Ctenotus atlas
| Ctenotus atlas | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Ctenotus |
| Species: | C. atlas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ctenotus atlas Storr, 1969
| |
The Southern Mallee ctenotus (Ctenotus atlas) is a medium sized lizard in the family scincidae (skink) found in the central and southern interior regions of South Australia and Western Australia; the Mallee regions of NSW and Victoria, in Australia.[2]
Etymology
First recorded and named by G.M Storr of the Museum of Western Australia[3] from a collection of Eric R Pianka[4] in 1968. Also referred to as the Porcupine Grass Ctenotus.
Distribution
As the name suggests the Southern Mallee Ctenotus is found in the mallee regions of south western NSW and Victoria's north west. It can also be found in southern SA and in the central interior of WA. In the mallee regions the key feature of its habitat is the spinifex or porcupine grass (Triodia scariosa). Its distribution includes many other ctenotus skinks which are able to disperse widely over a large area of arid zone with little or no geographic barriers and homogenous climate.[5]
Description
The Southern Mallee Ctenotus is a member of the genus Ctenotus, a large of group of skinks that are small to medium sized (10–30 cm in length) with long and slender tails. They are terrestrial, diurnal, oviparous and their diet consists of invertebrates.[6]
Identifying features of the skink include upper body colour of dark brown or black back and sides with 8 or 10 pale (or white) stripes along the length of body; undersides are white. Other distinguishing features include: 5 digits and 5 toes; conspicuous anterior ear lobules; a moveable lower eyelid; and parietal scales in contact behind the interparietal.[7]
The thermal range of the species is 7 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius.[8]
Diet
Ctenotus atlas is an insectivore with a varied diet, including bees, wasps, ants; spiders; beetles; termites; cockroaches; crickets and locusts.[8]
Habitat & Behaviour
The Southern Mallee Ctenotus lives in spinifex and porcupine grasses which it uses to shelter and climb. They are more likely to be found within or on such grasses in open areas as opposed to under trees.[9] It is active and forages in and within range of these grasses for insects in the early to mid morning and late afternoon. They are also known to lash their tails while foraging. They breed between October and February and lay an average clutch of 2 eggs.[4]
It is most commonly observed on bare ground followed by dead and then live spinifex (as temperatures increase).[8]
Varanus Gouldii is the main predator of Ctenotus atlas but elapids are also known to predate the species.[10] Tussock and spinifex grasses are effective refugia which protect the species from mammal and bird predation.[4]
References
- ^ Shea, G.; Ellis, R.; Cogger, H. (2017). "Ctenotus atlas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T109462983A109462994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T109462983A109462994.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Ctenotus atlas at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 March 2015.
- ^ Storr, G.M. (18 February 1971). "The genus Ctenotus (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in South Australia". Records of the South Australian Museum. 16 (6).
- ^ a b c Pianka, E. R. (November 1969). "Sympatry of desert lizards (Ctenotus) in Western Australia". Ecology. 50 (6): 1012–1030. doi:10.2307/1936893. JSTOR 1936893.
- ^ James1 Shine2, James1 Richard2 (2000). "Why are there so many coexisting species of lizards in Australian deserts?". Oecologia. 125 (1): 127–141. doi:10.1007/PL00008884. PMID 28308215. S2CID 10207034 – via Springer-Verlag 2000.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Swanson, Stephen (2007). Field Guide to Australian Reptiles. Steve Parish Publishing. ISBN 9781740217446.
- ^ Cogger, H (2014). Reptiles and amphibians of Australia (Seventh ed.). CSIRO publishing.
- ^ a b c Bell, Kristian (2021). "Predators, prey or temperature? Mechanisms driving niche use of a foundation plant species by specialist lizards". Proceedings of the Royal Society. 288 (1947). doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.2633. PMC 8059954. PMID 33784871. S2CID 232422192.
- ^ Verdon, Watson, Nimmo, Clarke, Simon, Simon, Dale, Michael (2020). "Are all fauna associated with the same structural features of the foundation species Triodia scariosa?". Austral Ecology. 45: 773–787. doi:10.1111/aec.12894. S2CID 219513298 – via Wiley Online Library.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Pianka, Eric (1994). "Comparative ecology of varanus in the Great Victoria Desert". Australian Journal of Ecology. 19 (4): 395–408. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1994.tb00505.x.