Ctenotus olympicus

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Ctenotus olympicus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Ctenotus
Species:
C. olympicus
Binomial name
Ctenotus olympicus
Ctenotus olympicus distribution.jpg
Distribution of Ctenotus olympicus in Australia.

The olympic ctenotus (Ctenotus olympicus), also referred to as the 'spotted ctenotus' or 'saltbush ctenotus', [2] is a species of skink endemic to the arid shrublands of central and southern Australia. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy and Evolutionary Relationships

Hutchinson and Donnell first described C. olympicus in 1999, recognising its genetic differentiation to the similar C. leonhardii and C. orientalis . It is named after Olympic Dam, the locality of its finding. Although this nomenclature also pays tribute to the common trend of Greek mythology influencing Ctenotus species names, hence ‘olympicus’. [4]

Speciation of C. olympicus is attributed to a branching off away from the Ctenotus strauchii lineage, in conjunction with the concurrent speciation of C. orientalis and C. leonhardii. [4]

Description

The olympic ctenotus is a small terrestrial lizard of the Scincidae family, native to arid areas of inland Australia. Olympic ctenotus individuals can display a range of colourations, from beige to medium brown, and this is often complimented by a metallic lustre. [5] A dark vertebral stripe is almost always apparent from the nape to the hips. A pale dorsolateral stripe is usually apparent, extending continuously from the forelimbs and becoming a more broken line along the body. The upper flank of the lizard is generally of a darker hue, with 3-4 rows of white spots highly noticeable. Individuals always display a white undersurface, and limbs are reddish brown with dark streaks. [6] There are usually 29 midbody scales, although this can range between 28 and 32. [4] These characteristics are displayed in the first figure.

C. olympicus individuals generally grow to lengths of between 60 and 72mm, and this small size benefits a tendency to shelter underneath rocks and logs, or within small burrows. [5]

Distribution and Habitat

The olypmic ctenotus is predominantly distributed across central and northern South Australia, stretching into the Northern Territory, and adjacent areas of western New South Wales and Queensland. [7] It has also been recorded sporadically in the eastern interior of Western Australia. This distribution encompasses notable land forms and features such as the Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens basins, northern reaches of the Flinders Ranges, and the Olary Plains of South Australia. [8]

A typical gibber plain Gibber rise.jpg
A typical gibber plain

The habitat of C. olympicus is restricted to arid regions, although within these confines it has been known to reside in gibber deserts, chenopod shrublands, and arid scrubs. It thrives on heavy, stony soils and is commonly found around rock outcrops and other stony habitats. On plains, it will typically burrow under rocks or bushes and logs, while on gibber rises it shelters in holes and natural spaces beneath rocks. [9] The ground cover in C. olympicus habitat is consistently dominated by chenopods, such as saltbush, and it may coexist with other Ctenotus species in many of these areas. [4]

Ecology

The olympic ctenotus shares a multitude of lifestyle characteristics and behaviours with C. orientalis and other small skinks endemic to arid southern central Australia. [10]

Diet

Although limited data is available, it has been established that C. olympicus is a generalist insectivore, feeding primarily on a range of insects and spiders. [10] There is a possibility that they may resort to vegetation consumption in extreme situations. It is this relatively unspecialised diet which ensures the persistence of individuals through periods of limited resource availability and enables them to take advantage of favourable conditions when they occur. [10]

Reproduction

Like most lizards, C. olympicus reproduces oviparously  (i.e. lays eggs), and breeds throughout the summer season. [3] Anywhere between 2 and 7 eggs may be laid, depending on factors such as resource availability and other environmental conditions. Read proposes “low reproductive effort may be an attempt to increase survival during dry seasons when recruitment success is likely to be poor or may simply reflect insufficient resources to allow much reproductive effort. Survival of adults is typically high in Ctenotus, except in years of high reproductive effort”. [10]

Behaviour

Ctenotus activity has not been known to decrease on hot days, and coupled with summer breeding, this shows a tendency to thrive in hot weather. Olympic ctenotus individuals are often found sheltering under rocks or within burrows because the arid conditions across their home range make it straightforward to maintain a high body temperature during the day. [4] Notably, males have been found to have a higher mortality rate than females, and this indicates energy expense which may potentially be caused by home range maintenance activities, potentially demonstrating that a degree of territoriality is common. [10]

Read also states that “Owing to their abundance, trapability and occupancy of a wide variety of habitats, Ctenotus are increasingly being used as indicators of environmental quality in the Australian arid zone.”, [10] this provides an important motive to continually monitor C. olympicus and other Ctenotus species on an ongoing basis .

Threats and Predators

A study by Waudby and Petit in 2015 has shown that C. olympicus responds negatively to an increase in grazing. This may be the result of direct impacts such trampling of burrows and shelters, or indirect impacts such as habitat modification through long periods of unrestricted browsing. [11] While olympic ctenotus individuals prefer hot conditions, reductions in resource availability due to the ongoing impacts of climate change may slow the rate of reproduction in the species.

The dominant predators of C. olympicus are snakes and feral cats, although various avifauna may also prey on the species. [9] While they are not a preferred food source for feral cats, they can become a key dietary supplement when rabbit populations decline, particularly in regions where Ctenotus are abundant. [12] It is possible that reptiles such as C. olympicus may even be preferred over other small mammals in areas where an alternative for rabbits is required, assumably due to their abundance in many of these regions. [12]

Related Research Articles

The Forrest's mouse, or desert short-tailed mouse, is a small species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is a widespread but sparsely distributed species found across arid and semi-arid inland Australia, commonly found in tussock grassland, chenopod shrubland, and mulga or savannah woodlands.

<i>Heteronotia binoei</i> Species of lizard

Heteronotia binoei, known commonly as Bynoe's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae, and is endemic to Australia. One of the continent's least-habitat-specific geckos, it occurs naturally across much of the country, and has also established in areas where it does not occur normally, such as urban Perth, Western Australia. It is dark brown to reddish-brown, depending on the colour of the ground upon which it lives, as well as irregular light bands with dark edges along its back.

<i>Ctenotus robustus</i> Species of lizard

The eastern striped skink is a species of skink found in a wide variety of habitats around Australia. They are long-tailed, fast moving skinks that are quite large, growing to a maximum length of about 30 cm. This skink is mostly brown with a white-edged black stripe running down the length of its back and tail with broad brown stripes along the side of the body with rows of white spots. The sides become lighter, turning into an off-white colour towards the underside of the skink, running from the groin to the chin. The striped skink is similar in appearance to the spotted-back skink with the main identifying difference being the solid stripe running down the back of C. robustus whereas C. uber orientalis has a row of dots.

<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>Ctenotus strauchii</i> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Diplodactylus conspicillatus</i> Species of lizard

Diplodactylus conspicillatus, the variable fat-tailed gecko or burrow-plug gecko, is a diplodactylid gecko endemic to central and arid inland areas of Australia. Widespread across the continent, the variable fat-tailed is most commonly found in sandy desert habitats dominated by spinifex grasses. They have also been bred in captivity by zoos and as pets.

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.

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

Ctenophorus gibba, commonly known as the bulldust ground-dragon or gibber dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in the sparsely vegetated gibber plains of northern South Australia.

The wood mulch-slider or Mueller's three-toed lerista, is a species of lizard belonging to the extensive family Scincidae, a family containing over 1,500 species. The species is found in a diverse range of climates and habitats throughout Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Named after the German-born Australian naturalist Baron Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich Müller (1825–1896), the species has been the subject of much morphological and nomenclature debate.

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>Ctenotus pantherinus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenotus pantherinus, commonly known as the Leopard Ctenotus, is a species of skink endemic to central and western Australia. Its conservation status is currently classified as Least Concern.

The saltbush slender bluetongue is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the arid interior of eastern Australia. Although its conservation status is of least concern, it has been listed as endangered in New South Wales. The slender saltbush bluetongue has been recorded in Sturt National Park in New South Wales but extends into northeast South Australia and south-west Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert egernia</span> Species of lizard

The desert egernia, unadorned desert-skink or desert skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The desert egernia is endemic to the continent of Australia, and is widespread, with populations recorded in all mainland states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory. The desert egernia is found in dry, desert areas with deep, uncompacted sandy/loamy soils and little significant vegetation cover.

<i>Morethia adelaidensis</i> Species of lizard

The saltbush Morethia skink, or more commonly referred to as saltbush skink, is a species of skink found in Australia. They are part of an 8 species genus of Morethia, which are all endemic to Australia. Akin to other members of the Morethia genus, saltbush skinks feature transparent disks as eye covers and eyelids which are stationary, along with specialised limbs which enable quick traversal of sand dunes. Taxonomically, the species was first classified by German explorer Wilhelm Karl Hartwig in 1871.

<i>Ctenotus brooksi</i> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Ctenotus inornatus</i> Species of lizard

The bar-shouldered ctenotus is a species of skink found in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

<i>Ctenotus leonhardii</i> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Ctenotus regius</i> Species of lizard

The pale-rumped ctenotus or regal striped skink is a medium-sized species of skink with an arid distribution restricted to the Australian Mainland, which belongs to the largest group of reptiles in Australia, Ctentotus.

<i>Ctenotus schomburgkii</i> Species of lizard

The barred wedge-snout ctenotus is a species of skink found in Australia.[2]

Ctenotus spaldingi is a diurnal terrestrial skink (Scincidae) species of lizard, commonly known as the straight-browed ctenotus or Spalding's ctenotus. Native to Australia the species is found in the northern areas of Australia, along the east coast, in the north and east of South Australia and throughout Victoria and in southern Papua New Guinea. Their conservation status is of least concern classified by the IUCN. Individuals can be up to 30cm long from the snout to tail or 10cm long from the snout to vent (SVL). They typically inhabit grasslands and low vegetation in savannah woodlands in coastal dune areas, monsoon scrub and woodland commonly found around rock outcrops and when disturbed will hide in shallow burrows or amongst ground litter.

References

  1. ↑ McDonald, P.; Hutchinson, M.; Fenner, A.; Robertson, P. (2018). "Ctenotus olympicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T109463866A109463870. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109463866A109463870.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A complete guide to reptiles of Australia (4th ed.). Chatswood: New Holland publishers. ISBN   978-1-921517-28-0.
  3. 1 2 Ctenotus olympicus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 12 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Hutchinson, Mark N.; Donnellan, Stephen C. (1999). "Genetic variation and taxonomy of the lizards assigned to Cterwtus uber orientalis Storr (Squamata: Scincidae) with description of a new species" (PDF). Records of the South Australian Museum. 32 (2): 173–189.
  5. 1 2 Swan, Gerry; Shea, Glenn M.; Sadlier, Ross; Swan, Gerry (2004). A field guide to reptiles of New South Wales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Reed New Holland. ISBN   978-1-877069-06-2.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Steve (2013). A complete guide to reptiles of Australia (Fourth ed.). Chatswood, NSW, Australia: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. ISBN   978-1-921517-28-0.
  7. ↑ "Ctenotus olympicus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  8. ↑ Cogger, Harold G. (2014). Reptiles & amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). Collingwood: CSIRO publishing. ISBN   978-0-643-10035-0.
  9. 1 2 IUCN (11 June 2024). "Spotted Ctenotus". IUCN Red List. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Read, J. L. (1999). "The ecology of sympatric scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in arid South Australia". Australian Journal of Zoology. 47 (6): 651. doi:10.1071/zoauth1999. ISSN   0004-959X.
  11. ↑ Waudby, Helen P.; Petit, Sophie (2015-05-08). "Small Australian desert vertebrate responses to grazing intensity during La Niña". Ecological Research. 30 (4): 715–722. Bibcode:2015EcoR...30..715W. doi:10.1007/s11284-015-1274-2. ISSN   0912-3814.
  12. 1 2 Read, John; Bowen, Zoë (2001). "Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia". Wildlife Research. 28 (2): 195. doi:10.1071/WR99065. ISSN   1035-3712.
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