Desert Lidless Skink

Paralectotypes: ZISP 568 (one specimen), “ Ustjurt ” [Kazakhstan]. Leg.: F. I. Basiner, 1843. — ZISP 570 - 571, 2 specimens, “ Akmetschet ” [Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan]. Leg.: N. A. Sewerzoff, 1863. Remarks: Guibé (1954) and Brygoo (1985) listed MNHN 5697 – 5698 from “ Tschinass (Turkestan) ” as a “ paratypes ”. However, these specimens originate from a large series (ZISP 5198) collected by F. Russow only in 1878 and therefore cannot be part of the type series. Description of A. deserti was published in two different versions (see literature cited). The description appeared on column (page) 366 in Strauch (1868 a) and page 564 of Strauch (1868 b), accounting for the occasional confusion regarding the correct page citation associated with the name. A great number of authors cited the article in Mélanges biologiques tirés du Bulletin de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg (Strauch 1868 b). However, it should be noted that the articles in Mélanges was published after the publication of primary volumes of the Bulletin de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg, of which some of the articles were reprinted (Bogutskaya & Naseka 2004).