AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96
young in a brood during late summer. A shy species, that rapidly retreats into hollows of
rotting logs when disturbed.
Survival Status: Protected under the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992) [see also the Qld
Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation Act (1994)]. Status unknown, but this somewhat
rare species may be considered as potentially vulnerable due to its limited distribution and
specialised habitat requirements. Its range forms part of Eungella National Park.
Etymology: The name 'luteilateralis' refers to the spotted colour pattern on the side of the
body.
Glaphyromorphus Wells and Wellington, 1984
Glaphyromorphus Wells and Wellington, 1984 - Synop. Class Rept. Aust. Austr. J. Herp. 1(3-
4): 73-129 [95] [1983 on title page]. Type Species: Lygosoma (Lygosoma) punctulatum
Peters, 1871 by original designation.
Diagnosis: As presently defined, a genus of small, very elongate cryptozoic Scincid lizards
from tropical north-eastern Australia, readily separated from all other genera by the following
combination of characters: body scales smooth and glossy, in 18-26 rows at mid-body; middorsal
scales conspicuously broader and much larger than mid-ventral scales (vs mid-dorsal
scales about the same size as mid-ventrals in Mawsoniascincus); head shields regular, not
fragmented; supranasals absent; nasals separated; parietals in contact behind the
interparietal; prefrontal contacting first preocular; supraoculars 4; supralabials 7; postmental
usually contacting one infralabial on each side (vs postmental in contact with either 1 or 2
infralabials in Serenitas); ear-opening present but tiny and round, not as large as the nasal
scale (vs ear opening present and conspicuous, and equal to or larger than the nasal in
Mawsoniascincus, and ear-opening more elliptical and about as large as nasal in Serenitas);
ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; small, but well-developed pentadactyl
limbs, and separated by at least 3 limb-lengths when adpressed (vs large limbs in contact or
overlapping when adpressed in Mawsoniascincus, or large adpressed limbs do not contact or
overlap - but only separated by about one limb length in Serenitas, or diminutive limbs much
more greatly separated when adpressed in Opacitascincus); 4th toe much longer than 3rd;
subdigital lamellae mostly smooth and entire (vs basally divided in Mawsoniascincus);
lamellae beneath 4th toe 11-14. Attains a maximum total length of around 140 mm. and a
snout-vent length of about 55 mm. Oviparous (vs viviparous in Patheticoscincus).
Content: Glaphyromorphus clandestinus Hoskin and Couper, 2004; and Glaphyromorphus
punctulatus (Peters, 1871).
Etymology: The name alludes to the highly polished or glossy nature of the scales in the
included species.
Glaphyromorphus clandestinus Hoskin and Couper, 2004
Glaphyromorphus clandestinus Hoskin and Couper, 2004 - Aust. J. Zool. 52: 183-190. Type
data: Holotype QM J77554. Type Locality: Alligator Ck, Mt Elliot, Bowling Green Bay National
Park, north-east Queensland [19°29'S 146°59'E].
Glaphyromorphus clandestinus Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of
Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 240-241]
Description: This is another elongate and secretive species that has only recently been
discovered. The body and tail are long, and the short pentadactyl limbs do not meet when
adpressed, with the separation of the limbs in mature specimens being much greater than the
length of a forelimb. It has a moderately pointed snout that is round in profile, and the head is
barely distinct from neck. The colouration overall is pale bronze-brown with the flanks having
a series of 7 or 8 thin, faint to dark longitudinal lines, formed by a series of regular black
flecking to the scales that run from the ear to the groin, continuing along the lateral of the tail
as heavy dark flecking; the under surface of the tail is darkly flecked as well. The dorsum of
the body may be lightly or heavily flecked with black, although the dorsal of the head may be
unmarked or only faintly speckled with dark brown; the labials may be prominently or faintly
barred with black or dark brown. Ventrally, the body is pale whitish cream and generally
unmarked, with the exception that the scales of the throat are delicately edged with dark
brown or black, which forms a neat longitudinal series of fine dark lines to the forelimbs.
Some other characteristic features of this species morphology are: body scales smooth and
shiny; mid-body scale count of 26, readily separates it from its congenors; 55-60
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