Biology:Common dwarf skink

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Short description: Species of lizard

Common dwarf skink
Greys-skink-menetia-greyii-358559-large.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Menetia
Species:
M. greyii
Binomial name
Menetia greyii
Gray, 1845

Menetia greyii, commonly known as the common dwarf skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to mainland Australia and Indonesia.

Etymology

The specific name, greyii, is in honor of explorer George Grey, who became Governor of South Australia and later Governor of New Zealand.[1]

Geographic range

One of Australia's most widespread and abundant lizards, M. greyii occurs in all parts of the mainland except coastal areas in the south-east, and Cape York Peninsula.[2]

Habitat

M. greyii is common in disturbed areas such as urban backyards, and is therefore fairly well known.[2]

Description

M. greyii is a very small skink with smooth scales and prominent limbs. Dorsally, it is grey to brown, usually with a stripe of black flecks along its back. Some populations have bright-yellow bellies, while others are silvery grey ventrally.[2]

Reproduction

M. greyii is one of a small number of vertebrate species that are known to reproduce by parthenogenesis.[3]

References

  1. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN:978-1-4214-0135-5. (Menetia greyii, p. 108).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bush, Brian; Maryan, Brad; Browne-Cooper, Robert; Robinson, David (1995). A Guide to the Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 1-875560-42-4. 
  3. Adams, Mark; Foster, Ralph; Hutchinson, Mark; Hutchinson, Rhonda; Donnellan, Steve (2003). "The Australian scincid lizard Menetia greyii: A new instance of widespread vertebrate parthenogenesis". Evolution 57 (11): 2619–2627. doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2003.tb01504.x. PMID 14686536. 

Further reading

  • Gray, John Edward (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Menetia greyii, new species, p. 66).

Wikidata ☰ Q3014658 entry