Electrophoretic and Morphological Comparisons of Lampropholis-Delicata (Lacertilia, Scincidae) Populations From Eastern Australia, and a Resolution of the Taxonomic Status of This Species

Abstract

Isozyme electrophoresis and morphological comparisons were used to examine 40 populations of the skink Lampropholis delicata from eastern Australia. Four electrophoretically distinct forms were recognised amongst the sampled populations. Morphological comparisons were able to separate the four population groups only when meristic and colour characters were combined and compared by means of multivariate analysis. The taxonomic status of L. delicata was stabilised by nominating a neotype for the species, collected from the type locality.