A review of the genus Mabuya in southeastern Africa (Sauria: Scincidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of twenty‐one evolutionary species of Mabuya from southeastern Africa is reviewed, using the general lineage concept and several diagnostic characters not previously used for this genus. This has resulted in two insular populations, M. casuarinae Broadley and M. albotaeniata Boettger (Pemba Island), being recognised as full species rather than subspecies of M. maculilabris (Gray). In addition, M. punctulata Bocage is given specific status, and in the M. striata complex the “subspecies” punctatissima (A. Smith), wahlbergii (Peters) and sparsa Mertens are recognised as distinct species and M. mlanjensis Loveridge is revived from synonymy.