Morethia boulengeri

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Morethia boulengeri
File:Morethia boulengeri 2.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Sauria
Infraorder:
Scincomorpha
Family:
Scincidae
Genus:
Morethia
Species:
M. boulengeri
Binomial name
Morethia boulengeri
(Ogilby, 1890)
File:Morethia boulengeri distribution (colored).png
Synonyms
  • Ablepharus boulengeri
    Ogilby, 1890
  • Morethia boulengeri
    — (Ogilby, 1890) Greer, 1974[2]

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Morethia boulengeri is a species of scincid lizard endemic to Australia, these lizards are found in Australia and nowhere else in the world. Common names for this species include south-eastern Morethia skink,[2] Boulenger's snake-eyed skink,[3] Boulenger's Morethia,[3] and Boulenger's skink.[4] The specific name, boulengeri, as well as two of the common names for this skink, are in honor of George Albert Boulenger,[3] a Belgian-born British herpetologist who described a wide range of reptile, amphibian and fish species.

Description

The markings and coloration of these skinks can vary significantly between individuals. In general, M. boulengeri are grey or brown in colour with coloured flecks in a longitudinal pattern along the dorsal side of the lizard, while the ventral side is largely white. A thin white stripe also runs longitudinally from the mouth to the groin region on both lateral sides. Above the white line is a thicker black stripe that borders the white stripes.[5] Juvenile lizards also have a distinctive red-orange tinge on the ventral side of the tail, which is a distinguishing feature of the Morethia genera. The Boulengeri’s skink can grow to 10 cm in length; however, on average they reach only 8 cm nose to tail, or 45-50mm snout to vent.[6] This species of skink also exhibits square-shaped supraciliary scales above the eye region.

Ecology

This species is endemic to Australia and can be found across the majority of the country. M. Boulengeri lives in every state and territory except Tasmania. They are generalist species that have the ability to inhabit a wide range of environments in semi-arid and arid zones. They survive in the leaf litter and dead fallen vegetation in dry sclerophyll forests, mallee, desert, scrublands, woodlands and low shrublands ecosystems.[5] They are found in high numbers in the Murray catchment area, in southern New South Wales. Sometimes the densities of the M. boulenger are as high as several hundred individuals in one hectare of land.[7]

Diet

The M. boulenger are insectivore species, like the majority of skinks, which means the diets of these species consist exclusively of insects. The skinks eat predominately arthropod species and snails, with moths making up a large portion of their diet.[8] While spiders, beetles, ants, cockroaches and other bugs are also a part of the skinks diet. All of these prey species are abundant within Australia and in the leaf litter habitat the M. boulenger also occupy.

Reproduction

M. boulenger mate in the warmer months in spring and summer.[9] During this time the throat of male skinks turns vibrant orange in correspondence with testicle size, indicating to the females that they are fertile and available for mating.[10] This species of skink is oviparous which is a method of reproduction where the females lay eggs. The female M. boulenger generally reach sexual maturity and begin breeding within the first year of life. On average, 3 eggs are laid per clutch and produce approximately 3 clutches per year.[11] The clutch is incubated for approximately 60 day before the eggs hatch. During this time the rate of oxygen consumption dramatically increases.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morethia boulengeri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 November 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Morethia boulengeri, p. 33).
  4. ↑ OzAnimals.com.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cogger H. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. Seventh Edition. p:660-661.
  6. ↑ Rayner, I. 2007. Morethia Boulengeri. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Michael, D. & Lindenmayer, D. 2010. Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology & Conservation. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. p:154. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Hoser, R. 1989. Australian Reptiles & Frogs. p. 105. Mosman: Pierson & Co.
  9. ↑ Smyth M. 1974. Changes in the fat scores of the skinks Morethia boulengeri and Hemiergis peronii (Lacertilia). Australian J. Zool. 22 (2): 135-145.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Smyth M. 1974. Aspects of the Natural History of Three Australian Skinks, Morethia boulengeri, Menetia greyii and Lerista bougainvillii. Journal of Herpetology. 8 (4): 329-335..Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Henle, K. 1989. Population Ecology and Life History of the Diurnal Skink Morethia boulengeri in Arid Australia. Oecologia. 78 (4): 521-532. .Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Thompson, M & Russell, K. 1999. Embryonic Energetics in Eggs of Two Species of Australian Skink, Morethia boulengeri and Morethia adelaidensis. Journal of Herpetology 33 (2): 291-297. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

  • Greer AE. 1974. The generic relationships of the scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 22 (31): 1-67. (Morethia boulengeri, new combination, p. 21).
  • Ogilby JD. 1890. Re-Description of an Ablepharus from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 1:10-11. (Ablepharus boulengeri, new species).

External links

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • "Boulenger's Skink", OzAnimals.com.
  • Morethia boulengeri, The Reptile Database.
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