Egernia epsisolus DOUGHTY, KEALLEY & DONNELLAN, 2011
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Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Egerniinae (Tiliquini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink |
Synonym | Egernia epsisolus DOUGHTY, KEALLEY & DONNELLAN 2011 |
Distribution | Australia (Western Australia: Chichester IBRA subregion of the Pilbara region) Type locality: Australia: Western Australia, 15 km E Mt Francisco, 21°24’05”S, 118°42’22”E |
Reproduction | viviparous (phylogenetic imputation, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
Types | Holotype: WAM R132848 (female), Collected by P.C. Withers and G.G. Thompson on 22 June 1998. |
Diagnosis | DIAGNOSIS: A member of the E. depressa species-group, with a relatively small and flattened head, relatively short limbs, short triangular dorsal spines that project upwards, nasals in point contact, nasal scale incompletely divided (grooved below nare; ungrooved dorsally), posterior border of parietal and neighbouring head scales raised and with a row of moderately developed spines, few supraciliaries (3–5), ear opening small with scales projecting from anterior border, 30–34 MBSR, subdigital lamellae on fourth fingers 9–13, toes 11–14, slightly rounded scales on palmar and plantar surfaces, tail moderately thin with relatively short stout spines that curve slightly forward and projecting posteriorly at approximately 45°. Colouration a pale yellowy-brown with dark brown to black irregular transverse bars edged with white on tail and posterior half of body. |
Comment | HABITAT: Collection records indicate E. epsisolus most often occur on exfoliating granite outcrops, with a mixture of Triodia species present. DISTRIBUTION: Replaced in the Chichester Range near the Fortescue River by E. cygnitos. Also a single outlying record from 80 km south of Telfer in the Little Sandy Desert. |
Etymology | Named after epsisolus (Greek) meaning resembling the yellow dwarf star Epsilon Eridani in the constellation Eridani (10.4 light years from Earth), in reference to the more yellowy colouration of this species relative to the western Pilbara species. Used as a noun in apposition. |
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