Lampropholis is a genus of skinks, commonly known as sunskinks, in the lizard subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae. The genus Lampropholis was previously found to belong to a clade with the genera Niveoscincus, Leiolopisma and others of the Eugongylus group within Lygosominae. (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). All species of Lampropholis are endemic to Australia. For similar skinks see genera Bassiana, Pseudemoia, and Niveoscincus.
Diet Sunskinks feed on invertebrates such as crickets, moths, slaters (woodlice), earthworms, and cockroaches.
Species The following 15 species are recognized as being valid.Lampropholis. The Reptile Database.Wilson S, Swan G (2006). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Second Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishing. 512 pp. .Wells RW (2002). "Some Taxonomic Changes to the Genus Lampropholis (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Australia" . Australian Biodiversity Record (8): 1-24. Lampropholis adonis – diamond-shielded sunskink, Ingram's litter skink Lampropholis amicula – friendly sunskink Lampropholis bellendenkerensis Lampropholis caligula – montane sunskink Lampropholis coggeri – northern rainforest sunskink Lampropholis colossus – Bunya sunskink Lampropholis couperi – plain-backed sunskink Lampropholis delicata – delicate skink, rainbow skink, garden skink, delicate grass skink Lampropholis elliotensis Lampropholis elongata – long sunskink, elongate sunskink Lampropholis guichenoti – common garden skink, pale-flecked garden sunskink, grass skink, Guichenot's grass skink Lampropholis isla (Hoskin, 2025) Lampropholis mirabilis – saxicoline sunskink Lampropholis robertsi – grey-bellied sunskink Lampropholis similis – southern rainforest sunskink
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Lampropholis.
References
Further reading Fitzinger (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Lampropholis, new genus, p. 22). (in Latin).