Cite this article as:
Bragin A. M., Geissler P. ., Trofimets A. V., Neang T. ., Le X. S., Nguyen V. T., Poyarkov N. A. A new species of skink from mountains of southern Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae). Current Studies in Herpetology, 2025, vol. 25, iss. 1, pp. 3-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18500/1814-6090-2025-25-1-2-3-21
A new species of skink from mountains of southern Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae)
We provide an integrative taxonomic revision of miniaturized sphenomorphine skinks from Vietnam and Cambodia based on morphological analysis and COI DNA barcoding. Our data reveal a new species, Sphenomorphus valentinae sp. nov., from Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: long and short-legged skink with pentadactyl limbs; SVL 28.1–37.5 mm, TAL 49.4–62.3 mm; ear opening concealed; scales smooth; supranasal and postnasal absent; the lower eyelid movable and scaly; prefrontals two, separated; supraoculars four; supraciliaries eight; presuboculars two; primary temporals three; supralabials six, first fused with the nasal; infralabials four; chin shields in three pairs; nuchals not enlarged; paravertebral scales rows 50–55; ventral scales rows 52–56; midbody scale rows 18; five subdigital lamellas beneath the fourth finger; six subdigital lamellas beneath the fourth toe; dorsal surfaces brown-beige, iridescent, with dark spots forming four thin longitudinal lines; ventral surfaces from light brown to grayish pink; a light dorsolateral stripe ventrally edged with dark brown extends from the posterior edge of the eye to the tail. We also show that Sphenomorphus sheai, which was found in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, represents a junior synonym of Lygosoma veunsaiense, which was found in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. We redescribe this taxon and tentatively regard it as Sphenomorphus veunsaiensis comb. nov. (Geissler, Hartmann & Neang, 2012). We provide new information on distribution and discuss the discrepancies in taxonomy and diagnostics of S. veunsaiensis, S. tridigitus, S. tetradactylus, and Leptoseps poilani in Indochina. Further field survey efforts and examination of available type materials are required to achieve a better understanding of the diversity of miniaturized sphenomorphine skinks in the region.
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