Delma branchia PEPPER, DOUGHTY, FLETCHER & KEOGH, 2025
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Delma branchia?
Delma branchia
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| Higher Taxa | Pygopodidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Western Excitable Delma |
| Synonym | Delma branchia PEPPER, DOUGHTY, FLETCHER & KEOGH 2025: 15 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia) Type locality: Australia: Western Australia: Bullara Station (-22.8091°, 113.9442°) |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: WAM R153821 male, collected on 10 September 2003 by Brad Maryan and David Algaba. Paratypes: WAM R112690, Australia: Western Australia: *, 5.5 km SE Onslow (-21.6758°, 115.1450°); WAM R114490*, male, Wicherina Dam (-28.73°, 115.00°); WAM R115018*, Spalding Park, Geraldton (-28.65°, 114.63°); WAM R116545, Depot Hill (-29.13°, 115.35°); WAM R151059*, 10 km E Carnarvon (-24.883°, 113.767°); WAM R162054*, 5.5 km NE Giles Point (-23.214°, 119.202°); WAM R166546* Meka Station, (-27.5797°, 115.8992°). |
| Diagnosis | DIAGNOSIS: A small to medium-sized Delma (to 93 SVL and 370 mm long) with one pair of supranasals, third labial below eye and 14 midbody scale rows. Pattern differs from other D. tincta species-group members by the presence of ventrolateral markings posterior to dark bands of head; anteriorly they resemble a continuation of head banding but fade to checker-like patterns posteriorly on forebody (to 2–3 head lengths down the body). Ear opening not in contact with dark bands on head. Pale band separating the crown and nuchal band thick (twice as wide as band separating occipital and crown band). Large adults do not lose banding on head. Genetically diagnosed from all other D. tincta species complex taxa by 49 fixed differences (Table 2). Appendix 2 shows the diagnostic positions and sequences for all comparisons as well as the position on the reference chromosome where it aligns to Gekko japonicus. (Pepper et al. 2025) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 3052 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Distribution: see map in Pepper et al. 2025: 7 (Fig. 3) |
| Etymology | Named after the Latin noun branchiae, meaning gills, alluding to the broken banding and checkered pattern that continues down the side of the neck. |
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