You are here » home › advanced search › search results › Morethia obscura

Morethia obscura STORR, 1972

iNaturalist logo

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Morethia obscura?

Add your own observation of
Morethia obscura »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaScincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Shrubland Morethia Skink 
SynonymMorethia obscura STORR 1972: 76
Morethia anomalus GRAY 1845: 65 (part.)
Morethia obscura — GREER 1974: 21
Morethia obscura — COGGER 1983: 181
Morethia obscura — THORPE et al. 1991
Morethia obscura — COGGER 2000: 548
Morethia obscura — WILSON & SWAN 2010 
DistributionAustralia (New South Wales,South Australia,Victoria,Western Australia)

Type locality: 6 mi E of Kalamunda, 31° 58’ S, 116° 08’ E, W. A.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: WAM R16916
Lectotype, BMNH 1946.8.15.75, Paralectotype: BMNH 1946.8.15.74, from W. A. [Morethia anomalus]. 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (n=>100). Supraciliaries 6 (rarely 5), fourth largest, last three forming a decreasing series, their junction with supraoculars roughly linear. Otherwise generally similar to M. lineoocellata and differing only in greater size, darker coloration, less distinct pattern, and invariable presence of supranasal. (Storr 1972)


Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data. However, these details, e.g. detailed descriptions (about about .34 pages) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us if you need any of this material. 
Comment 
EtymologyFrom the Latin obscurus (dark) in reference to the coloration. (G. Shea, pers. comm., 9 Feb 2024) 
References
  • Bush, B. 1981. Reptiles of the Kalgoorlie-Esperance Region. B. Bush, Perth, 46 pp - get paper here
  • Cogger, H. G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 7th ed. CSIRO Publishing, xxx + 1033 pp. - get paper here
  • Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
  • Couper, P., Covacevich, J., Amey, A. & Baker, A. 2006. The genera of skinks (Family Scincidae) of Australia and its island territories: diversity, distribution and identification. in: Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey, G.M. & Lee, M.S.Y. (eds.). Evolution and Zoogeography of Australasian Vertebrates. Australian Scientific Publishing, Sydney, pp. 367-384
  • Gray, J. E. 1845. Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of die British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp. - get paper here
  • Greer A E 1981. A new species of Morethia (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from northern Australia, with comments on the biology and relationships of the genus. Rec. Austral. Mus. 33 (2): 89-122 [1980] - get paper here
  • Greer, A.E. 1974. The generic relationships of the scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives. Australian Journal of Zoology 31: 1-67. - get paper here
  • How, RA, Cowan, MA, Teale, RJ, Schmitt, LH. 2020. Environmental correlates of reptile variation on the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago, eastern Indian Ocean. J Biogeogr. 47: 2017– 2028 - get paper here
  • Maryan, B., Browne-Cooper, R. and Bush, B. 2002. Herpetofauna Survey of the Maralla Road Bushland. Western Australian Naturalist 23: 197-205 - get paper here
  • Maryan, B., Gaikhorst, G., & Parkhurst, B. 2024. The terrestrial herpetofauna of the Zuytdorp coast and hinterland of Western Australia: Exceptional richness in a global biodiversity hotspot. Western Australian Naturalist, 33, 3
  • Rawlinson, P. A. 1976. The endemic Australian lizard genus Morethia (Scincidae: Lygosominae) in southern Australia. Mem. Natl. Mus. Vict. 37: 27-41 - get paper here
  • Storr, G. M. 1972. The genus Morethia (Lacertilia: Scincidae) in Western Australia. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 55: 73-79 [1973]
  • Storr, G. M.; L. A. Smith, and R. E. Johnstone 1999. Lizards of Western Australia. I. Skinks. Revised Edition. Western Australian Museum
  • Swan, G.; Sadlier, R.; Shea, G. 2017. A field guide to reptiles of New South Wales. Reed New Holland, 328 pp.
  • Thorpe, R.; A. Malhotra; Greer, A.E. 1991. Natural history notes on lizards from the Roe Plain, Western Australia. Western Australian Naturalist 18 (7): 178- 184. - get paper here
  • Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2010. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia, 3rd ed. Chatswood: New Holland, 558 pp.
  • Wright, L. J., Nimmo, D. G., Green, M. C., Simpson, R. E., Wassens, S., & Michael, D. R. 2025. Remnant Habitat Patches Have Lower Reptile Richness and Diversity Compared to Areas of Continuous Habitat. Austral Ecology, 50(3), e70045 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator