AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 contacting two infralabials on each side; well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that overlap when adpressed; hind limbs significantly longer than forelimbs; 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 24-28, slightly swollen basally. Presacral vertebrae 26; premaxillary teeth 9. Attains a maximum total length of around 180 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 80 mm. Distribution: Confined to a small part of north-eastern Queensland centred on lower southeastern Cape York Peninsula (between Shiptons Flat, south of Cooktown and the Cardwell Range, near Ingham). Habitat: Inhabits dense tropical rainforest in both lowland coastal areas as well as mountainous terrain to around 1600 metres altitude where it may be found in montane heath margins of rainforest. Biology/Ecology: This largely arboreal skink is a diurnal and crepuscular species that may be found in cracks or hollows of trees, or in association with rotting logs on the ground in small clearings of rainforest, or even amongst mossy boulders in high altitude heaths, or amongst rocks along creek-lines and amongst buttresses of rainforest trees. It usually basks during cloudy and humid weather, and actively forages in ground litter during late afternoon or early evening. Feeds only on small invertebrates. Ovoviviparous. Survival Status: Protected under the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992) [see also the Qld Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation Act (1994)]. Status unknown, but this species may be considered as potentially vulnerable due to its limited and fragmented distribution and specialised habitat requirements. It is generally regarded as a rare species given the small known range and paucity of records. Etymology: The name 'tigrina' means 'tiger', and refers to the tiger-like pattern of this species. Karma gen. nov. Type Species: Lygosoma murrayi Boulenger, 1887 [Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London [Pp. 1-575; see p. 232, plate 13, figure 1]. Diagnosis: A genus of medium-sized, glossy-scaled lizards of the family Scincidae from eastern Australia, most closely related to the genus Eulamprus but readily separated from all genera of Scincidae by the following combination of characters: body scales smooth and glossy, in 28-36 rows at mid-body; paravertebral scale rows 59-67; parietals in contact behind the interparietal; prefrontals usually separated or in point contact; supranasals absent (vs present in Edenia gen. nov.); nasals separated; supraoculars 4 (vs 5 in Deliodiogenes); earopening present and conspicuous, and larger than nasal scale; ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; 6 supralabials (the last entire); postmental only contacting first infralabial on each side (vs postmental contacts first two infralabials on each side in Eulamprus and Concinnia); 3rd pair of enlarged chin shields fragmented and separated by 5 longitudinal rows of smaller scales (vs 3 rd pair of enlarged chin shields not fragmented and separated by only 3 rows of scales in Concinnia); well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that overlap when adpressed; hind limbs significantly longer than forelimbs; 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 16-22, basal ones divided. Attains a maximum total length of around 260 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 110 mm. Content: Karma murrayi (Boulenger, 1887) comb. nov.; and Karma tryoni (Longman, 1918) comb. nov. Etymology: From Buddhism that teaches that the sum of actions in previous states is viewed as deciding a fate in the future - an interesting aspect in light of the past actions of taxonomists in their various treatments of the Sphenomorphine radiation and their eventual taxonomic fate. Karma murrayi (Boulenger, 1887) comb. nov. Lygosoma murrayi Boulenger, G.A. (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). 3. London: British Museum xii 575 pp. 40 pls [232, pl. 13 fig. 1]. Type data: holotype BMNH 1946.8.21.32. Type locality: Qld. Lygosoma tamburinense Lönnberg, E. and Andersson, L.G. (1915). Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg's Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-1913. VII. Reptiles collected in northern Queensland. K. Sven. Vetensk.-Akad. Handl. 52(7): 1-9 [5]. Type data: holotype NHRM 3212. Type locality: Mount Tambourine, Qld. 32
Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 Lygosoma (Hinulia) tenuis intermedius Kinghorn, J.R. (1932). Herpetological Notes. 4. Rec. Aust. Mus. 18: 355-363 [358]. Type data: Holotype AM R6485. Type Locality: Richmond River, NSW. Sphenomorphus murrayi Swanson, 1976 - Lizards of Australia [p. 26, pl. 49] Concinnia murrayi Wells and Wellington, 1984 - Synopsis Cl. Rept. Austr. [p. 88]. Concinnia murrayi Wells and Wellington, 1985 - Classif. Amph. Rept. Aust. Aust. J. Herp. Suppl. Ser. 1: 1-61 [p. 26] [March 1985 on title page, but not published until September, 1985]. Sphenomorphus murrayi Ehmann, 1992 - Encycl. Austr. Anim. Reptiles. [p. 334] Eulamprus murrayi Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [Pp. 485-486] Eulamprus murrayi Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 220- 221] Eulamprus murrayi Swan, Shea and Sadlier, 2004 - Rept. NSW [p. 150] Eulamprus murrayi Wilson, 2005 - Field Guide Rept. Qld [p.125] Eulamprus murrayi Swanson, 2007 - Field Guide to Austr. Reptiles [p. 170] Eulamprus murrayi Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 236-237] Eulamprus murrayi Wilson and Swan, 2009 - What Lizard is That? [p. 35, 37] Description: This is a moderately large and solidly-built skink that has a medium-length tapering tail that is fairly thick at the base and rounded in cross-section. The base body colour is reddish-brown, golden-brown, chocolate brown or coppery-brown over the dorsum of the head, body, limbs and tail. The head scales are thinly bordered with darker brown and the tail can be strongly flecked with brown and fine white dots, and this is particularly evident along the sides. Along the dorsum, a sort of obscure variegated or barred pattern is created by the brown edges and pale centres of most body scales. There are pale cream and dark brown bars along the labials and blackish spots on the cheeks, and there are a few large blackish blotches on the neck behind the ear and the forelimbs. The lateral of the neck and body may be dark purple to paler brown, or even blackish, with heavy markings of paler whitish or bluish-white spots and flecks or small yellowish blotches; the flanks have a variable mottling of yellowish and black, and the lower lateral area of the body tends to be paler greyish with a dense flecking of light bluish dots. Ventrally creamish to yellowish, with the throat creamyyellow and the chin shields edged with brown, and a series of brownish variegations or lines over the throat and chest, and a fine peppering of blackish dots posteriorly (most noticeable near the vent and on the subcaudals). Some significant features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth and glossy, in 28-36 rows at mid-body; paravertebral scale rows 59- 67; parietals in contact behind the interparietal; prefrontals usually separated or in point contact; supranasals absent; nasals separated; supraoculars 4; ear-opening present and conspicuous, and larger than nasal scale; ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; 6 supralabials (the last entire - vs the last divided in Karma tryoni); postmental contacting a single infralabial on each side; well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that overlap strongly when adpressed; hind limbs significantly longer than forelimbs; 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe smooth, 16-22, with the basal ones divided. Attains a maximum total length of around 260 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 110 mm. Distribution: Murray’s Skink is only known from a small area in eastern Australia, between the Conondale Ranges in south-eastern Queensland and Barrington Tops in mid-eastern New South Wales. Habitat: It inhabits a variety of cool forest habitats, ranging from sub-tropical rainforest through to wet sclerophyll forest from near sea-level to over 1000m altitude. Often occurs along rainforest streams and in forest clearings. Biology/Ecology: This is mainly a diurnal or crepuscular species, but it has been observed active on the rainforest floor during warm evenings in summer. It is usually found during the day in association with rotting logs as well as rocks and dense leaf-litter in clearings and along verges of moist forest areas. Although not strictly an arboreal species, individuals will also occupy the rotting interiors of standing dead tree trunks. Sometimes small groups of adults and juveniles are found together living in very close proximity with one another. Although this lizard will bask on logs during cloudy days, it is mostly active during the afternoon and early evening in warm weather. It will bask in open sunshine on cooler days, but it generally avoids hot sun-exposed sites; it is generally active during overcast weather either preceding or during rainfall in summer. This species also engages in territorial fights 33
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AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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