| Coastal plains skink | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Ctenotus |
| Species: | C. ora |
| Binomial name | |
| Ctenotus ora | |
The coastal plains skink (Ctenotus ora) is a species of skinks, found on the Swan Coastal Plain south of Perth, Western Australia.
The species was identified in 2012 by researchers from Australian National University, who were conducting a survey of biological diversity in South-western Australia. They identified Ctenotus ora as a distinct species and sister taxon to the threatened Lancelin Island skink (Ctenotus lancelini). [2]
The binomial name Ctenotus ora is derived from the genus name Ctenotus meaning "comb-ear", and the Latin ora meaning "coast", "seaside" or "shore"—referring to the species' coastal distribution. [3]
The coastal plains skink has only been found in low numbers in a small stretch of sand dunes on the Swan Coastal Plain south of Perth, Western Australia, between Dunsborough and Mandurah. The species is threatened by residential development around the Perth coastal area, with the Zootaxa paper which described the species recommending it be considered for immediate conservation attention. [4]
The common plains skink is around 6 centimetres (2.4 in) in length from snout to vent. It is dark in colour, with a continuous white dorsolateral stripe. [3]
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).
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) regions. It is also one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger West Australian Shield division.
Eucalyptus gomphocephala, known as tuart, is a species of tree, one of the six forest giants of Southwest Australia. Tuart forest was common on the Swan coastal plain, until the valuable trees were felled for export and displaced by the urban development around Perth, Western Australia. The wood is dense, hard, water resistant and resists splintering, and found many uses when it was available. Remnants of tuart forest occur in state reserves and parks, the tree has occasionally been introduced to other regions of Australia and overseas. Remaining trees are vulnerable to phytophthora dieback, an often fatal disorder, including a previously unknown species discovered during analysis of dead specimens.
Assemblages of plants and invertebrate animals of tumulus springs of the Swan Coastal Plain are ecological communities in Western Australia. They have been managed under a number of other, similar names, including Mound springs of the Swan Coastal Plain and Communities of Tumulus Springs . The tumulus mounds were common to a narrow range of groundwater discharge at the boundary of 'bassendean sand' and 'guildford clay', along the edge of the Gnangara Mound aquifer. The communities are critically endangered.
The western false pipistrelle, species Falsistrellus mackenziei, is a vespertilionid bat that occurs in Southwest Australia. The population is declining due to loss of its habitat, old growth in tall eucalypt forest which has largely been clear felled for tree plantations, wheat cultivation and urbanisation. Although it is one of the largest Australian bats of the family, the species was not recorded or described until the early 1960s. A darkly colored bat with reddish brown fur and prominent ears, they fly rapidly around the upper canopy of trees in pursuit of flying insects.
The Lancelin Island skink, also known commonly as the Lancelin south-west ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Byblis gigantea, commonly known as rainbow plant, is a carnivorous species of plant in the Byblidaceae family. It is endemic to Australia.
The western limestone ctenotus is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
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.
Kensington bushland reserve is a significant remnant of Swan Coastal Plain vegetation, that has been reserved in the suburb of Kensington, in Perth, Western Australia, by the state government.
Ctenotus alleni, also known commonly as the Ajana ctenotus and Allen's ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Western Australia.
The northwestern coastal ctenotus, little leopard ctenotus, or Airlie Island ctenuous is a species of skink found in Western Australia.
Ctenotus ariadnae, also known commonly as Ariadna's ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Ctenotus brooksi, also known commonly as Brooks' ctenotus and the wedgesnout ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The nimble ctenotus is a species of skink found in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The common south-west ctenotus is a species of skink found in Western Australia.
The Shark Bay south-west ctenotus, also known commonly as Youngson's ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The broad-banded sand-swimmer or Richardson’s skink is a species of skink found in Australia.
The clay-soil ctenotus is a species of skink found in Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Kennedia carinata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with trifoliate leaves and reddish-purple, pea-like flowers.
