''Papuascincus stanleyanus'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Ski ...
, a
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Scincidae. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''stanleyanus'', refers to the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. Its highest point is Mount Victoria at , while its most prominent peak is Mount Suckling.
History
Owen Stanley Range was seen in 1849 by Captain Owe ...
.[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Papuascincus stanleyanus'', p. 251).]
Foreign language common names
''P. stanleyanus'' is known as ''kls'' or ''mabdagol'' in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
.[Bulmer RNH (1975)]
"Kalam Classification Of Reptiles And Fishes"
''Journal of the Polynesian Society'' 84 (3): 267–308.
Habitat
''Papuascincus stanleyanus'' is commensal with humans, and is often found in human settlements. In the Upper Kaironk Valley of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, it is the most common small lizard found in houses.[
]
Reproduction
''C. stanleyanus'' is oviparous
Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...
.[
]
References
Further reading
* Allison A, Greer AE (1986). "Egg Shells with Pustulate Surface Structures: Basis for a New Genus of New Guinea Skinks (Lacertilia: Scincidae)". ''Journal of Herpetology'' 20 (1): 116–119. (''Papuascincus stanleyanus'', new combination).
* Smith MA (1937). "A Review of the Genus ''Lygosoma'' (Scincidae: Reptilia) and its Allies". ''Records of the Indian Museum'' 39 (3): 213–234. .
Papuascincus
Reptiles described in 1897
Skinks of New Guinea
Endemic fauna of New Guinea
Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger
{{Skink-stub