Comparative phylogeography reveals pre-decline population structure of New Zealand Cyclodina (Reptilia: Scincidae) species

We examined the comparative phylogeography of all species within the endemic New Zealand skink genus Cyclodina to gain insight into the influence of historical processes on the biogeography of the North Island fauna. Until 1-2 kya, six Cyclodina species occurred sympatrically across the North Island of New Zealand. However, most species have undergone dramatic distributional declines subsequent to the introduction of mammals and the arrival of humans.