Tiliqua rugosa: Difference between revisions
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Variously named as a '''Stump-tailed''', '''bobtail''' or '''shingleback''' skink, it is also called the stumpy tail, bobtail, pine-cone, bog-eye or sleepy lizard. It has a short but wide stumpy tail that resembles another head, and may confuse predators. The tail also contains fat reserves, which are drawn upon during hibernation in winter. They are [[omnivores]] that eat snails and vegetation, and so spend much of their time browsing through plants for food. |
Variously named as a '''Stump-tailed''', '''bobtail''' or '''shingleback''' skink, it is also called the stumpy tail, bobtail, pine-cone, bog-eye or sleepy lizard. It has a short but wide stumpy tail that resembles another head, and may confuse predators. The tail also contains fat reserves, which are drawn upon during hibernation in winter. They are [[omnivores]] that eat snails and vegetation, and so spend much of their time browsing through plants for food. |
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| ⚫ | [[Image:Bobtail.jpg|thumb|220px|left|A ''Tiliqua rugosa'' (subspecies unknown) on a [[verandah]] in the [[Wheatbelt region of Western Australia]]. The common local name is "bobtail".]] [[Male]] and [[female]] shinglebacks stay together for about eight weeks during the [[breeding season]], then separate. They often reunite the following year, and such pairs have been known to return to each other every year for up to 20 years<ref>{{cite journal|author = C. Michael Bull, Steven J. B. Cooper, Ben C. Baghurst | title = Social monogamy and extra-pair fertilization in an Australian lizard, ''Tiliqua rugosa'' | journal = J. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology | publisher = Springer Berlin / Heidelberg | volume = 44 | issue = 1 | year = 1998}}</ref>. The female produces live young, one or two at a time. The young emerge and eat their afterbirth immediately. |
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| ⚫ | [[Male]] and [[female]] shinglebacks stay together for about eight weeks during the [[breeding season]], then separate. They often reunite the following year, and such pairs have been known to return to each other every year for up to 20 years<ref>{{cite journal|author = C. Michael Bull, Steven J. B. Cooper, Ben C. Baghurst | title = Social monogamy and extra-pair fertilization in an Australian lizard, ''Tiliqua rugosa'' | journal = J. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology | publisher = Springer Berlin / Heidelberg | volume = 44 | issue = 1 | year = 1998}}</ref>. The female produces live young, one or two at a time. The young emerge and eat their afterbirth immediately. |
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The male of a [[monogamous]] pair eats less while parenting, remaining alert and ready to give an alarm. The species was once preyed upon by [[dingo]]s, Australian pythons such as ''[[Morelia spilota]]'', and [[Indigenous Australian|local peoples]]; a threat is now more likely to come from large introduced species such as foxes and cats. <ref>{{cite journal|author = C. M. Bull , and Y. Pamula| title = Enhanced vigilance in monogamous pairs of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa | journal = Behavioural Ecology| publisher = Oxford University Press | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages= Pp. 452-455|year = 1998|url=http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/9/5/452 | format = PDF | issn = 1465-7279 |
The male of a [[monogamous]] pair eats less while parenting, remaining alert and ready to give an alarm. The species was once preyed upon by [[dingo]]s, Australian pythons such as ''[[Morelia spilota]]'', and [[Indigenous Australian|local peoples]]; a threat is now more likely to come from large introduced species such as foxes and cats. <ref>{{cite journal|author = C. M. Bull , and Y. Pamula| title = Enhanced vigilance in monogamous pairs of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa | journal = Behavioural Ecology| publisher = Oxford University Press | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages= Pp. 452-455|year = 1998|url=http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/9/5/452 | format = PDF | issn = 1465-7279 |
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Four subspecies have been described<ref>{{NRDB species|genus=Tiliqua|species=rugosa}}</ref>: |
Four subspecies have been described<ref>{{NRDB species|genus=Tiliqua|species=rugosa}}</ref>: |
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*''[[Tiliqua rugosa rugosa]]'' |
*''[[Tiliqua rugosa rugosa]]'' |
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:Common Shingleback |
:Common Shingleback: [[Western Australia]] |
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*''[[Tiliqua rugosa asper]]''<ref>Gray, J. E. 1845. Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of die British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp.</ref> |
*''[[Tiliqua rugosa asper]]''<ref>Gray, J. E. 1845. Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of die British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp.</ref> |
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:Eastern Shingleback |
:Eastern Shingleback: [[Eastern states of Australia]] |
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*''[[Tiliqua rugosa konowi]]''<ref>Mertens, R. 1958. Neue Eidechsen aus Australien. Senckenbergiana Biologica, 39:51-56.</ref> |
*''[[Tiliqua rugosa konowi]]''<ref>Mertens, R. 1958. Neue Eidechsen aus Australien. Senckenbergiana Biologica, 39:51-56.</ref> |
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:Rottnest Island Shingleback |
:Rottnest Island Shingleback: [[Rottnest Island]] |
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*''[[Tiliqua rugosa palarra]]''<ref>Shea, G.M. 2000. Die Shark-Bay-Tannenzapfenechse Tiliqua rugosa palarra subsp. nov. – in: HAUSCHILD, A., R. HITZ, K. HENLE, G.M. SHEA & H. WERNING (Hrsg.): Blauzungenskinke. Beiträge zu Tiliqua und Cyclodomorphus, pp. 108-112. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 287 pp.</ref> |
*''[[Tiliqua rugosa palarra]]''<ref>Shea, G.M. 2000. Die Shark-Bay-Tannenzapfenechse Tiliqua rugosa palarra subsp. nov. – in: HAUSCHILD, A., R. HITZ, K. HENLE, G.M. SHEA & H. WERNING (Hrsg.): Blauzungenskinke. Beiträge zu Tiliqua und Cyclodomorphus, pp. 108-112. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 287 pp.</ref> |
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:Shark Bay Shingleback |
:Shark Bay Shingleback: [[Shark Bay, Western Australia]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:22, 26 November 2008
| Stump-tailed skink | |
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| Species: | T. rugosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Tiliqua rugosa | |
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Trachydosaurus rugosus | |
Tiliqua rugosa is a short tailed and slow moving blue-tongued skink found in the drier regions of Australia. It is commonly seen sunning itself on roadsides, and has a heavily armored body and can be found in various colors ranging from dark brown to cream.
Variously named as a Stump-tailed, bobtail or shingleback skink, it is also called the stumpy tail, bobtail, pine-cone, bog-eye or sleepy lizard. It has a short but wide stumpy tail that resembles another head, and may confuse predators. The tail also contains fat reserves, which are drawn upon during hibernation in winter. They are omnivores that eat snails and vegetation, and so spend much of their time browsing through plants for food.
Male and female shinglebacks stay together for about eight weeks during the breeding season, then separate. They often reunite the following year, and such pairs have been known to return to each other every year for up to 20 years[2]. The female produces live young, one or two at a time. The young emerge and eat their afterbirth immediately.
The male of a monogamous pair eats less while parenting, remaining alert and ready to give an alarm. The species was once preyed upon by dingos, Australian pythons such as Morelia spilota, and local peoples; a threat is now more likely to come from large introduced species such as foxes and cats. [3]
The species was formerly known as Trachydosaurus rugosus. Four subspecies have been described[4]:
- Common Shingleback: Western Australia
- Eastern Shingleback: Eastern states of Australia
- Rottnest Island Shingleback: Rottnest Island
- Shark Bay Shingleback: Shark Bay, Western Australia
References
- ^ Gray, J.E. 1825. A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description of some new species. Annals of Philosophy, 10:193—217
- ^ C. Michael Bull, Steven J. B. Cooper, Ben C. Baghurst (1998). "Social monogamy and extra-pair fertilization in an Australian lizard, Tiliqua rugosa". J. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 44 (1). Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C. M. Bull , and Y. Pamula (1998). "Enhanced vigilance in monogamous pairs of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa" (PDF). Behavioural Ecology. 9 (5). Oxford University Press: Pp. 452-455. ISSN 1465-7279. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Tiliqua rugosa at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- ^ Gray, J. E. 1845. Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of die British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp.
- ^ Mertens, R. 1958. Neue Eidechsen aus Australien. Senckenbergiana Biologica, 39:51-56.
- ^ Shea, G.M. 2000. Die Shark-Bay-Tannenzapfenechse Tiliqua rugosa palarra subsp. nov. – in: HAUSCHILD, A., R. HITZ, K. HENLE, G.M. SHEA & H. WERNING (Hrsg.): Blauzungenskinke. Beiträge zu Tiliqua und Cyclodomorphus, pp. 108-112. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 287 pp.
- Animal, Smithsonian Institution, 2005, pg. 416