Sphenomorphus meyeri Doria 1874
Creators: name: Shea, Glenn M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Scincidae
Sphenomorphus
Sphenomorphus meyeri

description: Sphenomorphus meyeri (Doria 1874)
(Figs. 9–13)
Lygosoma (Hinulia) Meyeri Doria 1874: 332; plate 11, fig 13.
Syntypes: BMNH 76.7.18.2–3; MSNG 27877a–d; NHMW 16650:1–2; RMNH. RENA 4253; ZMB 7937a–b, 9739; 12 syntypes not located; type locality Wokan, Aru Islands.
Hinulia papuensis Macleay 1877: 62. Holotype: AM R31847. Type locality Katow, [Binaturi River, Papua New Guinea].
Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Sphenomorphus on the basis of the following combination of characters: size large (maximum SVL = 126 mm); prefrontals in contact or separated by an azygous scale; body scales smooth; midbody scales 40–57 (mean = 47.6, sd = 2.71, n = 198); paravertebral scales (A) 76–115 (mean = 94.2, sd = 6.83, n = 191); subdigital lamellae below the fourth toe (A) 14–22 (mean = 17.9, sd = 1.38, n = 187), divided into a larger preaxial series (from which the counts are derived) and a smaller postaxial series; frontal contacting first three (when a total of six) or four (when a total of seven) supraoculars; colour pattern consists of relatively thin, sinuous dark brown crossbars against a light brown background and some indication of a white stripe along the upper lip.
A full analysis of geographic variation in this species will be the subject of a separate paper.
Distribution. Low to mid altitudes (below 1100 m) in the western two thirds of New Guinea, including the Aru Islands and the Raja Ampat Islands (Fig. 14).
Sphenomorphus meyeri [n = 212]
Indonesia: Kepulauan Aru: BMNH 76.7.18.2–3, RMNH. RENA 4253, ZMB 7937–38, 9739 (syntypes of meyeri), [Wokam], Aru Islands [5°35'S 134°32'E]; WAM R109628, R109580, R109583, R109591, Karangguli (5°48'S 134°15'E).
Indonesian New Guinea: No precise locality: MNHN 1244, RMNH. RENA 3830a-c.
Papua Barat Province: AMNH 94313, Mt Besar, above Wailebet, 1500', Batanta I., Raja Ampat Is. (0°53'S 130°36'E); BPBM 3122, Kebar Valley, 550 m, Vogelkop (0.867°S 133.083°E); RMNH. RENA 7425a-b, Batanta I., Raja Ampat Is.; 7426a-b, Gagie [Pulau Gag 0°27'S 129°52'E] or Gebe [Pulau Gebe 0°05'S 129°20'E]; 30003–05, Kampong Gariau, Jamoer Meer [3°42'S 134°56'E]; 30006, Ajamaroe [Ajamaru], Vogelkop [1°14'S 132°12'E]; 30007, Manokwari [0°52'S 134°05'E]; 30008, Djitmau, Vogelkop [1°14'S 132°20'E]; 30009, Toeog, Vogelkop [coordinates unknown]; 30010, Komara, Vogelkop [?Koemana/Kumawa, Bomberoi Peninsula 3.8333°S 132.8333°E]; 30011, Pasir Poetih [=Pasir Putih, Vogelkop, 0°52'S 134°06'E].
Papua Province: AMNH 66354, Hollandia, Indonesia [2°32'S 140°41'E]; BPBM 3395, Itoda (4.036°S 136.09°E); FMNH 152333, MCZ 28681, Mimika River [ca. 4°43'S 138°28'E]; MCZ 68919, Kamu Valley [ca. 3°33'S 136°089'E]; RMNH. RENA 29982–30000, Tanah Merah [6°06'S 140°17'E]; 30001–02, Kauh, Digoel River [5°50'S 140°12'E]; 30012–13, Kawakit, Digoel River [5°39'S 140°14'E]; 30014–16, Katem [5°09'S 140°43'E].
Papua New Guinea: Western Province: AM R31847 (holotype of papuensis), Katow [9°08'S 142°57'E]; R64302, AMNH 111724, MCZ 141056 –60, 141064, PNGNM R22359, USNM 195770, Emeti, Bamu River (7°45'S 143°15'E); AM R93236, R 121161, AMNH 105862–64, 106274, MCZ 152326, 152358–59, 152364–66, SAM R11434, Wipim (8°51'S 142°54'E); AMNH 57543, Fly River; 57902, Daru (9°05'S 143°12'E); 59941, Sturt I., Fly River, (8°10'S 142°15'E); BMNH 1987.523–26, USNM 195880, Oriomo, Oriomo River (8°52'S 143°11'E); 1987.527, Runginae, Ok Mart River [Rumginae Mission, 5°54'S 141°16'E]; MCZ 119492, Balimo (8°02'S 142°57'E); 119493–94, 140748, Ningerum (5°42'S 141°07'E); 123990, Menemsore (5°53'S 141°15'E); 134749, Morehead (8°43'S 141°38'E), 135501–02, PNGNM R22360, Oriomo Stn (8°52'S 143°11'E); MCZ 137558–59, Mata (8°40'S 141°44'E); 140846, Kuru (8°55'S 143°03'E); 152351–53, Matkomrae (5°49'S 141°09'E); 152354, Old Zim, Oriomo River (8°46'S 143°05'E); 152355, Derongo (5°25'S 141°06'E); 152360–62, Boboa I., Lake Murray (7°01'S 141°30'E); UPNG 8812, 8806A, Kasua (7°11'S 142°55'E); USNM 213383–84, Makapa village, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince (7°57'S 142°34'E); 213385, Samacki River, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince (7°46'S 142°16'E); 213386, Ali village, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince (7°54'S 142°20'E). Gulf Province: AMNH 102336, FMNH 170590, MCZ 101249 –69, 101273 –74, 145233–47, 145249–51, PNGNM R24282, SAM R10985, WAM R67634–35, Uraru, Purari River (6°54'S 144°54'E); BMNH 1970.859–60, MCZ 101242 –46, 109236–39, Oroi, Purari River [= Orloli, 7°26'S 145°11'E]; BPBM 13120, 13122, 13130, 13164–65, Lakekamu field camp, along east branch of Avi Avi River, 120 m (7.735°S 146.496°E); 13158–59, 13162, PNGNM 25036, 25038, Ivimka, Lakekamu River (7.735°S 146.496°E); MCZ 100440 –41, Camp II, Pio River, 1000' (6°44'S 144°52'E), 100442, Weiana, 1500' (6°44'S 144°52'E); 100443, Ining River, Soliabeda [Soliabedo], 1200' (6°40'S 144°55'E); 100444, Camp I, Soliabeda [Soliabedo], 3500' [6°37'S 144°50'E]; 100445, Soliabeda [Soliabedo] (6°40'S 144°55'E); 101247, Koni (6°59'S 145°03'E); 101272, Camp III, Nimi River [6°48'S 144°52'E]; 101842, Koni, Purari River, 250' (6°59'S 145°03'E); 150877, 30km N, 14 km W Kikori, Kikori River [7°08'S 144°07'E]; USNM 518582, 11 km S Tekedu, Ivimka camp (7.4405°S 146.2945°E). Central Province: AM R24428, Angabanga River, Kairuku subdivision (8°49'S 146°34'E). Sandaun Province: AM R115497, Skgonga River [4°33'S 141°10'E]; BPBM 23177–80, Camp 1, Torricelli Mountains, 550 m (3.39329°S 142.52826°E). Southern Highlands Province: AM R118731–34, Fau (6°14'S 142°42'E); R118735–39, Waro (6°32'S 143°11'E); R118740, Fogamaiyu (6°31'S 143°05'E); R118741, Namosado (6°15'S 142°47'E). Chimbu Province: BPBM 19063, Wera Sera field station, 850 m, Crater Mountain (6°43.43675'S 145°05.5575'E).
description: Published as part of Shea, Glenn M., 2012, On the identity of the type species of Sphenomorphus (Squamata: Scincidae): Lygosoma melanopogon Duméril and Bibron 1839, with a note on a new scalation character of the pes in Sphenomorphus, pp. 1-29 in Zootaxa 3490 (1) on pages 15-27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3490.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/213877