Riopa

Riopa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Riopa

Riopa is a genus of skinks. It is easy to tell the species apart from most other skinks by bright red coloring on their sides from which they get their name. They also have a bule that runs down the side of their tail. The genus is generally not considered valid today; instead, recent authorities have moved the southeast Asian species to Lygosoma and the African to Lepidothyris.^[1]

Classification

When Riopa was recognized as valid, it typically included the following four species. Recent authorities have found that the African fire skink, as traditionally defined, actually consisted of three valid species and these belong in the genus Lepidothyris, while the remaining "Riopa" species (all from southeast Asia) belong in Lygosoma.^[1]

• Riopa bampfyldei
• Riopa fernandi – fire skink
• Riopa herberti
• Riopa opisthorhodum

References

1. 1 2 Wagner, Bôhme, Pauwels & Schmitz (2009). A review of the African red–flanked skinks of the Lygosoma fernandi (BURTON, 1836) species group (Squamata: Scincidae) and the role of climate change in their speciation. Zootaxa 2050: 1-30.