A new species of African legless skink, genus Acontias Cuvier, 1816 “1817” (Squamata: Scincidae) from Serra da Neve inselberg, south-western Angola

Marques MP, Parrinha D, Tiutenko A, Lopes-Lima M, Bauer AM, Ceríaco LM (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

African Journal of Herpetology Taylor & Francis

DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2023.2246487

Abstract

During a recent survey of the Serra da Neve inselberg in south-western Angola, a population of legless skinks of the genus Acontias was found. Only three species of this genus have been recorded for the country so far–A. occidentalis, A. kgalagadi and A. jappi. Using an integrative approach and combining molecular and morphological data we found that the Serra da Neve population represents a new species, closely related to species such as A. percivali and some members of the A. occidentalis species complex. In this paper, we describe this population as a new species, Acontias mukwandosp. nov. and provide brief comments on its conservation and biogeography.

Authors with CRIS profile

Arthur Tiutenko Sprachenzentrum

Related research project(s)

An island in a sea of sand: biodiversity of Serra da Neve inselberg, southwestern Angola (NGS-73084R-20) Dec. 1, 2022 - Dec. 1, 2022

Involved external institutions

Villanova University

United States (USA) (US) Carnegie Museum of Natural History

United States (USA) (US) Universidade do Porto

Portugal (PT)

How to cite

APA:

Marques, M.P., Parrinha, D., Tiutenko, A., Lopes-Lima, M., Bauer, A.M., & Ceríaco, L.M. (2023). A new species of African legless skink, genus Acontias Cuvier, 1816 “1817” (Squamata: Scincidae) from Serra da Neve inselberg, south-western Angola. African Journal of Herpetology. https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2023.2246487

MLA:

Marques, Mariana P., et al. "A new species of African legless skink, genus Acontias Cuvier, 1816 “1817” (Squamata: Scincidae) from Serra da Neve inselberg, south-western Angola." African Journal of Herpetology (2023).

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