| 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]
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.
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]
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]
Ctenotus atlas is an insectivore with a varied diet, including bees, wasps, ants; spiders; beetles; termites; cockroaches; crickets and locusts. [8]
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]
Ctenotus is a genus of skinks. It is endemic to Australia. The genus belongs to a clade in the Sphenomorphus group which contains such genera as Anomalopus and the close relatives Eulamprus and Gnypetoscincus.
The short-tailed pygmy monitor is the second smallest living monitor lizard in the world with a maximum length of 25 cm.
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.
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.
Storr's monitor is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The Mallee military 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.
Triodia scariosa, is more commonly known as porcupine grass or spinifex, and belongs to the endemic Australian grass genus Triodia. The species is perennial and evergreen and individuals grow in mounds, called hummocks, that reach up to ~1m in height. The leaves are ~30 cm long, 1mm in diameter, needlepointed and rigid, and its inflorescence is a narrow, loose panicle that forms a flowering stalk up to ~2m in height. The name is derived from Latin; Triodia refers to the three-toothed lobes of the lemma, and scariosa is in reference to the thin, dry glume. The species is common to Mallee (MVG14) and Hummock grassland (MVG20) communities, in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia.
Ctenotus zebrilla, also known commonly as the Southern Cape York fine-snout ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Ctenotus pantherinus, commonly known as the Leopard Ctenotus, is a species of skink endemic to central and western Australia. It's conservation status is currently classified as Least Concern.
The shrubland Morethia skink is a species of skink endemic to Australia, of the family Scincidae, found in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria (Australia), Western Australia in 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' wedge-snouted ctenotus, the wedgesnout ctenotus, and the sandhill ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia and found in semi-arid regions.
Ctenotus ehmanni, also known commonly as the brown-tailed finesnout ctenotus or Ehmann's ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Australian state of Western Australia.
Ctenotus hanloni, also known commonly as Hanlon's ctenotus and the nimble ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
The bar-shouldered ctenotus is a species of skink found in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Ctenotus leonhardii, known by the common names Leonhardi's ctenotus, Leonhardi's skink or common desert ctenotus, is a species of skink found in a range of arid and semi-arid regions throughout mainland Australia. The species was named after German anthropologist Moritz von Leonhardi in 1919 and belongs to the genus Ctenotus, one of the largest genera of lizards in Australia.
The barred wedge-snout ctenotus is a species of skink found in Australia.[2]
Ctenotus youngsoni, also known commonly as the Shark Bay south-west ctenotus and Youngson's ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia. The specific name, youngsoni, is in honour of Australian zoologist William Kenneth Youngson. C. youngsoni is found in the Australian state of Western Australia. The preferred natural habitat of C. youngsoni is shrubland. C. youngsoni has well-developed limbs, with five toes on each of its four feet. C. youngsoni is oviparous.
The Hemiergis millewae, commonly known as the Millewa skink or Triodia earless skink, is a species of hemiergis lizards that is endemic to Australia. It is a specialist species, highly dependent on Spinifex for food and shelter, and has only been observed in semi-arid Mallee woodlands of southern and eastern Australia. It is considered endangered throughout parts of its range.
The Spinifex slender blue-tongue is an endemic species of skink that inhabits the arid areas of central Australia. The Spinifex slender blue-tongue is closely related to the large blue-tongue skinks. However is individually categorised under the Genus Cyclodomorphus and species Cyclodomorphus melanops(C. melanops).
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