A CLADISTIC EVALUATION OF THE COSMOPOLITAN GENUS Eumeces WIEGMANN (REPTILIA, SQUAMATA, SCINCIDAE)

Abstract

A phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters shows that the scincid lizard genus Eumeces Wiegmann, 1834 is paraphyletic. East Asian and New World Eumeces form a clade referred to as the Pariocela section. A petition filed with the ICZN designates Lacerta fasciata Linnaeus 1758 as the type species of Eumeces , and, therefore, the Pariocela section retains the name Eumeces . Members of the schneiderii and taeniolatus species groups are more closely related to the genera Scincopus Peters and Scincus Laurenti than to other Eumeces . The taeniolatus species group is the sister group to the schneiderii species group plus Scincopus and Scincus , and requires generic status. Eurylepis Blyth, 1854 is the oldest available name for the taeniolatus group, and the schneiderii group is placed in a new genus. The three species of the Middle American schwartzei species group form a clade that cannot be associated with any other group of Eumeces and, therefore, they are also placed in a new genus.