| Tympanocryptis lineata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Tympanocryptis |
| Species: | T. lineata |
| Binomial name | |
| Tympanocryptis lineata Peters, 1863 | |
Tympanocryptis lineata, the Canberra grassland earless dragon or lined earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Australia. [1]
The Canberra grassland earless dragon is a small, light brown to grey brown lizard usually less than 150 millimetres long and weighing 5–9 grams. [2] [3] The species has a tapering snout, six or seven dark brown bands on its back, dark speckling on its front (especially the throat), and eleven or fewer dark blotches on its tail. [2] Some variation in the appearance of individuals in this species is known. For example, spiny scales on the back, and pigmentation of speckles on the front may vary between individuals. [2] [3] Individuals may exhibit orange-pink colouration on their throat, flanks and sides of head, particularly during the breeding season. [2] [3]
Tympanocryptis lineata refers to a species of grassland earless dragon found only in a small area of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. [2] The species was previously grouped with other species including Tympanocryptis pinguicolla and what is now described as Tympanocryptis petersi . [2]
Historically, ‘Tympanocryptis lineata’ formed a species complex. Taxonomic research has led to several species or sub-species previously included under ‘Tympanocryptis lineata’ now being reclassified or described as new species, including: [2] [4]
Morphologically, the homogeneity of scales on the thighs of the Canberra grassland earless dragon is one characteristic that may differentiate this species from other similar species. [2] However, external morphological characteristics are often inadequate in identifying to species level. Recent taxonomic reclassification has come about through the use of modern techniques including phylogeography and phylogenomics .
The Canberra grassland earless dragon has a very narrow distribution, being found only in a small area of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. Populations have been detected at locations within 13 kilometres of Canberra Airport. [5] Its geographical distribution does not overlap with any other earless dragon species, and as such the Canberra grassland earless dragon is considered to be geographically isolated. [2]
Canberra grassland earless dragons inhabit temperate grasslands characterised by tussocks with open space, few or no trees and shrubs and minimal pasture. [6] [7] They prefer well-drained sites dominated by tall speargrass (genus Austrostipa ) and shorter wallaby grass (genus Austrodanthonia ). [3] They eat a range of invertebrates including ants, beetles, spiders, moths and moth larvae. [3] The species is thought to utilise existing arthropod burrows for shelter in order to endure extreme temperatures experienced in its habitat. [2] [3]
Females usually produce only one clutch of between three and seven eggs (most commonly around four eggs). [3] Clutches are produced in spring, with a second clutch produced in summer if conditions are favourable. [3]
Canberra grassland earless dragons can live several years in captivity but are generally short-lived in the wild. [3]
The Canberra grassland earless dragon is at high risk of extinction. [5] Population size was declining gradually and more recently a dramatic decline in population size has been observed, and the species has become undetectable in some places. [5] A low annual survival rate for juvenile and adult individuals may contribute to the decline of this species. [5]
Key threats to this species include a reduction in grassland areas due to urban and other development, habitat fragmentation, predation, altered grazing regimes, altered fire regimes, weed invasion and climate change. [8] [3]
The Canberra grassland earless dragon is not listed as a threatened species in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Australia or the IUCN Red List. However, the Victorian grassland earless dragon (which was previously grouped with the Canberra grassland earless dragon) is listed as endangered. The apparent omission of the Canberra grassland earless dragon on threatened species lists is considered to be an administrative issue due to the recent taxonomic reclassification of this species.
Current conservation and rehabilitation efforts in the Australian Capital Territory are aimed at earless dragon species including the Canberra grassland earless dragon. A captive breeding facility for Canberra grassland earless dragons opened at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in 2021. [3] The facility aims to maintain a captive breeding population of genetically diverse individuals for observation and eventual release. [3] Other conservation efforts include habitat restoration and climate risk assessments to understand the viability of future habitats and release sites. [3]
Tympanocryptis is a genus of Australian lizards in the family Agamidae, commonly known as earless dragons.
The swift parrot is a species of broad-tailed parrot, found only in southeastern Australia. The species breeds in Tasmania during the summer and migrates north to south eastern mainland Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is a nomadic migrant, and it settles in an area only when there is food available. The Swift Parrot was voted 2023 Bird of the Year in The Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia’s biennial poll.
The Queanbeyan Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that is located in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 67-hectare (170-acre) reserve is situated approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west-south-west of the City of Queanbeyan.
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.
Tympanocryptis centralis, also known as central Australian earless dragon or central pebble dragon, is one of a documented species of a relatively small dragon belonging to the genus Tympanocryptis.
Tympanocryptis pinguicolla, also known as Victorian grassland earless dragon, is a critically endangered species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is one of a documented species of a relatively small dragon belonging to the genus Tympanocryptis.
Tympanocryptis pentalineata, also known as five-lined earless dragon, is one of a documented species of a relatively small dragon belonging to the genus Tympanocryptis.
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.
Tympanocryptis argillosa, the claypan earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Australia.
Tympanocryptis fictilis, the harlequin earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Australia.
There are two species of agama named lined earless dragon:
Tympanocryptis macra, the savannah earless dragon, is a species of agama found in northernWestern Australia and the Northern Territory. It was described originally as Tympanocryptis lineatamacra in 1982 by Glen Milton Storr.
Tympanocryptis mccartneyi, the Bathurst grassland earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Australia.
Tympanocryptis osbornei, the Monaro grassland earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Australia.
Tympanocryptis petersi, the lined earless dragon, is a species of agama found in South Australia. The specific epithet, petersi, honours Wilhelm Carl Hartwig Peters, who described the genus and type species, Tympanocryptis lineata.
Tympanocryptis rustica, the Tennant Creek pebble dragon, is a species of agama found in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Tympanocryptis tolleyi, the Gawler earless dragon, is a species of agama found in South Australia.
Tympanocryptis uniformis, the even-scaled earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Tympanocryptis wilsoni, the Roma earless dragon, is a species of agama found in Queensland, Australia.
The Southern Tablelands Temperate Grassland, formally Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands, is a temperate grassland community situated in the Southern Tablelands and Monaro region of New South Wales, extending into the Australian Capital Territory and the Victorian border. Listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the grassland is dominated by reasonably tall, dense to open tussock grasses.
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