AbstractIt is generally admitted that the some 38 species referred toAblepharusLichtenstein, 1823 (Sauria, Scincidae) belong to the same evolutionary level. Smith(1935), followed by Parker(1936), DeWitte(1936), Mitchelland Storr(in. litt.) pointed out the “polyphyletic” origin of the “ablepharine” skinks, and Greer(1967) presented arguments on the basis of the skull morphology. The study of nearly all the skinks assigned to the genusAblepharusis in agreement with the above statements. A tentative new generic arrangement is presented, based on the assumption of several parallel evolutionary series, starting from closely related although different lines, showing convergent morphological features under the action of a similar way of life (burrowing and cryptic). The “ablepharine” skinks assemblage includes different evolutionary levels, which have to be referred to distinct genera. Onlybivittatus, pannonicus, desertiandkitaibeliiare assigned toAblepharusLichtenstein;boutoniibelongs toCryptoblepharusWiegmann. The African “ablepharine” skinks, together with several other species having a transparent window in the lower lid, are included inPanaspisCope. The Australian species commonly ascribed to the genusAblepharus, should be considered as belonging to following generic taxa:1.MorethiaGray, 1844, including the specieslineo‐ocellata, butleri, taeniopleura;2.PseudemoiaFuhn, 1967, monotypic (spenceri);3.CryptoblepharusWiegmann, 1834, monotypic (boutonii), but the species is polytypic.4.Notoscincusn. g., with the speciesornatusandwotjulum;5.MenetiaGray, 1844, monotypic (greyi);6. Species incertae sedis,burnetti(polytypic);7.Proablepharusn. g., includingtenuis(polytypic);8. Species incertae sedis, with the speciesdavisiandkinghorni;9.LeristaBell, 1833, includingelegans, distinguenda, lineata, muelleri, timidaand all the species assigned toRhodonaandNod