Gardiner's burrowing skink (Pamelaescincus gardineri) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. P. gardineri is the only species in the (monotypic) skink genus Pamelaescincus. The species is endemic to the Seychelles.
Etymology The generic name, Pamelaescincus, is in honor of Pamela, the older of Allen E. Greer's two sisters.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Genus Pamelaescincus, p. 200; species P. gardineri, p. 97).
The specific name, gardineri, is in honor of British zoologist John Stanley Gardiner.
Taxonomy Pamelaescincus gardineri is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic. Probably quite close to Janetaescincus, it belongs to a major clade that does not seem to include the type genus Scincus. Thus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily. (2006). "Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. (HTML abstract)
Geographic range Pamelaescincus gardineri is found only in the Seychelles. www.reptile-database.org.
Habitat and behavior The natural habitats of Pamelaescincus gardineri are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, at altitudes from sea level to , where it burrows in the leaf litter and soil.
Reproduction Pamelaescincus gardineri is oviparous.
Conservation status Populations of Pamelaescincus gardeneri are locally affected by introduced predators and habitat destruction, but unlike its relatives, it is not considered an endangered species by the IUCN. Database entry includes justification why this species is of least concern.
References
External links Monitoring and conservation of Seychelles reptiles and amphibians