Miriam's skink
| Miriam's skink | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Brachymeles miriamae in Udom Sap, Wang Nam Khiao, Thailand | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Brachymeles |
| Species: | B. miriamae |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachymeles miriamae | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Miriam's skink (Brachymeles miriamae) is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae (skinks). The species is endemic to Thailand.
Taxonomy
[edit]In 1972 Heyer described Miriam's skink as a new species in a new genus, giving it the scientific name Davewakeum miriamae.[3] In 2011 Siler et al. included the genus Davewakeum in the genus Brachymeles, creating the new combination, Brachymeles miriamae (Heyer, 1972).[4] In 2015 Chan-ard et al. returned the species to the genus Davewakeum.[2] In 2022 Cota et al. reassigned the species to the genus Brachymeles.[5]
Etymology
[edit]The specific name, miriamae, is in honor of Miriam Heyer, who collected the holotype, and is married to American herpetologist W. Ronald Heyer.[6]
The generic name, Davewakeum, is in honor of American herpetologist David B. Wake.[6]
Geographic range
[edit]Miriam's skink is found in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand.[2]
Habitat
[edit]The preferred natural habitat of Brachymeles miriamae is forest.[1]
Behavior
[edit]Brachymeles miriamae is terrestrial and fossorial.[1]
Description
[edit]Miriam's skink is limbless.[3]
Reproduction
[edit]Brachymeles miriamae is viviparous.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Thaksintham W, Cota M, Sumontha M (2018). "Brachymeles miriamae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T104719268A104719277.en. Accessed on 18 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Species Brachymeles miriamae at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- 1 2 Heyer (1972).
- ↑ Siler CD, Diesmos AC, Alcala AC, Brown RM (2011). "Phylogeny of Philippine slender skinks (Scincidae: Brachymeles) reveals underestimated species diversity, complex biogeographical relationships, and cryptic patterns of lineage diversification". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 59 (1): 53-65.
- ↑ Cota, Michael; Makchai, Sunchai; Pongcharoen, Chattraphas (2022). "Updated Catalogue of the Amphibian and Reptile Type Specimens of the Natural History Specimens, National Science Museum, Thailand". Thai Specimens. 21: 31–47. (Brachymeles miriamae, pp. 43–44).
- 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Genus Davewakeum, pp. 66, 278–279; species D. miriamae, p. 179).
Further reading
[edit]- Chan-ard, Tanya; Parr, John W. K.; Nabhitabhata, Jarujin (2015). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Thailand. New York: Oxford University Press. 352 pp. ISBN 978-0199876181.
- Heyer WR (1972). "A New Limbless Skink (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Thailand With Comments on the Generic Status of the Limbless Skinks of Southeast Asia". Fieldiana Zoology 58 (10): 109–129. (Davewakeum, new genus, p. 124, Figures 4–5; D. miriamae, new species, pp. 124–128, Figure 7).
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