Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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South Island skinks of the genus Oligosoma: description of O. longipes n. sp. with redescription of O. otagense (McCann) and O. waimatense (McCann)

G. B. Patterson*

Oligosoma longipes n. sp. is described on the basis of consistent morphological variation from its nearest congeners. It is characterised by elongated digits, high scale counts, and a distinctive colour pattern. The complex and confused taxonomic history of O. otagense (McCann, 1955) and O. waimatense (McCann, 1955) is reviewed, and new species descriptions are provided. Traditional taxonomic indicators such as scale counts do not allow complete discrimination between O. otagense and O. waimatense. However, they can be separated from each other by general body shape, colour pattern and habitat preferences.

Keywords: Reptilia, Scincidae, Oligosoma longipes n. sp., Oligosoma otagense, Oligosoma waimatense

(c) Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand,

Volume 27, Number 4, December 1997, pp 439-450

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2019K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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