Systematics of limbless scincid lizards from northern Madagascar: morphology, phylogenetic relationships and implications for classification (Squamata: Scincidae).

We report on the rediscovery of two limbless scincid species, Paracontias rothschildi Mocquard, 1905 and Paracontias minimus (Mocquard, 1906), after more than a century. The two species were found in syntopy in sandy soils of Forêt d’Orangea, Antsiranana Province, northern Madagascar, which probably constitutes the respective type locality and confirms the species’ Malagasy origin. Both taxa are redescribed based on newly collected material, and compared to other Malagasy species. In addition, Paracontias fasika n. sp. is described from the same locality and habitat. We discuss the taxonomy and origin of all three species and provide preliminary data on their natural history. Molecular relationships among seven Paracontias species are compared to external morphological characters formerly used in skink systematics. Our results indicate that morphology in fossorial skinks is well suited to distinguish species, but is of rather limited value to elucidate phylogenetic relationships. Similarities between these skinks in external characters apparently are the result of convergent evolution due to parallel selective pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]