Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink
| Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink | |
|---|---|
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| Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink at Philadelphia Zoo | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Egernia |
| Species: | E. hosmeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Egernia hosmeri (Kinghorn, 1955)
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Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri), also known
.Etymology
The specific name, hosmeri, is in honour of Australian herpetologist William Hosmer.[2]
Description
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is mostly reddish-brown on top, with both scattered darker and paler spots along the back, legs, and tail. It has a darker brown head and neck, white abdomen, and a few dark brown blotches under the chin. The snout-to-vent (SVL) is 18 cm (7.1 in), with a round, tapering tail about 60% of the SVL.[3] It is most closely related to Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), however the tail of E. hosmeri is flattened and spinier than that of E. cunninghami.[4]
Geographic range
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skin is found throughout dry, rocky regions of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[3][5]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of E. hosmeri is rocky areas.[1]
Behaviour
E. hosmeri is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction
Like some other reptiles, E. hosmeri is viviparous, giving birth to an average of four live young at a time.[6]
Diet
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is omnivorous, eating insects, leaves, shoots, and berries.[6]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Egernia hosmeri, p. 126).
- ^ ISBN 9780643100350. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- . Retrieved 30 January 2019. (Egernia hosmeri, new species, p. 286 + Plate XIV).
- ISBN 9780643098800. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Hosmer's skink". Australian Reptile Park. Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
Further reading
- Doughty, Paul; Kealley, Luke; Donnellan, Stephen C. (2011). "Revision of the Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia depressa species-group) from Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species". Records of the Western Australian Museum 26: 115–137.
- ISBN 978-1921517280.