Carlia triacantha (MITCHELL, 1953)
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Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Desert Rainbow-skink |
Synonym | Leiolopisma triacantha MITCHELL 1953: 88 Leiolopisma triacantha — KLUGE 1963 Carlia triacantha — COGGER 1983: 140 Carlia monsolgaensis WELLS & WELLINGTON 1985: 24 (nom. nud.) Carlia mysteria WELLS & WELLINGTON 1985: 24 (nom. nud.) Carlia triacantha — COGGER 2000: 401 Carlia triacantha — DOLMAN & HUGALL 2008 Carlia triacantha — AFONSO-SILVA et al. 2017: 16 |
Distribution | Australia (Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia) Type locality: Adelaide River, N. T. (−13.183, 131.1) |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: SAMA R2697 |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Species morphologically distinguished from congeners by having three strong keels in scales, prefrontals more often in contact or very narrowly separated and usually six supraciliaries. Although more work is still needed to find unambiguously diagnostic traits between this species and C. isostricantha sp. nov., C. triacantha are mostly smaller (mean 36.55 mm vs. 40.07 mm), with shorter relative head length (mean 7.24 mm vs. 8.25 mm) and fewer ear lobules (usually 6 vs. 9, Fig. 5B). Geographically diagnosis from C. isostricantha sp. nov., possible in the centre of Australia, particularly Pilbara and Macdonald ranges region (AFONSO-SILVA et al. 2017: 16). Diagnosis (triacantha). Midbody scales in 30 or 32 longitudinal rows, each dorsal scale being strongly tricarinate and of characteristic form (see fig, 3). Ear opening without obvious lobules; approximately two-thirds the horizontal diameter of the palpebral disk. This species appears to be most nearly allied to pectoralis, differing in the nature of the dorsal scales and in possessing a median prefrontal suture (from Mitchell 1953: 88). Diagnosis (mysteria): Storr, (1974) provides morphological and distributional data. This species is believed confined to Sir Graham Moore Is., Western Australia, and its closest relative, Carlia triacantha is thought confined to the northern sector of the Northern Territory. Cogger, (1983) provides morphological and distributional data on Carlia triacantha. |
Comment | Synonymy: following INGRAM & COVACEVICH 1989. |
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