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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: February 11th, 2024.


Taxonomy of the family Scincidae
Bibliography of the genus Riopa
Biodiversity of the family Scincidae








Genus
Riopa

Asian Gracile Skinks, (Supple Skinks)

Asiatische Schlankskinke

Asiatiske Myndeskinker

1839 Riopa Gray (type species: Lacerta punctata Linnaeus 1758)
1839 Campsodactylus Dumeril & Bibron [not Campsodactylus Dumeril 1837 (nomen nudum)] (type species: Campsodactylus lamarrei Dumeril & Bibron 1839; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019)
1839 Chiamela Gray (type species: Chiamela lineata Gray 1839; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019)
1839 Hagria Gray (type species: Hagria vosmaerii Gray 1839; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019)
1843 Sphenosoma Fitzinger [not Sphenosoma Dejean 1834] (type species: Lacerta punctata Linnaeus 1758; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019)
Contents: 19 species, of which 13 (68.4%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0% 100%
Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of Lygosoma (e.g., Greer 1977; Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen 2009; Das 2010; Geissler, Nguyen, Phung, Van Devender, Hartmann, Farkas, Ziegler & Böhme 2011), but as a valid genus ny others (e.g.; Mittleman 1952; Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009). Revalidated as a separate genus by Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler (2019), who, based on analyzed tissue samples, assigned only 9 species with certainty to the genus. Because tissue samples were not available for many of the remaining species previously assigned to Lygosoma, the authors retained another 10 Asian species in the genus Lygosoma, pending further studies. These species are, however, tentatively assigned to Riopa herein, since most of them have previously been assigned to or even described originally as members of this genus. Formerly included Dravidoseps goaensis.
Distribution: S. Asia, Malay Archipelago.
Reported from: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Indonesia (Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia [incl. Penang Island]), Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

Riopa albopunctata

White-spotted Gracile Skink, White-spotted Supple Skink, Brown Dwarf Skink

Weissgepunkteter Schlankskink

Hvidprikket Myndeskink

1846 Riopa albopunctata Gray
Eumeces albopunctatus Günther 1864
Lygosoma albopunctatum Boulenger 1887
Mochlus albopunctatus Mittleman 1952
1847 Eumeces punctatus Cantor (Boulenger 1912)
1878 ? Eumeces fischerii Bocourt (Smith 1935)

Remarks: Although reported to occur in Vietnam (e.g., Bobrov 1993, 1995; David & Ineich 2009; Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen 2009), presence in the country is doubtful (Geissler, Nguyen, Phung, Van Devender, Hartmann, Farkas, Ziegler & Böhme 2011).
Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Malaysia (West Malaysia [incl. Penang Island]), Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan.


Riopa angeli

Dong Nai Gracile Skink, Dong Nai Supple Skink, (Angel's Supple Skink, Angel's Writhing Skink)

Dong-Nai-Schlankskink

Dong Nai-myndeskink

1937 Riopa angeli Smith
Lygosoma angeli Greer 1977

Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.


Riopa anguina

Burmese Gracile Skink, Burmese Supple Skink, Burmese Slender Skink

Burmesischer Schlankskink

Burmesisk Myndeskink

1868 Riopa anguina Theobald
Lygosoma anguinum Boulenger 1887

Distribution: Myanmar, Thailand.


Riopa bampfyldei

Sarawak Gracile Skink, Sarawak Supple Skink, (Bampfylde's Supple Skink, Bampfylde's Giant Skink)

Sarawak-Schlankskink

Sarawak-myndeskink

1895 Lygosoma bampfyldei Bartlett
Riopa bampfyldei Smith 1937
Mochlus bampfyledei [lapsus] Mittleman 1952

Remarks: Previously included schneideri and the populations now assigned to kinabatanganensis and peninsularis. Occasionally misspelled bampfyledi (e.g., Greer 1977) or bampfyledei (e.g., Mittleman 1952).
Distribution: Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak).


Riopa boehmei

Quang Binh Gracile Skink, Quang Binh Supple Skink, (Böhme's Supple Skink)

Quang-Binh-Schlankskink

Quang Binh-myndeskink

2007 Lygosoma boehmei Ziegler, Schmitz, Heidrich, Vu & Nguyen
Riopa boehmei Bobrov & Semenov 2008

Distribution: Vietnam.


Riopa guentheri

Malabar Gracile Skink, Malabar Supple Skink, Malabar Dotted Skink

Malabar-Schlankskink

Malabar-myndeskink

1879 Eumeces guentheri Peters
Lygosoma guentheri Boulenger 1887
Riopa guentheri Smith 1935

Remarks: Not mentioned for Kerala by Palot (2015). A record from Jharkhand was corrected to Chhattisgarh by Bhilala, Ashaharraza, Ingle, Das, Sambath & Mohapatra (2021).
Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana).


Riopa haroldyoungi

Banded Gracile Skink, Banded Supple Skink, Banded Slender Skink, (Harold Young's Supple Skink)

Gebänderter Schlankskink

Båndet Myndeskink

1962 Riopa haroldyoungi Taylor
Lygosoma haroldyoungi Greer 1977

Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand.


Riopa kinabatanganensis

Kinabatangan Gracile Skink, Kinabatangan Supple Skink

Kinabatangan-Schlankskink

Kinabatangan-myndeskink

2018 Lygosoma kinabatanganensis Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun
Lygosoma kinabatanganense [emendation] Midtgaard 2019
Riopa kinabatanganensis Midtgaard 2020 (this work)

Remarks: Previously regarded as a population of bampfyldei. Described as a separate species by Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun (2018).
Distribution: Malaysia (Sabah).





Riopa koratensis

Khorat Gracile Skink, Khorat Supple Skink, Khorat Slender Skink, Long Red Skink

Koratskink

Khorat-myndeskink

1917 Lygosoma koratense Smith
Riopa koratense Smith 1935
Mochlus koratensis Mittleman 1952

Remarks: Although a specimen from an "unknown locality" in Malaysia was reported by Ziegler, Schmitz, Heidrich, Vu & Nguyen (2007), presence in the country is considered doubtful (Grismer 2011).
Distribution: Thailand.


Riopa koratensis
© Rune Midtgaard

Riopa lineata

Indian Striped Gracile Skink, Indian Striped Supple Skink, Golden-brown Four-toed Skink

Indischer Gestreifter Schlankskink

Indisk Stribet Myndeskink

1839 Chiamela lineata Gray
Lygosoma lineatum Boulenger 1887
Riopa lineata Smith 1935
1839 Campsodactylus lamarrei Duméril & Bibron (Vyas 2001, by implication)
1839 Hagria vosmaerii Gray (Vyas 2001)
Lygosoma vosmaeri Boulenger 1887
Riopa vosmaeri Smith 1935

Remarks: Although reported from Bangladesh (e.g., Sarker & Sarker 1985; Das 1996 [as vosmaeri]; Khan 2004 [as vosmaeri]), Vyas (2009) did not include the country in the range of the species. The type locality of vosmaeri ("Bengal") is most likely to be interpreted as West Bengal, India (Vyas 2009) from where it was also listed by Tikader & Sharma (1992). The status of vosmaeri is unclear (Vyas 2009, 2010; Seetharamaraju, Sreekar, Srinivasulu, Srinivasulu, Kaur & Venkateshwarlu 2009; Srinivasulu & Seetharamaraju 2010).
Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal).


Riopa lineolata

Mottama Gracile Skink, (Lined Supple Skink)

Mottama-Schlankskink

Mottama-myndeskink

1870 Riopa lineolata Stoliczka
Lygosoma lineolatum Boulenger 1887
1872 Riopa cyanella Stoliczka (Smith 1935)
1887 Lygosoma calamus Boulenger (Smith 1935)
1887 Lygosoma feae Boulenger (Smith 1935)

Distribution: Bangladesh, Myanmar.


Riopa opisthorhoda

Indragiri Gracile Skink, Indragiri Supple Skink

Indragiri-Schlankskink

Indragiri-myndeskink

1910 Lygosoma opisthorhodum Werner
Riopa opisthorhodum Smith 1937
Mochlus opisthorhodus Mittleman 1952

Distribution: Indonesia (Sumatra).


Riopa peninsularis

Larut Gracile Skink, Larut Supple Skink, (Peninsular Supple Skink)

Larut-Schlankskink

Larut-myndeskink

2018 Lygosoma peninsulare Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun
Riopa peninsularis Midtgaard 2020 (this work)

Remarks: Previously regarded as a population of bampfyldei. Restricted as a separate species by Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun (2018).
Distribution: Malaysia (West Malaysia).





Riopa popae

Mount Popa Gracile Skink, Mount Popa Supple Skink

Mount-Popa-Schlankskink

Popa-myndeskink

1940 Riopa popae Shreve
Lygosoma popae Greer 1977

Distribution: Myanmar.


Riopa punctata

Spotted Gracile Skink, Spotted Supple Skink, Dotted Garden Skink, Punctate Supple Skink, (Snake Skink)

Gefleckter Schlankskink

Plettet Myndeskink

1758 Lacerta punctata Linnaeus
Scincus punctatus Gmelin 1799
Eumeces punctatus Wiegmann 1834
Riopa punctata Gray 1845
Lygosoma punctatum Boulenger 1887
1829 Seps scincoides Cuvier (Smith 1935)
1845 Mabuya elegans Gray (Smith 1935)
1845 Riopa hardwickii Gray (Smith 1935)

Remarks: Although reported to occur in Vietnam (e.g., Bobrov 1993, 1995; David & Ineich 2009; Nguyen, Ho & Nguyen 2009; Smith 1935), presence in the country is doubtful (Geissler, Nguyen, Phung, Van Devender, Hartmann, Farkas, Ziegler & Böhme 2011). Smith (1935) attributed the authorship of this species name to Gmelin, but this was questioned by Zhao & Adler (1993). Eremchenko (in Schleich & Kästle (eds.) 2002) stated that 'obviously C. Linnaeus (1758) should be accepted as the author', but nevertheless listed 'Linnaeus, 1966' in the synonymy. The latter year is assumed to be an error.
Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.


Riopa schneideri

Djapura Gracile Skink, Djapura Supple Skink, (Sumatran Supple Skink)

Djapura-Schlankskink

Djapura-myndeskink

1900 Lygosoma schneideri Werner
Riopa schneideri Midtgaard 2020 (this work)

Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of bampfyldei (e.g., Boulenger 1912). Revalidated as a separate species by Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun (2018). Known from only the type locality (Indragiri, Djapura). Reports from northwestern Sumatra (Das 2010) are erroneous (Grismer, Quah, Duzulkafly & Yambun 2018).
Distribution: Indonesia (Sumatra).





Riopa singha

Sri Lankan Gracile Skink, Sri Lankan Supple Skink

Srilankanischer Schlankskink

Srilankansk Myndeskink

1950 Riopa singha Taylor
Lygosoma singhum Greer 1977

Distribution: Sri Lanka.


Riopa veunsaiensis

Veun Sai Gracile Skink, Veun Sai Supple Skink

Veun-Sai-Schlankskink

Veun Sai-myndeskink

2012 Lygosoma veunsaiensis Geissler, Hartmann & Neang
Lygosoma veunsaiense [emendation] Midtgaard 2019
Riopa veunsaiensis Midtgaard 2020 (this work)

Distribution: Cambodia.


Riopa vosmaerii

Bengal Gracile Skink

Bengalischer Schlankskink

Bengalsk Myndeskink

1839 Hagria vosmaerii Gray
Riopa vosmaerii Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019

Remarks: Previously regarded as a synonym of lineata (e.g., Vyas 2001). Considered a separate species by Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler (2019). Presence in Gujarat is considered erroneous (Patel & Vyas 2019).
Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal).