AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY 

RECORD 

_____________________________________________________________________ 

2002 (No 8) ISSN 1325-2992 March, 2002 

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Some Taxonomic Changes to the Genus 

Lampropholis (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Australia. 

by 

Richard W. Wells 

“Shiralee”, Major West Road, Cowra, New South Wales, Australia 

In consideration of the considerable morphological differences that exist between the 

various members of the genus Lampropholis as diagnosed by Cogger (2000), it is 

clear to me that this genus represents a number of quite separate evolutionary 

lineages. Consequently, I have decided to restrict the genus Lampropholis to members 

of the guichenoti complex, and formally describe new genera for the remaining 

groups of species. 

Genus Lampropholis Fitzinger, 1843 

[Type Species: Lygosoma guichenoti Dumeril and Bibron, 1839 - Erpetologie 

Generale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Roret, Paris (Volume 5, p. 

713)]. 

Diagnosis: A genus of small, oviparous and terrestrial lizards of the family Scincidae, 

readily identified by the following combination of characters: body-form robust; tail 

long, fragile and round in section; body scales mostly smooth, in 22-31 rows at midbody 

(but usually 27-28, vs usually 30 in Helioscincus gen. nov., usually 26-28 in 

Ndurascincus gen. nov., and usually 22 in Adrasteia gen. nov.); paravertebrals 51-61; 

nuchals 1-5 (usually 2); frontoparietals fused; interparietal small and distinct; 

supraoculars 4; rostral and frontonasal suture about as wide as the frontal; supralabials 

7 (5th subocular); infralabials 7; ear-opening present and conspicuous; lower eyelid 

movable, and with a palpebral disk that is smaller than the eye; presuboculars 1-2 

(usually 1, vs usually 2 in Ndurascincus gen. nov.); supraciliaries 5-8 (usually 6 or 7, 

vs usually 7 in Helioscincus gen. nov. and Ndurascincus gen. nov., and usually 5 in 

Adrasteia gen. nov.); well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just fail to overlap when 

adpressed (or in some species barely overlap); supradigital scales 11-17 (usually 13- 

17, vs 9-11 in Adrasteia gen. nov. and Ndurascincus gen. nov.); subdigital lamellae 

beneath 4th toe 20-30, smooth; presacral vertebrae 26-28 (usually 27, vs usually 28- 

31 in Adrasteia, usually 26 in Helioscincus gen. nov. and Ndurascincus gen. nov.); 

diploid chromosome number 2N=28 or 2N=30. Content: Lampropholis colossus 

Ingram, 1991; Lampropholis delicata (De Vis, 1888); Lampropholis guichenoti 

(Dumeril and Bibron, 1839); Lampropholis longleyi (Wells and Wellington, 1985); 

Lampropholis lunneyi Wells and Wellington, 1984; Lampropholis swani Wells and 

Wellington, 1985.

Australian Biodiversity Record, 2002 (8): 1-24 

Greater Litter Skink 

Lampropholis colossus Ingram, 1991 

This is a diurnal highly active skink that may be readily observed basking on leaflitter 

or amidst forest debris around sheltered, or well-shaded situations along the 

edges and clearings of subtropical rainforest. The Greater Litter Skink is another 

highly restricted species in its distribution, being only known from the vicinity of the 

Bunya Mountains of south-eastern Queensland. It is a small terrestrial skink closely 

related to Lampropholis delicata, but differs from that species in its scalation, 

colouration and usually larger size (the name 'colossus' recalls the giant of ancient 

mythology, and was bestowed on the species because of its larger size). It attains a 

maximum total length of around 130 mm., and a snout-vent length of about 55 mm. 

The dorsum is bronze-brown, with the upper lateral zone dark brownish-black, and 

the lower lateral parts greyish. Although the lateral pattern is very similar to some 

populations of L. delicata - in that there is a clear midlateral line of demarcation 

between the dark upper lateral zone and the paler lower lateral - the venter of L. 

colossus is yellowish, with blackish flecks on the throat and along the subcaudal area. 

In Lampropholis delicata the venter is whitish. Some significant features of this 

species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 25-28 rows at mid-body; 

paravertebrals 52-57; nuchals 2-5 (usually 2); frontoparietals fused; interparietal 

distinct; supraoculars 4; supralabials 7; ear-opening present and conspicuous; lower 

eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk that is much smaller than the eye; 

presuboculars 1-2 (usually 1); supraciliaries 7; small, but well-developed pentadactyl 

limbs, that overlap when adpressed; supradigital scales 12-16; subdigital lamellae 

beneath 4th toe 21-25, smooth; presacral vertebrae 27. This is an oviparous species, 

producing up to 5 eggs in a clutch, and its diet comprises solely the tiny invertebrates 

of leaf-litter, decaying vegetation and around rotting logs. The survival status of this 

skink is at present unknown, and although this is believed to be a common species 

wherever it occurs, it may be considered as potentially vulnerable in some areas due 

to its restricted distribution. Protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 

(1992). 

Delicate Grass Skink 

Lampropholis delicata (De Vis, 1888) 

As presently defined, this is one of Australia’s most well-known and abundant lizards. 

It is a terrestrial and diurnal species of the leaf-litter, where it forages around the bases 

of trees and rock outcroppings and shelters mainly in earth cracks or loose bark 

around the bases of trees, amongst grass tussocks, under ground litter, under rocks, or 

inside rotting logs. Delicate Grass Skinks inhabit a wide variety of habitats ranging 

from heathland, woodland and forest communities, and most sites are usually in 

cooler mountainous areas, or the higher rainfall parts of coastal regions. They are 

often found in association with rock outcroppings within woodlands, and in the 

sheltered or moister parts of well-vegetated areas - such as along stream verges, 

beside soaks or marshes, and in rainfall runoff areas around the bases of hills, where 

plant life is denser. This skink has apparently adapted well to disturbed areas such as 

roadside verges, suburban gardens and agricultural areas, and has probably been 

extensively introduced from different populations to some urban areas through 

transfer of rubbish, garden waste, compost and simply through the movement of 

goods. This could possibly explain the puzzling periodic appearance of diverse colour 

forms in some suburban areas - particularly around rubbish tips - where unnatural 

2


assemblages may be rapidly introduced through waste transfer. It occurs across a wide 

part of south-eastern Australia, as a number of geographically isolated populations 

(which may be taxonomically distinct), ranging from Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo 

Island, south-eastern South Australia, southern and eastern Victoria, eastern and 

north-eastern Tasmania, through most of the coastal plain and Great Dividing Range 

of New South Wales (including the Australian Capital Territory, but excluding the 

northern tablelands), and into south-eastern Queensland. This species (as presently 

defined) as been accidentally introduced into Hawaii and New Zealand. As its name 

implies, it is a small, somewhat depressed species, with a long fragile tail that is round 

in section (the name 'delicata' in effect means 'weak' or 'delicate' and alludes to the 

appearance of the species). A maximum total length of only around 80 mm. is 

attained, and of this the snout-vent length is about 40 mm. (although a large specimen 

may reach up to 50 mm SVL). The dorsum is rich brown, coppery-brown, or greyishbrown, 

with the head being a slightly more bronzy-brown. Overall, the dorsal part of 

the body and tail is usually unpatterned, but in some it may be flecked along the midline 

with dark brown or black and these flecks may have a longitudinal alignment. 

There is a thin pale creamish dorsolateral stripe running from the nape, along the body 

to about the base of the tail, and this dorsolateral line is often thinly edged above and 

below with black - particularly along the anterior part of the body; the line may 

continue along the tail as an irregular series of paler dashes or dots. The upper lateral 

of the body and head is darker than the dorsum, being very dark brown, progressively 

fading to greyish-brown towards the lower lateral and covered with a scattering of 

darker and paler dots on the scales. Usually there are short blackish transverse bars on 

the sides of the tail. In some populations individuals may be found with a thin pale 

creamish mid-lateral stripe along the body as well, and this often causes confusion 

with L. guichenoti. The limbs are blackish dorsally and paler brown underneath, and 

the palmer surfaces and subdigital lamellae are black; the labials are whitish with 

black spotting. Ventrally the body is greyish to whitish, with scattered black flecks, 

usually in obscure longitudinal lines beneath the throat. Some significant features of 

this species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 22-28 rows at mid-body; 

paravertebrals 51-60; nuchals 1-2 (usually 2); frontoparietals fused; interparietal 

distinct; supraoculars 4; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); ear-opening present and 

conspicuous; lower eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk that is much smaller 

than the eye; presuboculars 1-2 (usually 1); supraciliaries 6-8 (usually 7); small, but 

well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just overlap when adpressed; supradigital 

scales 11-14; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 21-30, smooth; presacral vertebrae 

26-28; diploid chromosome number 2N=28. It should be noted that variation in 

morphology suggests that this species may be composite. Despite its abundance, the 

reproductive biology of this species has been poorly studied, but it is known to be 

oviparous, producing up to 6 (but usually 3 or 4) eggs in a clutch. Sometimes two 

clutches are produced in a single season, and communal egg deposition is well-known 

in this species, where up to 400 eggs have been found at a single laying site. 

Communal laying sites are nearly always associated with habitat disturbance of some 

sort, such as in disturbed, disclimax or regenerating situations. The diet is confined to 

small litter invertebrates. Protected under the New South Wales National Parks and 

Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in that State as a Threatened Species in any of the 

Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Also protected 

under the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992), the SA National Parks and Wildlife 

Act (1972), the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Act (1970), and the ACT 

3


Nature Conservation Act (1980). Protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act (1975) 

but not listed in Schedule 2 of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). 

Guichenot's Grass Skink 

Lampropholis guichenoti (Dumeril and Bibron, 1839) 

Once considered to be widespread in southeastern Australia, as herein defined this 

species is restricted to a small area of southern South Australia, centred upon 

Kangaroo Island and the adjacent mainland, where it inhabits cool temperate eucalypt 

forest and woodland with tussock grass ground cover. Elsewhere the Lampropholis 

guichenoti complex is represented by at least two different species - Lampropholis 

swani from the central and Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, and 

Lampropholis lunneyi occupying eastern NSW, the ACT, VIC., and south-eastern SA 

(however, it is likely that L. lunneyi itself is composite). Guichenot's Grass Skink is a 

diurnal, terrestrial species that forages amongst dry leaf-litter, particularly around the 

bases of trees, and shelters amongst ground litter, beneath or inside rotting logs, in 

grass tussocks, under piles of rocks and in earth cracks. It is a small, robust-bodied 

lizard, with a long fragile tail that is round in section, and attains a maximum total 

length of around 110 mm., with a snout-vent length of about 50 mm. The dorsum may 

be brown, olive-brown, or greyish-brown, with the head being a slightly more paler 

bronze-brown or coppery-brown in the breeding season. The most conspicuous 

feature on the dorsal part of the body is a prominent to obscure dark blackish vertebral 

stripe that extends from the nape to the base of the tail. The rest of the dorsum may be 

lightly flecked with dark brown and greyish flecks, and this is particularly the case 

with immature specimens. The upper lateral zone has a broad dark brown stripe, 

beginning on the side of the head, and running along the body to the base of the tail. 

This upper lateral stripe is thinly bordered above and below by a white stripe, but that 

along the upper margin is very weak, and barely discernible, whereas that on the 

lower margin is much more prominent. In some specimens the lower white line may 

be very bold and represent a distinct mid-lateral stripe. The lower lateral area is much 

paler grey, with darker and paler flecking and gradually merging into the ventral 

colour of whitish, creamish to creamish-yellow. Some significant features of this 

species' morphology are: body scales mostly smooth, in 24-31 rows at mid-body; 

paravertebrals 57-61; nuchals 2-5 (usually 2); frontoparietals fused; interparietal small 

and distinct; supraoculars 4; rostral and frontonasal suture about as wide as the 

frontal; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); infralabials 7; ear-opening present and 

conspicuous; lower eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk that is smaller than the 

eye; presuboculars 1-2 (usually 1); supraciliaries 5-7 (usually 6); well-developed 

pentadactyl limbs, that barely overlap; supradigital scales 12-14; subdigital lamellae 

beneath 4th toe 20-27, smooth; presacral vertebrae 27-28; diploid chromosome 

number 2N=30. The reproductive biology of this population has been hardly studied 

at all, but it is known to be oviparous, producing up to 4 (but usually 3) eggs in a 

clutch. Occasionally 2 separate clutches may be laid in the one year - one during early 

summer, and the other at the end of summer, and this species also practices communal 

laying behaviour at suitable sites, with large aggregations of eggs sometimes being 

found. The diet is restricted to small invertebrates. The survival status of this species 

is unknown, and although it can be locally common, its restricted distribution could 

make it vulnerable in some parts of its range. Protected under the SA National Parks 

and Wildlife Act (1972). 

4


Longley's Grass Skink 

Lampropholis longleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 

This is a terrestrial, diurnal species closely related to Lampropholis delicata that 

inhabits the grass clumps and leaf-litter of woodland. Longley's Grass Skink (the 

name 'longleyi' honours Australian herpetologist the late George Longley) is one the 

most ubiquitous lizards of the eastern highlands, being very common even in 

disturbed habitats. It shelters mainly in earth cracks or loose bark around the bases of 

trees, amongst grass tussocks, under ground litter, under rocks, or inside rotting logs 

and forages around the bases of trees and rock outcroppings. Its principal habitat is 

cool temperate montane woodland and sclerophyll forest, with a dense ground cover 

of tussock grasses and leaf-litter and may often be found in association with rock 

outcroppings. As presently defined, this species is confined to the northern tablelands 

of New South Wales, but populations on the north-east coast of NSW may possibly 

represent this species as well. It is a small, somewhat depressed lizard, with a long 

fragile tail that is round in section, and may attain a maximum total length of around 

80 mm., with a snout-vent length of only about 35 mm. The dorsum is rich brown or 

coppery-brown with the head being a slightly more bronze-brown. Overall the dorsal 

part of the body and tail is usually patterned with darker flecking, but in some may be 

flecked only along the mid-line with dark brown or black and these flecks may have a 

longitudinal alignment. There is a thin pale creamish dorsolateral stripe running from 

the nape, along the body to about the base of the tail, and this dorsolateral line is often 

thinly edged above and below with black - particularly along the anterior part of the 

body; the line may continue along the tail as an irregular series of paler dashes or 

dots. The upper lateral of the body and head is darker than the dorsum, being very 

dark brown, progressively fading to greyish-brown towards the lower lateral and 

covered with a scattering of darker and paler dots on the scales; usually there are short 

transverse blackish bars on the sides of the tail. There is usually a thin pale creamishwhite 

mid-lateral stripe along the body. The limbs are blackish dorsally and paler 

brown underneath, and the palmer surfaces and subdigital lamellae are black. 

Ventrally creamish, with scattered dark brown or black flecks, usually in obscure 

longitudinal lines beneath the throat; under tail dark greyish, with blackish flecking. 

Some significant features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 26- 

30 rows at mid-body; paravertebrals 54; frontonasal in contact with rostral; 

prefrontals separated; frontoparietals fused, in contact with 2nd, 3rd, 4th supraoculars; 

interparietal small and distinct; parietals in contact behind interparietal; supraoculars 4 

(2nd the largest); 1 pair of enlarged nuchals; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); 

infralabials 6; ear opening present and conspicuous; lower eyelid movable, and with a 

palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; supraciliaries usually 6; small, but 

well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that overlap when adpressed; subdigital lamellae 

beneath 4th toe 20-24, smooth. Oviparous, Longley's Grass Skink may produce up to 

5 eggs (but usually 3) in a clutch each year, but sometimes individuals may lay two 

clutches in a single season and communal egglaying has also been recorded - where 

dozens of eggs may be deposited together in a single mass under a granite rock on 

soil. It feeds solely on small invertebrates. Protected under the New South Wales 

National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in that State as a Threatened 

Species in any of the Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 

(1995). 

5


Lunney’s Litter Skink 

Lampropholis lunneyi Wells and Wellington, 1984 

Lunney’s Litter Skink is a small abundant lizard from Australia’s coastal forests and 

woodlands, and was named in recognition of Australian ecologist Daniel Lunney’s 

pioneering work on the ecology of Lampropholis skinks. This robust-bodied lizard is 

slightly larger than Lampropholis guichenoti, attaining a maximum total length of 

around 140mm., with a snout-vent length of about 60 mm. However, some 

populations may only attain around 85 mm. in total length and about 55 mm. in SVL. 

Like its congenors, it is a diurnal, terrestrial species that forages amongst dry leaflitter, 

particularly around the bases of trees. It shelters underneath ground litter, 

beneath or inside rotting logs, amongst grass tussocks, in piles of rocks and in earth 

cracks. Lunney’s Litter Skink occurs in a wide range of vegetation communities, 

including wet and dry sclerophyll forest, coastal heathlands on sand, and even the 

margins of temperate rainforest, although it is primarily a species of open woodland 

habitats. Its distribution as presently defined covers a broad area of south-eastern 

Australia, including south-eastern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory 

as well as eastern and southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. In keeping 

with such a wide distribution, the colour and pattern may vary considerably from one 

area to another. Usually the dorsum may be rich brown, or greyish-brown, with the 

head and anterior body being uniform brown or coppery-brown in the breeding 

season. However, spectacular departures from this range may occur with some 

populations - a green-coloured morph is even known from parts of southern New 

South Wales. Nevertheless, the most conspicuous feature on the dorsal part of the 

body is usually a prominent black vertebral stripe that extends from about the 

shoulders, along the body and onto the tail, continuing to the tip even on regenerated 

portions (in mature specimens). The rest of the dorsum may be lightly flecked with 

blackish and greyish flecks, and this is prominent on the tail, which may have a 

mottled pattern. The upper lateral zone has a broad black stripe, beginning on the side 

of the head, and running along the body to the base of the tail. This upper lateral stripe 

is thinly bordered below by a prominent white mid-lateral stripe. The lower lateral is 

much paler grey, with darker and paler flecking and gradually merging into the 

ventral colour of whitish-cream. Some significant features of this species' morphology 

are: body scales mostly smooth, in 24-30 rows at mid-body; anal scales only slightly 

larger than ventrals; parietals in broad contact behind interparietal; frontoparietals 

fused; prefrontals separated; interparietal very small and distinct; frontal in contact 

with first 2 supraoculars; supraoculars 4; rostral and frontonasal suture about as wide 

as the frontal; supralabials 7; infralabials 6; ear opening present and conspicuous; 

lower eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is smaller than the eye; 

palpebrals 19; supraciliaries 5; well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just fail to 

overlap or in some populations barely overlap, when adpressed; subdigital lamellae 

beneath 4th toe 18-26, smooth. It should be noted that variation in morphology 

suggests that this species may be composite. Lunney’s Litter Skink is oviparous, 

producing up to 4 eggs in a clutch, and occasionally 2 separate clutches may be laid in 

the one year - one during early summer, and the other at the end of summer. This 

species also practices communal laying behaviour at suitable sites, with aggregations 

of between 200 and 300 eggs sometimes being found. The diet comprises a range of 

small litter-dwelling invertebrates. It is protected under the New South Wales 

National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in that State as a Threatened 

Species in any of the Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 

(1995). Also protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act (1975) [but not listed in 

6


Schedule 2 of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)], the SA National 

Parks and Wildlife Act (1972) and the ACT Nature Conservation Act (1980). 

Swan’s Litter Skink 

Lampropholis swani Wells and Wellington, 1985 

Swan’s Litter Skink is another very common ground skink of cool temperate 

woodland habitats in eastern Australia. It is a diurnal, terrestrial species that forages 

amongst dry leaf-litter, particularly around the bases of trees and shelters underneath 

ground litter, beneath or inside rotting logs, amongst grass tussocks, in piles of rocks 

and in earth cracks. Its principal habitat is montane eucalypt woodland in association 

with granite outcroppings, and it is only known from the northern and central 

tablelands of New South Wales and parts of south-eastern Queensland. This is a 

somewhat smaller species than Lampropholis lunneyi, attaining a maximum total 

length of only around 90 mm., and a snout-vent length of about 35 mm. The dorsum 

may be pale olive-brown, metallic greenish-grey, greyish-brown, or dark greyish with 

the head being a pale coppery-brown in the breeding season. There is an obscure dark 

greyish-brown vertebral stripe that extends from the nape along the body and onto the 

tail. The rest of the dorsum of the body and original tail has indistinct black flecking, 

being most intense posteriorly; the flecking is particularly noticeable with immature 

specimens. Regenerated tails are just uniform brown. The upper lateral zone has a 

broad dark brown stripe, beginning on the canthus, and running along the body to the 

base of the tail. This upper lateral stripe is thinly bordered below by a white midlateral 

stripe. The lower lateral is much paler greenish-grey, with darker and paler 

flecking and gradually merging into the ventral colour of pale greenish, with indistinct 

darker flecking. Some significant features of this species' morphology are: body 

scales mostly smooth, in 28-30 rows at mid-body; paravertebrals 55; prefrontals in 

point contact; frontal in contact with first two supraoculars; frontoparietals fused; 

interparietal small and distinct; parietals in broad contact behind interparietal; 

supraoculars 4 (2nd the largest); rostral and frontonasal suture about as wide as the 

frontal; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); infralabials 7; ear opening present and 

conspicuous; lower eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is smaller than the 

eye; supraciliaries 7; well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just fail to overlap or in 

some populations barely overlap, when adpressed; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 

18-24, smooth. As in all other species of Lampropholis, it is oviparous, producing up 

to 3 eggs in a clutch each year, and this species also practices communal laying 

behaviour at suitable sites. The diet comprises small invertebrates. Etymology: The 

specific name of ‘swani’ honours Victorian herpetologist, Mike Swan. Protected 

under the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in 

that State as a Threatened Species in any of the Schedules of the NSW Threatened 

Species Conservation Act (1995), and under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 

(1992). 

Adrasteia gen. nov. 

[Type Species: Lampropholis elongata - Greer, A.E. (1997): A new species of Lampropholis 

Squamata: Scincidae) with a restricted, high altitude distribution in eastern Australia. 

Australian Zoologist, 30 (3): 360-368]. 

Diagnosis: A genus of small, oviparous, terrestrial and diurnal lizards of the family 

Scincidae, readily identified by the following combination of characters: body scales 

smooth (but the mid-dorsal scales with 3-4 weak striations in some), in 20-23 (usually 

22) rows at mid-body (vs 25-30 [usually 26-28] in Ndurascincus, gen. nov. 22-31 

[usually 27-28] in Lampropholis, and 30-32 [usually 30] in Helioscincus gen. nov.); 

7


paravertebrals 51-65; frontoparietals fused, in contact with 2nd, 3rd, or 2nd 3rd, 4th 

supraoculars; frontonasal in contact with rostral; interparietal small and distinct; 

parietals in contact behind interparietal; usually 2 or more enlarged nuchals; 

supraoculars 3-4; rostral-frontonasal suture wider than frontal; supralabials 6-7 (4th or 

5th subocular); infralabials 6; ear opening present and conspicuous; lower eyelid 

movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; presuboculars 

usually 1 (vs usually 2 in Ndurascincus gen. nov.); supraciliaries 5-7 (but usually 5, 

vs usually 6-7 in Lampropholis or usually 7 in both Helioscincus gen. nov. and 

Ndurascincus gen. nov.); small, but well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that are widely 

non-overlapping when adpressed (vs just overlapping or barely contacting in 

Lampropholis, and strongly overlapping in Ndurascincus gen. nov. and Helioscincus 

gen. nov. ); supradigital lamellae 8-11 (usually 9-11, vs usually 13-17 in 

Lampropholis or Helioscincus gen. nov.); subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 13-21, 

smooth (vs 20-26 in Ndurascincus gen. nov., 29-33 in Helioscincus gen. nov., and 20- 

30 in Lampropholis). Additional to the above combination of character states, in 

Adrasteia gen. nov. there is a higher average presacral vertebral number (28-31, vs 

usually about 27 in Lampropholis, or usually 26 in Ndurascincus gen. nov. and 

Helioscincus gen. nov.). The body-form in Adrasteia gen. nov. accordingly, is much 

more elongate and the limbs smaller than in either Ndurascincus gen. nov., 

Lampropholis or Helioscincus gen. nov.. Content: Adrasteia amicula (Ingram and 

Rawlinson, 1981); Adrasteia caligula (Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981); Adrasteia 

elongata (Greer, 1997). Etymology: From the Greek 'Adrasteia', meaning 'the 

inevitable', a name by which the Greek Goddess of Destiny (Nemesis) was also 

known. 

Friendly Skink 

Adrasteia amicula (Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981) 

The Friendly Skink (the name 'amicula', means 'friend', hence the common name) 

inhabits tall wet sclerophyll forest, closed dry rainforest, and subtropical lowland 

rainforest, and has been recorded from numerous places along the lower elevations of 

the Great Dividing Range and along coastal or near-coastal areas of south-eastern 

Queensland, and north-eastern New South Wales, to about as far south as the Hunter 

River. It is a secretive, diurnal species of moist sheltered sites in densely forested 

areas, and has been often found near thickly vegetated stream verges, where it lives 

amongst deep leaf-litter, as well as inside or under rotting logs. In general appearance, 

this is a very small, somewhat depressed skink, attaining a maximum total length of 

only around 70 mm., of which the snout-vent length comprises about 30 mm; the tail 

is long, fragile and round in section. The dorsum is rich brown, coppery-brown, or 

greyish-brown, with the head being a slightly darker brown. Overall the body and tail 

may be obscurely flecked or peppered with dark brown or black and these flecks may 

have a longitudinal alignment along the dorsum in some individuals. There is a thin 

pale yellow or creamish dorsolateral stripe running from the nape, along the body to 

about the base of the tail, and this dorsolateral line is thinly edged below with black; 

the line may continue along the tail as an irregular series of paler dashes or dots. The 

lateral of the body and head is darker than the dorsum, being blackish or very dark 

brown, progressively fading to greyish-brown towards the lower lateral and covered 

with a scattering of darker and paler dots on the scales. The limbs are blackish 

dorsally and paler brown underneath, and the palmer surfaces and subdigital lamellae 

are black; the labials are whitish with black spotting. Ventrally the body is greyish to 

whitish, with scattered black flecks, usually in obscure longitudinal lines beneath the 

8


throat, and as a series of transverse lines subcaudally. Some significant features of this 

species' morphology are as follows, but it should be noted that variation in its 

scalation suggests that this species may be composite: body scales smooth (but the 

mid-dorsal scales with 3-4 weak striations), in 19-23 rows at mid-body; 

frontoparietals fused; supraoculars 4; rostral-frontonasal suture wider than frontal; 

supralabials 7 (5th subocular); ear-opening present and conspicuous; lower eyelid 

movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; supraciliaries 5- 

6 (usually 5); small, but well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just overlap when 

adpressed; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 17-21, smooth. This is an oviparous 

species, producing about 2 or 3 eggs in a clutch during mid-summer, which hatch in 

late summer or early autumn. It feeds only on small invertebrates and is regarded as 

common in the far north of its range, but uncommon in the south, where its status is 

virtually unknown. This southern population may be considered as potentially 

vulnerable due to its isolated distribution and specialised habitat requirements and it 

may even represent an undescribed species. It is protected under the Queensland 

Nature Conservation Act (1992) and the New South Wales National Parks and 

Wildlife Act (1974) [but not listed in that State as a Threatened Species in any of the 

Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995)]. 

Tussock Grass Skink 

Adrasteia caligula (Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981) 

The Tussock Grass Skink is another secretive, diurnal species that has only been 

infrequently found. It lives within dense clumps of tussock grass or sedges along the 

verges of streams and swampland in relatively cooler areas of higher altitude, 

montane snow-gum woodland and cooler wet sclerophyll forest. The total known 

distribution is very restricted, ranging from isolated parts of the Great Dividing Range 

in mid-eastern New South Wales in the vicinity of Barrington Tops in the east, Ben 

Hall State Forest in the north, to Coolah Tops in the west. In general form, this is 

another small, slightly depressed lizard, attaining a maximum total length of around 

100 mm., and a snout-vent length of about 45 mm; the tail is long, fragile and round 

in section as in other members of this genus. The dorsum is dull brown, greyishbrown 

or coppery-brown, with the head being a slightly more golden- or copperybrown 

with scattered black flecking. Overall, the body and tail may be obscurely and 

sparsely flecked or peppered with black and these markings may be occasionally 

aligned longitudinally. There is a thin pale creamish dorsolateral stripe running from 

the nape, along the body to about the base of the tail, and this dorsolateral line is 

thinly edged below with black. The dorsolateral line may continue along the tail as an 

obscure and irregular series of paler dashes or dots, and below, on the side of the tail, 

there may be two or three thin black lines present. The lateral of the body and head is 

slightly darker than the dorsum, being blackish or very dark brown, progressively 

fading to greyish-brown towards the lower lateral and covered with a scattering of 

darker and paler dots on the scales; there is a short black streak between the snout and 

the eye as well. The limbs are blackish dorsally with paler flecking, and paler brown 

underneath, and the palmer surfaces and subdigital lamellae are black. Ventrally the 

body is greyish-cream, with scattered dark brown flecks, and blackish under the tail. 

Some significant features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth (but the 

mid dorsal scales with 3-4 weak striations), in 19-23 rows at mid-body; 

frontoparietals fused; supraoculars 3; rostral-frontonasal suture wider than frontal; 

supralabials usually 6 (5th subocular); ear opening present and conspicuous; lower 

eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; 

9


supraciliaries 5-6 (usually 5); small, but well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that just 

overlap when adpressed; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 17-22, smooth. This is an 

oviparous species, producing only 2 eggs in a clutch, and its diet is restricted to tiny 

invertebrates that live amongst the tussock grass of its habitat. At present the survival 

status of this species is unknown, but it may be considered as potentially vulnerable 

due to its fragmented distribution and specialized habitat requirements. Protected 

under the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in 

that State as a Threatened Species in any of the Schedules of the NSW Threatened 

Species Conservation Act (1995). Etymology: The name 'caligula' recalls the 

infamous Roman Emperor. 

Elongate Grass Skink 

Adrasteia elongata (Greer, 1997) 

This small skink is most closely related to Adrasteia caligula, but Adrasteia elongata 

differs in its reduced head shields and reduced phalangeal formula on the forelimbs 

and hindlimbs. The name 'elongata' means 'elongate or thin' and refers to the attenuate 

body-form of the species which is also diagnostic for the species. The Elongate Grass 

Skink is a diurnal but very secretive species that usually shelters within dense clumps 

of tussock grass or beneath small rocks and rotting logs, in relatively cooler, higher 

altitude areas (between 1180 and 1450 metres elevation). It has been found mainly in 

open grassy clearings or on the verges of montane eucalypt woodland with a dense 

ground cover of tussock grasses on both granite and basalt-derived soils. As presently 

understood, this is one of the most restricted species known from New South Wales 

having been only detected from two localities about 50 km S. of Walcha, on the Great 

Dividing Range, in the north-eastern part of the State. The body-form is somewhat 

depressed and distinctly elongate, the tail long, fragile and round in section, the snout 

bluntly rounded and the head barely distinct from the neck. It may attain a maximum 

total length of around 115 mm., and a snout-vent length of about 55 mm. The dorsum 

is dull brown or coppery-brown, with the head being a slightly paler with faint 

scattered black flecking. Overall, the dorsal and lateral parts of the body have a series 

of obscure dark flecks and longitudinal pale and dark stripes formed by lines of 

dashes on the body scales. The most prominent is a broad dark brown dorsolateral 

stripe running from just behind the eye, along the neck, and the body to well onto the 

tail, and this line is thinly edged above and below with blackish or very dark brown 

stripes. Below this broad lateral stripe, there may be a row of dark dashes or even 

another dark lateral stripe, separated by a pale interspace that appears as a light stripe 

itself. On the lower lateral part of the body there may also be one, or occasionally 

two, obscure pale stripes, and each may have dark brownish or blackish edging. The 

palmer surfaces and subdigital lamellae are dark greyish or light brown and the iris 

golden. Ventrally greyish-cream, with scattered dark brown or blackish flecks 

forming a vague reticulated effect, and blackish under the tail; males have a bronze 

hue to the venter, but this is not present in females. Some significant features of this 

species' morphology are: body scales smooth in 20-22 rows at mid-body; 

paravertebrals 58-65; nuchals 2; frontoparietals fused; interparietal distinct, and 

smaller than frontal; parietals in contact behind interparietal; parietal eye distinct; 

prefrontals small and widely separated; supranasals absent; frontonasal much broader 

than long; supraoculars 3 (first 2 in contact with frontal); frontal longer than broad; 

nasals widely separated; nostril just posterior to centre of nasal; supralabials 6-7 

(usually 6, and usually 4th subocular); infralabials 6 (first 2 in contact with 

postmental); post supralabials 1-2 (usually 1); pre-temporals 2; postoculars 4; primary 

10


temporals 1; secondary temporals 2; ear opening present and conspicuous, but much 

smaller than eye; no ear lobules; lower eyelid movable, and with a palpebral disk, that 

is much smaller than the eye; presuboculars 1; supraciliaries 5-6 (usually 5); loreals 2; 

preoculars 2; subocular scale row incomplete; mental broader than long; postmental 

broader than long; small, but well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that are widely nonoverlapping 

when adpressed; supradigital scales 8-10; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th 

toe 13-17, smooth; presacral vertebrae 41-42; phalangeal formula 2.3.4.4.3/2.3.4.4.3. 

This is an oviparous species, producing up to 6 eggs in a clutch (but usually only 4), 

about late Spring-early Summer (November-December), and these hatch in late 

Summer after about 1 month incubation (in January). Its diet solely comprises small 

invertebrates that live in the tussock grass and ground litter. Its survival status is 

unknown, but it may be considered as potentially vulnerable due to its very restricted 

distribution and specialised habitat requirements. Protected under the New South 

Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) but not listed in that State as a 

Threatened Species in any of the Schedules of the NSW Threatened Species 

Conservation Act (1995). 

Helioscincus gen. nov. 

[Type Species: Lampropholis mirabilis Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981 - Five new 

species of skinks (genus Lampropholis) from Queensland and New South Wales. 

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 20: 311-317]. 

Diagnosis: A monotypic genus of small rock-dwelling lizards of the family Scincidae, 

readily identified by the following combination of characters: head relatively small 

with a pointed snout, robust but somewhat depressed body with long limbs and a long 

tapering tail that is round in section; body scales smooth, in 30-32 (usually 30) rows at 

mid-body (vs usually 26-28 in Ndurascincus gen. nov., 27-28 in Lampropholis, and 

usually only 22 in Adrasteia gen. nov.); paravertebrals 54-60; nuchals 2-4 (usually 2); 

frontoparietals fused; rostral-frontonasal suture about as wide as frontal; supraoculars 

4; interparietal small and distinct; parietals in contact behind interparietal; ear-opening 

present and conspicuous; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); infralabials 6; lower eyelid 

movable, and with a palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; supraciliaries 5- 

8 (usually 7, vs usually 5 in Adrasteia gen. nov., or usually 6 or 7 in Lampropholis); 

presuboculars 1 (vs usually 2 in Ndurascincus gen. nov.); relatively long, welldeveloped 

pentadactyl limbs, that strongly overlap when adpressed (vs just 

overlapping or barely contacting in Lampropholis, strongly overlapping in 

Ndurascincus gen. nov. and widely non-overlapping in Adrasteia gen. nov.); 

supradigital scales 15-19 (usually 13-17, vs usually 9-11 in Ndurascincus gen. nov. 

and Adrasteia gen. nov.); subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 29-33, smooth; all digits 

strongly clawed. Attains a maximum snout-vent length of around 50 mm. Additional 

to the above combination of character states, in Helioscincus there is a lower average 

presacral vertebral number (usually 26, as in Ndurascincus gen. nov., vs usually about 

27 in Lampropholis, or usually 28-31 in Adrasteia gen. nov.). The body-form in 

Helioscincus is accordingly much more depressed and the limbs longer than in either 

Ndurascincus gen. nov., Lampropholis or Adrasteia gen. nov. Content: Helioscincus 

mirabilis (Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981). Etymology: 'Helioscincus' in effect means 

'skink of the sun', and is derived from 'Helios', God of the Sun in Greek mythology. 

11


Spotted Boulder Skink 

Helioscincus mirabilis (Ingram and Rawlinson, 1981) 

The Spotted Boulder Skink is a highly active lizard inhabiting tropical monsoon vine 

forest and rainforest, and adjacent thick woodland - but always in association with 

rock outcrops. It is a diurnal, terrestrial and strictly saxacoline species that forages 

over granite boulders and amongst leaf-litter at the bases of outcrops in heavilyshaded 

rainforest clearings and shelters in rock crevices and exfoliated slabs on the 

sides of larger boulders. The known distribution is very restricted, being only found 

over a small part of mid-eastern Queensland, centred on Magnetic Island and the 

adjacent mainland around Townsville. This is a small species having a robust, but 

somewhat depressed body-form, a relatively short head with a pointed snout, and a 

long tapering tail that is round in section. It attains a maximum total length of around 

130 mm., with a snout-vent length of about 50 mm. The base colour of the dorsum of 

the body and tail is greyish-brown to olive-grey, with the head being bronze-brown. 

Pattern comprises a complex scattering of small chocolate-brown blotches and tiny 

white spots on the body, limbs and basal part of the tail. Small brownish bars on the 

lateral part of the body tend to have a vertical alignment and the lower parts may be 

streaked with paler and darker markings. Ventrally, the body and tail is whitish. Some 

significant features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 30-32 

(usually 30) rows at mid-body (vs usually 26-28 in Ndurascincus gen. nov. species, 

27-28 in Lampropholis species, and usually only 22 in Adrasteia species); 

paravertebrals 54-60; nuchals 2-4 (usually 2); frontoparietals fused; rostralfrontonasal 

suture about as wide as frontal; supraoculars 4; interparietal small and 

distinct; parietals in contact behind interparietal; ear-opening present and 

conspicuous; supralabials 7 (5th subocular); infralabials 6; lower eyelid movable, and 

with a palpebral disk, that is much smaller than the eye; supraciliaries 5-8 (usually 7, 

vs usually 5 in Adrasteia species, or usually 6 or 7 in Lampropholis species); 

presuboculars 1 (vs usually 2 in Ndurascincus gen. nov. species); relatively long, 

well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that strongly overlap when adpressed (vs just 

overlapping or barely contacting in Lampropholis species, strongly overlapping in 

Ndurascincus gen. nov. species and widely non-overlapping in Adrasteia species); 

supradigital scales 15-19 (usually 13-17, vs usually 9-11 in Ndurascincus gen. nov. 

species and Adrasteia species); subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 29-33, smooth; all 

digits strongly clawed. Additional to the above combination of character states, in 

Helioscincus mirabilis there is a lower average presacral vertebral number (usually 

26, as in Ndurascincus gen. nov. species, vs usually about 27 in Lampropholis 

species, or usually 28-31 in Adrasteia species). The body-form in Helioscincus is 

accordingly much more depressed and the limbs longer than in any species of the 

genera Ndurascincus gen. nov., Lampropholis or Adrasteia. It is oviparous, producing 

up to 3 eggs in a clutch, and the diet comprises small invertebrates and although 

regarded as locally common, may be classed as vulnerable given its restricted 

distribution. Protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992). 

Ndurascincus gen. nov. 

[Type Species: Lampropholis adonis Ingram, 1991 - Five new skinks from 

Queensland rainforests. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 30 (3): 443-453]. 

Diagnosis: As presently defined, a genus of small oviparous, terrestrial and rainforestinhabiting 

lizards of the family Scincidae, readily identified by the following 

combination of characters: body scales smooth, in 26-30 rows at mid-body; 

12


paravertebral scales 49-57; nuchals 1-4 (but usually 2); interparietal and 

frontoparietals are either fused together forming a single scale, or with a very small 

separate interparietal; supraoculars 4; lower eyelid movable with a transparent 

palpebral disk; presuboculars 1-2 (but usually 2, vs usually 1 in Helioscincus gen. 

nov., Lampropholis and Adrasteia gen. nov.); supraciliaries 7-8 (but usually 7, vs 

usually 5 in Adrasteia gen. nov.); ear-opening present, but small; limbs small, just 

overlapping when adpressed, but well-developed and pentadactyl; supradigital scales 

on 4th toe 9-13; subdigital lamellae 19-26. Additional to the above combination of 

character states, in Ndurascincus gen. nov. the mid-body scale rows (usually about 

26-28) are usually much higher than in Adrasteia gen. nov. species (usually only 

around 22), but lower than in Helioscincus gen. nov. (usually about 30). The 

supradigital scales are lower in Ndurascincus gen. nov. (usually about 9-11) than in 

Helioscincus gen. nov. or Lampropholis species (usually about 13-17 in both genera). 

Further, Ndurascincus gen. nov. has a lower average presacral vertebral count of 

usually only around 26, in comparison to usually 27 in Lampropholis or usually 28-31 

in Adrasteia gen. nov.. Of some interest is that in Ndurascincus gen. nov. the 

interparietal and frontoparietals are either fused together forming a single scale (as in 

Ndurascincus adonis), or separate, with a reduced or fragmented interparietal (as in 

coggeri, couperi and robertsi), whereas in Adrasteia gen. nov. the interparietal scale 

is proportionally larger and always distinct. Colouration and patterning of species of 

Ndurascincus gen. nov. may be superficially similar to some populations of 

Lampropholis delicata, but the body-form in Ndurascincus gen. nov. is slightly more 

robust and much less elongate than in Adrasteia gen. nov.. Content: Ndurascincus 

adonis (Ingram, 1991); Ndurascincus coggeri (Ingram, 1991); Ndurascincus couperi 

(Ingram, 1991); Ndurascincus robertsi (Ingram, 1991). Etymology: 'Ndurascincus' in 

effect means 'skink of the jungle', referring to the species' preferences for rainforest 

habitats. The name is derived from the language of the Pygmies of Central Africa - 

'Ndura' meaning 'The Jungle', and this concept is the nearest thing that the Pygmies 

have to a God. The tribal Pygmies have no laws, no man-made rules, no priests, no 

leaders, no classes, no taxes, and no politics. Their society is intricately entwined with 

the natural ecosystem in which they live. 

Ingram's Litter Skink 

Ndurascincus adonis (Ingram, 1991) 

This is a small terrestrial skink of eastern Australian rainforests that may attain a 

maximum total length of around 110 mm., and a snout-vent length about 55 mm. 

Ingram's Litter Skink is diurnal and may be found basking in leaf-litter on the ground 

near fallen trees, logs or around the bases of tree trunks, and most sites are in 

sheltered, or well-shaded situations along the edges and clearings of heavily forested 

habitats. It only occurs along the mid-eastern to south-eastern coast and adjacent 

ranges of Queensland, preferring notophyll vine forest and other rainforest 

associations as a habitat. In colouration and patterning this species is very similar to 

some populations of Lampropholis delicata, but the body form in Ndurascincus 

adonis is slightly more robust than any species of Lampropholis. Some significant 

features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 26-30 rows at midbody; 

paravertebral scales 49-55; nuchals 2-4 (usually 2); interparietal and 

frontoparietals are fused together forming a single scale; supraoculars 4; lower eyelid 

movable with a transparent palpebral disk; presuboculars 2; supraciliaries 7-8 (usually 

7); ear-opening present, but small; limbs small, just overlapping when adpressed, but 

well-developed and pentadactyl; supradigital scales on 4th toe 10-13; subdigital 

13


lamellae 20-26. This species is oviparous, with up to 3 eggs being laid in a clutch; it 

has also been recorded as a communal egg-layer. A mass of 53 eggs of this species 

was discovered between sheets of discarded corrugated iron on the ground at Bulburin 

State Forest, Qld. The eggs had been laid amidst insect frass and decaying vegetation 

that had accumulated between the sheets of tin in a well-shaded clearing in complex 

notophyll vine forest. Seven of the eggs were measured, then incubated until hatched 

to verify their specific identity. Egg length ranged from 9.54 to 10.76 mm (mean 9.91) 

and egg width ranged from 7.07 to 7.94 (mean 7.61). The eggs hatched on 25-26 

January 1995. The hatchlings SVL ranged in size from 17.1 to 20.4 mm (mean 18.9 

mm), and the total length ranged from 39.8 to 43.2 mm (mean 41.6 mm). The diet is 

restricted to tiny invertebrates of the leaf-litter, decaying vegetation and around 

rotting logs. Although populations appear fairly restricted to isolated wet-forest 

environments, this is nevertheless a common species wherever it occurs. It is 

protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992). The name ‘adonis’ 

recalls Adonis of Greek mythology who was the God of Vegetation and the centre of 

a widespread nature cult (Adonis or more accurately Adon or Adonai was actually an 

ancient Semitic god of the forests that was later appropriated by the Greeks). 

Cogger's Litter Skink 

Ndurascincus coggeri (Ingram, 1991) 

A very common, highly active lizard that lives mainly in sheltered, or well-shaded 

situations along the edges and clearings of rainforest, this species’ name honours 

Australian herpetologist, Harold G. Cogger. Its entire distribution is restricted to 

patches or fragments of tropical rainforest in far north-eastern Queensland, from about 

Cooktown in the north to Townsville in the south (it is also known from Palm Island, 

on the Great Barrier Reef). It is diurnal in habit and basks on leaf-litter or amidst 

forest debris along the margins of forest. In general appearance, Cogger's Litter Skink 

is a small terrestrial skink that may also superficially resemble Lampropholis delicata, 

but close inspection shows that it differs from that species in its scalation, colouration 

and its much smaller size. Actually, the colouration and patterning are only somewhat 

similar to some populations of Lampropholis delicata, being mainly reddish-brown 

dorsally with faint spotting or flecking and blackish longitudinal dashes. In 

Ndurascincus coggeri however, there is no clear line of demarcation with its lateral 

colouration - there is a gradual merging of the darker upper lateral with the paler 

lower lateral pattern - whereas in Lampropholis delicata there is a distinct midlateral 

line or area of demarcation between the two zones. Some significant features of this 

species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 26-30 rows at mid-body; 

paravertebral scales 49-57; nuchals 1-4 (usually 2); interparietal and frontoparietals 

separate; supraoculars 4; lower eyelid movable with a transparent palpebral disk; 

presuboculars 1-2 (usually 2); supraciliaries 7-8 (usually 7); ear-opening present, but 

small; limbs small, just overlapping when adpressed, but well-developed and 

pentadactyl; supradigital scales on 4th toe 10-11; subdigital lamellae 19-25. Reaches a 

maximum snout-vent length of about 45 mm., but around 35 mm. would be an 

average-sized adult. This species is oviparous, producing up to 3 eggs in a clutch, and 

its diet is restricted to tiny invertebrates of the leaf-litter, decaying vegetation and 

around rotting logs. Although this is believed to be a common species wherever it 

occurs, its survival status is unknown, and this species may be considered as 

potentially vulnerable in some parts of its range due to its fragmented distribution. 

Protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992). 

14


Couper's Litter Skink 

Ndurascincus couperi (Ingram, 1991) 

This species has quite a large distribution along south-eastern coastal Queensland, 

being known from about Rockhampton in the north to near Brisbane (Mount Glorious 

area) in the south. It inhabits the margins and clearings of subtropical rainforest 

communities, where it lives in sheltered, or well-shaded situations along the edges and 

clearings of densely forested areas. It is diurnal in habit and basks on leaf litter or 

amidst forest debris. Named for herpetologist, Patrick J. Couper of Queensland, this 

small terrestrial skink is another of those distinctive little rainforest lizards that may 

be confused with that other ubiquitous litter skink Lampropholis delicata. As in its 

congenors, Couper's Litter Skink differs from that species in its scalation and 

colouration. The dorsum of Ndurascincus couperi is olive-brownish in colour and 

there is no clear line of demarcation with its lateral colouration - there is a gradual 

merging of the darker upper lateral with the paler lower lateral pattern. In 

Lampropholis delicata there is a distinct midlateral line of demarcation between the 

two zones. Couper’s Litter Skink only reaches a maximum snout-vent length of about 

40 mm., but around 35 mm. would be an average-sized adult, making it similar in size 

to most of the other litter skinks. Some significant features of this species' 

morphology are: body scales smooth, in 25-26 rows at mid-body; paravertebral scales 

50-53; nuchals 2; interparietal and frontoparietals separate; supraoculars 4; lower 

eyelid movable with a transparent palpebral disk; presuboculars 2; supraciliaries 7; 

ear-opening present, but small; limbs small, just overlapping when adpressed, but 

well-developed and pentadactyl; supradigital scales on 4th toe 10-11; subdigital 

lamellae 20-23. Couper’s Litter Skink is known to be oviparous, but its reproductive 

biology is otherwise virtually unknown. It feeds only on tiny invertebrates which it 

forages for in the leaf-litter. Despite the fact that it is believed to be a relatively 

common species within its habitat, its fragmented distribution may cause it to be 

considered as potentially vulnerable in some parts of its range until its survival status 

is better known. Protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992). 

Roberts' Litter Skink 

Ndurascincus robertsi (Ingram, 1991) 

This tiny lizard is confined to a very small area of north-eastern Queensland, from 

about Thornton Peak in the north, to Mount Bartle Frere in the south where it is 

restricted to a montane rainforest communities on isolated mountain tops. It is a 

diurnal species that basks on leaf-litter in well-shaded situations in cool wet habitats, 

and was named for journalist and naturalist Greg Roberts of Queensland. It is another 

small terrestrial skink superficially similar to Lampropholis delicata, but readily 

differing from that species in its colour pattern and scalation. As in L. delicata, the 

dorsum of N. robertsi is brownish in colour. However, N. robertsi is greyish ventrally 

with a dense blackish flecking or spotting on the chin, throat, posterior venter and 

subcaudal areas, whereas the venter is whitish in Lampropholis delicata. As in 

Lampropholis delicata, N. robertsi also has a distinct midlateral line of demarcation in 

the pattern of the lateral zone, but there is no clear line of demarcation along this area 

in its congenors N. couperi and N. coggeri. In these species there is a gradual merging 

of the darker upper lateral with the paler lower lateral pattern. Some significant 

features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth, in 26-30 rows at midbody; 

paravertebral scales 49-56; nuchals 2-3 (usually 2); interparietal and 

frontoparietals separate; supraoculars 4; lower eyelid movable with a transparent 

palpebral disk; presuboculars 2; supraciliaries 7; ear-opening present, but small; limbs 

15


small, just overlapping when adpressed, but well-developed and pentadactyl; 

supradigital scales on 4th toe 9-12; subdigital lamellae 21-24. Reaches a maximum 

snout-vent length of about 50 mm., but around 40 mm. would be an average-sized 

adult. Generally, the body form of Ndurascincus robertsi is slightly smaller than that 

of L. delicata. Roberts' Litter Skink is oviparous, producing up to 3 eggs in a clutch, 

and feeds only on tiny invertebrates of the leaf-litter, decaying vegetation and around 

rotting logs. Its survival status is unknown, but as populations are restricted to isolated 

rainforest-covered mountain peaks, it may be considered as potentially vulnerable due 

to its limited and fragmented distribution and specialised habitat requirements. This is 

nevertheless a common species wherever it occurs. Protected under the Queensland 

Nature Conservation Act (1992). 

Acknowledgements 

Dean Metcalfe and Alex Dudley provided helpful comments on this proposed rearrangement 

of the genus Lampropholis and their assistance is greatly appreciated. 

References 

Baker, J.K. 1979 The Rainbow Skink, Lampropholis delicata, in Hawaii. Pacific 

Science, 33: 207-212 

Barrett, C.L. 1950 Reptiles of Australia: Crocodiles, Snakes and Lizards. Cassell, 

Sydney [Pp. i-xiii, 1-168] 

Boulenger, G.A. 1887 Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural 

History). Volume 3. British Museum, London [Pp. 1-575] 

Breeden, S. and Breeden, K. 1967 Animals of Eastern Australia. A Photographic 

Account of the Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibia. Sydney [Pp. 1-128] 

Bustard, H.R. 1970 Australian Lizards. Collins, Sydney 

Clarke, C.J. 1965 A comparison between some Australian five-fingered lizards of the 

genus Leiolopisma Dumeril and Bibron (Lacertilia: Scincidae). Australian Journal of 

Zoology, 13: 577-592 

Cogger, H.G. 1965 Reptiles and Amphibians. [Pp. 185-187]. In: Australian 

Encyclopaedia Yearbook. Grolier Society, Sydney 

Cogger, H.G. 1967 Australian Reptiles in Colour. Reed, Sydney [Pp. 1-112] 

Cogger, H.G. 1967 The snakes of Australia. [Pp. 152-158]. In: McMichael, D.F. 

(Editor): Treasury of Australian Wildlife. Ure Smith, Sydney 

Cogger, H.G. 1971 The venomous snakes of Australia and Melanesia. [Pp. 35-77]. 

In: Bucherl, W. and Buckley, E. (Editors): Venomous Animals and Their Venoms. 

Volume 2. Venomous Vertebrates. Academic Press, New York 

Cogger, H.G. 1972 Australian Reptiles in Colour. Reed, Sydney ['Revised' Edition; 

Pp. 1-112] 

16


Cogger, H.G. 1975 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [1st Edition] 

Cogger, H.G. 1979 Type specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the Australian 

Museum.. Records of the Australian Museum, 32: 164-210 

Cogger, H.G. 1979 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [2nd 

Edition] 

Cogger, H.G. 1983 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [3rd 

Edition] 

Cogger, H.G. 1984 Reptiles in the Australian arid zone. [Pp. 235-252]. In: Cogger, 

H.G. and Cameron, E.E. (Editors): Arid Australia. Australian Museum, Sydney 

Cogger, H.G. 1985 Australian Proteroglyphous snakes - An historical overview. [Pp. 

143-154]. In: Grigg, G., Shine, R. and Ehmann, H. (Editors): Biology of Australasian 

Frogs and Reptiles. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney [Note that the publication date is 

erroneously given as August, 1985 - actually published in November 1985] 

Cogger, H.G. 1986 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [4th 

Edition; Pp. 1-688] 

Cogger, H.G. 1986 Comments on the biogeography of the Elapid snakes of 

southeastern Australia. [Pp. 16-19]. In: Longmore, R. (Editor) 1986): Atlas of Elapid 

snakes of Australia. Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Canberra [Australian Flora and Fauna 

Series, Number 7] 

Cogger, H.G. 1987 The venomous land snakes. [Pp. 340-355]. In: Covacevich, J., 

Davie, P. and Pearn, J. (Editors): Toxic Plants & Animals. A Guide for Australia. 

Queensland Museum, Brisbane 

Cogger, H.G. 1988 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [A 

reprinting, but due to changes, should be regarded as a 5th Edition] 


Edition] 

Cogger, H.G. 1993 General description and definition of the Order Squamata. [Pp. 

157-171]. In: Glasby, C.J., Ross, G.J.B. and Beesley, P.L. (Editors): Fauna of 

Australia. Volume 2A. Amphibia and Reptilia. Australian Government Publishing 

Service, Canberra 

Cogger, H.G. 1994 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed, Sydney [7th Edition 

- another substantially altered edition that included an updated Appendix of recently 

described taxa] 


Edition] 

17


Cogger, H.G. 2000 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. New Holland, Sydney [9th 

Edition] 

Cogger, H.G. 2001 State of biodiversity. Conserving Australia's reptiles. Are we 

serious? Life Line, Bulletin of the Community Biodiversity Network [Sydney], 7 (2): 

23-26 

Cogger, H.G. and Heatwole, H.F. 1981 The Australian reptiles: Origins, 

biogeography, distribution patterns and island evolution. [Pp. 1331-1373] In: Keast, 

A. (Editor): Ecological Biogeography of Australia. Junk, The Hague [Monographiae 

Biologicae, Volume 41] 

Cogger, H.G. and Heatwole, H.F. 1984 The Australian reptiles: Origins, 

biogeography, distribution patterns and island evolution. [Pp. 343-370]. In: Archer, 

M.A. and Clayton, G. (Editors): Vertebrate Zoogeography and Evolution in Australia. 

(Animals in Space Time). Hesperian Press, Carlisle [Republication of Cogger, H.G. 

and Heatwole, H. (1981)] 

Cogger, H.G. and Lindner, D.A. 1974 Frogs and reptiles. [Pp. 63-107] In: Frith, 

H.J. and Calaby, J.H. (Editors): Fauna Survey of the Port Essington District, Coburg 

Peninsula, Northern Territory of Australia. CSIRO Division of Wildlife Research, 

Technical Paper No 28 

Cogger, H.G. and Webber, P. 1976 Reptiles and Amphibians. [Pp. 67-84]. In: 

Broadbent, J. and Clark, S. (Editors): A Faunal Survey of East Australian Rainforests, 

Interim Report. Australian Museum, Sydney 

Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. and Cogger, H.M. 1983 Zoological Catalogue of 

Australia. Volume 1. Amphibia and Reptilia. Australian Government Publishing 

Service, Canberra [Pp. i-vi, 1-313] 

Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E., Sadlier, R.A. and Eggler, P. 1993 The Action Plan 

for Australian Reptiles. Australian Nature Conservation Agency [Canberra], 

Endangered Species Program, Project No 124 [Pp. 1-254] 

Condon, H.T. 1941 Further records of lizards and frogs from Kangaroo Island. 

Records of the South Australian Museum, 7: 111-116 

Covacevich, J.A. 1971 Amphibian and reptile type specimens in the Queensland 

Museum. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 16 (1): 49-67 

Covacevich, J.A. 1976 Amphibians and Reptiles. [Pp. 16-18]. In: Covacevich, J. 

(Editor): Fauna of Eastern Australian Rainforests - Preliminary report on sites 

surveyed by the Queensland Museum in mid-eastern and north-eastern Queensland. 

Queensland Museum, Brisbane [March 1976] 

Covacevich, J. and Couper, P.J. 1991 The reptile records. [Pp. 45-140]. In: Ingram, 

G.J. and Raven, R.J. (Editors): An Atlas of Queensland’s Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and 

Mammals. Queensland Museum, Brisbane 

18


Covacevich, J.A. and McDonald, K.R. 1991 Frogs and reptiles of tropical and 

subtropical eastern Australian rainforests: Distribution patterns and conservation. [Pp. 

281-309]. In: Werren, G. and Kershaw, P. (Editors): The Rainforest Legacy. 

Australian National Rainforests Study. Volume 2. Flora and Fauna of Rainforests. 

Special Australian Heritage Publication Series, 7 (2) [Australian Government 

Publishing Service, Canberra] 

Covacevich, J.A. and McDonald, K.R. 1991 Reptiles. [Pp. 69-82]. In: Nix, H.A. and 

Switzer, M.A. (1991): Rainforest Animals. Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's 

wet tropics. Kowari, No 1 

Crome, B. 1981 The diet of some ground-layer lizards in three woodlands of the New 

England Tableland of Australia. Herpetofauna, 13: 4-11 

Czechura, G.V. and Miles, J. 1983 Reptiles. In: Davies, W. (Editor): Wildlife of the 

Brisbane Area. Jacaranda Press, Brisbane 

Dale, F.D. 1973 Forty Queensland Lizards. Queensland Museum, Brisbane [Booklet 

No 8] 

Davey, K. 1970 Australian Lizards. Lansdowne, Melbourne 

Davies, W. (Editor) 1983 Wildlife of the Brisbane Area. Jacaranda Press, Milton 

De Vis, C.W. 1888 A contribution to the herpetology of Queensland. Proceedings of 

the Linnean Society of New South Wales, (Series 2) 2: 811-826 

Donnellan, S.C. 1991 Chromosomes of Australian Lygosomine skinks (Lacertilia: 

Scincidae). II. The genus Lampropholis. Genetica, 83: 223-234 

Dumeril, A.M.C. and Bibron, G. 1839 Erpetologie Generale ou Histoire Naturelle 

Complete des Reptiles. Roret, Paris [Volume 5, p. 713] 

Ehmann, H.F.W. 1992 Encyclopedia of Australian Animals. Reptiles. Angus and 

Robertson, Sydney 

Forsman, A. and Shine, R. 1995 The adaptive significance of colour pattern 

polymorphism in the Australian Scincid lizard Lampropholis delicata. Biological 

Journal of the Linnean Society, 55: 273-291 

Frauca, H. 1982 What Animal is That? A Guide to Australian Amphibians, Insects, 

Mammals, Reptiles and Spiders. Reed, Sydney [Note that another Edition appeared in 

1985 also] 

Glasby, C.J., Ross, G.J.B. and Beesley, P.L. (Editors) 1993 Fauna of Australia. 

Volume 2A. Amphibia and Reptilia. Australian Government Publishing Service, 

Canberra [Pp. 1-439] 

Gray, J.E. 1845 Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizard in the Collection of the British 

Museum. British Museum, London [Pp. 1-289] 

19


Green, D. 1973 The reptiles of the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney. 

Herpetofauna, 6 (2): 2-5 

Green, K. and Osborne, W. 1994 Wildlife of the Australian Snow Country. Reed 

Books, Sydney 

Green, R.H. 1965 Two skink lizards newly recorded from Tasmania. Records of the 

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery [Launceston], No 9: 1-4 

Greer, A.E. 1967 A new generic arrangement for some Australian Scincid lizards. 

Breviora, 267: 1-19 

Greer, A.E. 1974 The generic relationships of the Scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma 

and its relatives. Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series No 31: 1-67 

Greer, A.E. 1976 A most successful invasion: The diversity of Australia’s skinks. 

Australian Natural History, 18 (12): 428-433 

Greer, A.E. 1989 The Biology and Evolution of Australian Lizards. Surrey Beatty 

and Sons, Sydney 

Greer, A.E. 1997 A new species of Lampropholis (Squamata: Scincidae) with a 

restricted, high altitude distribution in eastern Australia. Australian Zoologist, 30 (3): 

360-368 

Griffiths, K. 1987 Reptiles of the Sydney Region. Three Sisters Productions, 

Winmalee 

Griffiths, K. 1996 Australia's Reptiles and Frogs. Topmill Press, Sydney 

Griffiths, K. 1997 Frogs and Reptiles of the Sydney Region. University of New 

South Wales Press, Kensington [Pp. 1-128] 

Hoser, R.T. 1989 Australian Reptiles and Frogs. Pierson and Co., Mosman [Pp. 1- 

238] 

Houston, T.F. 1973 Reptiles of South Australia. A brief synopsis. South Australian 

Yearbook, 1973 [11 pp.] 

Houston, T.F. and Tyler, M.J. 1979 Reptiles and amphibians. [Pp. 115-122]. In: 

Twidale, C.R. and Ling, J.K. (Editors): Natural History of Kangaroo Island. Royal 

Society of South Australia, Adelaide 

Hudson, S. 1996 Natural toe loss in southeastern Australian skinks: Implications for 

marking lizards by toe-clipping. Journal of Herpetology, 30 (1): 106-110 

Humphreys, W.F. 1976 Spider-induced egg mortality in a skink population. Copeia, 

1976: 404 

20


Ingram, G.J. 1991 Five new skinks from Queensland rainforests. Memoirs of the 

Queensland Museum, 30 (3): 443-453 

Ingram, G.J. and Rawlinson, P. 1981 Five new species of skinks (genus 

Lampropholis) from Queensland and New South Wales. Memoirs of the Queensland 

Museum, 20 (2): 311-317 

Jacobson, K. 1973 Reptiles of the Tamworth Area. Herpetofauna, 6 (1): 20-22 

Jenkins, R.W.G. and Bartell, R.J. 1980 A Field Guide to Reptiles of the Australian 

High Country. Inkata Press, Melbourne [Pp. 1-278] 

Joss, J.M.P. 1978 A rhythm in hydroxyindole-o-methyl-transferase (HIOMT) activity 

in the Scincid lizard, Lampropholis guichenoti. General and Comparative 

Endocrinology, 36: 521-525 

Joss, J.M.P. and Minard, J.A. 1985 On the reproductive cycles of Lampropholis 

guichenoti and L. delicata (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Sydney region. Australian 

Journal of Zoology, 33: 699-704 

Keast, J.A. 1959 The reptiles of Australia. [Pp. 115-135]. In: Keast, A., Crocker, R.L. 

and Christian, C.S. (Editors): Biogeography and Ecology in Australia. W. Junk, The 

Hague [Monographiae Biologicae, 8] 

Loveridge, A. 1934 Australian reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 

Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 

[Harvard], 77 (6): 243-383 

Low, T. 1978 The reptiles of Magnetic Island, north Queensland. Herpetofauna, 9 (2): 

10-14 

Lucas, A.H.S. and LeSouef, W.H.D. 1909 The Animals of Australia. Mammals, 

Reptiles and Amphibians. Whitcombe and Tombs, Melbourne [Pp. i-xi, 1-327] 

Lunney, D. and Barker, J. 1986 Survey of reptiles and amphibians of the coastal 

forests near Bega, NSW. Australian Zoologist, 22 (3): 1-9 

Lyon, B. 1972 Area survey of reptiles in the outer north-eastern Brisbane suburbs. 

Herpetofauna, 5 (3): 2-4 

Markwell, K. and Knight, R. 1986 An inventory of the herpetofauna of the southeastern 

section of Myall Lakes National Park, NSW. Hunter Wetlands Trust 

[Newcastle], Scientific Paper No 1 

Mather, P. 1990 Electrophoretic and morphological comparisons of Lampropholis 

delicata (Lacertilia: Scincidae) populations from eastern Australia, and a resolution of 

the taxonomic status of this species. Australian Journal of Zoology, 37: 561-574 

McPhee, D.R. 1959 Some Common Snakes and Lizards of Australia. Jacaranda, 

Brisbane [Pp. 1-125] 

21


McPhee, D.R. 1963 Some Common Snakes and Lizards of Australia. Jacaranda, 

Brisbane [Second Edition; Pp. 1-125] 

McPhee, D.R. 1979 The Observer's Book of Snakes and Lizards of Australia. 

Methuen, Sydney [Pp. 1-157] 

Meyer, G. 1977 Reptiles of ‘Timbertop’, Mt Bulla, Victoria. Victorian 

Herpetological Society Newsletter, 5 (September): 2-3 

Milton, D. 1980 Some aspects of the population dynamics of Lampropholis 

guichenoti in Toohey Forest near Brisbane. Herpetofauna, 11 (2): 19-23 

Mincham, H. 1970 Reptiles of Australia and New Zealand. Rigby, Adelaide [Pp. 1- 

63] 

Mitchell, F.J. 1959 Communal egg-laying in the lizard Leiolopisma guichenoti 

(Dumeril and Bibron). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 82: 121- 

122 

Mittleman, M.B. 1952 A generic synopsis of the lizards of the subfamily 

Lygosominae. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 117 (4069): 1-35 

Powell, H., Heatwole, H. and Heatwole, M. 1979 Winter aggregation of 

Leiolopisma guichenoti. British Journal of Herpetology, 5: 789-791 

Rawlinson, P.A. 1969 The reptiles of East Gippsland. Proceedings of the Royal 

Society of Victoria, 32: 113-128 

Rawlinson, P.A. 1971 The reptiles of West Gippsland. Proceedings of the Royal 

Society of Victoria, 84: 37-51 

Schmida, G. 1986 The Cold Blooded Australians. A unique photographic study of 

Australia's reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fish. Doubleday, Sydney 

Schwaner, T.D., Miller, B. and Tyler, M.J. 1985 Reptiles and amphibians. [Pp. 

159-168]. In: Twidale, C.R. and Tyler, M.J. (Editors): Natural History of Eyre 

Peninsula. Royal Society of South Australia, Adelaide 

Shine, R. 1983 Reptilian reproductive mode: The oviparity-viviparity continuum. 

Herpetologica, 39 (1): 1-8 

Shine, R. 1983 Reptilian viviparity in cold climates: Testing the assumptions of an 

evolutionary hypothesis. Oecologia, 57: 397-405 

Swan, G. 1990 A Field Guide to the Snakes and Lizards of New South Wales. Three 

Sisters Publications, Winmalee [Pp. 1-224] 

Swan, G. 1998 Green Guide. Snakes and Other Reptiles of Australia. New Holland, 

Sydney [Pp. 1-96] 

22


Swanson, S. 1976 Lizards of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney 

Swanson, S. 1987 Lizards of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney [2nd Edition] 

Waite, E.R. 1927 The fauna of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. No 3. The reptiles 

and amphibians. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 51: 326-329 

Waite, E.R. 1929 The Reptiles and Amphibians of South Australia. Government 

Printer, Adelaide [Published posthumously; Handbooks of the Flora and Fauna of 

South Australia, Edited by Hale, H.M. and issued by the British Science Guild, South 

Australian Branch, Adelaide; Pp. 1-270 + 192 figures; see also facsimile reprint of 

1993 by SSAR] 

Webb, G.A. 1981 Geographical Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians in the 

Southern Eden Forestry Area. Report from the Forestry Commission of New South 

Wales, Pennant Hills 

Wells, R.W. 1979 A large aggregation of skink eggs. Herpetofauna, 11: 19-20 

Wells, R.W. 1981 Utilisation of the same site for communal egg-laying by 

Lampropholis delicata and L. guichenoti. Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1 (1): 

35-36 

Wells, R.W. and Turner, J.R. 1988 Checklist of the reptiles, frogs and Jewel Beetles 

of the Agnes Banks area, New South Wales, Australia. Australian Herpetologist, No 

515: 1-9 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1984 Synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia. 

Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1 (3-4): 63-129 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1985 A Classification of the Amphibia and 

Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology (Supplementary Series), No 

1: 1-61 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1988 A checklist of the amphibians and reptiles 

known from the lower Blue Mountains region, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, 

Australia. Australian Herpetologist, No 508: 1-7 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1988 The amphibians and reptiles of the Blue 

Mountains region, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia. Australian 

Herpetologist, No 504: 1-12 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1988 Preliminary checklist of the amphibians and 

reptiles of the Kanangra Plateau, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia. 

Australian Herpetologist, No 507: 1-3 

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1988 Amphibians and reptiles of the upper Cox's 

River area, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia, with comments on Greer and 

Cogger's recent reclassification of the genus Anomalopus (sensu lato). Australian 

Herpetologist, No 505: 1-15 

23


Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1989 A Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles 

known from the Cumberland Plain Region, Sydney Basin, New South Wales, 

Australia. Australian Herpetologist, 506: 1-34 

Wilson, S.K. and Knowles, D.G. 1988 Australia's Reptiles - A photographic 

reference to the terrestrial reptiles of Australia. Collins, Melbourne [Pp. 1-447] 

Worrell, E. 1963 Reptiles of Australia: Crocodiles - Turtles - Tortoises - Lizards - 

Snakes. Describing all Australian species, their appearance, their haunts, their habits, 

with over 330 illustrations, many in full colour. Angus and Robertson, Sydney [Pp. i- 

xv + 1-207] 

Worrell, E. 1966 Australian Snakes, Crocodiles, Tortoises, Turtles, Lizards. Angus 

and Robertson, Sydney [Pp. 1-64] 

Worrell, E. 1970 Reptiles of Australia: Crocodiles - Turtles - Tortoises - Lizards - 

Snakes. Describing their appearance, their habits, with over 330 illustrations, many in 

full colour. Angus and Robertson, Sydney [2nd Edition, without synonymic checklist; 

Pp. i-xv + 1-169] 

[Note: This list of references is only a selection of the available publications that deal 

with the species mentioned in this paper. If readers would like a larger listing they are 

invited to write to the author of this paper] 

************************************* 

EDITORIAL NOTICE 

The Australian Biodiversity Record is published at no cost for permanent scientific 

record in accordance with the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature 

Rules (Code 4th Edition). Copies may be obtained by sending a written request to be 

placed on a mailing list. The address for submission of manuscripts, subscriptions and 

all other enquiries relating to this Journal is: 

Australian Biodiversity Record 

“Shiralee”, Major West Road, 

Cowra, NSW Australia 2794 

Note: Although the articles published by the Australian Biodiversity Record always 

remain the Intellectual Property of the authors concerned, it is an expressed condition 

of publication that articles may be freely copied by any person and distributed 

worldwide by any means whatsoever for the sole purpose of research or criticism. All 

articles so copied from the Australian Biodiversity Record must include full 

bibliographic data that identifies the author name/s, the journal name and number, and 

date of publication. Therefore, the Australian Biodiversity Record recommends that 

any article copied be a full and complete copy to ensure that due credit is given to 

authors and to also allow their information to be considered in accurate context. 

24


Note: This is a reprinting of the original issue that was published in March 2002. The 

original was limited to 50 printed copies and is now very rare in paper copy. It was 

decided to reissue this publication on 6 February 2009 in printed and PDF form with 

the text unaltered, but with only minor changes to layout. These alterations were due to 

the fact that the original 2002 series of the Australian Biodiversity Record were 

published from files on a different computer platform. This file for this issue had to be 

transferred from the original Apple Computer system to the current IBM system 

resulting in some unavoidable minor changes to font type and pagination. 

25

AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?