title: Taxonomic revision of the semi-aquatic skink Parvoscincus leucospilos (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), with description of three new species.
abstract: We review the recent discovery of multiple populations of the enigmatic, semi-aquatic Sphenomorphus Group skink, Parvoscincus leucospilos Peters, and investigate the morphological and genetic diversity of isolated, allopatric populations of this unique skink. Our investigations support the recognition of four unique evolutionary lineages distributed across Luzon Island in the Philippines, three of which are herein described as new species (P. tikbalangi sp. nov., P. manananggalae sp. nov., and P. duwendorum sp. nov.). All four recognized species are genetically divergent in both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, and morphologically distinct. The description of three new Luzon Island endemic species adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that mechanisms driving the accumulation of vertebrate diversity in the Philippines may vary regionally across the archipelago.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautaugua Ave., Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA.; Email: camsiler@ou.edu.
authors.forename: Cameron D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Siler
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology; University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA.; Email: cwlinkem@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Linkem
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045-7593, USA.; Email: cobbkerry@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautaugua Ave., Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA.; Email: jwatters@ou.edu.
authors.forename: Jessa L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Watters
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautaugua Ave., Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA.; Email: sean.t.cummings-1@ou.edu.
authors.forename: Sean T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Section, Zoology Division, Philippine National Museum, Rizal Park, Burgos St., Manila, Philippines.; Email: arvin.diesmos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arvin C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Diesmos
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045-7593, USA; Email: cobbkerry@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rafe M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009929:Organ Size; D010802:Phylogeny