#NewSpecies!
New skink from #vietnam just snuck in:

Scincella ngati

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5DB78964-C3C0-529D-B06A-B66E078B5773
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.178070
#ZooKeys #ScincellaNgati

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards #skinks

#NewSpecies!
New skink from #china just snuck in:

Scincella maerkangensis

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6497568B-D77A-5F1B-9868-04037FA05BFF
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.184613
#ZoosystematicsAndEvolution #ScincellaMaerkangensis

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards #skinks

RE: https://mastodon.green/@plazi_species/116260383338896477

#Endemic #species are always interesting from different perspectives, e.g. from an #evolutionary and #ecological point of view. This also applies to #skinks of the genus
#Madascincus, being with several known species endemic to #Madagascar.
A. Miralles et al. (2026) described based on #multilocus #phylogenetics and #morphology two #newspecies:
M. #irery and M.
#minotaurus, with restricted distributions to limited areas of Madagascar only.
© this text #StefanFWirth

#NewSpecies!
New skink from #madagascar just snuck in:

Madascincus minotaurus

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/46AE6986-14A2-5638-AA4F-42F54C767A45
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e176241
#VertebrateZoology #MadascincusMinotaurus

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards #skinks

#NewSpecies!
New skink from #madagascar just snuck in:

Madascincus irery

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7E62E052-57DD-53F0-96F0-AC92D64CC1B8
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e176241
#VertebrateZoology #MadascincusIrery

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards #skinks

#NewSpecies!
New skink from #china just snuck in:

Sphenomorphus lingnanensis

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E61DA877-B1E9-5826-B67A-E579364AEF6D
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.183764
#ZoosystematicsAndEvolution #SphenomorphusLingnanensis

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards #skinks

@swoop @MorpheusB and on that same article, link to :

Scientists at the University of Queensland discovered that Australian skinks have evolved genetic defences—mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor—that make them immune to deadly snake neurotoxins, similar to adaptations seen in honey badgers and mongooses. This could inspire new antivenoms or therapeutic approaches to counter neurotoxic snake bites in humans.

#science #evolution #australia #snakes #skinks

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806094116.htm