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

Morethia ruficauda (LUCAS & FROST, 1895)

iNaturalist logo

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Morethia ruficauda?

Add your own observation of
Morethia ruficauda »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaScincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
SubspeciesMorethia ruficauda ruficauda (LUCAS & FROST 1895)
Morethia ruficauda exquisita STORR 1972 
Common NamesE: Lined Firetail Skink 
SynonymAblepharus lineoocellatus ruficaudus LUCAS & FROST 1895: 269
Morethia taeniopleura exquisita STORR 1972
Morethia taeniopleura ruficauda STORR 1972: 74
Morethia ruficauda — COGGER 1983: 181
Morethia ruficauda — COGGER 2000: 548
Morethia ruficauda — WILSON & SWAN 2010

Morethia ruficauda exquisita STORR 1972
Morethia taeniopleura exquisita STORR 1972: 75
Morethia ruficauda exquisita — STORR et al. 1999 
DistributionAustralia (Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia)

ruficauda: C/N/NW Australia;

Type locality: Goyder River or Bagot's Lagoon, Central Australia, N. T. (by lectotype designation).

exquisita: mid-western Western Australia.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesLectotype: NMV D11757, designated by Coventry (1970).
Holotype: WAM R37709, from Tambrey, 21° 37’ S, 117'3 6’ E, W. A. [exquisita] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (n=38). The species taeniopleura is distinguishable from other Morethio by its black or blackish, unspotted back and somewhat depressed head. The subspecies M. t. ruficauda is distinguishable from M. t. taeniopleura (Peters) of eastern Queensland by its four (rather than five) supraciliaries; subdigital lamellae obtusely keeled or narrowly callose (rather than smooth or broadly callose); and more strongly developed dorsolateral stripe (silvery white, rather than pale brown; as wide or nearly as wide as pale midlateral stripe, rather than much narrower; and extending forward beyond supraciliaries). (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 .73 pages) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us if you need any of this material. 
CommentSynonymy after GREER 1980. 
EtymologyNamed after Latin “rufus” = red and “cauda” = tail. 
References
  • 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
  • Coventry, A. J. 1970. Reptile and amphibian type specimens housed in the National Museum of Victoria. Mem. Natl. Mus. Vic. 31: 115-124. - get paper here
  • Dittmer, D. E., Chapman, T. L. & Bidwell, J. R. 2020. In the shadow of an iconic inselberg: Uluru’s shadow influences climates and reptile assemblage structure at its base. J. Arid Environ. 181, 104179 (2020) - 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
  • Jolly, C., Schembri, B., & Macdonald, S. 2023. Field Guide to the Reptiles of the Northern Territory. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne - get paper here
  • Lucas, A. H. S., and C. Frost. 1895. Preliminary notice of certain new species of lizards from central Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, 7: 264-269 - 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
  • Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2010. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia, 3rd ed. Chatswood: New Holland, 558 pp.
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator