Comparison of phylogenetic trees of the genus Madascincus based on nDNA and mtDNA sequences (modified from Miralles and Vences 2013). Nuclear DNA tree inferred from BI analysis of concatenated BDNF, CMOS, PDC and RAG2 sequences compared to the mitochondrial DNA inferred from ND1 and 16S sequences (unpartitioned data set, posterior probabilities indicated for each node, see Miralles and Vences 2013 for details of analysis methods).

Haplotype network reconstructions for the four nuclear genes (BDNF, PDC, CMOS and RAG2). For each marker, circles represent haplotypes (size proportional to the number of individuals), black lines represent mutational steps and black dots missing haplotypes, white curves represent connections between haplotypes found co-occurring in heterozygous individuals, and white numbers represent the number of individuals in which the respective haplotypes were found co-occurring. Single locus fields of recombination (pools of co-occurring haplotypes) are represented by grey rectangles (redrawn from Miralles and Vences 2013).

Drawings of the lateral and dorsal views of the heads of most of the species of Madascincus, including the holotypes of the two new species described herein. A: Madascincus pyrurus sp. n., holotype ZSM 520/2001 (MV 2001-445), Mont Ibity; B: M. miafina sp. n., holotype ZSM 1562/2008 (FGZC 1658), Ankarana Special Reserve; C: M. arenicola, holotype ZSM 1565/2008 (FGZC 1703), Baie des Sakalava; D: M. polleni, holotype MNHN 1895.210, “Mouroundava” (= Morondava); E: M. stumpffi, holotype SMF 16019, “Nossibé” (=Nosy Be); F: M. igneocaudatus, ZSM 1600/2010 (ZCMV 12888), Anakao; G: M. mouroundavae, ZSM 13/2005 (ZCMV 2254), Andasibe; H: M. ankodabensis, ZSM 355/2006 (ZCMV 2907), Ranomafana; I: M. melanopleura, ZSM 20/2005 (ZCMV 2266), Andasibe; J: M. minutus, ZSM 400/2005 (ZCMV 2166), Nosy Mangabe. Dwarf species of Madascincus, namely M. nanus and M. macrolepis, not represented. Scale bars = 2 mm. Abbreviations used for indication of scales (A, B) follow those defined by Miralles et al. (2011b).

Photographic plate showing most of the recognized species of Madascincus (picture not available for M. macrolepis), highlighting the chromatic polymorphism (red tail and brown tail morphs) for M. miafina sp. n., M. pyrurus sp. n. and M. igneocaudatus. Picture I depicts the sole specimen known from Kirindy that in Glaw and Vences (2007) was assigned to a candidate species M. sp. “vitreus”, and O depicts a specimen that these authors assigned to a candidate species M. sp. “baeus”.

Distribution maps for Madascincus species. Colored dots are representing localities sampled in the molecular studies by Miralles and Vences (2013), whereas white dots are representing localities of specimens only identified by morphology, and/or type localities. For M. polleni, another locality has been added based on a recent paper from Rakotoarison et al. (2015), who have collected an additional specimen (ZCMV 14157) in Mitsinjo forest in north-western Madagascar (16°02’54.5”S, 45°47’24.1”E). The identity of this specimen is confirmed by both its morphological characteristics and its phylogenetic position inferred from a segment of the 16S rRNA gene (nested within the M. polleni clade, and closely related to the population of Ankarafanstika, GenBank accession number KR025911). Note that for some species,especially M. mouroundavae, additional verified localities exist but these are here excluded for consistency because no samples were examined in the framework of the present study.