Systematic Studies on the Scincid Lizards of New Caledonia
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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Hero, Jean-Marc
Other Supervisors
Castley, Guy
Shea, Glenn
Year published
2010
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
My studies undertaken over the past 30 years have identified the existence of an exceptionally rich and highly diverse scincid lizard fauna in New Caledonia, one typified by regional and localised endemism at a level not indicated by earlier studies. The patterns of broad and finer-scale endemism revealed in the phylogenetic studies indicate a complex evolutionary history for the scincid lizard fauna, one which reflects the historical complexity of the island’s environment, and provides a window into the likely processes that shaped the present day biota. Further, it places the evolution of the New Caledonian lizard fauna ...
View more >My studies undertaken over the past 30 years have identified the existence of an exceptionally rich and highly diverse scincid lizard fauna in New Caledonia, one typified by regional and localised endemism at a level not indicated by earlier studies. The patterns of broad and finer-scale endemism revealed in the phylogenetic studies indicate a complex evolutionary history for the scincid lizard fauna, one which reflects the historical complexity of the island’s environment, and provides a window into the likely processes that shaped the present day biota. Further, it places the evolution of the New Caledonian lizard fauna in a broader regional context, identifying it as intimately linked with the endemic New Zealand skink fauna, and challenging current conventional theories of a recent post emersion Oligocene origin for the New Caledonia biota.
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View more >My studies undertaken over the past 30 years have identified the existence of an exceptionally rich and highly diverse scincid lizard fauna in New Caledonia, one typified by regional and localised endemism at a level not indicated by earlier studies. The patterns of broad and finer-scale endemism revealed in the phylogenetic studies indicate a complex evolutionary history for the scincid lizard fauna, one which reflects the historical complexity of the island’s environment, and provides a window into the likely processes that shaped the present day biota. Further, it places the evolution of the New Caledonian lizard fauna in a broader regional context, identifying it as intimately linked with the endemic New Zealand skink fauna, and challenging current conventional theories of a recent post emersion Oligocene origin for the New Caledonia biota.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy by Publication (PhD)
School
Griffith School of Environment
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Note
PhD by publication
Subject
Scincid lizard
New Caledonia lizard fauna
New Zealand skink fauna
New Caledonian biota
Geckos