Morethia boulengeri

Morethia boulengeri
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)
Synonyms
  • Ablepharus boulengeri
    Ogilby, 1890
  • Morethia boulengeri
    — (Ogilby, 1890) Greer, 1974[2]

Morethia boulengeri is a species of scincid lizard endemic to Australia. 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 days before the eggs hatch. During this time the rate of oxygen consumption dramatically increases.[12]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morethia boulengeri.
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  1. ↑ Hutchinson, M.N. (2010). "Morethia boulengeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 Morethia boulengeri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 Cogger H. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. Seventh Edition. p:660-661.
  6. ↑ Rayner, I. 2007. Morethia Boulengeri. "CSIRO Life in the Suburbs". Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  7. ↑ Michael, D. & Lindenmayer, D. 2010. Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology & Conservation. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing. p:154. Reptiles of the NSW Murray Catchment: A Guide to Their Identification, Ecology & Conservation.. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  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."CSIRO Publishing - Australian Journal of Zoology". Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  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. JSTOR 1562902
  11. ↑ Henle, K. 1989. Population Ecology and Life History of the Diurnal Skink Morethia boulengeri in Arid Australia. Oecologia. 78 (4): 521-532. . JSTOR 4218901
  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. JSTOR 1565726

Further reading

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