Fojia bumui, an Unusual New Genus and Species of Scincid Lizard from New Guinea

Abstract

Fojia bumui, a new genus and species of lygosomine skink is described from speci- mens collected near small, rocky streams at low to middle elevations around Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea. The taxon is a derivative of the variegatus species group of Sphenomorphus. It differs most noticeably from its nearest relatives, and indeed most other skinks, in having normal sized middorsal scales juxtaposed with tubercular lateral scales; all dorsal scales with pustules, and in mature males, patches of glands on the chin, abdomen and underside of the thighs and tail base. The ecological associations of these structures in Fojia and other squamates are discussed.