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Pletholax gracilis (COPE, 1864)

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Higher TaxaPygopodidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Slender Slider 
SynonymPygopus gracilis COPE 1864: 229
Pletholax gracilis — BOULENGER 1885: 245
Pletholax gracilis — KLUGE 1974: 146
Pletholax gracilis — KLUGE 1993
Pletholax gracilis — COGGER 2000: 296
Pletholax gracilis — WILSON & SWAN 2010
Pletholax gracilis — KEALLEY et al. 2020 
DistributionAustralia (Western Australia: lower west coast)

Type locality: South Western Australia  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: RMNH 3670 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (genus). Extremely slender small pygopod species, distinguishable from all other genera by keeled scales completely encircling body and tail, including unenlarged ventral row (Kealley et al. 2020).


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CommentSCHLEGEL is sometimes given as author of this species, based on a statement in COPE: “P[letholax]. gracilis is Pygopus gracilis, Schlegel (Mus. Leyden) to whom I am indebted for the opportunity of making this description”.

Subspecies: Pletholax gracilis edelensis STORR 1978 has been elevated to full species by Kealley et al. 2020.

Limb morphology: Limbless.

Type species: Pygopus gracilis (SCHLEGEL in) COPE 1864: 229 is the type species of the genus Pletholax COPE 1864.

Habitat. White and grey sandplains vegetated with Banksia woodland and heath (from collector’s notes and Shea and Peterson [1993]).

Ecology. Displays both burrowing or ‘sand-swimming’ behaviour, as well as possible climbing on to low vegetation (Shea and Peterson, 1993).

Diet: Termites with occasional observations of nectar feeding have been reported (Ehmann [1992; Shea and Peterson [1993]; Bush et al. [2007]).

Reproduction: occurs in spring, with two eggs per clutch (Shea and Peterson, 1993).

Distribution: see map (Fig. 2) in Kealley et al. 2020: 2. 
EtymologyNamed after Latin “gracilis”, meaning small or lanky, or gracile.

The genus is, according to Storr et al. (1990): “Possibly based on Greek stem pleth- denoting fullness or completeness, in allusion to the strong keeling” (p. 126).
 
References
  • Bamford, M. J. 1998. Field observations on the semi-arboreal pygopodids Aclys concinna (Kluge 1974) and Pletholax gracilis (Cope 1864). Herpetofauna (Sydney) 28 (2): 2-4
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. London: 450 pp. - get paper here
  • Cogger, H. G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 7th ed. CSIRO Publishing, xxx + 1033 pp. - get paper here
  • Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
  • Cope, E.D. 1864. On the characters of the higher groups of Reptilia - Squamata - and especially y of the Diploglossa. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1864: 224-231 - get paper here
  • Glauert, L. 1956. Herpetological Miscellanea VIII Snake Lizards and Worm Lizards (Family Pygopodidae). Western Australian Naturalist 5 (6): - get paper here
  • Kealley, Luke; Paul Doughty, Danielle Edwards and Ian G. Brennan 2020. Taxonomic assessment of two pygopodoid gecko subspecies from Western Australia. Israel J Ecol Evol 66 (3-4): 126-141 - get paper here
  • Kinghorn, J. Roy 1926. A brief review of the family Pygopodidae. Rec. Austral. Mus. 15 (1): 40-64 - get paper here
  • Kluge, Arnold G. 1976. Phylogenetic relationships in the lizard family Pygopodidae: an evaluation of theory, methods and data. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (152): 1-72 - get paper here
  • Laube, A. & Langner, C. 2007. Die “Geckos” Australiens. Draco 8 (29): 4-21 - get paper here
  • Maryan, B., Gaikhorst, G., & Parkhurst, B. 2024. The terrestrial herpetofauna of the Zuytdorp coast and hinterland of Western Australia: Exceptional richness in a global biodiversity hotspot. Western Australian Naturalist, 33, 3
  • Schlegel, [H.] 1865. Pygopus gracilis. p. 229. In: Cope, E. D. On the characters of the higher groups of REPTILIA SQUAMATA--and especially of the DIPLOGLOSSA. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1864: 224-231 - get paper here
  • Shea G M. & Peterson M. 1993. Notes on the biology of the genus Pletholax Cope (Squamata: Pygopodidae). Rec. West. Austr. Mus. 16 (3): 419-425. - get paper here
  • Storr G M 1978. Taxonomic notes on the reptiles of the Shark Bay region, Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 6 (3): 303-318 - get paper here
  • Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2010. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia, 3rd ed. Chatswood: New Holland, 558 pp.
 
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