AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 selective logging and bushfires, and may eventually recolonize riparian conditions following agricultural and urban developments. Biology/Ecology: This is essentially a very common species wherever it occurs. It is a diurnal, terrestrial and semi-aquatic species that lives both along the verges of permanent or semipermanent watercourses in upland areas, as well as in open woodland with plenty of open patches that favour basking. Although it is most similar ecologically to Eulamprus quoyii in its preference for more permanent water bodies, it may also be found in areas somewhat distant from obvious water. In such circumstances, the habitat is usually well-vegetated and damp or has an abundance of moist microhabitat refuges and basking sites such as scattered logs, rocky ridges or rock outcrops in association with perennial or non-perennial stream gullies. Basking sites are often logs or rocks, under which they retreat when disturbed. Other shelter sites are hollow logs, rock crevices, soil cavities associated with exposed tree roots and rocks along the edges of watercourses, piles of flood debris, earth cracks and the burrows of other animals. Although this species is mainly terrestrial, mature individuals are also excellent climbers, and may be found active well-up on waterfalls or rock faces along creeks, or on occasions up tree trunks that afford suitable cracks or hollows. They also readily uses rock crevices, earth-cracks, burrows, hollow logs and the interiors of rotting tree stumps for overwintering, as well as to avoid bushfires during their active months. It will readily retreat to water when escaping from potential predators, by swimming both under water as well as on the surface. In general this species requires warmer or more exposed sites than Eulamprus tympanum, which tends to prefer more sheltered and cooler sites. Although these two species usually occupy quite different habitats and so only marginally overlap in range, in some areas of NSW and Victoria, they can be found sympatrically even along the same watercourse. However, in such circumstances, E. tympanum utilises aspects that are less exposed to the sun and more densely vegetated than E. heatwolei - which prefers the more open and exposed sections of streams in keeping with its higher thermal requirements. Like the other members of the genus Eulamprus, E. heatwolei is viviparous. Mating occurs in September- October, and reportedly 2-5 live young (usually about 3 or 4) are produced in a brood around the end of Summer. Genetic studies have indicated that at least two males contribute to a females litter. Feeds on both land and in water, mainly consuming a wide range of small invertebrates (including beetles, collembolans, orthopterans, hymenopterans, centipedes and spiders), but it will also eat small lizards, small fishes, and tadpoles or metamorphling frogs. Gravid females continue to feed during pregnancy and bask for longer periods than males presumably to shorten development time of the young. Known predators are mainly snakes (such as Pseudechis porphyriacus, Notechis scutatus, Pseudonaja textilis, Austrelaps ramsayi, and in lower coastal areas of south-eastern NSW - Acanthophis antarcticus). Juveniles have been shown to exhibit aversion behaviour to a range of potential predator odours, whereas adults appear to be less so reactive. Survival Status: 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 SA National Parks and Wildlife Act (1972) and the ACT Nature Conservation Act (1980), and the Victorian Wildlife Act (1975) [but not listed in Schedule 2 of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988) or in the Threatened Fauna Act (1995)]. Overall regarded as a common species where ever it occurs, although in South Australia, the distinctive isolated population on the Fleurieu Peninsula is considered to be rare. Etymology: The name 'heatwolei' honours American herpetologist and ecologist Harold Heatwole. Eulamprus herseyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 Eulamprus herseyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 - Classif. Amph. Rept. Aust. Aust. J. Herp. Suppl. Ser. 1: 1-61 [p.29] [March 1985 on title page, but not published until September, 1985]. Type data: Holotype AM R116967. Type Locality: 'Dora Dora National Park Proposal near Albury, NSW' [35°55'S 147°35'E]. [See also Shea and Sadlier, 1999 - Tech. Rep. Aust. Mus. 15: 1-91 - where this species is invalidly synonymised with Eulamprus tympanum]. Eulamprus tympanum Ehmann, 1992 - Encycl. Austr. Anim. Reptiles. [p. 250] Eulamprus tympanum Hutchinson and Rawlinson, 1995 - Rec. South Aust. Mus. 28(2): 185- 207 Eulamprus tympanum Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [Pp. 489] 10
Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 Eulamprus tympanum tympanum Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 222-223] Eulamprus tympanum Swan, Shea and Sadlier, 2004 - Rept. NSW [p. 154] Eulamprus tympanum Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 238-239] Description: This is a medium-sized skink, with a long fragile tail that has moderate lateral compression in section. Note that the later synonymising of Eulamprus herseyi with Eulamprus tympanum by Hutchinson and Rawlinson (1995) is herein rejected, as the morphology of Eulamprus tympanum sensu stricto (southern Victoria) clearly differs from that of E. herseyi] Distribution: At present believed confined to the Snowy Mountains and hinterlands of southern New South Wales and northern Victoria. Habitat: Occurs in rocky areas along or near watercourses in montane and alpine woodland. Biology/Ecology: This is a diurnal and essentially terrestrial species that basks either on logs or ground litter fairly close to a favoured retreat site. Viviparous and largely insectivorous in dietary habits. Survival Status: 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 Schedule 2 of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988) or in the Threatened Fauna Act (1995)]. Regarded as widespread and common. Etymology: The name ‘herseyi’ honours the Australian naturalist and conservationist, the late Frederick Hersey, who while working for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, greatly assisted numerous herpetologists. Eulamprus marnieae Hutchinson and Rawlinson, 1995 stat. nov. Eulamprus tympanum marnieae Hutchinson and Rawlinson, 1995 - Rec. South Aust. Mus. 28(2): 185-207. Type data: Holotype NMV. Type Locality: 5.5 km E of Dreeite, Victoria [38°11"S 143°34' E]. Eulamprus tympanum [part] Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [Pp. 483] Eulamprus tympanum marnieae Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 222-223] Eulamprus tympanum marnieae Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 238-239] Description: Herein formally elevated to specific status due to the significant scalation differences possessed by Eulamprus marnieae. This is one of the most attractive of the Montane Water Skinks, with its complex pattern of black blotching and barring. It is a mediumsized skink (although noticeably larger than E. tympanum), with a somewhat depressed body (vs a more rounded body form in E. tympanum), and a long fragile tail that has moderate lateral compression. The smaller body scales readily distinguish this species from all other species of Eulamprus. The colouration and patterning is very distinct when compared with its congenor E. tympanum. As indicated above, perhaps the most striking feature of E. marnieae is the distinctive black markings of the dorsum. The darker overall body colouration of E. marnieae is dominated by a series of short transverse black bars on the dorsum of the body and tail, markings which are entirely lacking in E. tympanum. The black markings on the tail are transversely aligned in wavy broken rows and create a rough banded effect. The upper lateral of the neck and body is black, with an irregular series of yellow spots that run from the neck, and along the body to the groin; the ventrolateral area of the head, neck and body is creamish-yellow, with indistinct dark flecking, while the snout, supralabials and temporals can be glossy black in some specimens or in others, the black is reduced to the temporals, with the labials and snout blotched with black on olive-brown. In E. marnieae the venter is bright yellow, and the under surface of the limbs and tail pale yellow. This yellow ventral colouration can be quite intense, and includes a series of striking black longitudinal bars or streaks amid the yellow base colour. Overall, the yellow colouring is more extensive and brighter in E. marnieae than it is even in Eulamprus heatwolei (in E. tympanum the belly is pale whitishcream or lemon-yellow). The higher dorsal scale count of Eulamprus marnieae readily distinguishes this species from Eulamprus tympanum also. E. marnieae usually has 43 dorsal scales or more (counted longitudinally), whereas E. tympanum usually has less than 43 11
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AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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