Keogh et alのアブストで、このP. curtus種群たちは、皮用のトレードが行われていると書かれています。もしかすると保全を考えた場合、変に亜種で保全対象とするよりも、種としての方が保全されやすくなるから、わざと種分けに拘っているのかなぁ、と。亜種でしたら、1亜種くらい絶滅したって他の亜種がいるから、種としては絶滅しないから良いじゃん〜、みたいな扱いになってしまいそうです(もちろん、良くないですけど)。結局は、単に、ボア科を扱う人の流行りってオチでしょうけど。
Description of Two New Species of the Genus Gekko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Tokara and Amami Island Groups in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan
Toda et al,. 2008. Copeia 2008, No.2, 452-466.
Geographic differentiation of the Japanese skink (Plestiodon japonicus) throughout the entire Japanese main islands was surveyed using two DNA markers, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and an internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal genes (ITS-1). Both of the markers concordantly demonstrated geographically discontinuous differentiation between three genetic lineages: the northeastern, central and western lineages. Little to no gene flow occurs between the western and central lineages despite their parapatric distribution suggesting an existence of reproductive isolation despite no known morphological and ecological dissimilarities. On the other hand, the geographic ranges of the northeastern and central lineages are partially separated by a wide area occupied by genetically intermediate type having northeastern mtDNA and central ITS-1. The current data imply that the intermediate type was established by past secondary hybridization between the northeastern and central lineages. Although current gene flow status between the northeastern and central lineages should be elaborated by further data, at least the divergence between the central and western lineages should be maintained by reproductive isolation and therefore taxonomic revision of the species is desired.
Okamoto, T. and Hikida, T. (2009). Three genetic lineages of the Japanese skink Plestiodon japonicus (Scincidae, Squamata), and the genetic composition of their contact zones. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 47(2): 181―188.のアブスト抜粋
A new subspecies of Batagur affinis (Cantor, 1847), one of the world’s most critically endangered chelonians (Testudines: Geoemydidae). Zootaxa 2233: 57–68 (2009)
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/07/08/rsbl.2011.0477
Lyson et al. 2011. MicroRNAs support a turtle + lizard clade. Biology letters.