The genus Brachymeles was first described by Duméril and Bibron (1839) for the small, limb-reduced species Brachymeles bonitae. Brachymeles bonitae likely represents a complex of morphologically similar species. Over the last several years, an effort to understand the diversity of this genus has resulted in a doubling of the species diversity, with many of the previously recognized species complexes being revised. Brachymeles bonitae is a small, non-pentadactyl species occurring throughout much of the north-central and northern islands in the Philippines. Populations vary greatly in digit numbers, scale counts, and numbers of presacral vertebrae. The genus Brachymeles represents a unique group of semi-burrowing (semi-fossorial) lizards in that the group possesses species with a full spectrum of body forms, from limbed species with five fingers and five toes, to fully limbless species. Researchers are interested in the process and patterns behind the evolution of these drastic changes in body form. With the exception of two species from Borneo (B. apus) and Thailand (B. miriamae), all species of Brachymeles are endemic to the Philippines. This means they are found among the more than 7,000 Philippine islands and nowhere else in the world.
Currently, Brachymeles bonitae is recognized to have a widespread distribution throughout much of the central and northern Philippine islands. However, given that we fully suspect the species to actually represent a large complex of morphologically similar species, we cannot evaluate the conservation status of this complex at this time.
Brachymeles bonitae can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body size small (SVL 49.7–80.0 mm); (2) limbs with 0–2 digits; (3) limb length small; (4) supralabials six or seven; (5) infralabials five, six, or seven; (6) suparciliaries five or six; (7) supraoculars four; (8) midbody scale rows 21–23; (9) axilla–groin scale rows 73–90; (10) paravertebral scale rows 90–109; (11) pineal eye spot present; (12) prefrontals not contacting on midline; (13) frontoparietals not contacting on midline; (14) mental/1st infralabial fusion present or absent; (15) postnasals absent; (16) enlarged chin shields in three pairs; (17) nuchal scales differentiated; (18) auricular opening absent; and (19) presacral vertebrae 47–57.
Brachymeles bonitae currently is recognized to occur in the Luzon, Mindoro, and Visayan (Central) Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes. Populations of this species also occur on several isolated islands in the Philippines, including Lubang Island and the Romblon Island Group.
SVL 49.7–80.0 mm
Brachymeles burksi, the Burks' burrowing skink, is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines. It occurs on the islands of Mindoro and Marinduque. It was synonymized with Brachymeles bonitae by Walter C. Brown in 1956 but revalidated by Cameron D. Siler and colleagues in 2020.[1]
Brachymeles burksi measures 58–78 mm (2.3–3.1 in) in snout–vent length. It has short, digitless limbs (many Brachymeles are limbless).[1]
Brachymeles burksi, the Burks' burrowing skink, is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines. It occurs on the islands of Mindoro and Marinduque. It was synonymized with Brachymeles bonitae by Walter C. Brown in 1956 but revalidated by Cameron D. Siler and colleagues in 2020.
Brachymeles burksi measures 58–78 mm (2.3–3.1 in) in snout–vent length. It has short, digitless limbs (many Brachymeles are limbless).
