Hemiergis talbingoensis
| Hemiergis talbingoensis | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Hemiergis |
| Species: | H. talbingoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hemiergis talbingoensis Copland, 1946 | |
Hemiergis talbingoensis, the Eastern three-toed earless skink[2][3], is a species of skink found in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria in Australia.[2][3][4]
Description and habitat
This is a secretive, litter dwelling species that occurs in cool, damp areas of dry forest and woodland around the Great Dividing Range and associated tablelands, inland slopes and coastal river valleys.[2][3]
Taxonomy, distribution and identification
Two subspecies have been described with H. t. davisi occurring in central and northern NSW, north from the Abercrombie River to the vicinity of Tenterfield near the border with Queensland, and the nominate form, H. t. talbingoensis occurring in southern NSW, the ACT and northeastern Victoria.[2]
This species is closely similar to Saiphos equalis with which it overlaps in distribution in northern NSW.[2] Both species are secretive, reduced-limb litter dwelling skinks with three toes on each limb, brown dorsum with darker flecks aligned longitudinally and a bright yellow to orange ventral coloration.[2][5]
These species differ in that S. equalis has vestigial toes, while these are distinctly longer in H. talbingoensis. Hemiergis has a divided loreal scale (single in Saiphos) and prefrontal scales (absent in Saiphos).[2] Saiphos also has a more easterly distribution, occurring in wet forest and rainforest from the tablelands to coastal areas, from eastern NSW to SE Qld.[2][5]
References
- ↑ Shea, G.; Cogger, H.; Greenlees, M. (2018). "Hemiergis talbingoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T109472798A109472818. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109472798A109472818.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Swan, Gerry; Sadlier, Ross; Shea, Glenn (2022). A field guide to reptiles of New South Wales (4th ed.). Sydney: Reed Holland. pp. 171–173. ISBN 9781925546835.
- 1 2 3 Robertson, Peter; Coventry, A. John (2019). Reptiles of Victoria. Clayton South, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 9780643093935.
- ↑ Hemiergis talbingoensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 March 2015.
- 1 2 Wilson, Steve K. (2022). A field guide to reptiles of Queensland (3rd ed.). Sydney: Reed New Holland. ISBN 9781925546842.