Mallee military dragon

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Mallee military dragon
Ctenophorus fordi 55455520.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. fordi
Binomial name
Ctenophorus fordi
(Storr, 1965) [1]
Ctenophorus fordi distribution 2021 update.png
Distribution of Ctenophorus fordi
Synonyms [1] [2]
  • Amphibolurus fordi
    Storr, 1965
  • Phthanodon fordi
    — Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Phthanodon hawkeswoodi
    Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Ctenophorus fordi
    — Manthey & Schuster, 1999

The Mallee dragon [3] (Ctenophorus fordi), also commonly known as the Mallee dragon and the Mallee sand-dragon, [2] is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to the arid parts of southern Australia. [1] [3]

Contents

Etymology

The Mallee military dragon's specific name, fordi, commemorates Dr. Julian Ralph Ford (1932–1987). Dr. Ford was an ornithologist, herpetologist and chemist who worked at the Western Australian Museum. He collected the lizard holotype and many of the paratypes. [2] [4]

Description

C. fordi is a small endemic Australian lizard that grows to a maximum size of 5 cm (2.0 in) snout–vent length (SVL). [5] C. fordi displays a dark reddish-orange colouration with a pale dorso-lateral stripe extending from the posterior region of the neck to the anterior portion of the tail. [5] The pale stripe is bordered by a thin, black stripe. [5] The dark orange-brown region enclosed by the pale stripe is flecked with small pale spots. [5]

Geographic range

C. fordi is found in south-eastern Western Australia, through central South Australia, and into the north-west corner of New South Wales and south-west corner of Queensland. [5] [6] What were previously considered to be populations occurring in south-east South Australia, western Victoria and central New South Wales, [5] were reclassified in 2019 as a separate species; the Eastern Mallee dragon. [6]

Habitat

The Mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi) primarily inhabits regions characterised by shrubs and hummock grass. These lizards thrive in sandy arid to semi-arid environments, particularly favoring the unique ecosystems of Mallee woodland and spinifex. [7] They are commonly found in vegetated sand dunes, where the intricate mix of flora offers both shelter and hunting grounds. [8]

In addition to these primary habitats, the Mallee military dragon can sometimes be found in open sandy areas adjacent to these woodlands, where they utilise the loose soil for burrowing. Their burrows, often located near the bases of spinifex clumps, offer refuge from extreme temperatures and predators. [9] The presence of various shrubs and grasses in these areas contributes to a diverse diet and a complex habitat structure, essential for the dragon's lifecycle.

Overall, the Mallee military dragon's habitat is intricately tied to the health and age of the Mallee ecosystems, with an emphasis on mature spinifex coverage that supports their ecological needs. [10]

Behaviour

Mallee military dragons (Ctenophorus fordi) emerge from dormancy in August, with males appearing about four weeks earlier than females. [11] They are active even on very hot days, foraging in sandy, open areas and dashing for cover into nearby grasses or low bushes if disturbed or pursued. [12] Males are territorial.

The signaling behavior of C. fordi consists almost exclusively of head bobs, which both males and females produce when encountering another individual. [13] A study by Gibbons and Lillywhite (1981) found that head bobbing is used for species recognition, sex identification, and signaling dominance status in Mallee dragons. [14]

Diet

The Mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi) has a diet that consists largely of ants, with ants making up a significant portion (30-50%) of its total food intake. [15] As an ant specialist, C. fordi exploits a food source that most other lizards avoid.

Ants are abundant in the sandy, arid environments inhabited by the Mallee dragon. Different ant species are available seasonally, providing a reliable food source throughout the lizard's active period from spring through summer. [16] C. fordi ambushes ants and other small insects and arthropods that wander within striking distance, employing a sit-and-wait predatory strategy. [17]

In addition to ants, the Mallee dragon's diet includes a variety of other small invertebrates found in its habitat, such as spiders, beetles, and other insects. [18] The larger the individual lizard, the larger the prey it can consume, with the largest dragons occasionally eating small lizards.

Ontogenetic shifts in diet, where juveniles and adults consume different prey, are common in many lizard species. However, there is no evidence of Mallee dragons undergoing such shifts, with ants remaining a dietary staple across all life stages. [19]

The specialized tricuspid teeth of C. fordi are adapted for an insectivorous diet, allowing it to efficiently capture and consume ants and other small prey. [20] Its diet provides the necessary nutrients and energy for growth, reproduction, and survival in the harsh desert environment.

Reproduction

The Mallee military dragon reproduces sexually, with an oviparous and dioecious reproduction method. [21] Mating occurs in spring. Females produces sequential clutches of two to five eggs over the reproductive season and the offspring hatch from December to March. [21] Males are not territorial and there has been no evidence of male-male aggression. [21]

Conservation actions

The species C. fordi is listed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a species of "Least Concern". [1] The Mallee military dragon occurs in several protected areas, including the Sturt National Park in New South Wales, and the Currawinya National Park in Queensland. [3] [6]

Threats

The Mallee military dragon is vulnerable to various threats. [22] These include:

Related Research Articles

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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.

<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 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>Strophurus intermedius</i> Species of lizard

Strophurus intermedius, also known commonly as the eastern spiny-tailed gecko or the southern spiny-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to semi-arid regions of Australia in New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, in mallee shrubland and woodland habitats.

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

Ctenophorus isolepis, commonly known as the central military dragon, military dragon or military sand dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in the arid parts of central and western Australia.

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

Ctenophorus rubens, commonly known as the reddening sand-dragon or rufus sand dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in the arid sandy areas of shrublands and spinifex of the Exmouth Gulf and the adjacent interior of Western Australia, with an isolated population also occurring in the sand dunes south of Hamelin Pool, Western Australia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of C. isolepis.

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

Ctenophorus butlerorum, also known commonly as Butler's dragon, the Shark Bay heath dragon and the Edel heath dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to 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.

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

Ctenophorus chapmani, commonly known as Chapman's dragon, southern heath dragon, or Bight heath dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in sandplains with heath or mallee across southern Australia.

Ctenophorus clayi, also known commonly as the black-collared dragon, the black-shouldered ground-dragon, and Clay's dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

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.

The Southern Mallee ctenotus 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.

<i>Hemiergis millewae</i> Species of reptile

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.

<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>Diporiphora nobbi</i> Species of lizard

Diporiphora nobbi, also known commonly as the nobbi lashtail or the nobbi, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

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

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cogger, H.; Melville, J.; Wilson, S.; Craig, M. (2017). "Ctenophorus fordi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T83410150A83453708. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T83410150A83453708.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Ctenophorus fordi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ctenophorus fordi (Storr, 1965)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ctenophorus fordi, p. 92).
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garcia JRD, Dyer A (2013). "Trade-off between camouflage and sexual dimorphism revealed by UV digital imaging: the case of Australian Mallee dragons (Ctenophorus fordi)". Journal of Experimental Biology216: 4290-4298. https://doi.org/:10.1242/jeb.094045
  6. 1 2 3 Sadlier, R.A.; Colgan, D.; Beatson, C.A.; Cogger, H.G. (2019). "Ctenophorus spinodomus sp. nov., a New Species of Dragon Lizard (Squamata: Agamidae) from Triodia Mallee Habitat of Southeast Australia". Records of the Australian Museum. 71 (5): 199–215. doi: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.71.2019.1700 .
  7. ↑ Simpson, R. E. L., Nimmo, D. G., Wright, L. J., Wassens, S., & Michael, D. R (2023). "Decline in semi-arid reptile occurrence following habitat loss and fragmentation". Wildlife Research. 51. doi:10.1071/WR23034.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Hutchinson, M. (2002). "Reptiles and amphibians" (PDF). Atural History of the Riverlands and Murraylands Continued.
  9. ↑ Michael, D., & Lindenmayer, D. (2010). "eptiles of the NSW Murray catchment: a guide to their identification, ecology and conservation". Csiro Publishing. ISBN   978-0-643-10189-0.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Emu-Wren, M., Miner, B. E., Whipbird, W., Whistler, R. L., Parrot, R., & Grasswren, M. S (2014). "Reptiles of Victoria" (PDF). Reptiles of Victoria: A Guide to Identification and Ecology.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Swan, Michael, and Simon Watharow (2005). "Snakes, lizards and frogs of the Victorian Mallee". doi:10.1071/9780643093119. ISBN   978-0-643-09134-4.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ John Fowler. "THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - DRAGONS (AGAMAS)". Ctenophorus spinodomus EASTERN MALLEE DRAGON. THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA.
  13. ↑ Bian, X., Pinilla, A., Chandler, T., & Peters, R. (2020). "Effectiveness of movement-based animal signals is a function of display structure and habitat characteristics: simulations of Australian dragons". Research Square. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-124579/v1.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Gibbons, J. R., & Lillywhite, H. B. (1981). "cological segregation, color matching, and speciation in lizards of the Amphibolurus decresii species complex". (Lacertilia: Agamidae). Ecology. 62 (6): 1573–1584. doi:10.2307/1941513. JSTOR   1941513.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ The Reptile Database. "Ctenophorus fordi (STORR, 1965)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  16. ↑ Cogger, H. G. (2012). "Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia". Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition.
  17. ↑ Hutchinson, M (2002). "Reptiles and amphibians". Natural History of the Riverlands and Murraylands Continued.
  18. ↑ Schwaner, T. D., Miller, B., & Tyler, M. J. (1985). "Reptiles and Amphibians" (PDF). Natural History of Eyre Peninsula.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ The Reptile Database. "Ctenophorus fordi (STORR, 1965)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  20. ↑ The Reptile Database. "Ctenophorus fordi (STORR, 1965)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 "Mallee Dragon". Encyclopedia of Life. National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mallee military dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 20 February 2021.

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