Ctenophorus kartiwarru

Last updated

Ctenophorus kartiwarru
Kartiwarru Image.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Ctenophorus
Species:
C. kartiwarru
Binomial name
Ctenophorus kartiwarru
Edwards & Hutchinson, 2023

Ctenophorus kartiwarru, commonly known as the Red-backed Sand Dragon, is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae. The species was discovered in 2023 as a split from the Mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi). [1]

Contents

Description

Ctenophorus kartiwarru is a small lizard endemic to Australia that grows to about 3 in (76 mm) in length. [2] The maximum snout-vent length (SVL) is 54 and 52 mm (2.1 and 2.0 in) in males and females respectively. [3] They have relatively long tails and legs, tail length can be between 248 – 275 (% SVL) for males and between 248 – 264 (% SVL) for females, whereas hind leg length can be between 93 – 108 for males and 99 – 108 for females (% SVL). [3] They have between 12 and 16 femoral pores that go halfway to the knee. [3]

The ventral side is white-coloured. [3] However, males have faint or absent black throat markings and a small, distinct chest patch that is often narrowly split down the middle. [3] Some females will have faint black throat and chest markings. [3] The chest markings may extend as a black stripe along the front of the upper arms. [3]

The dorsal side is sandy-red with prominent pale dorsolateral stripes overlying blackish lateral blotches. [3] In males, the dorsolateral stripe is pale yellow, while in females it is whiter. [3] Additionally, there are small lateral speckles, matching the colour of the dorsolateral stripe, between the blackish lateral blotches [3]

Etymology

The red-backed sand dragon's specific name Ctenophorus kartiwarru is derived from the local Indigenous Australian Dieri language in the South Australian section of the species range. [2] The word kartiwarru is the local name for 'a red-backed lizard, about 3 inches long'. [2]

Taxonomy

The red-backed sand dragon was only discovered in 2023 by Danielle Edwards and Mark Hutchinson. [3] It previously had been identified as a form of the Mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi). [4] It is in the dragon family Agamidae, within the Ctenophorus maculatus complex. [1] Kartiwarru is the local Dieri word for 'a red-backed lizard about 3 inches long' used to describe the species. [5]

Range

Ctenophorus kartiwarru is found throughout central Australia, including northwest New South Wales, southwest Queensland and, east-central South Australia. [3] Specifically they have been found in the Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD) and Gawler (GAW) IBRA Bioregions, including within the Strzelecki Desert (SSD05), Torrens (GAW06) and Roxby (GAW07) sub-regions. [3]

Habitat

Ctenophorus kartiwarru live in areas of sparse vegetation cover on inland soft sand dunes. The primary vegetation cover is sandhill cranegrass ( Zygochloa paradoxa ). [3]

Conservation

The red-backed sand lizard is of least concern as it is common within its range. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ctenophorus</i> Genus of lizards

Ctenophorus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as comb-bearing dragons, found in Australia. They are in the dragon lizard family, known as Agamidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacky dragon</span> Species of lizard

The jacky dragon is a type of lizard native to south-eastern Australia. Other common names include blood-sucker, stonewalker, and tree dragon. It was one of the first Australian reptiles to be named by Europeans, originally described by English zoologist George Shaw in Surgeon-General John White's Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, published in London in 1790. The lizard is well-known for its bright yellow mouth and well-developed vertebral crest, as well as the temperature-dependent sex determination of its offspring.

<i>Ctenophorus reticulatus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus reticulatus, the western netted dragon or western netted ground-dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is found in South Australia, Western Australia and southern Northern Territory.

<i>Ctenophorus maculosus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus maculosus, commonly known as the Lake Eyre dragon or salt-lake ground-dragon, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to South Australia. C. maculosus mainly inhabits the edges of salt lakes in South Australia, from which its common names are derived. It survives in this harsh habitat through adaptive mechanisms to tolerate high temperatures and lack of free water. The female C. maculosus possesses unique male rejection techniques which are currently the focus of further research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central netted dragon</span> Species of lizard

The central netted dragon or central netted ground dragon is a species of agamid lizard occurring in a wide range of arid to semiarid regions of Australia. It is widespread across the continent, commonly found in open, sandy, desert habitats. It is a popular pet and can often be found in zoos.

<i>Ctenophorus pictus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus pictus, commonly known as the painted ground-dragon or painted dragon, is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae. It is endemic to the drier areas of southern and central Australia.

<i>Ctenophorus mirrityana</i> Species of lizard

The Barrier Range dragon is an agamid lizard which has been newly described (2013) as a separate species from the tawny dragon. This species is endemic to Australia, restricted to just three sites in western New South Wales (NSW).

<i>Diporiphora winneckei</i> Species of lizard

Diporiphora winneckei, also known commonly as the canegrass dragon, canegrass two-line dragon, blue-lined dragon, and Winnecke's two-pored dragon, is a species of small, terrestrial, diurnal lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia. It is found throughout arid zones of Australia and is also a common house pet.

<i>Ctenophorus fionni</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus fionni, also known commonly as the Arcoona rock dragon, the peninsula crevice-dragon and the peninsula dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Australian state of South Australia.

<i>Ctenophorus decresii</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus decresii, also known commonly as the tawny dragon or the tawny crevice-dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia. The average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of the species is 80.76 mm (3.180 in) with larger individuals being around 89 mm (3.5 in) and smaller individuals around 72 mm (2.8 in). The optimal time for mating in this species is two to three weeks after the females emerge from hibernation. Eggs are typically laid from September to October with most of them being laid earlier in the period. C. decresii is known for its variations in throat colours which change based on environmental conditions. Its primary food sources consist of both vegetation and invertebrates, and it prefers to live in rocky habitats.

<i>Tympanocryptis tetraporophora</i> Species of lizard

Tympanocryptis tetraporophora, also known as Eyrean earless dragon or long-tailed earless dragon, is one of a documented species of a relatively small dragon belonging to the genus Tympanocryptis. Tympanocryptis is differentiated from other genera within the family Agamidae by a tympanum covered with scales and a missing phalange in the fifth toe of the rear foot. T. tetraporophora is a ground dwelling dragon inhabiting semi arid regions of central New South Wales, arid regions of South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and tropical grasslands of Northern Queensland.

The gibber earless dragon also known as the smooth-snouted earless dragon, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Australia. It is one of a documented species of the genus Tympanocryptis, a group of small terrestrial lizards that feed off invertebrates and are characterised by the absence of an external ear structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallee military dragon</span> Species of lizard

The Mallee dragon, also commonly known as the Mallee dragon and the Mallee sand-dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to the arid parts of southern Australia.

<i>Ctenophorus caudicinctus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus caudicinctus, commonly known as the ring-tailed dragon or ring-tailed bicycle-dragon is a native species of agamid lizard occurring in rocky ranges and outcrops of Australia. Ctenophorus caudicinctus is most commonly found in the Pilbara region and offshore islands of Western Australia. The ctenophorus has 28 known species in the northern, southern, and western parts of Australia. It is recognized to be the most speciose group of Australian agamids.

Ctenophorus mckenziei, more commonly known as the dwarf-bicycle dragon, is a species of endemic Australian lizard within the family Agamidae and genus Ctenophorus. Originally identified as the agamid Amphibolurus mckenziei, the lizard had been identified within the regions of Western Australia and South Australia in which it occupied the shrubbery and woodland areas as its habitat. It was subsequently transferred to the genus Ctenophorus along with other Agamid species in which it shared similar morphology and characteristics. The name mckenziei is in reference to Norman Leslie Mckenzie, who was a zoologist and discovered the existence of the lizard. Listed on the IUCN red list page, threats to its population numbers are evaluated as least concern; however, their numbers are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and feral predators.

<i>Ctenophorus parviceps</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus parviceps, commonly known as the Gnaraloo heath dragon or northwestern heath dragon is a species of agamid lizard occurring in pale coastal sands and shell grit with open heaths and beach spinifex, between the North West Cape and Carnarvon, Western Australia and on Bernier Island. The Gnaraloo heath dragon is a lizard that can be found along the coast of Western Australia between Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay, and is also known as the northwestern heath dragon. It is native to Australia and usually inhabits sandy coastal dunes. The species' longevity is 3–50 years and its population density is extremely low. The Gnaraloo heath dragon is a member of the Agamidae family, which contains 15 genera. The lizard is under the Ctenophorus genus which has up to 33 species. This genus shows the most morphological and ecological diversity out of the three large agamid genera. 83% of the lizards in this genus lack a crest, while 17% possess crests. They are smaller than most agamids but do have relatively large heads. The Gnaraloo heath dragon can be differentiated from related species by a series of spines on the tail's base, a pale-grey brown broad vertebral band along its back, and hour-glass bars extending upwards to meet the pale vertebral band. It is usually 45mm in terms of length, measuring from snout to vent.

<i>Ctenophorus tjantjalka</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus tjantjalka, also known as the ochre dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring on low, weathered, crumbling outcrops and stony hills in arid South Australia, from the Painted Hills north-west to the base of the Everard Ranges.

<i>Ctenophorus spinodomus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus spinodomus commonly known as Eastern Mallee Dragon, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of southeastern Australia. Belonging to the genus Ctenophorus, which comprises a diverse group of 35 species this small lizard is characterised by striking colours and unique behaviours. Commonly known as dragon lizards, spinodomus is derived from the Greek words "spinos" (thorn) and "domos" (house), referring to its preference for burrowing habitats among spiny vegetation. They are curious creatures and can be found darting between the safety of Triodia grass clumps or basking on the red sand.

<i>Amphibolurus norrisi</i> Species of reptile

The Mallee heath dragon, is a species of semi-Arboreal Agamidae endemic to Australia. it has also been referenced as Norris’s dragon, Mallee heath lashtail and Mallee heath lashtail dragon.

References

  1. 1 2 "Red-backed Sand Dragon (Ctenophorus kartiwarru)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Lester, K. P.; Monaghan, E.; McCall, C; Humphris, L; Milera-Weetra, S; Sinha; Caon, S. "Dieri". Mobile Language Team. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Edwards, Danielle L; Hutchinson, Mark N (2023). "Sand Dragons: Species of the Ctenophorus maculatus complex (Squamata: Agamidae) of Australia's Southern and Western Interior". Journal of Herpetology. 57 (2): 176–196. doi:10.1670/22-021 . Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  4. Fowler, John; Barnes, Rachel. "KARTIWARRUI SAND DRAGON or Red-backed Sand Dragon Ctenophorus kartiwarrui". The Reptiles of Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  5. Cominos, Christian (3 July 2023). "The tjakalpa, kartiwarrui, ibiri and tuniluki sand dragon lizards are new to science". ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.