Previous taxonomic assessments of species in this genus recognized six groups of species that shared similar morphologies (see Brown and Alcala, 1980). Subsequent analyses of morphology and phylogenetic studies have not supported the monophyly of these species groups, and large taxonomic revisions are needed in this diverse group of ground skinks to sort out the true species diversity and appropriate generic assignments of its members. This species has traditionally been considered a member of Group 5 species in the genus Sphenomorphus. Group 5 represents the jagori complex of species as well as their morphologically similar allies. Members of this group likely represent multiple complexes of morphologically simliar, but disparate species, and large scale taxonomic revisions are likely needed.
In recent study of Philippine forest skinks, Linkem et al. (2011) used molecular data to test the monophyly of previously hypothesized species groups within the genus Sphenomorphus. Results of the study indicated widespread taxonomic instability, and as a result, broad taxonomic changes were made to the genus, resurrecting available names as well as describing new genera. Sphenomorphus jagori jagori is now recognized to be a member of the genus Pinoyscincus.
Pinoyscincus jagori jagori can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters (1) medium to large body size (SVL 70.9–108.8 mm); (2) paravertebral scales 63–73; (3) midbody scales 34–42; (4) number of supraoculars contacting frontal 2; (5) Toe IV lamellae 24–30; (6) prefrontal scales separated; (7) frontoparietal scales not fused; (8) venter ivory.
As is currently recognized, this subspecies has a distribution spanning much of the Philippines, and is recognized to occur in the Sulu Archipelago as well as the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, Luzon, and Mindoro.
This species is currently recognized to possess a distribution spanning the Luzon, Mindoro, and Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes (PAIC; Brown and Diesmos, 2002) as well as the islands of the Sulu Archipelago.
SVL 70.9–108.8 mm
Leyte and Samar Islands; type in the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin; syntype (ZMB 4975, 4610)
