Taxonomic Notes
Barabanov and Milto (2017) give the authority of this species as 'Lichtenstein, 1823', however, the name Scincus pannonicus was reported in this source (correctly, Fitzinger in Lichtenstein, 1823) without an associated description, and is consequently considered a nomen nudum by Uetz et al. (2018). The correct authority is consequently 'Fitzinger, 1824', in which publication the species was formally described (P. Uetz pers. comm. 2018).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is known from the Hajar Mountains between Asimah and Daftah (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press) and occurs at between 400-900 m asl. The species distribution might extend further, but due to its semi-fossorial habits, small size and difficulty to observe, it is under-sampled in surveys. This species is the most widely distributed member of its genus and has been recorded from southwestern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, southeast Kuwait, northern Oman, Iraq, northern and western Iran, southern Turkmenistan, southern Tajikistan, southeastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan (from Quetta to Chitral; Minton 1966), reaching its eastern range limit in the Indian state of Jammu-Kashmir (Sahi and Duda 1986). In Afghanistan Sindaco and Jeremçenko (2008) mapped lowland localities along the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Turkmenistan, however, the records provided by Wagner et al. (2016) suggest that the species is confined to montane areas in this country. A single specimen has also been reported from Syria (Aleppo; Jeremäenko and Szczerbak 1986), but the occurrence in this country needs to be confirmed, as do reports of its occurrence in Azerbaijan and Georgia (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008). It can occur up to 2,500 m asl.
