Anomalopus swansoni GREER & COGGER, 1985
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Anomalopus swansoni
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Punctate Worm-skink |
| Synonym | Anomalopus (Vermiseps) swansoni GREER & COGGER 1985: 23 Lygosoma swansoni Vermiseps swansoni — WELLS & WELLINGTON 1988: 11 Anomalopus swansoni — COGGER 2000: 385 Anomalopus swansoni — WILSON & SWAN 2010 |
| Distribution | Australia (New South Wales) Type locality: Raymond Terrace area, Newcastle, NSW |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Holotype: AMS (AM) R67162, collected by R. Wells & R. Cook, 2.xii.1973. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Differs from all other Anomalopus in the following combination of characters: limbs totally lacking; supraciliary row complete; loreals 2. Description: A medium-sized, limbless skink with predominantly light to dark dorsal ground colour but with slight aggregations of pigment in the centre of each dorsal scale giving a punctate or striped pattern. Rostral trilobed with blunt, round. medial lobe projecting partially or completely between nasals to level just posterior to nostril and 2 lateral lobes projecting to same level; frontonasal wider than long (1.6-2.3 x); prefrontals moderate in size, widely separated; frontal slightly wider than long (1.1-1.3 x) supraoculars usually 3, rarely 2, only first in contact with frontal; frontoparietals distinct, in contact, each shorter than interparietal; interparietal distinct with dark parietal eye evident at base of posterior lobe; parietals meet behind interparietal, each bordered posterolaterally by large, upper secondary temporal, nuchal and 2 scales intercalated between; nuchals undifferentiated (i.e., not enlarged). Nasals greatly enlarged, usually narrowly separated but rarely in contact; nostril situated slightly below and well forward of centre; loreals 2, anterior larger; preoculars 2; supraciliaries 4, in continuous series, first separated from frontal, third interdigitates between second and third supraoculars when these scales distinct; suboculars 4, large, in continuous series and interdigitating with supralabials; lower eyelid movable and scaly; pretemporals 2, first usually not contacted by frontoparietal (86.5070, N = 89) but occasionally so (13.5%); primary temporal single; secondary temporals 2, upper overlaps lower; external ear opening completely covered by scaly epidermis, its former position indicated by shallow vertical depression; supralabials 6, first by far largest, fourth smallest and generally situated below centre of eye, although occasionally suture between third and fourth supralabials subocular; postsupralabial single; infralabials 6, first 2 in contact with postmental; mental large, wider than long (1.4-1.5 x); postmental very much wider than long; 3 pairs of enlarged chin scales, first pair usually slightly separated by 1 scale, second pair well separated by 1 scale and third pair by 3 scales. Body scales smooth, in 22-26 longitudinal rows at midbody; paravertebral scales same size as more lateral scales, 115-138 in a single row; inner preanals overlap outer, medial pair of preanals enlarged; medial row of subcaudals same size as more lateral rows. Snout-vent length 44-107 mm; tail bluntly rounded 0.64-0.84 x SVL; limbs totally lacking (GREER & COGGER 1985: 23). 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 346 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Limb morphology: 0 digits 0 toes (Limbless, Singhal et al. 2018, Brandley et al 2008) |
| Etymology | Named after Stephen Swanson, a herpetologist who wrote Lizards of Australia (1987). |
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