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1 September 2016 Description of Two New Species of Eutropis (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Sri Lanka with a Redescription of Eutropis madaraszi (Méhely)
Sudesh Batuwita
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Abstract

I describe two new endemic Eutropis species, with restricted distributions from the Central Hills and Lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. Both were previously identified as Eutropis macularia Blyth. Eutropis austini sp. nov. is a medium-sized skink immediately distinguished from E. macularia by coloration and in being larger, with only the upper pretemporal in contact with parietal, the first pair of chin shields in medial contact. Eutropis greeri sp. nov. is a medium-sized, spotted species that differs from E. macularia by coloration and is larger, with a heavily keeled dorsum and fragile skin. Eutropis greeri sp. nov. further differs from E. macularia in having only the upper pretemporal in contact with parietal and the first pair of chin shields in medial contact. Eutropis greeri sp. nov. is distinguished from E. austini sp. nov. in scalation, coloration, and having fragile skin. The identity of Eutropis madaraszi is stabilized through the designation of a neotype, and here is redescribed. Examination of the holotype of Euprepes macularius Blyth, 1853 (=Eutropis macularia), shows this taxon is not conspecific with any of the Sri Lankan Eutropis. Eutropis madaraszi, E. austini, and E. greeri represent geographically, morphologically, and morphometrically discrete species. Eutropis greeri sp. nov. is confined to lowland wet zones, whereas E. austini sp. nov. is restricted to Central Hills (including Knuckles Range), and E. madaraszi to lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka.

Copyright 2016 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Sudesh Batuwita "Description of Two New Species of Eutropis (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Sri Lanka with a Redescription of Eutropis madaraszi (Méhely)," Journal of Herpetology 50(3), 486-496, (1 September 2016). https://doi.org/10.1670/15-093
Accepted: 1 March 2016; Published: 1 September 2016
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