A revision of the East African species of Melanoseps Boulenger (Sauria: Scincidae: Feylininae)

Abstract

The East African species of Melanoseps are revised and the following taxonomic changes proposed: 1. M. ater matengoensis Loveridge 1942 and M. ater misukuensis Loveridge 1953 are placed in the synonymy of M. ater (Günther 1873). 2. Melanoseps emmrichi sp. nov. is described from the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania, where it is parapatric with M. loveridgei Brygoo & Roux‐Estève 1981. 3. Melanoseps pygmaeus sp. nov. is described from coastal forests in the Muheza District of northeastern Tanzania and a syntype of M. ater var. longicauda Tornier 1900 is included in the type series. The lectotype (and sole surviving specimen) of M. longicauda Tornier 1902 is lost; it may be referable to Typhlacontias. Sequence data analysed from three mitochondrial genes strongly supports the monophyly of the East African Melanoseps relative to M. occidentalis. Divergences among species of East African Melanoseps are small and probably of relatively recent (Plio‐Pleistocene) origin. Melanoseps ater and M. uzungwensis are closely related, but M. loveridgei appears polyphyletic and requires further genetic investigation.