Scincus is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of skink

Skink

Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...

s (family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Scincidae). All three species are typical desert inhabitants, living in sandy and dune-like areas, with a hot and dry climate. They can be found from Arabia to the Sahara desert.

Thius is the type genus of the subfamily Scincinae

Scincinae

Scincinae are a subfamily of six genera of skinks. The systematics is at times controversial. The group is probably paraphyletic.- Genera :* Chalcides* Eumeces* Ophiomorus* Scincopus* Scincus* Sphenops- External links :*...

. As that group appears to be paraphyletic and is in need of revision, it is as of yet undetermined which skink genera are closely enough related to Scincus to be retained in the Scincinae.(Austin & Arnold 2006).

Species

• Scincus hemprichii
• Scincus mitranus, Eastern skink
  Eastern skink
  The Eastern skink is a lizard from the skink family . These skinks grow to a length of 20 cm, and have an orange-brown or sand-coloured back, and a white underside. On the side they have a line or spots in a light colour, and the back and legs have vague dark bands. The snout is shaped like a...
  
  
• Scincus scincus, Sandfish
  Scincus scincus
  The Sandfish is a species of skink that burrows into the sand and swims through it. It is native to North africa and southwestern asia, but is also kept as a pet elsewhere.-Description:...