Postby Zach » Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:48 am
Terrific Easterns!
Tiliqua s. scincoides is correct! It's just an abbreviation for Tiliqua scincoides scincoides.
Here's a small write-up that might help from our taxonomy page:
Binomial Nomenclature
The scientific naming of species whereby each species receives a Latin or Latinized name of two parts, the first indicating the genus (Tiliqua) and the second being the specific epithet. (nigrolutea, occipitalis, multifasciata etc.)
Explaining the genus of blue tongue skinks or any animal can be utterly confusing, but hopefully after reading this page it will make a little more sense. Basically, if the blue tongue has three names, it indicates the blue tongue skink is a subspecies, or is associated with a subspecies. Tiliqua gigas gigas is the Indonesian blue tongue. Tiliqua gigas keiensis is the Kei Island blue tongue, and is a subspecies of the Indonesian. Species that have just two words do not carry a subspecies (Take the Western blue tongue for example. Its name is: Tiliqua occipitalis. If it had a subspecies, it would be Tiliqua occipitalis occipitalis, the third name being the specific subspecies). Species with two repeat words are the pure breed. (I.E, gigas gigas & scincoides scincoides, or IF the Western carried a subspecies which it does not, it would be occipitalis occipitalis). The actual "species" is a wide group of animals. A subspecies is basically an animal that shares very similar qualities with that larger main species, but yet is sightly different in its own special way.
In a nutshell...
First Word — The blue tongue skink
Second Word — The species of blue tongue skink
Third Word (If applicable) — The subspecies of blue tongue skink
+ 2.2 Irian Jaya (Slurpy, Nona, Sassy, Cool Moe Dee)
+ 1.1 Eastern (Eugene, Enzo)
+ 1.2 Northern (Niko, Pearl, Peach)
+ 1.0 Tanimbar Island (TQ)