Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China
The genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950, belonging to the family Scincidae, exhibits considerable morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation and resulting in underestimated diversity. Currently, 41 species are formally recognized in this genus, although this figure l...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Ru-Wan Jia Zong-Yuan Gao Di-Hao Wu Guan-Qi Wang Gang Liu Min Liu Ke Jiang De-Chun Jiang Jin-Long Ren Jia-Tang Li |
| author_facet | Ru-Wan Jia Zong-Yuan Gao Di-Hao Wu Guan-Qi Wang Gang Liu Min Liu Ke Jiang De-Chun Jiang Jin-Long Ren Jia-Tang Li |
| author_sort | Ru-Wan Jia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950, belonging to the family Scincidae, exhibits considerable morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation and resulting in underestimated diversity. Currently, 41 species are formally recognized in this genus, although this figure likely underestimates its true richness. In this study, a new species of the genus <i>Scincella</i>, <i>Scincella chengduensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, is described from urban and suburban areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Morphological features and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the new species is distinct from all previously recognized congeners. The new species can be clearly distinguished by a combination of the following unique characters: (1) slender, medium-sized body, snout-vent length 28.4–43.2 mm; (2) infralabials seven, rarely six; (3) supraciliaries six or seven; (4) tympanum deeply recessed without lobules, tympanum diameters equal to or exceeding palpebral disc diameters; (5) midbody scale-row counts 23; (6) dorsal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, paravertebral scale-row counts 57–60, ventral scale-row counts 42–44, gulars 21–22; (7) upper edge of lateral longitudinal stripes relatively straight, four rows of dorsal scales in middle; (8) enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath finger IV 8–9, enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath toe IV 10–12; (9) ventral surface densely covered with dark spots; (10) grayish-brown, irregular dorsal stripes 2–3, black dorsolateral stripes from posterior corner of eye to lateral side of tail. This discovery underscores the underestimated diversity of <i>Scincella</i> in China and highlights the importance of urban habitats as reservoirs of hidden biodiversity. A diagnostic key to the <i>Scincella</i> species of China is also provided. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e13448f6cc0b4eb3979755cce9a9075a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-e13448f6cc0b4eb3979755cce9a9075a2025-01-24T13:18:12ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115223210.3390/ani15020232Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest ChinaRu-Wan Jia0Zong-Yuan Gao1Di-Hao Wu2Guan-Qi Wang3Gang Liu4Min Liu5Ke Jiang6De-Chun Jiang7Jin-Long Ren8Jia-Tang Li9CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaChengdu Nature Reserve and Wildlife Projection Center, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Nature Reserve and Wildlife Projection Center, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Nature Reserve and Wildlife Projection Center, Chengdu 610081, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaThe genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950, belonging to the family Scincidae, exhibits considerable morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation and resulting in underestimated diversity. Currently, 41 species are formally recognized in this genus, although this figure likely underestimates its true richness. In this study, a new species of the genus <i>Scincella</i>, <i>Scincella chengduensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, is described from urban and suburban areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Morphological features and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the new species is distinct from all previously recognized congeners. The new species can be clearly distinguished by a combination of the following unique characters: (1) slender, medium-sized body, snout-vent length 28.4–43.2 mm; (2) infralabials seven, rarely six; (3) supraciliaries six or seven; (4) tympanum deeply recessed without lobules, tympanum diameters equal to or exceeding palpebral disc diameters; (5) midbody scale-row counts 23; (6) dorsal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, paravertebral scale-row counts 57–60, ventral scale-row counts 42–44, gulars 21–22; (7) upper edge of lateral longitudinal stripes relatively straight, four rows of dorsal scales in middle; (8) enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath finger IV 8–9, enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath toe IV 10–12; (9) ventral surface densely covered with dark spots; (10) grayish-brown, irregular dorsal stripes 2–3, black dorsolateral stripes from posterior corner of eye to lateral side of tail. This discovery underscores the underestimated diversity of <i>Scincella</i> in China and highlights the importance of urban habitats as reservoirs of hidden biodiversity. A diagnostic key to the <i>Scincella</i> species of China is also provided.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/232phylogenymorphology<i>Scincella chengduensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>taxonomyherpetological diversity |
| spellingShingle | Ru-Wan Jia Zong-Yuan Gao Di-Hao Wu Guan-Qi Wang Gang Liu Min Liu Ke Jiang De-Chun Jiang Jin-Long Ren Jia-Tang Li Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China Animals phylogeny morphology <i>Scincella chengduensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> taxonomy herpetological diversity |
| title | Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China |
| title_full | Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China |
| title_short | Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus <i>Scincella</i> Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China |
| title_sort | hidden urban biodiversity a new species of the genus i scincella i mittleman 1950 squamata scincidae from chengdu sichuan province southwest china |
| topic | phylogeny morphology <i>Scincella chengduensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> taxonomy herpetological diversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/232 |
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