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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: December 31st, 2022.


Taxonomy of the family Scincidae
Bibliography of the genus Ablepharus
Biodiversity of the family Scincidae








Genus
Ablepharus

Eurasian Snake-eyed Skinks, Eurasian Dwarf Skinks, Eurasian Lidless Skinks, (Ocellated Skinks)

Eurasische Natternaugen, Natternaugen-Skinke, Schlangenaugen-Skinke

Eurasiske Brilleskinker

1823 Ablepharus Lichtenstein (type species: Scincus pannonicus Lichtenstein 1823)
1843 Microblepharis Fitzinger (type species: Ablepharus menetriesii Dumeril & Bibron 1839; syn. Greer 1974)
1872 Blepharosteres Stoliczka (type species: Blepharosteres grayanus Stoliczka 1872; syn. Greer 1974)
1980 Asymblepharus Eremchenko & Shcherbak (type species: Ablepharus alaicus Elpatjewsky 1901; syn. Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022)
1987 Himalblepharus Yeremchenko (type species: Mocoa sikkimensis Blyth 1854; syn. Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022)
Contents: 19 species, of which 4 (21.1%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0% 100%
Remarks: Previously included the species now assigned to Cryptoblepharus. Sindaco & Jeremchenko (2008) suggested that Himalblepharus might deserve recognition as a separate genus (containing the species mahabharatus, nepalensis, tragbulensis, and sikkimensis).
Distribution: SE. Europe, Middle East, SW. and C. Asia.
Reported from: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China (Tibet, Xinjiang), Cyprus, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Georgia, Greece (incl. Aegean Islands, Crete, Ionian Islands), Hungary, India (Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Montenegro, Nepal, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (incl. European Turkey), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Ablepharus alaicus

Alai Mountain Skink

Alai-Gebirgsskink

Alai-bjergskink

1901 Ablepharus alaicus Elpatjewsky
Ablepharus bivittatus alaicus Fuhn 1969
Asymblepharus alaicus Eremchenko & Szczerbak 1980
1902 Ablepharus kucenkoi Nikolski (Zhao & Adler 1993)
Asumblepharus alaicus kucenkoi [sic] Eremchenko & Szczerbak 1986
1909 Ablepharus saposhnikovi Kaschtschenko (Fuhn 1969)
1983 Asymblepharus alaicus yakovlevae Eremchenko

Remarks: Reassigned to Ablepharus by Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov (2022).
Distribution: China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.


Ablepharus anatolicus

Lycian Snake-eyed Skink

Lykisches Natternauge

Lykisk Brilleskink

1997 Ablepharus budaki anatolicus Schmidtler
Ablepharus anatolicus Skourtanioti, Kapli, Ilgaz, Kumlutas, Avci, Ahmadzadeh, Isailovic, Gherghel, Lymberakis & Poulakakis 2016

Remarks: Previously regarded as a subspecies of budaki. Regarded as a separate species by Skourtanioti, Kapli, Ilgaz, Kumlutas, Avci, Ahmadzadeh, Isailovic, Gherghel, Lymberakis & Poulakakis (2016). Validity supported by Bozkurt & Olgun (2020).
Distribution: Greece (Aegean Islands: Dodecanese Islands: Kastellorizo), Turkey.






Ablepharus bivittatus

Two-striped Mountain Skink, Two-striped Snake-eyed Skink, Two-streaked Snake-eyed Skink

Gestreifter Gebirgsskink, (Gestreiftes Natternauge)

Tostribet Bjergskink, (Tostribet Brilleskink)

1832 Scincus bivittatus Menetries
Ablepharus bivittatus Gray 1844
Asymblepharus bivittatus Bozkurt & Olgun 2020
1839 Ablepharus menetriesii Duméril & Bibron (Fuhn 1969)

Remarks: Previously included lindbergi. Reassigned to Ablepharus by Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov (2022).
Distribution: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan.


Ablepharus budaki

North Levant Snake-eyed Skink

Nordlevantisches Natternauge

Nordlevantisk Brilleskink

1996 Ablepharus kitaibelii budaki Göcmen, Kumlutas & Tosunoglu
Ablepharus budaki Schmidtler 1997

Remarks: Previously included anatolicus.
Distribution: Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey.

Ablepharus budaki
© Henrik Bringsøe

Ablepharus chernovi

Armenian Snake-eyed Skink, (Chernov's Snake-eyed Skink)

Armenisches Natternauge

Armensk Brilleskink

1953 Ablepharus chernovi Darevsky
Ablepharus kitaibelii chernovi Fuhn 1970
1997 Ablepharus chernovi eiselti Schmidtler
1997 Ablepharus chernovi isauriensis Schmidtler
1997 Ablepharus chernovi ressli Schmidtler

Remarks: Revalidated as a separate species by Eriomtschenko & Szczerbak (1986) and Schmidtler (1997). Not listed for Iran by Kamali (2020).
Distribution: Armenia, Iran, Syria, Turkey.


Ablepharus darvazi

Tajik Snake-eyed Skink, Darvaz Snake-eyed Skink

Tadschikisches Natternauge

Tadsjikisk Brilleskink

1990 Ablepharus darvazi Yeriomchenko & Panfilov

Distribution: Tajikistan.


Ablepharus deserti

Desert Snake-eyed Skink

Wüsten-Natternauge

Ørken-brilleskink

1868 Ablepharus deserti Strauch
1915 Ablepharus tenuis Nikolsky [not Ablepharus tenuis Broom 1896]
1925 Ablepharus turkestanicus Ahl [substitute name for Ablepharus tenuis Nikolsky 1915] (syn. Fuhn 1969)

Distribution: China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.


Ablepharus eremchenkoi

Kyrgyz Mountain Skink, (Eremchenkos' False Snake-eyed Skink)

Kirgisischer Gebirgsskink

Kirgisisk Bjergskink

1999 Asymblepharus eremchenkoi Panfilov
Ablepharus eremchenkoi Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022

Distribution: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.


Ablepharus grayanus

Earless Snake-eyed Skink, Earless Dwarf Skink, Minor Snake-eyed Skink

Ohrenloses Natternauge

Øreløs Brilleskink

1872 Blepharosteres grayanus Stoliczka
Ablepharus grayanus Boulenger 1887
Ablepharus pannonicus grayanus Fuhn 1969

Remarks: Terentjev & Chernov (1949) included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in the distribution of the species, but presumably based on other species. These countries were not included in Fuhn's (1969) revision. Records of grayanus from Iran were referred to pannonicus by Anderson (1999). However, both species are herein regarded as present in the country, based on Karamiani, Rastegar-Pouyani & Rastegar-Pouyani (2018).
Distribution: Afghanistan, India (Gujarat, Rajasthan), Iran, Pakistan.


Ablepharus himalayanus

Himalayan Mountain Skink, Himalayan Ground Skink, Himalayan Slender Skink

Himalaya-Gebirgsskink

Himalaya-bjergskink

1864 Eumeces himalayanus Günther
Euprepes himalayanus Steindachner 1869
Mocoa himalayana Stoliczka 1872
Lygosoma himalayanum Boulenger 1887
Leiolopisma himalayanum Schmidt 1926
Scincella himalayana Mittleman 1952
Scincella himalayanum Minton 1966
Scincella ladacensis himalayana Ouboter 1986
Asymblepharus himalayanus Eremchenko 1987
Ablepharus himalayanus Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022
1869 Euprepes blythi Steindachner (Ouboter 1986)
Mocoa blythii Theobald 1876

Remarks: Ouboter (1986) regarded himalayanus as a subspecies of ladacensis (at that time included in Scincella), but most subsequent authors have retained them as separate species (e.g., Schleich & Kästle (eds.) 2002; Zhao & Adler 1993; Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008). Records from China (Tibet and Xinjiang) (e.g., Zhao & Adler 1993) are erroneous (Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008). Records from Tibet refer to sikkimensis and ladacensis stimsoni, and records from Xinjiang refer to alaicus.
Distribution: Afghanistan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Nepal, Pakistan.


Ablepharus kitaibelii

European Snake-eyed Skink, Balkan Skink, European Copper Skink, Hungarian Skink, Juniper Skink, Addereye

Johannisechse

Johannesøgle

1824 Ablepharus pannonicus Fitzinger [not Scincus pannonicus Lichtenstein 1823] (syn. Mertens & Wermuth 1960)
1833 Ablepharus kitaibelii Bibron & Bory St. Vincent
1938 Ablepharus pannonicus fabichi Stepanek (syn. Gruber 1981)
Ablepharus kitaibelii fabichi Mertens & Müller 1940
1952 Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri Mertens [substitute name for Ablepharus pannonicus Fitzinger 1824] (syn. Gemel & Vergilov 2020)
1970 Ablepharus kitaibelii stepaneki Fuhn (syn. Gemel & Vergilov 2020)

Remarks: Before Mertens & Müller (1928) mostly referred to as pannonicus (see synonymy above). Records of kitaibelii from Cyprus, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and some records from Turkey, dated before Schmidtler's (1997) revision of the kitaibelii complex, refer to other species of the complex (anatolicus, budaki, chernovi, rueppellii). Reported from Iraq (e.g., Khalaf 1959; Welch 1983; Eremchenko & Szczerbak 1986), but without documentation. According to Leviton, Anderson, Adler & Minton (1992), the species may occur in the extreme western part of the country, however, following Schmidtler's (1997) revision it would probably refer to another species of the kitaibelii complex if confirmed for Iraq.
Distribution: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece (incl. Aegean Islands [incl. Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands (incl. Rhodes), Sporades Islands], Crete), Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey (incl. European Turkey).


Ablepharus kitaibelii
© Henrik Bringsøe

Ablepharus ladacensis

Ladakh Glacier Skink, Glacier Skink, Glacier Ground Skink, Ladakhi Rock Skink, Olive Ground Skink, Mountain Ground Skink, Ice Field Skink

Ladak-Gebirgsskink

Ladakh-bjergskink

1864 Eumeces ladacensis Günther
Lygosoma ladacense Boulenger 1887
Leiolopisma ladacense Schmidt 1926
Scincella ladacense Mittleman 1952
Asymblepharus ladacensis Eremchenko 1992
Ablepharus ladacensis Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022
1869 Euprepes kargilensis Steindachner (Ouboter 1986)
Mocoa kargilensis Theobald 1876
1869 Euprepes stoliczkai Steindachner (Ouboter 1986)
Mocoa stoliczkai Theobald 1876
1992 Asymblepharus ladacensis stimsoni Eremtschenko, Panfilov & Tsatinenko

Remarks: Ouboter (1986) regarded himalayanus as a subspecies of ladacensis (at that time included in Scincella), but most subsequent authors have retained them as separate species (e.g., Schleich & Kästle (eds.) 2002; Zhao & Adler 1993).
Distribution: China (Tibet), India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand), Nepal, Pakistan.


Ablepharus lindbergi

Afghan Snake-eyed Skink

Afghanisches Natternauge

Afghansk Brilleskink

1960 Ablepharus bivittatus lindbergi Wettstein
Ablepharus alaicus lindbergi Fuhn 1969
Ablepharus lindbergi Eremchenko & Szczerbak 1980

Remarks: Leviton & Anderson (1970) listed Iran and Turkmenistan as part of the range of lindbergi, however, Anderson (1999) did not include these countries.
Distribution: Afghanistan.


Ablepharus mahabharatus

Mahabharat Mountain Skink

Mahabharat-Gebirgsskink

Mahabharat-bjergskink

1998 Asymblepharus mahabharatus Eremchenko, Helfenberger, Shah & Panfilov
Ablepharus mahabharatus Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022

Distribution: Nepal.


Ablepharus nepalensis

Pokhara Mountain Skink

Pokhara-Gebirgsskink

Pokhara-bjergskink

1998 Asymblepharus nepalensis Eremchenko, Helfenberger, Shah & Panfilov
Ablepharus nepalensis Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022

Distribution: Nepal.


Ablepharus pannonicus

Southwest Asian Snake-eyed Skink, (Asian Snake-eyed Skink, Mediterranean Snake-eyed Skink, Mediterranean Dwarf Skink, Red-tailed Snake-eyed Skink)

Südwestasiatisches Natternauge

Sydvestasiatisk Brilleskink

1823 Scincus pannonicus Lichtenstein
Ablepharus pannonicus Mittleman 1952
1868 Ablepharus brandti Strauch (syn. Fuhn 1969)
1872 Blepharosteres agilis Stoliczka (syn. Smith 1935)
1874 Ablepharus pusillus Blanford (syn. Fuhn 1969)
1907 Ablepharus brandti brevipes Nikolsky (syn. Fuhn 1969)
1907 Ablepharus persicus Nikolsky (syn. Fuhn 1969)

Remarks: Presence in Syria needs confirmation (Sindaco & Jeremchenko 2008).
Distribution: Azerbaijan, Georgia, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir), Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.


Ablepharus rueppellii

South Levant Snake-eyed Skink, (Rüppell's Snake-eyed Skink, Festa's Skink, Juniper Skink)

Südlevantisches Natternauge

Sydlevantisk Brilleskink

1839 Riopa ruppellii Gray
Ablepharus rueppellii Schmidtler 1997 [emendation]
Ablepharus kitaibelii rueppellii Bar & Haimovitch 2011
1894 Ablepharus festae Peracca (syn. Schmidtler 1997)
Ablepharus brandti festae Schmidt 1939
Ablepharus rueppellii festae Schmidtler 1997
Ablepharus kitaibelii fastae [lapsus] Bar & Haimovitch 2011

Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of kitaibelii (e.g., Mertens & Wermuth 1960; Fuhn 1970; Gruber 1981; Eriomtschenko & Szczerbak 1986; Werner 1995) or pannonicus (e.g., Boettger 1880). Revalidated by Schmidtler (1997). Presence in Lebanon is based on a few individuals from the Beirut area, but it seems likely that the species occurs in the areas bordering the Golan Heights in Israel and Syria (Roll, Tallowin, Berkowic, Maza, Ostrometzky, Slavenko, Shacham, Tamar & Meiri 2013). Presence in Syria has been questioned (e.g., Werner, Disi, Mousa, Crochet & Baha el Din 2006), however, Lymberakis & Kalionzopoulou (2003) published records from the northwestern part of the country. The only verified record from Sinai, Egypt, seems to be one close to the Israeli border. Presence in southern Sinai (e.g., Werner, Disi, Mousa, Crochet & Baha el Din 2006) was rejected by Roll, Tallowin, Berkowic, Maza, Ostrometzky, Slavenko, Shacham, Tamar & Meiri (2013).
Distribution: Egypt (Sinai), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria.


Ablepharus sikkimensis

Sikkim Mountain Skink, Sikkim Ground Skink, Sikkim Rock Skink, Sikkim Slender Skink, Bronzy-brown Ground Skink

Sikkim-Gebirgsskink

Sikkim-bjergskink

1854 Mocoa sikkimensis Blyth
Eumeces sikimensis Anderson 1871
Lygosoma sikkimense Boulenger 1887
Leiolopisma sikkimense Smith 1935
Scincella sikkimense Mittleman 1952
Asymblepharus sikkimensis Eremchenko 1987
Ablepharus sikkimensis Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022
1860 Tiliqua schlegelii Günther (Ouboter 1986)
Eumeces schlegelii Günther 1864
1871 Mocoa sacra Stoliczka (Ouboter 1986)

Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (Tibet), India (Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, West Bengal), Nepal.


Ablepharus tragbulensis

Kashmir Mountain Skink

Kashmir-Gebirgsskink

Kashmir-bjergskink

1898 Lygosoma himalayanum var. tragbulense Alcock
Scincella ladacensis tragbulense Das 1994
Asymblepharus tragbulensis Das, Dattagupta & Gayen 1998
Ablepharus tragbulensis Mirza, Bragin, Bhosale, Gowande, Patel & Poyarkov 2022 [by implication]

Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym or subspecies of himalayanus (e.g., Constable 1949) or ladacensis (e.g., Das 1996). Revalidated by Das, Dattagupta & Gayen (1998).
Distribution: India (Jammu & Kashmir), Pakistan.