Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink

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Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink
Tiliqua adelaidensis (Peters, 1863) 3069938647.jpg
Tiliqua adelaidensis
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Tiliqua
Species:
T. adelaidensis
Binomial name
Tiliqua adelaidensis
(W. Peters, 1863)
Synonyms [2]
  • Cyclodus adelaidensis
    W. Peters, 1863
  • Tiliqua adelaidensis
    M.A. Smith, 1937

The Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink (Tiliqua adelaidensis), or pygmy bluetongue, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species was previously thought to be extinct and only rediscovered in 1992. Known locations of the species extend from Kapunda in the Light River valley, about 77 kilometres (48 mi) north east of Adelaide, northwards to Peterborough, about 254 kilometres (158 mi) north of Adelaide.

Contents

Rediscovery and conservation

Found only in the Mid North of South Australia, T. adelaidensis was for a time believed to be extinct. It was rediscovered in 1992, when a researcher found the remains of an adult male T. adelaidensis in the stomach contents of a dead brown snake, near Burra. [3] The pygmy bluetongue is now considered to be an endangered species.

The habitat and range of pygmy bluetongues is very restricted, as individuals live in old spider burrows within areas of unploughed native grasslands, which have become rare due to extensive development of cereal cropping throughout the region. Since their rediscovery, surveys have estimated that 5,000 to 7,000 individuals live in scattered areas between Kapunda and Peterborough. [4] [5]

Conservation efforts to maintain the species include the establishment of the Tiliqua Pygmy Bluetongue Reserve near Burra, by the Nature Foundation SA in 2010. [3] [6]

In February 2016 Zoos SA announced the first success of a captive breeding program of pygmy bluetongues at Monarto Zoo. [4]

In January 2020 researchers at Flinders University won an Australian Research Council Linkage Projects grant of more than A$400,000 for a five-year project aimed at saving the lizard from extinction due to climate change. The study involves relocating about 100 lizards into a large holding pen on a sheep farm at Tarlee, about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Adelaide, which is a few degrees cooler than the most northerly habitat of the species. [7]

Ecology

When artificial burrows were offered in the field to T. adelaidensis lizards, all the lizards preferred vertical rather than angled burrows and juvenile lizards preferred more shallow burrows than did adult lizards. [8] Observation of 36 artificial burrows showed a significant increase in lizard numbers during 2001–2002 and over three surveys. The study suggests that this local increase in population could be due to lizards locating appropriate burrows much easier. The study results suggest that artificial burrows could be a tool for conservation management of this species. [9]

Another study [10] compared the fitness of female lizards in natural burrows and artificial ones, over a three-year period. The study showed that the female in the artificial burrows had a better body condition, and produced larger offspring with better body conditions. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Egernia</i> Genus of lizards

Egernia is a genus of skinks that occurs in Australia. These skinks are ecologically diverse omnivores that inhabit a wide range of habitats. However, in the loose delimitation the genus is not monophyletic but an evolutionary grade, as has long been suspected due to its lack of characteristic apomorphies.

Taronga Zoo Zoo in Sydney, Australia

Taronga Zoo is a zoo located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in the suburb of Mosman, on the shores of Sydney Harbour. The opening hours are between 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo is a 41-acre (17 ha) zoological park in South Perth, Western Australia. The zoo first opened in 1898 and by 2011 housed 1258 animals of 164 species and an extensive botanical collection. It is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Blue-tongued skink Genus of lizards

Blue-tongued skinks comprise the Australasian genus Tiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. As suggested by these common names, a prominent characteristic of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be bared as bluff-warning to potential enemies. The type of predator/threat that is near will determine the intensity of colour present in the tongue. In addition, their blue tongue will produce a response in the prey which will in turn diminish the attack. The tongue can also deform itself and produce a thick mucus in order to catch prey. They are relatively shy in comparison with other lizards, and also significantly slower due to their short legs.

Blotched blue-tongued lizard Species of lizard

The blotched blue-tongued lizard, also known as the southern blue-tongued lizard or blotched blue-tongued skink is a blue-tongued skink endemic to south-eastern Australia.

Adelaide Zoo Zoo in Australia

Adelaide Zoo is Australia's second oldest zoo, and it is operated on a non-profit basis. It is located in the parklands just north of the city centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It is administered by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Incorporated, which is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and which also administers the Monarto Safari Park near Murray Bridge.

Threatened fauna of Australia

Threatened fauna of Australia are those species and subspecies of birds, fish, frogs, insects, mammals, molluscs, crustaceans and reptiles to be found in Australia that are in danger of becoming extinct. This list is the list proclaimed under the Australian federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The classifications are based on those used by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), however IUCN and Australian rankings do differ. Each state and territory has its own legislation relating to environmental protection.

Burrow Underground animal home dug in soft dirt

A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements and can be found in nearly every biome and among various biological interactions. Many different animal species are known to form burrows. These species range from small invertebrates, such as the Corophium arenarium, to very large vertebrate species such as the polar bear. Burrows can be constructed into a wide variety of substrates and can range in complexity from a simple tube a few centimeters long to a complex network of interconnecting tunnels and chambers hundreds or thousands of meters in total length; an example of the latter level of complexity, a well-developed burrow, would be a rabbit warren.

Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park, formerly known as Monarto Zoological Park and Monarto Zoo, is a 1,500-hectare (3,700-acre) open-range zoo located in South Australia administered by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia. It is located at Monarto, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Adelaide's centre.

Eastern blue-tongued lizard Species of reptile

The Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, or eastern blue-tongued lizard, is native to Australia. It is unique due to its blue tongue, which can be used to warn off predators. In addition to flashing its blue tongue, the skink hisses and puffs up its chest to assert dominance and appear bigger when in the presence of its predators such as large snakes and birds. The eastern blue tongue is ovoviviparous and precocial, meaning that its young are more developed and advanced at their time of birth. The Tiliqua scincoides scincoides is not poisonous to humans and can be found in suburban and urban areas, specifically in house gardens.

Western blue-tongued lizard Species of lizard

The western blue-tongued lizard, also known as the western blue-tongued skink, is a large skink native to Australia. It is one of six species of blue-tongued skinks found in Australia, though further species are found in New Guinea and Indonesia.

Northern blue-tongued skink Subspecies of lizard

The northern blue-tongued skink is the largest and heaviest of the blue-tongued lizards. They are native to Australia and found almost exclusively in the Northern Region. They generally live around 20 years and are commonly kept as pets.

Mauritian giant skink Extinct species of lizard

Leiolopisma mauritiana is a large, extinct species of skink. It was found only in Mauritius, but became extinct around 1600 probably due to introduced predators.

Aethesia is an extinct skink possibly related to the extant genus Tiliqua, blue-tongued skinks. It is known from the Wellington Caves of New South Wales in Australia. The holotype is the anterior portion of the left mandible, from the symphysis to the splenial bone and containing portions of the coronoid. Teeth number 9 to 15 are intact, with the eighth being a partial tooth and none of the other remaining past the mandible. The teeth slightly enlarge from anterior to posterior.

<i>Tiliqua scincoides</i> Species of lizard

Tiliqua scincoides is a species of skink. It is native to Australia as well as to the Tanimbar and Babar Islands in the Maluku Province of Indonesia.

Centralian blue-tongued skink Species of lizard

The Centralian blue-tongued skink or Centralian blue-tongue is a species of skink, occurring predominantly in the far north-west corner of New South Wales, Australia. It is one of six species belonging to the genus Tiliqua; the blue-tongued skinks and the shinglebacks.

Stokess skink Species of lizard

Egernia stokesii is a gregarious species of lizard of the Scincidae family. This diurnal species is endemic to Australia, and is also known as the Gidgee skink, spiny-tailed skink, Stokes's skink and Stokes's egernia. The species forms stable, long-term social aggregations, much like the social groups seen in mammalian and avian species. This characteristic is rarely found in the Squamata order, but is widespread within the Australian subfamily of Egerniinae skinks. Populations of E. stokesii are widely distributed, but fragmented, and occur in semi-arid environments. There are three recognised subspecies. The conservation status for the species is listed as least concern, however, one subspecies is listed as endangered.

Alpine she-oak slender bluetongue Species of lizard

The alpine she-oak slender bluetongue or alpine she-oak skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Australian Alps.

References

  1. Fenner, A.; Hutchinson, M.; McDonald, P.; Robertson, P. (2018). "Tiliqua adelaidensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T21902A101743579. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T21902A101743579.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. "Tiliqua adelaidensis ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 Pygmy bluetongue lizard rediscovered in Mid-North South Australia, The Advertiser, 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 Pygmy blue-tongue lizards, once thought extinct, bred in SA's Monarto Zoo, ABC News, 24 February 2016, Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  5. Conservationists hope to breed threatened pygmy blue-tongue lizard in captivity in SA ABC News, 4 October 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  6. Tiliqua A Pygmy Bluetongue Reserve Archived 2016-02-28 at the Wayback Machine Nature Foundation SA. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  7. Corvo, Shannon; Culliver, Paul (26 January 2020). "Scientists whose 'endgame' is to save lizards from extinction win $400k grant". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  8. Milne T, Bull CM (2000). "Burrow choice by individuals of different sizes in the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis ". Biological Conservation. 95 (3): 295–301. doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(00)00040-9.
  9. Souter NJ, Bull CM, Hutchinson MN (2004). "Adding burrows to enhance a population of the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis ". Biological Conservation. 116 (3): 403–408. doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(03)00232-5.
  10. 1 2 Milne T, Bull CM, Hutchinson M (2003). "Fitness of the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis in artificial burrows". Journal of Herpetology. 37 (4): 762–765. doi:10.1670/38-03N. JSTOR   1565885. S2CID   85771795.

Further reading