Brachymeles

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Scincomorpha
Superfamilia: Scincoidea

Familia: Scincidae
Subfamilia: Scincinae
Genus: Brachymeles
Species (41): B. apus – B. bicolandia – B. bicolor – B. boholensis – B. bonitae – B. boulengeri – B. brevidactylus – B. cebuensis – B. cobos – B. dalawangdaliri – B. elerae – B. gracilis – B. hilong – B. ilocandia – B. isangdaliri – B. kadwa – B. libayani – B. ligtas – B. lukbani – B. makusog – B. mapalanggaon – B. mindorensis – B. minimus – B. miriamae – B. muntingkamay – B. orientalis – B. paeforum – B. pathfinderi – B. samad – B. samarensis – B. schadenbergi – B. suluensis – B. talinis – B. taylori – B. tiboliorum – B. tridactylus – B. tungaoi – B. vermis – B. vindumi – B. vulcani – B. wrighti
Name

Brachymeles Duméril & Bibron, 1839: 776

Type species: Brachymeles bonitae Duméril & Bibron, 1839, by monotypy.
Synonyms

Davewakeum Heyer, 1972: 124 [synonymized by Siler et al. (2011: 61)]

Type species: Davewakeum miriamae Heyer, 1972, by original designation and monotypy.
References
Primary references

Duméril, A.M.C. & Bibron, G. 1839. Erpétologie Générale on Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret: Paris. VIII + 854 pp. BHL Reference page.
Heyer, W.R. 1972. A new limbless skink (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Thailand with comments on the generic status of the limbless skinks of southeast Asia. Fieldiana: Zoology 58(10): 109–129. BHL

Additional references

Siler, C.D., Rico, E.L., Duya, M.R. & Brown, R.M. 2009. A New Limb-Reduced, Loam-Swimming Skink (Squamata: Scincidae: Brachymeles) from Central Luzon Island, Philippines. Herpetologica 65(4): 449–459. DOI: 10.1655/08-076.1 Reference page.
Siler, C.D. & Brown, R.M. 2010. Phylogeny-based Species Delimitation in Philippine Slender Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Brachymeles): Taxonomic Revision of Pentadactyl Species Groups and Description of Three New Species. Herpetological Monographs 24(1): 1–54. DOI: 10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-10-00003.1 JSTOR Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. 2010. New Loam-Swimming Skink, Genus Brachymeles (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from Luzon and Catanduanes Islands, Philippines. Journal of Herpetology 44(1): 49–60. DOI: 10.1670/08-318.1 Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A.C., Alcala, A.C. & Brown, R.M. 2011. Phylogeny of Philippine slender skinks (Scincidae: Brachymeles) reveals underestimated species diversity, complex biogeographical relationships, and cryptic patterns of lineage diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 59(1): 53–65. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.12.019 Paywall Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Jones, R.M., Welton, L.J. & Brown, R.M. 2011. Redescription of Tetradactyl Philippine Slender Skinks (Genus Brachymeles). Herpetologica 67(3): 300–317. DOI: 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-10-00071.1 Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Crombie, R.I., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. 2011. Redescriptions of Two Poorly Known Slender Skinks, Brachymeles bicolor and Brachymeles pathfinderi (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), from the Philippines. Journal of Herpetology 45(3): 355–369. DOI: 10.1670/10-103.1 Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Fuiten, A.M., Jones, R.M., Alcala, A.C. & Brown, R.M. 2011. Phylogeny-Based Species Delimitation in Philippine Slender Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: Taxonomic Revision of Brachymeles samarensis and Description of Five New Species. Herpetological Monographs 25(1): 76–112. DOI: 10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-10-00013.1 Paywall Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Jones, R.M., Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L.L. & Brown, R.M. 2012. Phylogeny-Based Species Delimitation In Philippine Slender Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) III: Taxonomic Revision of the Brachymeles gracilis Complex, With Descriptions of Three New Species. Herpetological Monographs 26(1): 135–172. DOI: 10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-11-00006.1 Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Balete, D.S., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. 2010. A New Legless Loam-swimming Lizard (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Genus Brachymeles) from the Bicol Peninsula, Luzon Island, Philippines. Copeia 2010(1): 114–122. DOI: 10.1643/CH-08-231 Reference page.
Davis, D.R., Feller, K.D., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. 2014. Evaluating the diversity of Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae): redescription of B. tridactylus and descriptions of two new species. Journal of Herpetology 48(4): 480–494. DOI: 10.1670/13-173 Reference page.
Davis, D.R., Watters, J.L., Penrod, M.L., Feller, K.D., Ashford, A., Kouri, J., Nguyen, D., Shauberger, K., Sheatsley, K., Winfrey, C., Wong, R., Sanguila, M.B., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. 2016. Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) III: a new species from Tablas Island. Zootaxa 4132(1): 30–43. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.3. Full article (PDF). Reference page.
Geheber, A.D., Davis, D.R., Watters, J.L., Penrod, M.L., Feller, K.D., Davey, C.S., Ellsworth, E.D., Flanagan, R.L., Heitz, B.B., Moore, T., Nguyen, M.D.C., Roberts, A., Sutton, J.M., Sanguila, M.B., Linkem, C.W., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. 2016. Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: a new species from Lubang Island. Zootaxa 4132(1): 1–14. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1. Full article (PDF). Reference page.
Siler, C.D., Davis, D.R., Freitas, E.S., Huron, N.A., Geheber, A.D., Watters, J.L., Penrod, M.L., Papeş, M., Amrein, A., Anwar, A., Cooper, D., Hein, T., Manning, A., Patel, N., Pinaroc, L., Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L., Oliveros, C.H. & Brown, R.M. 2016. Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: a new species from the northern Philippines. Zootaxa 4132(1): 15–29. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.2. Full article (PDF). Reference page.

Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2021. Brachymeles . The Reptile Database. Accessed on 4 April 2018.

Vernacular names
English: Short-legged Skinks, Loam-swimming Skinks

Brachymeles is a genus of skinks (lizards in the family Scincidae). The majority of the species within the genus are endemic to certain island ecosystems in the Philippines. In 2018, the Zoological Society of London through its EDGE of Existence Program listed the Cebu small worm skink (Brachymeles cebuensis) as the 80th most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered reptile species in the world, making it the most endangered member of the genus Brachymeles.

Taxonomy

Brachymeles is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic however. Apparently part of a clade which does not seem to include the type genus Scincus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily (Austin & Arnold 2006).
Species

The following species are accepted at The Reptile Database:[1]

Brachymeles apus Hikida, 1982 – Hikida's short-legged skink
Brachymeles bicolandia Siler et al., 2011 – Bicol slender skink
Brachymeles bicolor (Gray, 1845) – two-colored short-legged skink
Brachymeles boholensis W.C. Brown & Rabor, 1967 – Bohol short-legged skink
Brachymeles bonitae A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 – stub-limbed burrowing skink, pretty short-legged skink
Brachymeles boulengeri Taylor, 1922 – Boulenger's short-legged skink
Brachymeles brevidactylus Siler et al., 2011 – Southern Bicol slender skink
Brachymeles burksi Taylor, 1917 – Burks's burrowing skink
Brachymeles cebuensis W.C. Brown & Rabor, 1967 – listed as an EDGE species by the Zoological Society of London[2] – Rabor's short-legged skink
Brachymeles cobos Siler et al., 2011 – Catanduañes slender skink
Brachymeles dalawangdaliri Davis et al., 2016 – Tablas slender skink
Brachymeles elerae Taylor, 1917 – common short-legged skink
Brachymeles gracilis (Fischer, 1885) – graceful short-legged skink
Brachymeles hilong W.C. Brown & Rabor, 1967 – graceful short-legged skink
Brachymeles ilocandia Siler et al., 2016 – Ilokano slender skink
Brachymeles isangdaliri Davis et al., 2014 – Aurora slender skink
Brachymeles kadwa Siler & R.M. Brown, 2010 – Jessi’s slender skink
Brachymeles libayani Siler et al., 2011 – Lapinig Islands slender skink
Brachymeles ligtas Geheber et al., 2016 – Lubang slender skink
Brachymeles lukbani Siler et al., 2010
Brachymeles makusog Siler et al., 2010
Brachymeles mapalanggaon Davis et al., 2014 – Masbate slender skink
Brachymeles mindorensis W.C. Brown & Rabor, 1967 – Mindoro short-legged skink
Brachymeles minimus W.C. Brown & E.L. Alcala, 1995
Brachymeles miriamae (Heyer, 1972) – Miriam's skink
Brachymeles muntingkamay Siler et al., 2009 – Caraballo Mountains loam-swimming skink
Brachymeles orientalis W.C. Brown & Rabor, 1967 – southern burrowing skink
Brachymeles paeforum Siler et al., 2011 – PAEF slender skink
Brachymeles pathfinderi Taylor, 1925 – pathfinder short-legged skink
Brachymeles samad Siler et al., 2012 – Eastern Visayas slender skink
Brachymeles samarensis W.C. Brown, 1956 – Brown's short-legged skink
Brachymeles schadenbergi (Fischer, 1885) – Schadenberg’s burrowing skink
Brachymeles suluensis Taylor, 1918 – graceful short-legged skink
Brachymeles talinis W.C. Brown, 1956 – Duméril's short-legged skink
Brachymeles taylori W.C. Brown, 1956 – Taylor's short-legged skink
Brachymeles tiboliorum Siler et al., 2012 – Western Mindanao slender skink
Brachymeles tridactylus W.C. Brown, 1956 – three-fingered short-legged skink
Brachymeles tungaoi Siler & R.M. Brown, 2010 – Tungao’s slender skink
Brachymeles vermis Taylor, 1918 – Taylor's short-legged skink
Brachymeles vindumi Siler & R.M. Brown, 2010 – Jens's slender skink
Brachymeles vulcani Siler et al., 2012 – Camiguin Sur slender skink
Brachymeles wrighti Taylor, 1925 – Wright's short-legged skink

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Brachymeles.
References

Genus Brachymeles at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

"Cebu Small Worm Skink".