Collared delma

Collared delma
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Pygopodidae
Genus:	Delma
Species:	D. torquata
Binomial name
Delma torquata Kluge, 1974

The collared delma or adorned delma (Delma torquata) is a species of lizard in the Pygopodidae family endemic to Australia. The Delma Torquata being a legless lizard commonly gets confused for a snake, however have east to recognizes differences such as not having a forked tongue or external ears.

Physical Appearance

The colour/complexion of the Collared Delma changes between it's tail, body and head, having a "bluish/grey tinge", with its body being brown while its head is black with cream/yellow ringed interspaces. These cream coloured rings are a distinctive feature of the Collared Delma and usually have one around it's head and two to three rings around it's neck. In terms of size, the snout to vent length of a Collared Delma can range from 50mm to about 70mm, with its tail length can range from 103mm to 126mm and having an average weight of around 1.36kg.

Scales

Like all lizards form the Pyopodidae family, the Collared Delma has over lapping body scales, with the Collared Delma having body scales in rows of 16.

Distribution & Habitat

Distribution

The Collared Delma is mostly located in the areas of south-east Queensland but however they have been recorded to also have a population within Northern New South Wales. Due to the vulnerability of the Collared Delma, its distribution across Queensland is highly fragmented and only found in specific areas of south-east Queensland; these fragmented habitats are extremely restricted and span only an area to approxiamtely 100m x 100m. These areas include The Bunya Mountains, Blackdown Tablelands National Park, Expedition National Park, Western Creek, near Millmerran and Toowoomba Range. There have also been recorded large concentrations of the Collared Delma located in Western Brisbane suburbs, which include Kenmore, Pinjarra Hills, Anstead, Mt Crosby, Lake Manchester, Lake Manchester and Karana Downs.

Habitat

Within the Queensland region, The collared Delma are mainly inhabitants of eucalyptic and acacia heave woodlands and open forests. They have been found to prefer inhabiting west facing ridge-lines, within the midstory area of open forests under a layer of fallen leaves and loose rock.

Canopy

The species of canopy the Collared Delma reside under also differ based on different area of its distribution. Within the Eastern areas of its distribution, the species of canopy that the Collared Delma inhabit are Silver-leaved Ironbark, Moreton Bay Ash, Gum Top Box, Tallowwood and Queensland Blue Gum. In the areas west of Brisbane, the canopy comprises Red Ash and different wattles such as Brisbane Wattle and the Hickory Wattle.

Soil

There is no specific type of soil the Collared Delma reside in, they have been found to inhabit, sandy loams, grey and black cracking clays, stony lithsols and basalt derived Podzolics. The stony lithsol soil type were mainly abundant in Mt Crosby and Moggill State Forest sites and the Pinjarra Hills and Anstead areas consisted of podzolic soil and basalt rocks.

Microhabitat

The microhabitat of a Collared Delma usually consists of longs, rocks, bark and other woody debris. The leaf litter they are reside in usually range from 30 to 100 mm thick.

Ecology & Behaviour

breeding/Reproduction

All lizards of the Pygopodidae family like the Collard Delma have a breeding season in the Australian summer, producing two eggs during December which hatch late February to early March.

Diet

The Collared Delma is purely an insectivorous, feeding small cockroaches and spiders.

Conservation

Endangered Species

There have been no documented studies on a dramatic decline in the population size of the Collared Delma. However, based on the the scarcity of its sightings as well as its fragmented distribution has made its population vulnerable to local pressures. This include land clearing and urbanisation of its distribution, particularly in south east Queensland. Other threats to the decline in the Collared Delma population include clearing of agriculture, habitat degradation, removal of rocks and ground litter, agricultural chemicals, predation by feral cats and foxes as well as weed invasion.