AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 Act (1992) [see also the Qld Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation Act (1994)] [see also the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation Act (1994)]. Regarded as common, but populations are all isolated. Status unknown, but this species may be considered as potentially vulnerable at some locations due to its limited and fragmented or disjunct distribution as well as its specialised habitat requirements. Sites where this species has been detected are naturally isolated from one another by expansive areas of habitat regarded as unsuitable. This intervening habitat is usually drier woodland or cleared agricultural land. Most intervening woodland habitat is utilised by Eulamprus (cf) heatwolei - which tends to be not present in the boggy soaks preferred by C. couperi. Damage or alteration to the hydrology and ground vegetation of these small fragile wetlands and their environs could have serious consequences for the survival of this species. However, it is regarded as being relatively common within undisturbed areas of habitat. Areas of habitat that are subject to disturbance by cattle and sheep grazing, or clearing are likely incompatible with this species’ requirements. Etymology: Named for Patrick Couper of the Queensland Museum in recognition of his contributions to Australian herpetology. Costinisauria kosciuskoi (Kinghorn, 1932) Lygosoma (Hinulia) quoyi kosciuskoi Kinghorn, 1932 - Rec. Aust. Mus. 18: 355-363 [p.359]. Type data: Holotype AM R4654. Type locality: Mt Kosciusko, 5,500 ft, New South Wales. Sphenomorphus quoyii tympanum (part) Loveridge, 1934- Aust. Rept. Mus. Comp. Zool., Cambridge [p. 350]. Sphenomorphus kosciuskoi Mittleman, 1952 - Generic Synop.Lygosominae [p. 26] Sphenomorphus kosciuskoi Jenkins and Bartell, 1980 - Rept. Austr. High Country [Pp. 184- 186] Sphenomorphus kosciuskoi Cogger, Cameron and Cogger, 1983 - Zool. Cat. Austr. 1. Amph. Rept. Eulamprus kosciuskoi Wells and Wellington, 1984 - Synop. Class Rept. Austr., Aust. J. Herp. 1(3-4): 73-129 [1983 on title page, published March, 1984]. Costinisauria kosciuskoi Wells and Wellington, 1985 - Classif. Amph. Rept. Aust. Aust. J. Herp. Suppl. Ser. 1: 1-61 [March 1985 on title page, but not published until September, 1985] Sphenomorphus kosciuskoi Shea and Peterson, 1985 - Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW, 108 (2): 141- 148 [dated 1984, but not published until November, 1985] Eulamprus kosciuscoi Ehmann, 1992 - Encycl. Austr. Anim. Reptiles. [p. 248] Eulamprus kosciuskoi Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [p. 485] Eulamprus kosciuskoi Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 218] Eulamprus kosciuskoi Swan, Shea and Sadlier, 2004 - Rept. NSW [p. 147] Eulamprus kosciuskoi Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 234] Eulamprus koscuiskoi [errore typographicus] Wilson and Swan, 2009 - What Lizard is That? [p. 35] Description: A common skink of the wetter alpine meadows and bogs, this species has medium-sized robust body, and a moderately long fragile tail that is round in section. The base body colour is olive-brown or greenish-brown dorsally. There is a thin black vertebral stripe from the nape to the hips, a black laterodorsal stripe, and a creamish, yellowish or pale brownish dorsolateral stripe that runs from the neck and along the body to the hips; although in some specimens the dorsal stripes may not quite reach the hips. The upper lateral zone of the body is usually black and contains scattered pale creamish or yellowish speckles or spots that may have an irregular vertical and longitudinal alignment to them. The lower lateral zone is olive-grey with a more greenish tinge, or creamish or even creamish-yellow occasionally with black scales aligned to form short vertical barring or mottling. The upper parts of the limbs are the same colour as the dorsum, but with black flecks and small blotches, and the sides of the original tail are heavily speckled with black; regenerated tails are plain brown. The sides of the head are olive-brown, with black flecking, with the anterior supralabials, infralabials and snout tending to be somewhat paler. Ventrally, the lower flanks are creamishwhite to pale greenish-yellow, extending over the venter and with some scales finely flecked with black. Some significant features of this species morphology are: body scales smooth, 30- 35 counted longitudinally at mid-body; paravertebrals 51-63; parietals usually separated (but 20
Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 in contact behind interparietal in about 40% of specimens); interparietal elongate, about twice as long as wide; nasals separated (frontonasal in contact with rostral); prefrontals usually not in contact; supraoculars 4 (2nd the largest); frontal elongate and in contact with first 3 supraoculars; frontoparietals divided and in contact with 3rd and 4th supraoculars; supranasals absent; mature specimens have only two or three much enlarged scales contacting the posterior margin of the parietals, resulting from a transversely enlarged nuchal and one or two large scales between the nuchal and the upper temporal; supralabials 6-7 (usually 7); infralabials 7-8 (usually 7); postmental contacts first two infralabials on each side; lower eyelid movable and scaly; supraciliaries 7-9; ear-opening present and conspicuous (larger than nasal scale); no anterior ear lobules; preanal scales enlarged; well-developed pentadactyl limbs that overlap slightly when adpressed; hind limbs slightly longer than forelimbs; 4th toe much longer than the 3rd; base of 4th toe broad, with most lamellae with a median groove, and divided basally; 18-26 (average 22) subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe. Premaxillary teeth 8-9. Attains a maximum total length of around 150 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 80 mm (SVL range 54-81mm). Variation in this species morphology suggests that this species may be composite, with a possible taxonomically distinct population in the Brindabella Range, near Canberra. The population from Barrington Tops in NSW that is usually treated as kosciuskoi, has been previously described as a distinct species - see Costinisauria worrelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 and has been clearly shown to be morphologically distinct from topotypic kosciuskoi subsequently by the data provided by Shea and Peterson (1985). The New England Plateau population has been formally described in this paper as a new species (see Costinisauria couperi sp. nov.). Distribution: As presently defined, Costinisauria kosciuskoi is confined to the Snowy Mountains and associated ranges of southern New South Wales (including the Brindabella Ranges of the Australian Capital Territory), and just into northern Victoria. Habitat: Inhabits a range of alpine, sub-alpine or montane bogs and streams in tussock grass meadows and snow gum woodland, even beyond the tree-line at some sites. Although many sites where this species occurs are waterlogged treeless meadows or valleys at around 1500m, the habitat occupied by this species can become rather dry during summer, at which time the species is most active fairly close to moister microhabitats. The habitat of this species is usually subjected to heavy snow cover for several months of the year, during which time the lizards remain in hibernation in earth burrows beneath logs and rocks. Most sites where this species occurs in Victoria are over 1200 metres above sea-level, but NSW it occurs in some locations in the Snowy Mountains that are nearly 2000 m. above sea level. Biology/Ecology: A diurnal and essentially terrestrial species usually found in damp but open situations fairly close to streams or moist sphagnum areas, either sheltering beneath logs and rocks or active amongst thick ground vegetation. It uses dead timber on the ground as basking sites, and will retreat into water to evade predators, or hide beneath vegetation or logs. Most shelter sites where this species has been detected are the remains of small dead trees laying on soil or rotting logs, although small rocks are also utilised. Adults excavate short burrows under deep sphagnum moss or beneath logs or rocks that are partly embedded in the soil. Here they hibernate for sometimes 6 to 8 months of the year buried by metres of snow. Adult males are highly territorial and readily defend favoured basking sites against rival males. A viviparous species, mating occurs around October (late Spring) and from 1 to 6 relatively large, live young are produced in a brood during late summer (although 3 is more usual). It feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as spiders, beetles and grasshoppers, but will also eat small lizards as well, and has been recorded feeding on tiny fruiting bodies of herbaceous ground vegetation. 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). Protected under the ACT Nature Conservation Act (1980), the Victorian Wildlife Act (1975) and listed as threatened in Schedule 2 of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988) [see also the Threatened Fauna Act (1995)]. Regarded by some herpetologists as critically endangered in Victoria. Status unknown, but this species may be considered as potentially vulnerable due to its limited and fragmented or disjunct distribution as well as its specialised habitat requirements. Many sites where this species has been detected are naturally isolated from one another by expansive areas of habitat regarded as unsuitable for kosciuskoi. This intervening habitat is usually drier heath and woodland that is utilised by Eulamprus tympanum - which tends to be only marginally present in the boggy soaks preferred by kosciuskoi. Damage or alteration to the hydrology 21
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AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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