Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink | |
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Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink at Philadelphia Zoo | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Scincidae |
Genus: | Egernia |
Species: | E. hosmeri
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Binomial name | |
Egernia hosmeri (Kinghorn, 1955)
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Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink or Hosmer's skink (Egernia hosmeri) is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is a diurnal, rock-dwelling species native to Northern Australia.
Description
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is mostly reddish-brown on top, with both scattered darker and paler spots along the back, legs, and tail. It has a darker brown head and neck, white abdomen, and a few dark brown blotches under the chin. The snout–vent length (SVL) is 180mm, with a round, tapering tail about 60% of the SVL.[2] It is most closely related to Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), however the tail of E. hosmeri is flattened and spinier than that of E. cunninghami.[3]
Geographic range
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skin is found throughout dry, rocky regions of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[2][4]
Reproduction
Like some other reptiles, it is viviparous, giving birth to an average of four live young at a time.[5]
Diet
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is omnivorous, eating insects, leaves, shoots, and berries.[5]
References
- ^ Hoskin, C.; Couper, P. (2018). "Egernia hosmeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T109470437A109470442. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109470437A109470442.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b Cogger, Harold (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). CSIRO PUBLISHING. p. 544. ISBN 9780643109773. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Kinghorn, J. Roy (1 September 1955). "Herpetological notes. No. 5" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 23 (5): 286. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.23.1955.638. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Clayton, Mark; Wombley, John; Mason, Ian; Chesser, R. Terry; Alice, Wells (2006). CSIRO list of Australian vertebrates: a reference with conservation status (2nd ed.). CSIRO PUBLISHING. p. 29. ISBN 9780643098800. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Hosmer's skink". Australian Reptile Park. Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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- Articles with short description
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Articles with 'species' microformats
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- Reptiles described in 1955
- Skinks of Australia
- Egernia
- Reptiles of Queensland
- Reptiles of the Northern Territory
- Endemic fauna of Australia
- Taxa named by James Roy Kinghorn