Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri), also known commonly as Hosmer's egernia and Hosmer's skink, is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is a diurnal, rock-dwelling species native to Northern Australia.
| Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink | |
|---|---|
| Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink at Philadelphia Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Egernia |
| Species: | E. hosmeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Egernia hosmeri (Kinghorn, 1955) | |
Etymology
The specific name, hosmeri, is in honour of Australian herpetologist William Hosmer.[2]
Description
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is mostly reddish-brown on top, with both scattered darker and paler spots along the back, legs, and tail. It has a darker brown head and neck, white abdomen, and a few dark brown blotches under the chin. The snout-to-vent (SVL) is 18 cm (7.1 in), with a round, tapering tail about 60% of the SVL.[3] It is most closely related to Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), however the tail of E. hosmeri is flattened and spinier than that of E. cunninghami.[4]
Geographic range
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skin is found throughout dry, rocky regions of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[3][5]
Behaviour
E. hosmeri is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction
Like some other reptiles, E. hosmeri is viviparous, giving birth to an average of four live young at a time.[6]
Diet
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is omnivorous, eating insects, leaves, shoots, and berries.[6]
References
- Hoskin, C.; Couper, P. (2018). "Egernia hosmeri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T109470437A109470442. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109470437A109470442.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- 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. (Egernia hosmeri, p. 126).
- Cogger, Harold G. (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 544. ISBN 9780643100350. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- Kinghorn, J. Roy (1 September 1955). "Herpetological notes. No. 5" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 23 (5): 283–286. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.23.1955.638. Retrieved 30 January 2019. (Egernia hosmeri, new species, p. 286 + Plate XIV).
- Clayton, Mark; Wombley, John; Mason, Ian; Chesser, R. Terry; Alice, Wells (2006). CSIRO list of Australian vertebrates: a reference with conservation status (2nd ed.). CSIRO PUBLISHING. p. 29. ISBN 9780643098800. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- "Hosmer's skink". Australian Reptile Park. Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
Further reading
- Doughty, Paul; Kealley, Luke; Donnellan, Stephen C. (2011). "Revision of the Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia depressa species-group) from Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species". Records of the Western Australian Museum 26: 115–137.
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.