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Ablepharus, Ocellated Skinks | Acontias, Greater Legless Skinks | Acontophiops, Woodbush Legless Skink |
Afroblepharus, Dwarf Skinks | Amphiglossus, Common\Water Skinks | Androngo, Greater Burrowing Skink |
Anomalopus, Worm Skinks | Apterygodon, Borneo Skink | Asymblepharus, Lidless Skinks |
Ateuchosaurus, Oriental Ateuchosaurus | Barkuduia, Madras Spotted Skinks | Bartleia, Bartle Frere Cool Skink |
Bassiana, Cool Skinks | Brachymeles, Short-Legged Skinks | Caledoniscincus , New Caledonian Skinks |
Calyptotis, Calyptotis Skinks | Carlia, Rainbow Skinks | Cautula, Rainforest Cool Skink |
Chabanaudia | Chalcides, Barrel Skinks | Chalcidoseps, Thwaite's Skink |
Coeranoscincus, Snake-Toothed Skinks | Cophoscincopus, Keeled Water Skink | Corucia, Prehensile-Tailed/Monkey Skink |
Cryptoblepharus, Shinning Skinks | Cryptoscincus, Secret Skink | Ctenotus, Ctenotus |
Cyclodina, New Zealand Skinks | Cyclodomorphus, Oak Skinks | Dasia, Dasia Skinks |
Davewakeum, Miriam's Skink | Egernia, Spiny Skinks | Emoia, Whiptail Skinks |
Eremiascincus, Sand Swimmers | Eroticoscincus, Elf Skinks | Eugongylus, Sheen Skinks |
Eulamprus, Five-Fingered Skinks | Eumeces, Five-Lined Skinks | Eumecia, Western Serpentiform Skinks |
Euprepes, Serpentiform Skinks | Eurylepis, Elf Skinks | Evesia, Bell's Skink |
Feylinia, Feylinias | Fojia, Fojii Skink | Geomyersia, Australian Island Skinks |
Geoscincus, (Bar-Lipped) Skink | Glaphyromorphus, (Bar-Lipped) Skinks | Gnypetoscincus, Prickly Forest Skink |
Gongylomorphus, Bojer Skinks | Gongylus, Thick-Tailed Skinks | Graciliscincus, Sadler's Skink |
Haackgrerius, Haacke-Grier's Skink | Hemiergis, Earless Skinks | Hemisphaeriodon, Pink-Tongued Skink |
Isopachys, Isopachys Skinks | Janetaescincus, Janet's Skinks | Lacertaspis, Lidless Skinks |
Lacertoides | Lacertus, Eared Skinks | Lamprolepis, Emerald Skinks |
Lampropholis, Sunskinks | Lankascincus, Tree Skinks | Leiolopisma, Ground Skinks |
Leptoseps, Leptoseps | Leptosiaphos, Five-Toed Skinks | Lerista, Sliders |
Lioscincus, New Caledonian Skinks | Lipinia, Lipinia Skinks | Lobulia, Lobulia Skinks |
Lubuya, Lubuya Skinks | Lygisaurus, Litter Skinks | Lygosoma, Writhing Skinks |
Mabuya, Typical Skinks | Macroscincus, Cape Verde Giant Skink | Marmorosphax, Marmorosphax Skinks |
Melanoseps, Limbless Skinks | Menetia, Dwarf Skinks | Mesoscincus |
Mochlus, Fire Skinks | Morethia, Morethia/Fire-Tailed Skinks | Nangura, Nangur Skink |
Nannoscincus, Elf/Mulch Skinks | Neoseps, Sand Skink | Nessia, Nessia Skinks |
Niveoscincus, Cool Skinks | Notoscincus, Soil-Crevice Skinks | Novoeumeces, Berber Skinks |
Oligosoma, Common Skinks | Ophiomorus, Snake-Eyed Skinks | Ophioscincus, Snake Skinks |
Pamelaescincus, Gardiner's Skink | Panaspis, Snake-Eyed Skinks | Papuascincus, Papuan Skinks |
Parachalcides | Paracontias, Stone Skinks | Paralipinia |
Parvoscincus, Diminutive Skinks | Phoboscincus, Garnier's Skinks | Prasinohaema, Green Tree Skinks |
Proablepharus, Soil-Crevice Skinks | Proscelotes, Slender Skinks | Pseudoacontias, Giant Madagascar Skinks |
Pseudemoia, Window-Eyed Skinks | Pygomeles, Short Skinks | Riopa |
Ristella, Ristella Skinks | Saiphos, Three-Toed Skinks | Saproscincus, Shade/Litter Skinks |
Scelotes, Dwarf Burrowing Skinks | Scincella, Smooth/Ground Skinks | Scincopus, Banded Skinks |
Scincus, Sandfish | Scolecoseps, Limbless Skinks | Sepsina, Savannah Burrowing Skinks |
Sigaloseps | Simiscincus | Sphenomorphus, Forest Skinks |
Sphenops, Sandfish | Tachygia | Tiliqua, Blue-Tongued Skinks |
Trachydosaurus, Pine-Cone Skinks | Tribolonotus, Helmet Skinks | Tropidophorus, Keeled Skinks |
Tropidoscincus, New Caledonian Whip-Tailed Skinks | Typhlocontias, Western Burrowing Skinks | Typhlosaurus, Blind Legless Skinks |
Voeltzkowia, Burrowing Blind Skinks |
Genus | Common Name | No. of Species | Distribution | Notes |
Ablepharus | Ocellated Skinks | 5-7 | SE Europe, W Russia, C Asia, Middle East | ?.
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Acontias | Greater Legless Skinks | 8 | S Africa |
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Acontophiops | Woodbush Legless Skink | 1 | S Africa |
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Afroblepharus | Dwarf Skinks | 4 | W & C Africa |
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Amphiglossus | Common/Water Skinks | 4 | Madagascar and neighbouring islands |
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Androngo | Greater Burrowing Skinks | 4 | Madagascar | Legless skinks.
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Anomalopus | Worm Skinks | 7 | NE Australia (Queensland, NSW) | Small smooth-scaled skinks with reduced or absent limbs.
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Apterygodon | Borneo Skink | 1 | Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo | Variously considered a Dasia or Lygosoma species at times: see EMBL database entry for details.
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Asymblepharus | Lidless Skinks | 4 | Central Asia, Indian subcontinent and Nepal |
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Ateuchosaurus | Oriental Ateuchosaurus | 2 | China and Japan | ?.
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Barkudia | Madras Spotted Skinks | 2 | India |
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Bartle Frere Cool Skink | 1 | NE Australia (Queensland, Cape York peninsula) | 1 shortish species formerly found in Pseudemoia.
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Bassiana | Cool Skinks | 3 | S Australia | Species formerly considered members of Pseudemoia.
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Brachymeles | Short-Legged Skinks | 16 | Mainly Philippines: also Malaysia |
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Caledoniscincus | New Caledonian Skinks | 11 | New Caledonia | ?
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Calyptotis | Calyptotis Skinks | 5 | Australia (Queensland and NSW) |
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Carlia | Rainbow Skinks | 26 | Mainly Australia (esp. Queensland): Papua New Guinea, Indonesia & islands |
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Cautula | Rainforest Cool Skink | 1 | Australia (NSW and Queensland) |
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Chabanaudia | ? | 1 | Gabon | Possibly a Feylinia species: see EMBL database entry.
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Chalcides | Barrel Skinks | 20 | N Africa, Europe, W Asia | Cylindrical-shaped skinks with varying degrees of reduced limbs: C. ocellatus is a popular terrarium subject.
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Chalcidoseps | Thwaite's Skink | 1 | Sri Lanka | Monotypic genus.
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Coeranoscincus | Snake-Toothed Skinks | 2 | Australia (NSW & Queensland) |
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Cophoscincopus | Keeled Water Skinks | 3 | West Africa. | ?.
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Corucia | Prehensile-Tailed/Monkey-Tailed/Solomon Islands Skink | 1 | Solomon Islands |
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Cryptoblepharus | Shinning Skinks | 29 | Indo-Pacific region, as far west as S Africa | Small skinks with well-developed limbs.
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Cryptoscincus | Secret Skink | 1 | Madagascar | ?.
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Ctenotus | Ctenotus | 93 | Australia | ?.
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Cyclodina | New Zealand Skinks | 4 | Mainly New Zealand, one species from Australia | C. lichenigera is found in New South Wales and on Lord Howe and Norfolk islands.
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Cyclodomorphus | Oak Skinks/ Bluetongues [NB not to be confused with the Blue-Tongue Skinks of the Tiliqua genus] | 3 | Australia (inc. Tasmania) | Somewhat smaller than the Tiliqua "Blue-Tongued" Skinks but similar in form and build.
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Dasia | Dasia Skinks | 8 | India and SE Asia | ?.
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Davewakeum | Miriam's Skink | 1 | Thailand |
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Egernia | Spiny Skinks | 29 | Australia | A genus of mainly "spiky" skinks with well-developed limbs and true viviparous reproduction. Some have become popular terrarium subjects.
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Emoia | Whiptail Skinks | 74 | S Pacific, inc. Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Solomon Islands, Australia | A very successful Indo-Pacific genus. Mattison notes that their predilection for shoreline or mangrove forest habitats has undoubtedly aided their distribution. These are unusual skinks in several ways: they have long limbs, many are arboreal or semi-arboreal, and of these treedwelling species, many are green with some having brightly coloured tails, often blue (Mattison).
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Eremiascincus | Sand Swimmers | 2 | Australia |
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Eroticoscincus | Elf Skink | 2 | S India, Sri Lanka |
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Eugongylus | Sheen Skinks | 5 | Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Pacific Islands | ?.
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Eulamprus | Five-Fingered Skinks | 15 | Australia |
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Eumeces | Five-Lined Skinks | 38-40 | SE Europe, Asia Minor and south as far as E Asia | These lizards have also been seen in the pet trade on a fairly regular basis, usually either in the form of North American Five-Lined Skinks or that of the Berber Skink, Eumeces schneideri (now reclassified by some as Novoeumeces).
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Eumecia | Western Serpentiform Skinks | 2 | Sub-Saharan Africa | ?.
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Euprepes | Serpentiform Skinks | 2 | W Africa | ?.
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Eurylepis | Elf Skinks | 2 | Middle East, C Asia and esp. Indian subcontinent |
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Evesia | Bell's Skink | 1 | Sri Lanka | Status unclear: see EMBL database entry.
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Feylinia | Feylinids/Limbless Skinks | 5 | Africa (not south) | Legless lizards considered a separate family by some.
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Fojia | Fojii Skink | 1 | New Guinea |
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Geomyersia | Australian Island Skinks | 2 | S Pacific | ?.
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Geoscincus | (Bar-Lipped) Skink | 1 | New Caledonia | Formerly considered a Eugongylus species.
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Glaphyromorphus | (Bar-Lipped) Skinks, Pygmy Tree Skinks | 16 | Australia, Indonesia |
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Gnypetoscincus | Prickly Forest Skink | 1 | Australia (Queensland) |
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Gongylomorphus | Bojer's Skink | 1 | Mauritius, possibly neighbouring islands |
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Gongylus | Thick-Tailed Skinks | 3 | Australia |
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Graciliscincus | Sadler's Skink | 1 | New Caledonia | ?
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Haackgrerius | Haacke-Grier's Skink | 1 | Somalia | Formerly considered a Lygosoma species.
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Hemiergis | Earless Skinks | 5 | Australia |
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Hemisphaeriodon | Pink-Tongued Skink | 1 | Australia | Not quite as popular as the closely related Tiliqua species (Blue-Tongued Skinks) but still does well in captivity, with a marked preference for snails and other land molluscs.
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Isopachys | Isopachys Skinks | 4 | Thailand and Burma |
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Janetaescincus | Janet's Skinks | 2 | Seychelles | Formerly considered Amphiglossus species.
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Lacertaspis | Lidless Skinks | 2 | Equatorial Africa | Obscure skink: even the EMBL listing for this species contains no information.
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Lacertoides | ? | 1 | New Caledonia | A rather unusual and difficult to classify skink: see EMBL database entry.
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Lacertus | Eared Skinks | 2 | Somalia |
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Lamprolepis | Emerald Skinks? | 4 | Indonesia | At least two of these species are sometimes assigned to the Dasia genus instead.
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Lampropholis | Sunskinks | 11 | Australia | One species has been introduced in New Zealand and Hawaii.
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Lankascincus | Tree Skinks | 6 | Sri Lanka |
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Leiolopisima | Ground Skinks | 9 | Fiji, Indian Ocean, Australia (see text) | The nine species of this genus seem to be either extinct or possibly synonymous with different creatures. See the EMBL database for more details. Originally this genus was much larger, comprising species (especially New Zealand skinks, now Cyclodina and Oligosoma ) which are now placed in their own genera. As such it was believed to be a link between the lizards of Australia and New Zealand (Mattison).
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Leptoseps | ? | 2 | Thailand, Vietnam | At least one of the species in this genus is possibly synonymous with a Sphenomorphus species: see EMBL database entry.
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Leptosiaphos | Five-Toed Skinks | 18 | Africa |
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Lerista | Sliders | 84 | Australia | This extremely large genus shows varying degrees of limb reduction from well-developed fore- and hind limbs through to just hind legs and finally complete limblessness. These are all burrowing skinks: most are brown, often with dark longitudinal lines or dark flanks (Mattison). All are insectivorous and some are associated with termite nests.
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Lioscincus | New Caledonian Skinks | 6 | New Caledonia |
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Lipinia | Lipinia Skinks | 21 | Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and other Indian and Pacific oceanic islands | One species, L. noctua, is particularly widespread throughout the Pacific.
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Lobulia | Lobulia Skinks | 2 | New Guinea |
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Lubuya | Ivens' Skinks | 2 | Somalia |
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Lygisaurus | Litter Skinks | 9 | New Guinea (?), mainly Australia |
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Lygosoma | Writhing Skinks | 38 | Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent |
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Mabuya | Typical Skinks | 90 | Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Indo-Pacific, S America and Caribbean |
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Macroscincus | Cape Verde Giant Skink | 1 | Cape Verde Islands | Possibly extinct.
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Marmorosophax | ? | 2 | New Caledonia |
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Melanoseps | Limbless Skinks | 4 | Africa | Limbless skinks.
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Menetia | Dwarf Skinks | 9 | Australia |
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Mesoscincus | ? | 3 | Central America | Three species formerly included in the Eumeces genus.
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Mochlus | Fire Skinks | 4 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
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Morethia | Morethia/Fire-Tailed Skinks | 8 | Australia |
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Nangura | Nangur Skink | 1 | Queensland, Australia |
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Nannoscincus | Elf/Mulch Skinks | 6 | Mainly New Caledonia, one in Australia |
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Neoseps | Sand Skink | 1 | Florida, USA |
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Nessia | Nessia Skinks | 8 | Sri Lanka |
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Niveoscincus | Cool-Skinks | 8 | Mainly Tasmania, Australia: one also on W Pacific islands | Small skinks with typical shiny scales and well-developed limbs.
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Notoscincus | Soil-Crevice Skinks | 2 | Australia | Small skinks with pentadactyl limbs and small ear openings. Not much known about their ecology, etc.
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Novoeumeces | Berber Skinks | 3 | N Africa through Middle East and C Asia to India | This small genus includes the Berber Skink, more usually known scientifically as Eumeces schneideri. These are medium-sized (up to 12") and attractive skinks.
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Oligosoma | Common (New Zealand) Skinks | 23 | New Zealand | This genus was formally reinstated by Patterson and Daugherty in 1995. Only one is egg-laying.
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Ophiomorus | Snake-Eyed Skinks? | 10 | Mainly Middle East and Central Asia: also India and Greece |
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Ophioscincus | Snake Skinks | 3 | Australia |
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Pamelaescincus | Gardiner's Skink | 1 | Seychelles | Formerly considered a member of Amphiglossus or Scelotes.
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Panaspis | Snake-Eyed Skinks | 17-30 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Terrestrial and fossorial species.
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Papuascincus | Papua Skinks | 4 | New Guinea, Irian Jaya (Indonesia) |
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Parachalcides | ? | 1 | Arabia |
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Paracontias | Stone Skinks | 5 | Madagascar |
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Paralipinia | ? | 1 | Vietnam | See EMBL database entry for details of this skink.
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Parvoscincus | Diminutive Skinks | 2 | Philippines |
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Phoboscincus | Garnier's Skinks | 2 | New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands |
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Prasinohaema | Green Tree Skink | 5 | Mainly New Guinea, also Solomon Islands | The name of this genus is derived from the green blood of its species. This green colour is actually caused by a pigment, but the reason for this is as yet unknown.
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Proablepharus | Soil-Crevice Skinks | 3 | Australia |
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Proscelotes | Slender Skinks | 3-4 | S & E Africa |
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Pseudoacontias | Giant Madagascar Skinks | 2 | Madagascar |
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Pseudemoia | Window-Eyed Skinks | 6 | Australia, Indonesia |
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Pygomeles | Short Skinks | 2 | Madagascar | Legless skinks.
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Riopa | ? | 3 | SE Asia |
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Ristella | Ristella Skinks | 4 | India |
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Saiphos | Three-Toed Skink | 1 | Australia (NSW and Queensland) |
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Saproscincus | Shade Skinks/ Litter Skinks | 9 | Australia (NSW and Queensland) |
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Scelotes | Dwarf Burrowing Skinks | 20-23 | Mainly S Africa, one in Tanzania |
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Scincella | Smooth Skinks /Ground Skinks | 24 | Mainly Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia, but also N America and Mexico |
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Scincopus | Banded Skink | 1 | North Africa and Sahara |
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Scincus | Sandfish | 3 | N Africa, Sahara, C Africa, Arabia, Middle East, C Asia and Pakistan | Burrowing skinks with four limbs but shovel-like snout.
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Scolecoseps | Limbless Skinks? | 3 | Tanzania and Mozambique |
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Sepsina | Savannah Burrowing Skinks | 4-5 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
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Sigaloseps | ? | 2 | New Caledonia |
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Simiscincus | ? | 1 | New Caledonia | The taxonomic relationship of this species is problematic: see the EMBL database entry.
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Sphenomorphus | Forest Skinks | 104 | SE Asia, Indonesia, Pacific and Australia |
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Sphenops | Sandfish | 3 | N & C Africa, Sahara, Israel | Burrowers in a similar manner to Scincus but more cylindrical and with the limbs greatly reduced, especially the forelimbs.
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Tachygia | ? | 1 | Tonga | Probably extinct: see EMBL database entry.
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Tiliqua | Blue-Tongued Skinks | 6 | Australia, New Guinea | Popular terrarium subjects, these are large skinks with no limb reduction and somewhat cylindrical bodies. All are viviparous. B I |
Trachydosaurus | Pine Cone Skinks | 1 | Australia | An eagerly-sought but hard-to-acquire terrarium subject. The tail is of a similar shape and size to the head, probably being a defensive distraction. Some still consider this a member of the Tiliqua genus.
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Tribolonotus | Helmet Skinks | 8 | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and neighbouring islands. | These are rather atypical-looking skinks, having heavily keeled and spiny scales. Their preferred habitat seems to be streams; running water in any captive situation appears to be highly beneficial if not mandatory. All lay a single egg per clutch apart from T. schmidtii, which gives birth to a single young.
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Tropidophorus | Keeled Skinks | 20 | Mainly SE Asia, also China and Indonesia | Similar in form to the Tribolonotus genus.
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Tropidoscincus | New Caledonian Whiptailed Skinks? | 3 | New Caledonia | A recently described genus.
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Typhlacontias | Western Burrowing Skinks | 7 | S Africa |
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Typhlosaurus | Blind Legless Skinks | 2 | S Africa | Very fossorial genus.
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Voeltzkowia | Burrowing Blind Skinks | 5 | Madagascar |
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There seems to be no one single work (at least outside academic circles) dealing with the family Scincidae in its entirety, the nearest popular treatment being Walls' Skinks (see below). Skinks are mentioned in most books dealing with lizards as a whole, but even then usually concentrate (understandably) on that relative handful which are kept on a regular basis in captivity. It is to be hoped that a larger book similar to TFH's Agamid Lizards or Iguanid Lizards will soon appear.
Skinks, Jerry G Walls, TFH 1996. This is a good basic introduction to the family, written from a keeper's point of view and dealing with the better known or more unusual species continent by continent. Walls is a good writer on most herpetocultural and other animal subjects, and this is a good place to start.
Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 6: Reptiles, Grzimek,1975 provided an overview of the general characteristics of skinks and of some of the lesser-known families.