
Abstract Madascincus is a genus of quadrupedal skinks endemic to Madagascar, with 12 recognized species described between the 19 th and 21 st centuries, occupying diverse habitats from humid forests to arid southern regions and even high-altitude areas. Recent field expeditions uncovered two morphologically distinct forms that did not match any known species, prompting integrative taxonomic analyses that combine multilocus phylogenetics and morphology. Results revealed that each of these forms represents a highly divergent and likely ancient lineage, as evidenced by the substantial branch lengths in both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenetic trees. These investigations led to the formal description of two new species with restricted distribution ranges: Madascincus irery sp. nov ., likely endemic to the island of Nosy Be, and Madascincus minotaurus sp. nov ., apparently restricted to the Tsingy de Namoroka karst system.
reptile, skink, Biogeography, herpetofauna, phylogeny, integrative taxonomy
reptile, skink, Biogeography, herpetofauna, phylogeny, integrative taxonomy
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
