Original Articles

A new species of Trachylepis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Scincidae) from central African forests

Published in: The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa
Volume 57 , issue 1 , 2008 , pages: 13–28

DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2008.9635565

Author(s): Laurent Chirio , , Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, France , Ivan Ineich , , Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, France , Andreas Schmitz , , Muséum d'Histoire naturelle de la Ville de Genève (MHNG), Switzerland , Matthew LeBreton , , CRESAR, Cameroon

Keywords: Trachylepis , Scincidae , Central African Republic , Cameroon , rupicolous species , description

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Abstract

Intensive collection and field observations in the Central African Republic revealed a previously undescribed skink species of the genus Trachylepis. Morphologically this species seems to be related to Trachylepis boulengeri and/or T. polytropis, but genetic analysis showed that this is not the case. This species is unusual due to its large size (SVL up to 121 mm) and its rupicolous lifestyle. This species lives in habitats that are difficult to reach, which could explain why it remained undiscovered for such a long time. This species is not endemic to the Central African Republic, as individuals were recently also collected in southern Cameroon.

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