Gnypetoscincus

Taxobox
name = Prickly Skink Lizard
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia (paraphyletic)
unranked_ordo = Sauria
ordo = Squamata (paraphyletic)
infraordo = Scincomorpha
familia = Scincidae
subfamilia = Lygosominae
genus = "Gnypetoscincus"
genus_authority =
species = "G. queenslandiae"
binomial = "Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae"
binomial_authority =

"Gnypetoscincus" is a monotypic genus of skinks (family Scincidae). It contains only the Prickly Skink, "Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae".

These skinks have rough, keeled scales, unlike the skin of most small skinks which tends to be smooth. They are found only in tropical north Queensland.

It belongs to a clade in the "Sphenomorphus" group which contains such genera as "Ctenotus" and "Anomalopus". Even closer to the Prickly Skink seems the genus "Eulamprus".(Austin & Arnold 2006)

References

* (2006): Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered "Leiolopisma" skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. "Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution" 39(2): 503–511. doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)

External links

*http://www.wildherps.com/species/G.queenslandiae.html