SVL) and S. sloanii (89 mm, maximum SVL) on St. Thomas and probably with both species on St. John (no specimens of those two species have been collected on St. John, but they are presumed to have occurred there based on their distribution on surrounding islands (Fig. 10 E). It is possible that S. spilonotus occurred in the British Virgin Islands as well. Unfortunately very little collecting was done on islands other than St. Thomas and St. Croix prior to the introduction of the mongoose in the late 19 th century, so it could have been easily extirpated from many islands without any record. Spondylurus spilonotus has not been seen since the last specimen was cataloged in 1877, despite considerable herpetological survey work throughout the Virgin Islands. The presence of the introduced mongoose on the two islands where S. spilonotus is known to have occurred (St. John and St. Thomas) explains the absence of the skink on those islands today. Black rats also occur throughout the region and may have preyed on this species. Habitat alteration from agriculture and urbanization, another threat to the species, is a continuing problem on these islands and their islets. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we assess the conservation status of Spondylurus spilonotus as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from the introduced mongoose, which has probably led to its extinction. Secondary threats include habitat destruction from agriculture and urbanization, and predation from other introduced mammals, including black rats. Studies are needed to determine if the species still exists, the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be undertaken, if the species still exists. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Not provided in the original description. However, the species name (spilonotus) is a Latinized noun in the nominative singular derived from the Greek nouns spilos (spot, stain) and notos (the back), referring to the distinctly spotted dorsal pattern of this species. When combined with Mabuya (feminine) instead of Euprepes or Spondylurus (masculine), some authors (Barbour 1914; Cochran 1961; Horton 1973) converted the gender of the species name to feminine, whereas others retained it as masculine. As it is a noun and not an adjective, it retains the original (masculine) spelling, regardless of the gender of the genus.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07C7FF2F2DA9ED797CB0FA8C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Spondylurus spilonotus is another old species name (Wiegmann 1837) that has had a confusing history (Bauer et al. 2003). See also the Remarks for S. semitaeniatus, another species described by Wiegmann and with a similar history. Until now, the name has generally been considered a synonym of either Spondylurus sloanii or Mabuya mabouya. Euprepes spilonotus was described by Wiegmann (1837) based on two specimens that were Latin — that one of the two specimens (locality not known) came from the collection of " Meyer of Stettin " (Exemplum Musei Meyeriani Stettinensis), and the other was " allegedly from the West Indies. " The characters mentioned by Wiegmann (1837) have no current diagnostic value — as is typical for almost all of the early named taxa reviewed herein — and therefore the loss of the second specimen meant that no collection locality could be tied with the name or surviving type (ZMB 1240). Nonetheless, our examination of that specimen and characters, through detailed images, indicates that it came from either St. Thomas or St. John (where other, similar, specimens have been collected). Therefore we fix the type-locality as St. Thomas or St. John and designate this specimen as the lectotype. Wiegmann's (and Schneider's) " Meyer of Stettin " probably was Johann Carl Friedrich Meyer (1739 – 1811), a student of Linnaeus in college, pharmacist and chemist in his career, and member of " Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin " (Friends Natural History Society of Research in Berlin), an organization having close ties with ZMB. Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723 – 1799), the source of Euprepes semitaeniatus (ZMB 1238), was a founding member of that society (Paepke 1999). Thus we suspect that ZMB 1240 had the same origin as ZMB 1238, regardless of whether or not it went through the hands of Johann Meyer. In other words, it probably came from Bloch's source of material shipped from St. Croix to Copenhagen and acquired during 1779 – 1799. Both specimens were described by Wiegmann (1837) at the same time, have close accession numbers, and trace to the work of Schneider (1801). During the last two centuries, this species name has had additional confusion. Peters (1864) correctly identified the type as ZMB 1240. Stejneger (1904), however, listed it incorrectly as ZMB 3785; it is unclear whether he actually examined a different specimen or just listed the number incorrectly. Dunn (1936) further altered the holotype accession number by transposing the last two digits, resulting in " ZMB 3758, " which was repeated by later authors (Grant 1940; Schwartz & Thomas 1975; Schwartz & Henderson 1988) and recently corrected (Bauer et al. 2003). Also, for about a century (1871 – 1973), Spondylurus spilonotus was thought to be the name for the Jamaican Skink (herein called S. fulgidus Cope), at least by some authors, and was treated either as endemic to Jamaica or a species with a wider range but also occurring on Jamaica. That error appears to have been started by Peters (1871) and was followed by Stejneger (1904), Barbour (1914), Grant (1940), Murray (1949), Cochran (1961), and Horton (1973). Superficially, S. fulgidus and S. spilonotus might be confused because they both have a wide middorsal pale (tan) stripe, but otherwise they differ in scalation and other characters. Possibly related to this confusion regarding skinks from Jamaica and the Virgin Islands is a specimen of S. fulgidus in the Hamburg collection (ZMH R 09298), from 1877, with an incorrect locality: " St. Thomas. " The collector of the two specimens of S. spilonotus from St. John, " Professor A. S. Oersted, " was almost certainly Professor Anders Sandoe Oersted (1816 – 1872). He was known to have collected animals in the Danish West Indies between 1845 and May, 1846 (Millspaugh 1902), thus constraining the date of collection of these skinks.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	description	(Figs. 73 G, 83, 84)	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. KU 242171, an adult female, collected at North Wells (1.6 km N. Cockburn Town), Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos, 28 January 1961, by Albert Schwartz. Original field number AS 10906. Paratypes (n = 6). Gibbs Cay. KU 242170, Albert Schwartz, 26 March 1972. Grand Turk Island. ANSP 3835 (no additional collection information available); KU 242172 – 73, Albert Schwartz, North Wells (1.6 km N. Cockburn Town), 28 – 30 January 1961; MCZ R- 11946 – 47, L. A. Mowbray, no specific locality, June 1916.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Spondylurus turksae sp. nov. is characterized by (1) maximum SVL in males, 79.3 mm; (2) maximum SVL in females, 79.1 mm; (3) snout width, 2.42 – 3.69 % SVL; (4) head length, 15.2 – 16.5 % SVL; (5) head width, 12.0 – 13.0 % SVL; (6) ear length, 1.30 – 1.81 % SVL; (7) toe-IV length, 7.05 – 8.90 % SVL; (8) prefrontals, two; (9) supraoculars, four; (10) supraciliaries, four (86 %), five (14 %); (11) frontoparietals, two; (12) supralabial below the eye, five (67 %), six (33 %); (13) nuchal rows, two (86 %), three (14 %); (14) dorsals, 59 – 63; (15) ventrals, 59 – 63; (16) dorsals + ventrals, 119 – 126; (17) midbody scale rows, 30; (18) finger-IV lamellae, 12 – 15; (19) toe-IV lamellae, 15 – 17; (20) finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae, 28 – 30; (21) supranasal contact, N; (22) prefrontal contact, N; (23) supraocular- 1 / frontal contact, Y (14 %), N (86 %); (24) parietal contact, Y; (25) pale middorsal stripe, Y; (26) dark dorsolateral stripe, Y; (27) dark lateral stripe, Y; (28) pale lateral stripe, N (or weak); and (29) palms and soles, pale (Tables 3 – 5). Within the Genus Spondylurus, S. turksae sp. nov. differs from S. anegadae sp. nov., S. culebrae sp. nov., S. haitiae sp. nov., S. monae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. semitaeniatus, and S. sloanii by having a wider middorsal stripe (3.51 – 4.68 % SVL versus 0.953 – 3.32 % SVL in those other species) and a lower dark dorsolateral stripe width / middorsal stripe width ratio (0.187 – 0.622 versus 0.64 – 3.79 in those other species; Fig. 79). It differs from S. macleani, S. magnacruzae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., S. monitae sp. nov., S. powelli sp. nov., S. sloanii, and S. spilonotus in having fewer midbody scale rows (30 versus 32 – 34). It differs from S. fulgidus, S. haitiae sp. nov., and S. nitidus in having a shorter toe (toe-IV length 7.05 – 8.90 % SVL versus 9.01 – 12.9 % SVL). It differs from S. haitiae sp. nov., S. martinae sp. nov., and S. monitae sp. nov. in having fewer ventral scales (59 – 63 versus 64 – 72). It differs from S. anegadae sp. nov. by lacking supranasal contact (versus supranasals in contact in S. anegadae sp. nov.). It differs from S. caicosae sp. nov. in being larger (three of seven S. turksae sp. nov.> 77.7 mm SVL versus all 99 specimens of S. caicosae sp. nov. <77.6 mm SVL) and in having a higher ear (ear height 1.57 – 1.87 % SVL versus 0.73 – 1.52 % SVL), a wider pale dorsolateral stripe (1.98 – 2.33 % SVL versus 1.02 – 1.73 % SVL), and a dark lateral stripe that is irregular and extends to hindlimbs (versus straight-edged and extends only half-way to hindlimbs). It differs from S. fulgidus in having more dorsal scales (59 – 63 versus 52 – 58). It differs from S. haitiae sp. nov. in having a longer ear (ear length 1.30 – 1.81 % SVL versus 1.19 % SVL) and fewer dorsals + ventrals (119 – 126 versus 129 – 131). It differs from S. lineolatus in having a wider snout (snout width 2.42 – 3.69 % SVL versus 1.97 – 2.34 % SVL), a longer head (head length 15.2 – 16.5 % SVL versus 12.9 – 14.4 % SVL), a wider head (head width 12.0 – 13.0 % SVL versus 9.58 – 11.6 % SVL), more finger-IV lamellae (12 – 15 versus 8 – 11), more finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (28 – 30 versus 21 – 26) and fewer dark stripes (four versus 10). It differs from S. nitidus in having a shorter head (head length 15.2 – 16.5 % SVL versus 16.6 – 20.7 % SVL).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	description	Description of holotype (Figs. 83, 84 A – C). An adult female in good state of preservation, without injuries and with an abdominal slit. SVL 77.8 mm; tail length 74.0 mm (regenerated); HL 11.8 mm; HW 9.47 mm; SW 2.62 mm; EL 1.21 mm; and toe-IV length 6.09 mm; ear-opening average in size and round; toe length in the following order: I <V <II <III <IV. Head scalation. Rostral wider than high, contacting first supralabials, nasals and supranasals. Paired supranasals not in median contact, contacting anteriormost loreal. Frontonasal diamond-shaped, wider than long, laterally in contact with anterior loreal scale (on the left side only due to anomalous head scale configuration on the right). A pair of quadrilateral prefrontals, separated medially, and in contact with frontonasal, both anterior (left side only) and posterior loreals, first and second supraoculars, and frontal. Frontal heptagonal, in contact with the second supraoculars and paired frontoparietals. Frontoparietals also in contact with parietals and interparietal. Interparietal tetragonal and lanceolate, separated from nuchals by parietals; parietal eye distinct. Parietals in contact with upper secondary and tertiary temporal scales. Four supraoculars (supraoculars three and four fused on the left), the second one being the longest and largest. Four supraciliaries (supraciliaries two and three fused on the left), the second the longest. Nostril in posterior part of the nasal. A small postnasal, bordered by supranasal, anterior loreal and first supralabial. Anterior and posterior loreals squarish with posteromedial projection on latter. Two upper preoculars and two lower preoculars. Seven supralabials, the fifth being the widest and forming the lower border of the eyelid. Six moderately enlarged scales behind eye comprising the postoculars; similar to temporal scales but smaller. One primary temporal, two secondary temporals, and three tertiary temporals; all imbricate, smooth, cycloid, not distinctly delimited from the scales on the nape and the sides of the neck. Seven infralabials. Mental scale wider than long, posterior margin straight. Postmental scale and one pair of adjoining Body and limb scalation. Two rows of paired nuchal scales and one additional right nuchal scale. Other scales on nape similar to dorsals. On lateral sides of neck, scales slightly smaller. Dorsal scales cycloid, imbricate, smooth, 60 in a longitudinal row; ventrals similar to dorsals; 62 in a longitudinal row; 30 scales around midbody. No distinct boundaries between dorsals, laterals and ventrals. Scales on tail and limbs similar to dorsals, except smaller on limbs. One enlarged dorsal scale row and one enlarged ventral scale row on regenerated tail with rows similar to ventrals on each side. Palmar and plantar regions with small tubercles, subequal in size and delimited by a surrounding region of flatter scales. Subdigital lamellae smooth, single, 14 under finger-IV and 15 under toe-IV. Four preanals larger than adjacent ventral scales. Enlarged median subcaudal scales on tail. Pattern and coloration. Dorsal ground color medium greenish-brown without dark brown spots. Dark dorsolateral stripes present, narrow (0.69 mm), dark brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Dark lateral stripes present, dark brown, extending from loreal region to last third of body and breaking into a series of spots around midbody. Pale middorsal stripe present, wide (3.36 mm), medium greenish-brown, extending from top of head to first third of body. Pale dorsolateral stripes present, pale gray, extending from behind eye to first third of body. Pale lateral stripes absent. Ventral surface of body without pattern. Palmar and plantar surfaces unpigmented. No information on color in life of the holotype. Variation. In coloration and scalation, the other specimens closely resembled the holotype (Tables 4 – 5). The forelimbs were mottled with dark brown and hindlimbs had small dark brown spots. The tails of all specimens were pale (orangeish in preservative) distally.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is distributed on Grand Turk Island (18 km 2) and the adjacent islets of Cotton Cay (see below) and Gibbs Cay (Fig. 9 C).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation. No information on the ecology or behavior of this species is available. Grand Turk is a small island that is heavily developed, supporting a relatively large human population (3,720). Most of the island is urbanized, and some large areas are comprised of saline ponds and treeless open areas. Little forest remains, and rats are present on the island. As early as 1916 skinks were reported as being " very rare " on Grand Turk (Barbour 1916). The last record of this species on Grand Turk was in 1961, and one individual was found on Gibbs Cay, a small islet to the SE of Grand Turk, in 1972. One of us (SBH) was unable to locate the species on Grand Turk during a visit in August, 1999, although the species may still exist on Gibbs Cay. Skinks, probably belonging to this species based on distribution, were observed recently on another islet of Grand Turk, Cotton Cay (R. Graham Reynolds, personal communication). If so, and considering the apparent extirpation of Spondylurus turksae sp. nov. from Grand Turk, these skinks on the small cays of the Turks Bank are the only surviving populations of the species and should be protected. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), we consider the conservation status of Spondylurus turksae sp. nov. as Critically Endangered (CR A 2 ace). It faces a primary threat from habitat alteration by urbanization on Grand Turk Island, and possible development and habitat disturbance on the small cays of Turks Bank where it occurs. The other major threat is predation by introduced mammals, including black rats, in all of these areas. Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations, and threats to the survival of the species. Captive breeding programs should be considered. Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species name (turksae) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species in the Turks Islands.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DBFF2B2DA9EB9A79DDFF0C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The uniqueness of the skinks from the Turks and Caicos Islands has been hinted in earlier work. For example, Barbour (1916) commented on the collection of the two MCZ specimens from Grand Turk and how they differed from typical Spondylurus sloanii in lacking supranasal contact. All other S. turksae sp. nov. that we examined also lack supranasal contact, and that character separates it from a few of the many taxa formerly recognized as S. sloanii. Mayer and Lazell (2000) also noted some pattern differences between skinks of the Turks and Caicos and those of the Puerto Rico region. Conversely, biogeographic connections between the Turks and Caicos fauna and that of the Puerto Rico region have been noted as well (Thomas & Hedges 2007) and are consistent with the direction of water currents which would have carried animals on flotsam (Hedges 1996 b). Spondylurus turksae sp. nov. has a larger body size and narrower dorsolateral stripes than S. caicosae sp. nov., and the dark lateral stripes extend to the hindlimbs. In these ways it resembles S. nitidus more than S. caicosae sp. nov. SVL in S. nitidus), and low numbers of midbody scale rows (rarely> 30), suggesting a close relationship. Note added in proof: our DNA sequence analyses indicate a separate origin for S. turksae from the Puerto Rican Bank.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DFFF2B2DA9EF1A7965F9DE.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Mabuya bistriata Spix, 1825: 23.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DFFF2B2DA9EF1A7965F9DE.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 4 – 5, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent or (less commonly) present, (5) parietal contact, present, (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 116 – 126, (8) total lamellae, 208, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent (except, occasionally, as rows of broken spots), (11) dark lateral stripes, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. They reach 97 mm SVL (Table 2). Species of Varzea are not especially distinctive among mabuyines, having the normal dark lateral stripes and most of the basic head scale conditions shared with other genera. Varzea differs from Aspronema, Brasiliscincus, Capitellum, Manciola, and Psychosaura in having more total digital lamellae (208 versus 147 – 201). The presence of a single nuchal row separates this genus from Exila and Panopa (2 – 5 nuchal rows) and from most Spondylurus (usually 2 – 3 rows, rarely one). The presence of two frontoparietals (unfused) separates this genus from Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa (one frontoparietal). The absence of a middorsal dark stripe further distinguishes this genus from Aspronema and Manciola. Contact of the parietal scales distinguishes this genus from the Genus Copeoglossum (parietals rarely in contact). In having four supraoculars, Varzea is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). From Manciola (136 – 141 dorsals + ventrals) and Maracaiba (127 dorsals + ventrals), it differs by having fewer dorsals + ventrals (116 – 126). The presence of dark dorsolateral stripes, albeit narrow, short, and sometimes absent in V. altamazonica, separates Varzea from Alinea, Capitellum, Copeoglossum, Exila, Mabuya (rarely present), Maracaiba, Marisora (rarely present), and Notomabuya. Varzea differs from Psychosaura in having a typical mabuyine head shape (subacuminate) versus a prominent, acuminate head shape in Psychosaura. Content. Two species are placed in this genus: Varzea altamazonica and V. bistriata (Table 1).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DFFF2B2DA9EF1A7965F9DE.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This genus is distributed throughout the Amazonian basin of South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, and Peru, and likely to occur in Ecuador (Fig. 8 B; Miralles 2006 b; Harvey et al. 2008).	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DFFF2B2DA9EF1A7965F9DE.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The generic name (Varzea) is a feminine noun, from the Portugese várzea (a pre-Roman word, Iberian in origin) meaning " flooded river bank, " in allusion to the apparent preferred habitat of these species.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
39191A7F07DFFF2B2DA9EF1A7965F9DE.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The two included species in this genus cluster as closest relatives in the current molecular phylogeny (Fig. 5) and in past phylogenetic analyses (Whiting et al. 2006, with sequences labeled differently; Miralles & Carranza 2010). However, nodal support has never been significant, probably because they diverged shortly after their shared lineage split from other clades of mabuyines. Nonetheless, the two species occur in similar floodplain (Varzea) habitats (Avila-Pires 1995) and replace each other geographically, with Varzea altamazonica being the upland, western species and V. bistriata being the more lowland, eastern species. Miralles and Carranza (2011) considered them to be closest relatives and referred to them as the " Riparian " Clade.	en	Hedges, S. Blair, Conn, Caitlin E. (2012): A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae) 3288. Zootaxa 3288 (1): 1-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3288.1.1, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3288.1.1
