EMOIA (REPTILIA SCINCIDAE) FROM THE BANDA ARC ISLANDS OF EASTERN INDONESIA VARIATION IN MORPHOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract: Skinks of the genus Emoia are widespread through the islands of the Pacific with 72 species recognised in a recent review, eight of these occur on the islands of eastern Indonesia. Only three of these described species were collected during a survey of this region between 1987-1993. The morphology of head shields and body scale counts of the specimens collected were subjected to univariate and canonical variate analysis. Emoia reimschisseli and E. Iongicauda were collected on Wokam island in the Aru group and on Selaru island in the Tanimbar group. There was a marked difference in morphology of head shields and body scale counts of the single specimen of E. reimschisseli from Selaru when compared to populations of this species from both Aru and Kai Besar islands. The Emoia similis collected on eastern Flores are morphologically similar to those collected previously from Flores and Komodo islands, but showed some differences in body patterning. The previously uncollected population of Emoia from Sumba island is described as a new species. It is closely allied to E. similis from Flores and Komodo.