Ctenotus borealis HORNER & KING, 1985
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Ctenotus borealis
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: White-faced Ctenotus |
| Synonym | Ctenotus borealis HORNER & KING 1985 Ctenotus borealis — COGGER 2000: 416 Ctenotus borealis — WILSON & SWAN 2010 |
| Distribution | Australia (Northern Territory) Type locality: Ban Ban Springs N.T. 12'42°S, 131°30'E. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: NTM R.3177, collected by D. Metcalfe on 14 February 1977, found in burrow between rocks on hill slooe in tropical savannah woodland. PARATYPES - NORTHERN TERRITORY: NTM R.7884, 11°47'S 130001'E, Cape Fourcroy, Bathurst Island, collected by P. Horner, I. Archibald, 16 October 1979; NTM R.7965, same locality as former but collected on 30 October 1979; NTM R.8019, same locality as former but collected on 1 November 1979; NTM R.2664, 12OZ3'S 132°57'E, Border store, East Alligator River, collected by. Horner and D. Metcalfe, 27 December 1976; NTM R.271O, 12°42'S 130059'E, Berry Springs Reserve, collected by R. Wells, D. Metcalfe, 2 January 1977; NTM R.3186-7, 13"23'S 131°30'E, Ban Ban Springs, collected by D. Metcalfe, 14 February 1977; NTM R.7044, 13°31'S 132°31'E, EI Sharana, collected by S. Swanson, 1 May 1979; NTM R.8825, 13"2'S 131°07'E, llkm S. Adelaide River, collected by G. Husband and G. Armstrong, 10 August 1980; AM R.61324, 12"25'S 1300 53'E Darwin, collected by J. Edwards; AM R.29964-65, 1J012'S 132°08'E, Black Point, Port Essington, collected by D. Lindner; AM R.88990, 12°31'S 132°53'E, Jabiluka, collected by R. Sadlier. The following four paratypes of C. robustus have now been transferred to this species: AM R.3663, 12"27'S 130050'E, Darwin, collected by C. Godfrey; AM R.4981, 12"27'S 130050'E, Darwin, collected by H.W. Christie; AM R.14230, 14°15'S 129°31'E, Port Keats, collected by Australian Museum Party; AM R.14223, 14°15'S 129°31'E, Port Keats, collected by Australian Museum Party. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A very large and robust member of the C. lesueurii species group (sensu Storr et al. 1981). Distinguished from all other species and from its closest relative C. robustus by the following combination of characters. The lengths of the hindlimbs are generally greater in C. borealis than in C. robustus at any snout vent length. Hind limb length to snout vent length ratios are from 1:2.1 to 1: 2.6 in C. borealis and 1:2.4 to 1:3.0 in C. robustus. The ear opening is large, hemispherical and vertically aligned with 5 to 7 white ear lobules in C. borealis, whereas, there are 3 to 6 lobules in C. robustus, and the auricular opening is often smaller and more rounded than oval in shape. C. borealis has a marked reduction in dorsal body patterning when compared to C. robustus. The intense black dorsal stripe edged in white in C. robustus, may be reduced to several black spots or may be completely absent in C. borealis, and generally lacks the white bordering. The characteristic black bordered, white, dorso-Iateral stripe which dominates the body and tail of C. robustus is generally absent in C. borealis, although a rOw of faint, offwhite spots may occur in this position on some specimens. The characteristic grey-brown lateral mottling of C. borealis entends along the sides of the body and length of the tail, the dark patches forming the dominant tail pattern in this species. In C. borealis the brown hind limbs are spotted with black, whereas, in C. robustus these limbs have dark brown or black stripes on them. In medium to large adult specimens of C. borealis the white ear lobules and intense white subocular stripe are the dominant features in a grey-brown generalized back pattern. Lateral patterning may range from subtle mottling to numerous black patches [HORNER & KING 1985]. |
| Comment | Limb morphology: 5 digits, 5 toes (Singhal et al. 2018, Cogger 2014) |
| Etymology | The specific name borealis is derived from the Latin 'Borealis' meaning Northern, and refers to the distribution of this species within Australia. |
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