Revision of the montane New Guinean skink genus Lobulia (Squamata: Scincidae), with the description of four new genera and nine new species Author Slavenko, Alex Author Tamar, Karin Author Tallowin, Oliver J S Author Kraus, Fred Author Allison, Allen Author Carranza, Salvador Author Meiri, Shai text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2022 2022-05-01 195 1 220 278 https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/195/1/220/6365875 journal article 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab052 0024-4082 6530695 LOBULIA GREER, 1974 (CLADE I) ( FIGS 5–15 ; SUPPORTING INFORMATION, FIGS S6–S 7 ; TABLE 1 ) Lobulia Greer, 1974 . Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series (31): 1–67. Type species: Lygosoma elegans Boulenger, 1897 , by original designation. Diagnosis: Medium-sized (adult SVL 41.9–63.9 mm ) terrestrial or semi-arboreal skinks with long limbs (forelimbs 32.9–47.6% of SVL, hindlimbs 41.6– 54.8% of SVL); lobules present on anterior edge of ear opening; two pairs of chin shields in medial contact; two supralabials posterior to subocular supralabial; chin shields abutting infralabials; lower eyelid with semi-transparent window; standard three-scale temporal region; nasal scale undivided; frontoparietals either fused or unfused; viviparous; litter size 1–4. Lobulia differs from all other genera by its much longer limbs (forelimbs 32.9–47.6% vs. 27.7–39.8% of SVL, hindlimbs 41.6–54.8% vs. 29.9–49.6% of SVL). It further differs from Prasinohaema by lacking green blood serum and tissues ( Greer, 1974 ), a prehensile tail with a glandular tip and basally expanded subdigital lamellae. It differs from Papuascincus by having two pairs of chin shields in medial contact (vs. one), an undivided (vs. divided) nasal scale and a viviparous (vs. oviparous) reproductive mode. Figure 5. Representatives of each of the seven revised genera, not to scale: (A) Lobulia huonensis (BPBM 40322); (B) Prasinohaema flavipes (BPBM 40369); (C) Nubeoscincus glacialis (BPBM 14712); (D) Papuascincus lineage VII (BPBM 44749); (E) Palaia pulchra (BPBM 38789); (F) Alpinoscincus alpinus (BPBM 44218); (G) Ornithuroscincus pterophilus (BPBM 45705). Images by Allen Allison. Species included: Lobulia brongersmai Zweifel, 1972 ; Lobulia elegans ( Boulenger, 1897 ) ; Lobulia lobulus ( Loveridge, 1945 ) ; and new species described below. Distribution: Members of Lobulia are widespread along most of the montane regions of New Guinea , ranging from the central Owen Stanley Mountains in the Papuan Peninsula in the east ( Lo. elegans ) to the Arfak Mountains in the Vogelkop Peninsula in the west. Most species are montane, found at elevations up to 2700 m a.s.l.; however, Lo. brongersmai is found in the lowlands and hill regions of the northern versant of New Guinea ( 0–1340 m a.s.l.). Lobulia brongersmai is the only member of the genus to be found below elevations of 700 m , the lowest recorded locality for Lo. elegans ( Kraus, 2020 ) . Remarks: Molecular evidence suggests that at least two other species not already named or described herein occur in the genus: one in Woitape (BPBM 18689–90; WGS 84: 8.545°S , 147.251°E ) and one on Mt Yakapi in the Muller Range (BPBM 34161; WGS 84: 5.666°S , 142.643°E ). However, since both are only known from a few specimens each, and are not extremely morphologically distinct, we refrain from formally describing them until further material can be collected and examined.