Paracontias is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Madagascar.
Taxonomy and systematics Paracontias is usually placed in the subfamily Scincinae, which seems to be paraphyletic however. Probably quite close to Amphiglossus and possibly Androngo trivittatus, it belongs to a major clade which does not seem to include the type genus Scincus. Thus, it will probably be eventually assigned to a new, yet-to-be-named subfamily. (Austin & Arnold 2006)
Species The following 14 species are recognized as being valid.. www.reptile-database.org Paracontias ampijoroensis Paracontias brocchii – stone skink Paracontias fasika Paracontias hafa Paracontias hildebrandti – Hildebrand's skink Paracontias holomelas – Anzahamaru skink Paracontias kankana Paracontias mahamavo Paracontias manify Paracontias milloti – Nosy Mamoko skink Paracontias minimus Paracontias rothschildi – Rothschild's skink Paracontias tsararano Paracontias vermisaurus
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Paracontias.
References
Further reading (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) (1894). "Reptiles nouveaux ou insuffisamment connus de Madagascar ". Compte Rendu Sommaire des Séances de la Société Philomatique de Paris 17: 1–8. (Paracontias, new genus, p. 3). (in French).