Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates 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 Carlia Biodiversity of the family Scincidae Genus Carlia Australian-Pacific Rainbow Skinks, Four-fingered Skinks Australisch-Pazifische Regenbogenskinke Australsk-Pacifiske Regnbueskinker 1839 Heteropus Dumeril & Bibron [not Heteropus Beauvois 1805 not Heteropus Fitzinger 1826] (type species: Heteropus fuscus Dumeril & Bibron 1839; syn. Greer 1974) 1845 Carlia Gray (type species: Mocoa melanopogon Gray 1845) 1884 Myophila De Vis (type species: Myophila vivax De Vis 1884; syn. Greer 1974) Contents: 47 species, of which 44 (93.6%) are endemic. Endemism: 0% 100% Remarks: Previously included Liburnascincus and Lygisaurus. Distribution: E. Malay Archipelago, SW. Pacific, Australia. Reported from: Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland [incl. Fraser Island, Torres Strait Islands, Whitsunday Islands], South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), East Timor, Indonesia (Alor, Ambon, Aru Islands, Babar Islands, Banda Islands, Buru, Damar, Gorong Archipelago, Halmahera, Haruku, Kai Islands, Kelang, Laut (off Seram), Misool, Morotai, Pantar, Rote, Salawati, Saparua, Semau, Seram, Sukur, Tanimbar Islands, Ternate, Tinjil, Waigeo, West Timor, Western New Guinea, Wetar, Yapen), Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Archipelago [Admiralty Islands (Manus, Rambutyo), Duke of York, New Britain, New Ireland], d'Entrecasteaux Islands [Fergusson, Goodenough, Normanby], Eastern New Guinea, Louisiade Archipelago [Misima, Rossel, Sudest], Woodlark, North Solomon Islands [Bougainville], Trobriand Islands), Solomon Islands. Carlia aenigma Enigmatic Rainbow Skink Emeti-Regenbogenskink Emeti-regnbueskink 2004 Carlia aenigma Zug Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia ailanpalai Admiralty Islands Rainbow Skink, Admiralty Islands Brown Skink Admiralty-Regenbogenskink Admiralty-regnbueskink 2004 Carlia ailanpalai Zug Remarks: Presumably introduced to Guam, Saipan, and Palau with war material during or just after World War II and from there to other islands (Marianas, Micronesia) (Zug 2013). It is uncertain whether all introductions have resulted in established populations (Zug 2013). Introduced to: Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau. Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Admiralty Islands [Manus, Rambutyo]). Carlia amax Bauxite Rainbow Skink, Two-spined Rainbow Skink, Amax Rainbow Skink Bauxit-Regenbogenskink Bauxit-regnbueskink 1974 Carlia amax Storr 1974 Carlia johnstonei grandensis Storr (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Carlia grandensis Wells & Wellington 1984 1985 Carlia instantanea Wells & Wellington (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia). Carlia amax © Rune Midtgaard Carlia aramia Aramia River Rainbow Skink Aramia-Regenbogenskink Aramia-regnbueskink 2004 Carlia aramia Zug Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia babarensis Babar Islands Rainbow Skink Babar-Regenbogenskink Babar-regnbueskink 1926 Lygosoma fuscum babarense Kopstein Carlia babarensis Zug 2004 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym or subspecies of fusca (e.g., Kopstein 1926). Revalidated by Zug (2004). Distribution: Indonesia (Babar Islands, Tanimbar Islands). Carlia beccarii Kai Islands Rainbow Skink Kai-Regenbogenskink Kai-regnbueskink 1878 Heteropus beccarii Peters & Doria Lygosoma fuscum beccarii Loveridge 1948 Carlia beccarii Zug 2004 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym or a subspecies of fusca (e.g., de Rooij 1915). Revalidated by Zug (2004). Distribution: Indonesia (Kai Islands). Carlia bicarinata Papuan Bicarinate Rainbow Skink, Bicarinate Four-fingered Skink Papuanischer Zweikiel-Regenbogenskink Papuansk Tokølet Regnbueskink 1877 Heteropus bicarinatus Macleay Lygosoma bicarinatum Oudemans 1894 Carlia bicarinata Mittleman 1952 1878 Heteropus albertisii Peters & Doria (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Lygosoma albertisii Boulenger 1887 Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia bomberai Bomberai Peninsula Rainbow Skink Bomberai-Regenbogenskink Bomberai-regnbueskink 2006 Carlia bomberai Zug & Allison Distribution: Indonesia (Western New Guinea). Carlia caesius Papuan Blue-throated Rainbow Skink Papuanischer Blaukehliger Regenbogenskink Papuansk Blåstrubet Regnbueskink 2006 Carlia caesius Zug & Allison Distribution: Indonesia (Western New Guinea). Carlia crypta Mount Lewis Rainbow Skink Mount-Lewis-Regenbogenskink Mount Lewis-regnbueskink 2018 Carlia crypta Singhal, Hoskin, Couper, Potter & Moritz Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia decora Elegant Rainbow Skink Schmuck-Regenbogenskink Pragt-regnbueskink 2012 Carlia decora Hoskin & Couper Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia diguliensis Digul River Rainbow Skink Digul-Regenbogenskink Digul-regnbueskink 1926 Leiolopisma fuscum diguliense Kopstein Carlia diguliensis Zug 2004 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of fusca (e.g., Loveridge 1948; de Rooij 1915). Revalidated by Zug (2004). Distribution: Indonesia (Aru Islands, Western New Guinea). Carlia dogare Sandy Rainbow Skink Sand-Regenbogenskink Sand-regnbueskink 1975 Carlia dogare Covacevich & Ingram Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia eothen Eastern Papuan Rainbow Skink Ostpapuanischer Regenbogenskink Østpapuansk Regnbueskink 2004 Carlia eothen Zug Distribution: Papua New Guinea (d'Entrecasteaux Islands [Fergusson, Goodenough, Normanby], Eastern New Guinea, Louisiade Archipelago [Misima, Rossel, Sudest], Woodlark, Trobriand Islands). Carlia fusca Brown Rainbow Skink, Brown Four-fingered Skink Dunkelbrauner Regenbogenskink Mørkebrun Regnbueskink 1839 Heteropus fuscus Dumeril & Bibron Lygosoma fuscum Boulenger 1887 Liolepisma fuscum Lucas 1898 Leiolepisma fuscum Barbour 1912 Carlia fusca Mittleman 1952 Leiolopisma fuscum Mitchell 1953 1874 Heteropus tricarinatus Meyer (Zug 2004) Lygosoma fuscum tricarinatum Boulenger 1887 Carlia tricarinata Mittleman 1952 1948 Lygosoma fuscum jamnanum Loveridge (Zug 2004) Remarks: Previously included populations now assigned to aenigma, ailanpalai, aramia, beccarii, diguliensis, eothen, leucotaenia, luctuosa, mysi, nigrauris, spinauris, and tutela. Zug (2004, 2010) revised the group and restricted the range of fusca to NW. New Guinea and some of its satellites. Distribution: Indonesia (Waigeo, Western New Guinea, Yapen). Carlia gracilis Slender Rainbow Skink Venus-Regenbogenskink Venus-regnbueskink 1974 Carlia gracilis Storr 1985 Carlia boltoni Wells & Wellington (tentative synonymy) 1985 Carlia arafurae Wells & Wellington (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Western Australia). Carlia gracilis © Rune Midtgaard Carlia inconnexa Whitsunday Rainbow Skink Whitsunday-Regenbogenskink Whitsunday-regnbueskink 1989 Carlia pectoralis inconnexa Ingram & Covacevich Carlia inconnexa Hoskin & Couper 2012 Distribution: Australia (Queensland: Whitsunday Islands). Carlia insularis Kimberley Islands Rainbow Skink Kimberley-Islands-Regenbogenskink Kimberley Islands-regnbueskink 2017 Carlia insularis Afonso Silva, Santos, Ogilvie & Moritz Remarks: Previously regarded as populations of johnstonei (Afonso-Silva, Santos, Ogilvie & Moritz 2017). Distribution: Australia (Western Australia: Bonaparte Archipelago, incl. East Montalivet Island). Carlia isostriacantha Monsoonal Three-keeled Rainbow Skink Monsun-Regenbogenskink Monsun-regnbueskink 2017 Carlia isostriacantha Afonso Silva, Santos, Ogilvie & Moritz Remarks: Previously regarded as populations of triacantha (Afonso-Silva, Santos, Ogilvie & Moritz 2017). Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Western Australia). Carlia jarnoldae Lined Rainbow Skink, (Jewel Skink) Juwel-Regenbogenskink Juvel-regnbueskink 1975 Carlia jarnoldae Covacevich & Ingram Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia jarnoldae © Rune Midtgaard Carlia johnstonei Rough Brown Rainbow Skink Rauhe Braune Regenbogenskink Ru Brun Regnbueskink 1974 Carlia johnstonei johnstonei Storr Remarks: Previously included the populations now assigned to insularis. Distribution: Australia (Western Australia). Carlia leucotaenia White-striped Rainbow Skink Weissstreifen-Regenbogenskink Hvidstribet Regnbueskink 1860 Heteropus leucotaenia Bleecker Carlia leucotaenia Zug 2004 1864 Heteropus schlegeli Peters (Zug 2004) Carlia schlegeli Welch, Cooke & Wright 1990 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of fusca (e.g., Boulenger 1887; Rooij 1915). Revalidated by Zug (2004). Timor is not part of the range (Zug 2004). Distribution: Indonesia (Ambon, Seram). Carlia longipes Long-toed Rainbow Skink, (Robust Rainbow Skink, Closed-litter Rainbow Skink) Langzehiger Regenbogenskink Langtået Regnbueskink 1878 Heteropus longipes Macleay Carlia longipes Cogger, Cameron & Cogger 1983 1877 Heteropus cheverti Macleay (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009) Remarks: Previously included quinquecarinata and sexdentata (e.g., Zug 2004). Confined to Australia (Zug 2004). Records from Northern Territory refer to sexdentata (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009). Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia longipes © Rune Midtgaard Carlia luctuosa Black-hooded Rainbow Skink Kapuzen-Regenbogenskink Sorthættet Regnbueskink 1878 Heteropus luctuosus Peters & Doria Lygosoma fuscum luctuosa Loveridge 1948 Carlia luctuosa Zug 2004 1890 Lygosoma atrogulare Ogilby (Zug 2004) 1898 Lygosoma nigrigulare Boulenger (Zug 2004) Carlia nigrigulare Mittleman 1952 Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia munda Striped Rainbow Skink, Shaded-litter Rainbow Skink Gestreifter Regenbogenskink Stribet Regnbueskink 1885 Heteropus mundus De Vis Lygosoma mundum Smith 1937 Carlia munda Mittleman 1952 1845 Mocoa melanopogon Gray [not Gongylus melanopogon Duméril & Bibron 1839] (Storr 1974; Ingram & Covacevich 1988) 1984 Carlia covacevichi Wells & Wellington [substitute name for Mocoa melanopogon Gray 1845] 1985 Carlia springelli Wells & Wellington (tentative synonymy) Remarks: Previously referred to as Carlia foliorum (e.g., Storr 1974). See also remarks under Lygisaurus foliorum. A record from Sulawesi (Iskandar & Tjan 1996, as melanopogon) was based on Sphenomorphus melanopogon, but actually represents S. variegatus. Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia). Carlia munda © Rune Midtgaard Carlia mysi Morobe Rainbow Skink, (Mys' Rainbow Skink) Morobe-Regenbogenskink Morobe-regnbueskink 2004 Carlia mysi Zug Distribution: Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Archipelago [Duke of York, New Britain, New Ireland], Eastern New Guinea, North Solomon Islands [Bougainville]), Solomon Islands. Carlia nigrauris Black-eared Rainbow Skink Schwarzohren-Regenbogenskink Sortøret Regnbueskink 2010 Carlia nigrauris Zug Distribution: Indonesia (Tinjil). Carlia pectoralis Open-litter Rainbow Skink Port-Curtis-Regenbogenskink Port Curtis-regnbueskink 1885 Heteropus pectoralis De Vis Lygosoma pectorale Smith 1937 Carlia pectorale Mittleman 1952 1885 Heteropus lateralis De Vis (Ingram & Covacevich 1989; Hoskin & Couper 2012) 1890 Lygosoma devisii Boulenger (Ingram & Covacevich 1989; Hoskin & Couper 2012) Remarks: Previously included inconnexa. Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland). Carlia pectoralis © Rune Midtgaard Carlia peronii Timor Rainbow Skink Timor-Regenbogenskink Timor-regnbueskink 1839 Heteropus peroni Dumeril & Bibron Carlia peronii Mittleman 1952 Remarks: Previously included spinauris. Distribution: East Timor, Indonesia (Pantar, Semau). Carlia pulla Dark Rainbow Skink Dunkler Regenbogenskink Mørk Regnbueskink 1911 Leiolopisma pullum Barbour Lygosoma pullum De Rooij 1915 Carlia pulla Mittleman 1952 Distribution: Indonesia (Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia quinquecarinata Torres Strait Rainbow Skink, Eastern Torres Rainbow Skink Torres-Strait-Regenbogenskink Torres Strait-regnbueskink 1878 Heteropus quinquecarinatus Macleay Carlia quinquecarinatus Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of longipes (e.g., Zug 2004). Revalidated by Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton (2009). May occur in Papua New Guinea (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009). Distribution: Australia (Queensland: Torres Strait Islands). Carlia rhomboidalis Australian Blue-throated Rainbow Skink, Blue-lipped Rainbow Skink, Red-and-Blue-throated Rainbow Skink Australischer Blaukehliger Regenbogenskink Australsk Blåstrubet Regnbueskink 1869 Heteropus rhomboidalis Peters Lygosoma rhomboidale Boulenger 1887 Carlia rhomboidale Mittleman 1952 Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia rhomboidalis © Rune Midtgaard Carlia rimula Crevice Rainbow Skink Spalten-Regenbogenskink Spalte-regnbueskink 1980 Carlia rimula Ingram & Covacevich Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia rostralis Black-throated Rainbow Skink Schwarzkehl-Regenbogenskink Sortstrubet Regnbueskink 1885 Heteropus rostralis De Vis Carlia rostralis Ingram & Covacevich 1989 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of longipes (e.g., Cogger, Cameron & Cogger 1983). Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia rostralis © Rune Midtgaard Carlia rubigo Orange-flanked Rainbow Skink Orangeseitiger Regenbogenskink Orangesidet Regnbueskink 2012 Carlia rubigo Hoskin & Couper Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia rubrigularis Red-throated Rainbow Skink, Northern Red-throated Skink Rotkehliger Regenbogenskink Rødstrubet Regnbueskink 1989 Carlia rubrigularis Ingram & Covacevich Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia rubrigularis © Rune Midtgaard Carlia rufilatus Red-sided Rainbow Skink Rotseitiger Regenbogenskink Rødsidet Regnbueskink 1974 Carlia rufilatus Storr 1985 Carlia boustedi Wells & Wellington (tentative synonymy) Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Western Australia). Carlia schmeltzii Robust Rainbow Skink Grosser Regenbogenskink Stor Regnbueskink 1867 Heteropus schmeltzii Peters Carlia schmeltzii Cogger 1975 1975 Carlia prava Covacevich & Ingram (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Distribution: Australia (Queensland). Carlia sexdentata Northern Cape York Rainbow Skink, (Macleay's Rainbow Skink) Endeavour-Regenbogenskink Endeavour-regnbueskink 1878 Heteropus sexdentatus Macleay Carlia sexdentatus Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009 1877 Heteropus variegatus Macleay (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009) 1885 Heteropus maculatus De Vis (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009) 1885 Heteropus rubricatus De Vis (Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton 2009) Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of longipes (e.g., Zug 2004). Revalidated by Donnellan, Couper, Saint & Wheaton (2009). Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland [incl. Torres Strait Islands]). Carlia spinauris Lelogama Rainbow Skink Lelogama-Regenbogenskink Lelogama-regnbueskink 1927 Lygosoma spinauris Smith Lygosoma fuscum spinauris Brongersma 1942 Carlia spinauris Zug 2010 Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of peronii (e.g., Greer 1976). Revalidated by Zug (2010). Distribution: East Timor, Indonesia (West Timor). Carlia storri Brown Bicarinate Rainbow Skink, (Storr's Rainbow Skink) Brauner Zweikiel-Regenbogenskink Brun Tokølet Regnbueskink 1989 Carlia storri Ingram & Covacevich Distribution: Australia (Queensland [incl. Torres Strait Islands], Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea). Carlia sukur Sukur Rainbow Skink, Sukur Four-toed Skink Sukur-Regenbogenskink Sukur-regnbueskink 2014 Carlia sukur Zug & Kaiser Distribution: Indonesia (Sukur). Carlia tetradactyla Southern Rainbow Skink Südlicher Regenbogenskink Sydlig Regnbueskink 1879 Mocoa tetradactyla O'Shaughnessy Lygosoma tetradactylum Boulenger 1887 Carlia tetradactyla Mittleman 1952 1890 Lygosoma maccooeyi Ramsay & Ogilby (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Carlia maccooeyi Littlejohn & Rawlinson 1971 Distribution: Australia (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria). Carlia triacantha Desert Rainbow Skink, Three-spined Rainbow Skink Wüsten-Regenbogenskink Ørken-regnbueskink 1953 Leiolopisma triacantha Mitchell Lygosoma triacantha Worrell 1963 Carlia triacantha Cogger 1975 1985 Carlia monsolgaensis Wells & Wellington (tentative synonymy) 1985 Carlia mysteria Wells & Wellington (tentative synonymy) Remarks: Previously included the populations now assigned to isostriacantha. Taxonomic status of the Top End population (northernmost Northern Territory) is uncertain. It may also belong to isostriacantha (Afonso Silva, Santos, Ogilvie & Moritz 2017). Distribution: Australia (Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia). Carlia triacantha © Rune Midtgaard Carlia tutela Moluccan Rainbow Skink, Halmahera Brown Skink Maluku-Regenbogenskink Maluku-regnbueskink 2004 Carlia tutela Zug Remarks: Previously reported as fusca (e.g., de Rooij 1915). The introduced Carlia population in Palau was first thought to represent tutela (Zug 2004), however, they have now been identified as ailanpalai (Zug 2013). Distribution: Indonesia (Halmahera, Morotai, Ternate). Carlia vivax Lively Rainbow Skink, Tussock Rainbow Skink Lebhafter Regenbogenskink Livlig Regnbueskink 1884 Myophila vivax De Vis Leiolopisma vivax Mitchell 1953 Carlia vivax Mittleman 1952 Lygosoma vivax Worrell 1963 1885 Heteropus blackmanni De Vis (Ingram & Covacevich 1989) Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland [incl. Fraser Island, Torres Strait Islands]). Carlia vivax © Rune Midtgaard Carlia wundalthini Cape Melville Rainbow Skink Cape-Melville-Regenbogenskink Cape Melville-regnbueskink 2014 Carlia wundalthini Hoskin Distribution: Australia (Queensland).