Lerista nichollsi (LOVERIDGE, 1933)
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Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Sphenomorphinae (Sphenomorphini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Inland Broad-blazed Slider |
Synonym | Rhodona nichollsi LOVERIDGE 1933: 97 Lygosoma (Rhodona) nichollsi — GLAUERT 1960: 97 Lerista nichollsi — GREER 1967 Lerista nichollsi — STORR 1976: 252 Lerista nichollsi — COGGER 1983: 175 Lerista nichollsi — COGGER 2000: 527 Telchinoscincus nichollsi — WELLS 2012: 131 Lerista nichollsi — WILSON & SWAN 2010 |
Distribution | Australia (Western Australia: Shark Bay region) Type locality: Dalgaranger Station, 50 mi NE of Yalgoo, W. A. |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: MCZ 33252 |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Small slender Lerista with digits 0 + 2, forelimb groove minute, eyelid immovable, frontoparietals and interparietal fused, dark brown upper lateral stripe and brown vertebral stripe. Distinguishable from both subspecies of L. connivens by lesser size, fusion of second loreal to prefrontal, narrower and more sharply defined vertebral stripe, and fewer rows of midbody scales. Further distinguishable from L. c. connivens by immovable eyelid, more numerous nuchals, and relatively longer hindleg. (Storr 1976) Partial redescription: Snout-vent length (mm): 31-61 (51.5). Length of appendages etc. (% SVL): hindleg 14-20 (17.2); snout to foreleg groove 21-26 (23.1). Nasals forming a short to moderately long median.suture. Prefrontals widely separated. Nuchals 1-3 (2.2). Supraoculars 3, first two contacting frontal. Supraciliaries 0 + 1, 0 + 2, 1 + 1, 1 + 2,3 or 4. Midbody scale rows 20 (occasionally 18). Lamellae under longer toe 9-15 (11.4). (Storr 1976) |
Comment | Subspecies: Lerista nichollsi petersoni has been elevated to species status. Type species: Rhodona nichollsi Loveridge, 1933 is the type species of the genus Telchinoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984. WELLS 2012: 119 revived the genus for T. gascoynensis, kendricki, kennedyensis, nichollsi, onsloviana, petersoni, uniduo, yuna. Unfortunately WELLS did not provide a phylogenetic analysis of the genera into which he broke up Lerista, hence we leave the current genus Lerista intact for the time being. Limb morphology: 0 digits, 2 toes |
Etymology | Named after Professor Gilbert Ernest Nicholls (b. 1893) of the Western Australia Museum, Perth, who collected the holotype of this skink. His specialty was crustaceans. |
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