Scratching the surface of the Gulf Coastal Bioregion: Lerista munuwajarlu sp. nov. (Scincidae; Sphenomorphini), a new fossorial skink from the Northern Territory, Australia

We describe a new skink species, Lerista munuwajarlu sp. nov., from the Gulf Coastal Bioregion of the north-eastern Northern Territory, Australia, based on morphological and mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Lerista munuwajarlu sp. nov. is currently known from only two individuals collected 10 years and ca. 120 metres apart on Pungalina-Seven Emu Sanctuary. The new species lacks forelimbs, has hindlimbs with two toes, and features a broad, dark upper-lateral stripe.

Phylogenetic analysis suggests that L. munuwajarlu sp. nov. is sister to a group containing L. carpentariae, L. stylis, L. karlschmidti, and the L. wilkinsi clade—although this relationship is recovered with low statistical support. The new species is diagnostically different to these and all other Lerista species with respect to several aspects of limb reduction, scalation, and colour-pattern. We also collected two specimens of L. carpentariae from Limmen National Park, which are the first genetically confirmed records of this species on mainland Australia.