Lygosominae

Lygosominae is the largest subfamily of skinks in the family Scincidae. The subfamily can be divided into a number of genus groups. If the rarely used taxonomic rank of infrafamily is employed, the genus groups would be designated as such, but such a move would require a formal description according to the ICZN standards.

Genera

Several Lygosominae genera were notorious "wastebin taxa" in the past, with scientists assigning more or less closely related species to them in a haphazard fashion and without verifying that the new species were close relatives of the genera's type species. What was once placed in Lygosoma, for example, is now divided among some 15 genera, not all in this subfamily. Similarly, Mabuya and Sphenomorphus are having species moved elsewhere.

Haackgreerius (monotypic: endemic to coastal Somalia)

Lamprolepis – tree skinks

Lygosoma – writhing skinks

Mochlus - African spp. (synonym Lepidothyris)

Riopa

Subdoluseps

Dravidoseps

Now placed elsewhere

Egernia group

now Subfamily Egerniinae

Corucia – Solomon Islands skink

Cyclodomorphus

Egernia – (paraphyletic: including Bellatorias, Liopholis and Lissolepis, which are better regarded as distinct)

Tiliqua – blue-tongued skinks

Tribolonotus – crocodile skinks

Eugongylus group

now Subfamily Eugongylinae

Bassiana (= Acritoscincus) – "cool-skins"

Carlia – four-fingered skinks

Cryptoblepharus – snake-eyed skinks, shining-skinks

Emoia – emoias

Eugongylus – mastiff skinks, short-legged giant skinks

Lampropholis – Indo-Australian ground skinks

Leiolopisma

Lobulia

Niveoscincus – snow skinks, "cool-skins"

Oligosoma

Saproscincus – shade skinks

Mabuya group

now Subfamily Mabuyinae

Chioninia – Cape Verde mabuyas (formerly in Mabuya)

Dasia — Southeast Asian tree skinks, including Apterygodon (now considered to be part of Dasia)

Eumecia — Central African elongated skinks

Eutropis – Asian (formerly in Mabuya)

Heremites — Mediterranean (North Africa and Middle Eastern species)

Mabuya – American mabuyas

Toenayar — composed of a single species in India/Indochina

Trachylepis – Afro-Malagasy mabuyas (formerly in Mabuya)

Sphenomorphus group

now in subfamily Sphenomorphinae

Anomalopus – worm-skinks

Ctenotus – comb-eared skinks

Eulamprus – water skinks

Eremiascincus

Glaphyromorphus

Gnypetoscincus – Prickly Skink

Insulasaurus

Lerista

Lipinia – lipinias

Otosaurus

Parvoscincus

Pinoyscincus

Scincella – ground skinks

Sphenomorphus – common skinks (paraphyletic)

Tytthoscincus

Incertae sedis and obsolete genera

Euprepis - obsolete genus

Hemisphaeriodon – pink-tongued skinks

"Hinulia elegans", described by Grey in 1838, is unidentified, but may be Eulamprus tenuis.