Added 28 April 2002. Last updated 5 November 2003: corrected genus name in table heading.
The Scincidae
Notoscincus
The genus Notoscincus is a small and obscure genus from Australia. Little
is known about their behaviour, reproduction or ecology [Cogger]. Both species
are small and terrestrial, with pentadactyl limbs and small ear-openings. They
are also "snake eyed" in that their is a window in the lower eyelid.
Family Scincidae
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
|
Niveoscincus
|
| N. butleri |
Lined Soil-crevice Skink |
Dampier, Pilbara region, W Australia |
3-4" |
N. butleri is found mainly in stony spinifex areas within
their very restricted range. Dorsally (including the limbs) this skink is
pale brown, with seven blackish longitudinal stripes: 1 vertebrally running
to the tail, after which it breaks into spots, 1 dorsolateral from above
the eye to the tail, and 1 upper and 1 lower lateral. There is also a pale
midlateral stripe running forward over the lips. Ventrally the body is whitish.
Scalation details: nasals separated. Prefrontals in contact. 3 supraoculars.
2-4 ear lobules. Dorsal smooth scales in 28-32 rows at midbody. |
| N. ornatus |
Ornate Soil-crevice Skink |
Northern areas of W Australia, Northern Territory
and Queensland: south to S & C Australia |
2-2½" |
Olive- to reddish-brown skink. There is usually
a row of darker spots along the dorsum which become more noticeable on the
tail. Some specimens also have darker flecks forming longitudinal lines.
The ventrum is whitish, sometimes with dark brown longitudinal streaks along
the throat. Its habitat is more catholic than that of N. butleri
as it is found not only in stony spinifex ranges but also among vegetated
sand dunes and grassy tropical woodlands. N. o. wotjulum is found
along the northern tropical coasts and hinterland of the range of the species,
while N. o. ornatus occupies the rest of it. Scalation details:
nasals separated. Prefrontals in contact. 4 supraoculars. No ear lobules.
Dorsal smooth scales in 26-32 rows at midbody. |
| N. o. ornatus |
| N. o. wotjulum |
Bibliography
Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Harold Cogger, 6th edition.
Links
Kingsnake.com have a useful listing of Australian
Skinks, including some common names which are not found in some books.
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