Scincidae

Scincidae View in CoL ( Figs 31F–J View Figure 31 , 32 View Figure 32 , 33 View Figure 33 , 40J–K View Figure 40 )

The prootics of scincids have a short paroccipital projection and an anteriorly rounded alar process that is very short in Ab. kitaibelii ( Fig. 31G View Figure 31 ), moderately short in Chalcides bedriagai , Chalcides chalcides , Chalcides striatus and Tr. aurata ( Figs 32B View Figure 32 , 40J View Figure 40 ), and long in Chalcides ocellatus and Ophiomorus punctatissimus ( Figs 32G View Figure 32 , 33B View Figure 33 ). The incisura prootica is deep (very deep in Chalcides ocellatus ; Fig. 32G View Figure 32 ) and moderately wide (even wider in Ab. kitaibelii ; Fig. 31G View Figure 31 ). The facial foramen is also moderately wide, except for the one of Ab. kitaibelii . In Chalcides and Tr. aurata , the margins of this foramen are raised compared to the external surface of the bone. The foramen is located at the posterodorsal end of a shallow and very wide posterior portion of the recessus vena jugularis. The crista prootica is poorly developed (sometimes even absent) in Ab. kitaibelii and Ophiomorus punctatissimus ( Figs 31G View Figure 31 , 33B View Figure 33 ), and well developed in the other species ( Fig. 32B, G View Figure 32 ). In Chalcides and Ophiomorus punctatissimus , it does not continue on the entire posterior process of the prootic: that of Chalcides bedriagai , Chalcides chalcides , Chalcides striatus and Ophiomorus punctatissimus ends by the facial foramen, whereas the one of Chalcides ocellatus extends only slightly beyond it. By the anterior end of the contact with the supraoccipital, a small marginal process is present in all species of Chalcides and in Ophiomorus punctatissimus .