Pletholax gracilis (COPE, 1864)
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Pletholax gracilis
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| Higher Taxa | Pygopodidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Slender Slider |
| Synonym | Pygopus 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 |
| Distribution | Australia (Western Australia: lower west coast) Type locality: South Western Australia |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: RMNH 3670 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (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). |
| Comment | SCHLEGEL 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. |
| Etymology | Named 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). |
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