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Ctenotus strauchii

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Ctenotus strauchii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Ctenotus
Species:
C. strauchii
Binomial name
Ctenotus strauchii
(Boulenger, 1887)
Synonyms[2]
  • Lygosoma strauchii
    Boulenger, 1887
  • Lygosoma (Sphenomorphus) strauchi
    M.A. Smith, 1937
  • Ctenotus strauchii
    Cogger, 1983

Ctenotus strauchii, also known commonly as the eastern barred wedge-snout ctenotus or Strauch's ctenotus, is a small species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia and is found throughout semi-arid and arid regions in most of Australia's mainland states except Western Australia, although one record does exist for Western Australia in 1975.[3]

Etymology

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The specific name, strauchii, is in honour of Russian herpetologist Alexander Strauch.[4]

Description

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C. strauchii is a small skink, that has an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5 cm (2.2 in), and varies in colour from chocolate brown to reddish-brown.[5] A series of pale spots are enclosed by a black laterodorsal stripe, which is edged by a white dorsolateral stripe.[6] This stripe is bordered above by a line of small black blotches.[5] The upper flanks are black with a series of between 1 and 3 pale mostly vertical dots.[5] A narrow white stripe may run from below the eye right through the mid body, where it passes through the groin and continues as a lower lateral stripe until it breaks up into spots of flecks of white along the side of the tail.[5]

Reproduction

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C. strauchii is oviparous, which means it lays eggs.[7] This contrasts with other skink species which are live bearers (viviparous). Egg clutch size is unknown.[8]

Conservation status

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The conservation status of Ctenotus strauchii is listed as Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) risk.[7] It does not qualify for a more at-risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Threats

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Although listed as common C. strauchii is not immune to environmental threats such as:

  • Climate change
  • Habitat destruction
  • Habitat degradation
  • Feral predators such as foxes, dogs and cats
  • Disease
  • Cane toads[9]

Habitat and Ecology

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C. strauchii inhabits areas with hard stony soils with minimal vegetation cover in woodland and scrubland areas, within the semi-arid and dry regions of Eastern Australia.[6] It is found amongst debris such as fallen timber, leaf litter and other debris within mallee, savannah woodland and grassland areas[5] C. strauchii was given its scientific name by George Albert Boulenger a Belgian-British zoologist who described and gave scientific names to over 2,000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Skinks of the genus Ctenotus are often called comb-eared skinks, a reference to the scales aligned near the ear. They are active, diurnal lizards found in a variety of habitats.

Geographic range

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Records of Ctenotus strauchii (Australian living Atlas of Living Australia)

Ctenotus strauchii has been recorded in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory[3]

References

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  1. ^ Wilson S, Shea G, Amey A, Hobson R (2018). "Ctenotus strauchii ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T109464651A109464660. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109464651A109464660.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2020.
  2. ^ Ctenotus strauchii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Atlas of Living Australia". Atlas of Living Australia.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ctenotus strauchii, p. 256).
  5. ^ a b c d e Cogger, Harold (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 187633433-9.
  6. ^ a b Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 187633472X.
  7. ^ a b "Eastern barred wedgesnout ctenotus (Ctenotus strauchii )". Australian Living Atlas. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Clutch size". AROD.
  9. ^ "Threats to Ctenotus strauchii ". Arod.

Further reading

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  • Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I–XL. (Lygosoma strauchii, new species, p. 229 + Plate XII, figures 3, 3a).
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia. CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.