Eremiascincus musivus MECKE, DOUGHTY & DONNELLAN, 2009
Find more photos by Google images search:
Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Mosaic desert skink G: Mosaik-Wüstenskink |
Synonym | Eremiascincus musivus MECKE, DOUGHTY & DONNELLAN 2009 Eremiascincus musivus — WILSON & SWAN 2010 |
Distribution | Australia (Western Australia) Type locality: 20 km ENE Karratha at 20°47'10"S, 116°38'29"E. |
Reproduction | oviparous (Mecke et al. 2016) |
Types | Holotype: WAM R165266 m (M). Collected by Roy Teale on 31 October 2005. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A small, slender Eremiascincus (maximum SVL 59.2 mm), distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: ground colour reddish to yellowish brown with a characteristic, consistent dorsal pattern of numerous whitish and dark spots often aligning to form short streaks in an irregular, diffuse reticulum; the presence of a pale vertebral stripe running from the neck to the base of tail (occasionally extending to tail); narrow, wavy, dark bands on the tail (~ 35), which are divided medially and interspaces between these dark bands, which consist of dark-edged pale scales in a single row; homogenous, smooth scales on the dorsum and tail; scales along the top of fourth toe with oblique sutures on basal quarter to third of digit, followed by single rows of scales with transverse sutures; 4TLam undivided and only feebly keeled; plantar scales 10-15; small circular ear opening; MBSR 29–34, PVS 52–62; SupraLab usually 7; 3 chin shields and 1 median chin shield. |
Comment | Habitat: desert shrublands and coastal sands of the northern Pilbara. Limb morphology: 5 digits, 5 toes (Singhal et al. 2018, Cogger 2014) |
Etymology | The specific epithet (from Latin, meaning ‘tessellated’) refers to the unique dorsal colour pattern formed by numerous whitish and dark spots. Used as a noun in apposition. |
References |
|
External links |