Leopard ctenotus
Ctenotus pantherinus ocellifer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Ctenotus
Species:
C. pantherinus
Binomial name
Ctenotus pantherinus
Synonyms[1][3]
  • Lygosoma pantherinum
    Peters, 1866
  • Egernia whitei carnarae
    Kinghorn, 1931
  • Lygosoma breviunguis
    Kinghorn, 1932

Ctenotus pantherinus, commonly known as the Leopard Ctenotus, is a species of skink endemic to central and western Australia. It's conservation status is currently classified as Least Concern.[2][3][1]

Description

They are a Brown/grey lizard with a tail almost equal to its body length, with short, four stubby legs of similar length, ending in clawed feet with five digits. Yellow/white spots with a black/brown outline begin behind the head and extend to the tip of the tail. Some adult Leopard Ctenotus have white/yellow stripes on the side of the tail, starting at the hind leg. The underbelly is a pale white/yellow colour.[4][5]

Leopard Ctenotus are one of the largest and fastest growing ctenotus species in Australia. They grow more during winter than other ctenotus species and are active during all seasons. Males tend to grow at a slightly faster rate than females, and juveniles born in autumn grow faster over winter than those born in the summer months.[6][7]

Distribution

Ctenotus pantherinus is endemic to Australia and has been found in the semi- arid and arid regions of Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

Ecology and Habitat

Ctenotus pantherinus inhabits semi-arid and arid regions of Australia which are usually sandy and stony areas high in Spinifex grasses. Hatchlings are 33mm long and can grow up to 86mm (snout to vent length) as a mature adult.

Diet

Ctenotus pantherinus are insectivores, their diet almost entirely consists of consuming termites and their larvae.[8]

Taxonomy

Leopard Ctenotus is a species of lizard, which belongs to the genus Ctenotus.[9] Ctenotus are in the family Scincidae, which contains more than 1,500 described species, making the Scincidae family one of the most diverse lizard families on Earth.[10]

Subspecies

Ctenotus pantherinus has four subspecies:

  • Ctenotus pantherinus pantherinus
  • C. p. acripes
  • C. p. calx
  • C. p. ocellifer

Reproduction

Leopard Ctenotus are oviparious, meaning they lay eggs which hatch after some time. Leopard Ctenotus reproduce at least once per year, and can have a clutch size ranging from 4-7 eggs. Egg production usually occurs in late spring to early summer.

Reproductive rate is above average when compared with other ctenotus species inhabiting the same area, with a relatively large clutch size compared to other skink species. Juvenile leopard Ctenotus reach sexual maturity at 10–11 months of age, on average.

Ctenotus Pantherinus is commonly known to reproductively be the only species (within the Ctenotus genus) to have a female be smaller in size in comparison to their male counterparts. This has allowed them to both adequately adapt to their environment, as well as seen them sustain their population.[11][12][13]

Threats

This species is classified as having a conservation status of least concern; however, some threats do exist. Drought impacts food availability and this can lead to population decline in dry years.[14] Habitat fragmentation and degradation from land clearing, poor fire regimes and over grazing may increase the isolation of populations and disrupt the ecological balance of the habitat they exist in. Predation by introduced feral animal species such as foxes and feral cats may reduce Leopard Ctenotus populations to low levels.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gaikhorst, G.; Ford, S.; Cowan, M.; How, R. (2017). "Ctenotus pantherinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T109464022A109464042. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T109464022A109464042.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ctenotus pantherinus (Peters, 1866)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ctenotus pantherinus (Peters, 1866)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. ↑ International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List (2022). Leopard Ctenotus. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/109464022/109464042. Accessed on 16 June 2022
  5. ↑ "Leopard Ctenotus (Ctenotus pantherinus)". www.ozanimals.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. ↑ James, C. D. "Growth Rates and Ages at Maturity of Sympatric Scincid Lizards (Ctenotus) in Central Australia." Journal of Herpetology, vol. 25, no. 3, 1991, pp. 284–345.
  7. ↑ PIANKA, E. R., and S. E. GOODYEAR. "Lizard responses to wildfire in arid interior Australia: Long-term experimental data and commonalities with other studies." Austral Ecology, vol. 37, no. 1, 2011, pp. 1–11, doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02234.x.
  8. ↑ Goodyear, S. E; Pianka, E. R (2011). "Spatial and Temporal Variation in Diets of Sympatric Lizards (Genus Ctenotus) in the Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia". Journal of Herpetology. 3 (45): 256–271. doi:10.1670/10-190.1. S2CID 15595369. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia (2021, May 31). Ctenotus. Retrieved on 16 June 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenotus
  10. ↑ Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia (2022, May 25). Skink. Retrieved on 16 June 2022 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skink
  11. ↑ Gordon, C. E., et al. "What factors allow opportunistic nocturnal activity in a primarily diurnal desert lizard (Ctenotus pantherinus)?" Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, vol. 156, no. 2, 2010, pp. 255–261, doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.02.007.
  12. ↑ James, C. D (1991). "Annual variation in reproductive cycles of scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in central Australia". Copeia. 1991 (3): 744–760. doi:10.2307/1446402. JSTOR 1446402.
  13. ↑ James, Craig D. (1991). "Population Dynamics, Demography, and Life History of Sympatric Scincid Lizards (Ctenotus) in Central Australia". Herpetologica. 47 (2): 194–210. ISSN 0018-0831.
  14. ↑ James, Craig D. (1 February 1991). "Temporal variation in diets and trophic partitioning by coexisting lizards (Ctenotus: Scincidae) in central Australia". Oecologia. 85 (4): 553–561. doi:10.1007/BF00323768. ISSN 1432-1939.
  15. ↑ "Leopard Ctenotus - profile | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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