Scincidae

Scincidae View in CoL ( Fig. 1N–R View Figure 1 )

The anterior margin of the nasal of scincids is usually oblique and straight, because no anterolateral process is present. On the other hand, the anteromedial one is long (shorter in Trachylepis aurata ; Fig. 1Q–R View Figure 1 ), moderately wide and strongly ventrally curved; its dorsal surface is completely covered by the articulation surface with the ascending nasal process of the premaxilla. The posterior margin of the bone is also oblique and roughly straight, with low irregularities in Chalcides chalcides (Linnaeus, 1758) ( Fig. 1N, O View Figure 1 ), Chalcides striatus (Cuvier, 1829) and Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Bibron & Bory, 1833) , whereas it is slightly irregular and rounded in Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory, 1833) , Chalcides ocellatus (Forsskål, 1775) ( Fig. 1P View Figure 1 ) and Tr. aurata ( Fig. 1Q–R View Figure 1 ). Roughly in the middle of the lateral margin of the bone, a short laminar expansion develops laterally. In ventral view, a low ridge separates this expansion from the rest of the nasal ( Fig. 1O, P View Figure 1 ). In Ab. kitaibelii , Chalcides ocellatus ( Fig. 1P View Figure 1 ), Chalcides striatus and Ophiomorus punctatissimus the expansion is very short and poorly individualized from the laminar body of the bone. A dermal ornamentation, weak in Chalcides chalcides ( Fig. 1N View Figure 1 ) and Chalcides striatus and more developed in Chalcides ocellatus , covers a small area in the middle of the dorsal surface. The ornamentation seems to be subject to a certain degree of individual variation, since the dorsal surface of smaller specimens of Chalcides ocellatus is smooth. Moreover, the ornamentation is not present in Ab. kitaibelii , Ophiomorus punctatissimus and in the single examined specimen of Tr. aurata ( Fig. 1Q View Figure 1 ).