AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 and head not as deep than in Glaphyromorphus; head barely distinct from neck; body scales smooth and glossy, in 20-24 rows at mid-body; mid-dorsal scales about the same size as midventrals (vs mid-dorsal scales conspicuously broader and much larger than mid-ventral scales in the genera Glaphyromorphus and Serenitas); paravertebrals similar in size to adjacent dorsal scales (vs paravertebrals broader than adjacent body scales in Serenitas); nasals separated; rostral contacts frontonasal; parietals in contact behind the interparietal; prefrontal contacting first preocular (vs prefrontal not contacting first preocular in Serenitas); prefrontals separated (vs prefrontals usually separated, but occasionally in narrow contact in Serenitas); supranasals absent; supralabials 6-8; supraoculars 4; ear-opening present but small and rounded in shape, and much larger than the nostril (vs ear-opening present but tiny, round, and not as large as the nasal scale in Glaphyromorphus, or ear-opening present and conspicuous, and equal to or larger than the nasal scale in Mawsoniascincus, or ear-opening more elliptical and about as large as nasal in the genus Serenitas); anterior ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; postmental contacting one or two infralabials on each side (vs postmental usually contacting only one infralabial on each side in Glaphyromorphus and Mawsoniascincus); well-developed but tiny pentadactyl limbs, that are greatly separated when adpressed (vs small limbs that are separated by about 3 limb-lengths when adpressed in Glaphyromorphus, or large limbs in contact or overlapping when adpressed in Mawsoniascincus, or large limbs that do not contact or overlap when adpressed - but only separated by about one limb length in the genus Serenitas); 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 15-22 smooth and entire (vs basally divided subdigital lamellae in Mawsoniascincus). Presacral vertebrae 29-32. Oviparous Attains a maximum total length of around 145 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 55 mm. Etymology: From the Latin, ‘Opacitas’ meaning shade, and scincus for lizard, used in reference to the shady, damp microhabitats used by these species of skinks. Content: Opacitascincus arnhemicus (Storr, 1967); Opacitascincus cracens (Greer, 1985) comb. nov.; Opacitascincus crassicaudus (Dumeril and Dumeril, 1851); and Opacitascincus darwiniensis (Storr, 1967); and Opacitascincus pumilus (Boulenger, 1887) comb. nov. Opacitascincus arnhemicus (Storr, 1967) Sphenomorphus crassicaudus arnhemicus Storr, G.M. (1967). The genus Sphenomorphus (Lacertilia: Scincidae) in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 50: 10-20 [18]. Type data: Holotype WAM R13513. Type Locality: Yirrkala, NT [12º15'S 136º52'E]. Patheticoscincus arnhemicus Wells and Wellington, 1984 - Synopsis Cl. Rept. Austr. [p. 101]. Opacitascincus arnhemicus Wells and Wellington, 1985 - Classif. Amph. Rept. Aust. Aust. J. Herp. Suppl. Ser. 1: 1-61 [p. 36] [March 1985 on title page, but not published until September, 1985]. Sphenomorphus arnhemicus Ehmann, 1992 - Encycl. Austr. Anim. Reptiles. [p. 325] Glaphyromorphus darwiniensis arnhemicus Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [p. 492] Glaphyromorphus crassicaudus arnhemicus Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 224-225] Glaphyromorphus crassicaudus arnhemicus Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 242-243] Description: This is a close relative of Opacitascincus pumilus and Opacitascincus crassicaudus, being of a similar slender body form and scalation. The base body colour is pale light brown, greyish-brown or chocolate brown over the head, body and tail. A pattern is usually absent, with the whole dorsum of the lizard uniform immaculate brown, unlike in O. crassicaudus where a dark vertebral stripe or dark paravertebral lines are usually present. Ventrally, creamish, occasionally with fine brownish flecking under the throat and tail. Some significant features of this species' morphology are: body scales smooth and shiny, in 20-22 rows at mid-body; parietals in contact behind the interparietal; prefrontal contacting first preocular; prefrontals separated; supranasals absent; supralabials 5-7; nasals separated; supraoculars 4; ear-opening present but small and rounded in shape, and larger than the nostril; anterior ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; postmental contacting one or two (usually 2) infralabials on each side; well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that fail to overlap when adpressed; 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 50
Australian Biodiversity Record, 2009 (3): 1-96 18-22 smooth and entire. Attains a maximum total length of around 145 mm. and a snout-vent length of about 55 mm. Distribution: Restricted to the Arnhem Land region in the far northeast of the Northern Territory. Habitat: Occurs in a range of densely vegetated habitats, including monsoon forest, and riparian stands of savanna woodland often in association with rocky terrain. Biology/Ecology: This is a secretive, cryptozoic, burrowing species usually found in sandy loams under deep leaf-litter, or sheltering inside or under rotting logs in well-shaded stands of thick vegetation or even under rocks on soil. This skink usually favours sites that are refuges against the extreme tropical heat of its habitats - i.e. sites that retain a humid microclimate such as along the verges of watercourses, the bases of hills, rocky areas and of course stands of thick vegetation. Oviparous. Feeds on small invertebrates. Survival Status: Protected under the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (2007). Status unknown, but this species may be considered as potentially vulnerable due to its limited distribution and specialised habitat requirements. However, it is regarded as common. Etymology: The name 'arnhemicus' refers to the general area of the Type Locality for the species - Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Opacitascincus cracens (Greer, 1985) comb. nov. Sphenomorphus cracens Greer, A.E. (1985). A new species of Sphenomorphus from northeastern Queensland. J. Herpet. 19(4): 469-473 [469]. Type data: Holotype QM J42714. Type Locality: 7.5 km W of Nettle Creek at Innot Hot Springs via Kennedy Highway, NE Qld. Sphenomorphus cracens Ehmann, 1992 - Encycl. Austr. Anim. Reptiles. [p. 326] Glaphyromorphus cracens Cogger, 2000 - Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia [Pp. 492, 497] Glaphyromorphus cracens Wilson and Swan, 2003 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia [p. 224-225] Glaphyromorphus cracens Wilson, 2005 - Field Guide Rept. Qld [p.128] Glaphyromorphus cracens Swanson, 2007 - Field Guide to Austr. Reptiles [p. 171] Glaphyromorphus cracens Wilson and Swan, 2008 - Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 2 nd Edition [p. 240-241] Description: This is a slender and somewhat depressed skink with a moderately long tapering tail that is round in section. The base body colour is pale light brown or greyish brown or darker brown over the head, body and tail. Pattern may be bold or much reduced, and when present is usually restricted to the mid-dorsal scales being dotted with blackish or darker brown in 2 to 4 thin longitudinal paravertebral lines along the dorsum of the body between the nape and the hips. In other specimens the back may be unpatterned, with head and neck area, as well as the tail finely spotted with black. The upper lateral zone between the snout and the hind limbs is usually black, with a sharp line of demarcation between that and the dorsal colour in some specimens, or rough-edged in others. The lower lateral part of the body is much paler greyish and includes a lower density of black or brown spotting and flecking, usually arranged as short striations - particularly on the neck, that become progressively larger posteriorly, eventually smoothly merging with the tail pattern; the sides of the original tail are densely mottled with dark brown, but regenerated tails are heavily speckled with black on grey. The sides of the head are speckled or flecked with blackish, and the labials are boldly edged with black also. Ventrally, creamish to yellowish, with fine black spotting under the tail, and sometimes lines under the throat formed by thin dark edging to the scales. Some significant features of this species' morphology are: head shields regular, not fragmented; body scales smooth and shiny, in 20-22 rows at mid-body; paravertebral scales 72-87 in females, 66-83 in males; parietals in contact behind the interparietal; prefrontal contacting first preocular; prefrontals separated; supranasals absent; nasals separated; supraoculars 4; earopening present and minute, about twice the diameter of the nostril; anterior ear lobules absent; lower eyelid movable and scaly; postmental contacting two infralabials on each side; reduced, but well-developed pentadactyl limbs, that fail to overlap when adpressed; 4th toe much longer than 3rd; subdigital lamellae beneath 4th toe 13-17 smooth and entire. Presacral vertebrae number 31-33 (32-33 in females, 31-32 in males). Attains a maximum total length of around 130 mm. and a maximum snout-vent length of about 60 mm. Although there is no 51
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AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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