Added 3 April 2006.

The Scincidae

Calyptotis

The genus Calyptotis is a small fossorial genus from Australia. Although the genus was established in 1886 by deVis, four of the five species were only added in 1983 by Greer. All five species are fairly similar in size and scalation. All have shortish limbs and males have red throats during the breeding season. Females are oviparous. Keen on moisture, Calyptotis may be found in rainforest, eucalyptus- and wet sclerophyll forest and even in suburban gardens.

Other common characteristics of the genus are: pentadactyle limbs; smooth scales; anterior ear lobules absent; supranasals absent; nasals undivided; prefrontals may be absent or present; lower eyelid movable and scaly; parietals in contact behind intraparietal; 4th toes only slightly longer than 3rd toes; lower surfaces of rump and tail usually flushed with bright red or pink.

Coloration is also fairly similar among the species, being usually dorsally brown with lighter sides and whitish ventral surfaces, and with at least a stripe running from snout through eye and along the body, sometimes as far as the tail.

	QUICK INDEX
C. lepidorostrum, Cone-Eared Calyptotis	C. ruficauda, Red-Tailed Calyptotis	C. scutirostrum, Scute-Snouted Calyptotis
C. temporalis, Broad-Templed Calyptotis	C. thortonensis, Thorton Peak Calyptotis

Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution	Size	Notes
Calyptotis
C. lepidorostrum	Cone-Eared Calyptotis	Australia (C & SE Qsld inc. coast)	5cm SVL	A dweller of rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests where it dwells beneath leaf litter and other debris on the forest floor. C. lepidorostrum can be distinguished from the other four species by its ear, which is hidden but marked by a scaly conical depression. Scalation details: nasals separated, prefrontals usually present and widely separated. 4 supraoculars, 6 supralabials. Postmental contacts only 1st infralabial on each side. Dorsal scales smooth in 20-24 rows at midbody. Subdigital lamellae round or ridged, 8-14 below 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally pale- to dark brown with scattered darker brown spots, flecks and blotches that tend to form longitudinal stripes through the centres of the 4 vertebral scale rows; broad dark dorsolateral stripe from snout through eye along body to side of tail; limbs and flanks spooted with dark brown; lips and cheeks spotted or barred with dark brown; ventrally white to bright yellow, thighs, anal region and tailbase often flushed with bright pink. Reproduction: no further details.
C. ruficauda	Red-Tailed Calyptotis	Australia (New South Wales)	5-5½cm SVL	This species is found in on the coast and adjacent ranges south to close to the Hunter River. Scalation details: nasals separated; prefrontals narrowly separated; 4 supraoculars; 6-8 (usually 7) supralabials; postmental only contacts 1st labial each side. Dorsal scales in 20-24 rows at midbody. Other: opening large, tympanum shallow and vertically elliptical. 10-15 round or ridged subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally brown; pattern similar to C. lepidorostrum; dorsolateral stripe also same, but may be obscure. Dorsal stripe may appear to be confined to the forebody. Flanks paler grey-brown with brown and pale whitish spots. Lips have dark brown bars or variegations. Tail flushed with reddish-brown. Ventrally cream to pale yellow; pink flush present. Reproduction: no further details.
C. scutirostrum	Scute-Snouted Calyptotis	Australia (C & SE Queensland coast and ranges and adj NE New South Wales border area)	4½-5½cm SVL	Scalation details: nasals separated; prefrontals absent (unless large anterior superciliary is counted as prefrontal instead, but this may be considered 1st supraocular). 4 supraoculars; 6 supralabials; postmental contacts single infralabial each side. Dorsal scales in 20-24 rows at midbody. Other: ear opening hidden, its position indicated by a depression; 9-12 smooth subdigital lamellae below 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally pale to dark brown or bronze, pattern may be lacking, or else individual scales may have blackish spot or streak; in this case, the markings may form 2 narrow dark lines on the back or tail. A narrow dark brown dorsolateral stripe usually runs from the nostril through the eye to the forebody and sometimes extends as far as the tail. Flanks have many scattered dark and pale flecks, becoming paler towards the ventral coloration. Ventrally white or cream. Lips and cheeks are spotted or barred with dark brown. Throat has scattered brown dots. Tail may have ventral pink or reddish flush and sometimes also be heavily spotted with brown. Reproduction: no details available.
C. temporalis	Broad-Templed Calyptotis	Australia (C/E Queensland)	3½cm SVL	Scalation details: nasals separated; prefrontal absent; 4 supraoculars; 6 supralabials; postmental contacts only 1st infralabial each side. Dorsal scales 20-22 rows at midbody. 8-10 round or ridged subdigital lamellae below 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally brown with a pattern of darker brown flecks, spots and streaks which tend to form narrow longitudinal stripes along the 4 vertebral scale rows. Dark brown dorsolateral stripe runs from snout through eye to side of tail, most distinct anteriorly. Flanks paler brown, flecked and spotted with dark brown. Lips barred with dark brown. Ventral surfaces white to yellow, often with pink flush. Reproduction: no details available.
C. thorntonensis	Thornton Peak Calyptotis	Australia (Thornton Peak in NE Queensland)	3½cm SVL	Range restricted to Thorton Peak, where the species may be found at 600-700m beneath rocks and logs in rainforest or the margins thereof. Scalation details: nasals separated; prefrontals present and moderately separated; 4 supraoculars; 6 supralabials; postmental contacts only 1st labial on each side. Dorsal scales smooth in 24 rows at midbody. Other: 8-10 round or ridged subdigital lamellae below 4th toe; ear opening absent and represented by circular scaly depression. Coloration: light- to dark-brown dorsally, with darker flecks and spots forming a mottled pattern. Blackish dorsolateral stripe runs from snout through eye along the body to tail, most distinct anteriorly. Labial sutures edged with dark brown. Flanks pale brown with dark mottling. Ventral surfaces whitish with brown flecking on throat and tail. Reproduction: no details available.

Bibliography

Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Harold Cogger, 6th edition.

A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan, Reed New Holland, Sydney, 2003.

Links

Kingsnake.com have a useful listing of Australian Skinks, including some common names which are not found in some books.