Biology:Hooded scaly-foot
| Hooded scaly-foot | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Pygopodidae |
| Genus: | Pygopus |
| Species: | P. nigriceps
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| Binomial name | |
| Pygopus nigriceps (Fischer, 1882)
| |
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Cryptodelma nigriceps Fischer, 1882 | |
The hooded scaly-foot (Pygopus nigriceps), also known as western scaly-foot, black-headed scaly-foot or western hooded scaly-foot, is an endemic Australian legless lizard of the family Pygopodidae.[2][3]
Description
Adult hooded scaly-foots range from 45 to 55 cm long,[4][5] with an average snout to vent length of 22.7 cm.[6] Females are generally larger than males.[3] Hooded scaly-foots show no trace of forelimbs, whilst the hind limbs are reduced to scaly flaps.[3][4][7] These hind limbs are small and paddle-shaped, with modified scales which do not aid in movement.[4][5]
The scales of the hooded scaly-foot are smooth and weakly glossed.[4][5][8] Usually, it has 120 or more ventral scales,[6][8] which are in a paired series, much larger than the adjacent body scales.[6][7] Body colour varies from brown to reddish-brown,[6] with desert specimens usually a more orangish colour and other individuals a duller brown.[4] It is white below.[5][7] The species has little to no body pattern, with oblique dark lines converging mid-dorsally.[6][8]
These scaly-foots are characterised by black bands across the head and neck which may look like a hood.[6][7][8] This hood comprises a band across the eyes onto the lips, a dark smudge on the nostrils, and a broad band across the neck.[5][6][8] These dark bands may fade or merge with age.[5][7] The lidless eye is well developed,[4][7] covered with a transparent spectacle.[3][8] The species is able to lick clean this spectacle using its broad, fleshy tongue.[5] It also retains conspicuous ear openings.[3][5]
The hooded scaly-foot can be differentiated from the four other species in the genus Pygopus if the nostril contacts the first upper labial scale.[6][8]
Ecology
The hooded scaly-foot is found throughout Australia, except for the wetter areas of the south and Tasmania.[4][7]
The species is mostly nocturnal, due to the generally hot weather where it occurs, although in cooler conditions, it forages by day.[4][5] It is a terrestrial surface-dweller, but individuals have been noted up to 1.5 m above the ground in vegetation.[7] Captive scaly-foots have lived up to seven years, but little is known about ages of individuals in the wild.[7]
Hooded scaly-foots are found in a range of habitats,[4][5] favouring dry open habits.[6] They are found particularly in sandy deserts vegetated with triodia,[6][7] but also in open woodlands and shrublands.[5] The species shelters under rocks and woody debris, in grass tussocks and soil cracks, abandoned burrows, insect holes, and in termite mounds.[5][6][8]
Diet
The hooded scaly-foot feeds predominantly on surface-active arthropods.[3][6][8] Insects are the main prey type, while it is also noted to feed on spider egg sacks and scorpions.[3][5][6][7] The species has been observed to actively search for prey.[7] Once caught, larger prey is crushed and disabled as the hooded scaly-foot rotates its body rapidly, in a crocodile-roll fashion.[5][7] Body fluids are then licked up.[5]
Behavior and defense
Scaly-foots move through lateral undulations of their bodies and tails,[7] and in open terrain they have been noted to move in wriggling leaps.[8] The hind-limb flaps are held alongside the body during movement, although they may be extended when stressed or when climbing.[7] As stated earlier, hooded scaly-foots have a voice. This harsh squeak is emitted under stress and occasionally in social interactions.[7]
When disturbed, hooded scaly-foot raise their heads and fore parts of their bodies from the ground, flatten their necks, and flicker their tongues, occasionally striking out.[5][6][7] The species does this in apparent mimicry of venomous snakes, to deter predators.[5][6][7] The markings on the hooded scaly-foot resemble those of young brown snakes.[6] When grasped, they struggle fiercely, rotating their bodies and uttering long squeaking sounds.[6] They readily shed their tails and will regenerate a new one.[4][8] The regenerating tail can be identified through a change in scale arrangement and pattern.[8]
Reproduction
Hooded scaly-foots are oviparous, laying two parchment-shelled eggs per clutch.[5][7] Pygopus species have been noted to lay communally,[3][7] while known incubation periods range from 66 to 77 days.[7] Pelvic spurs, modified spine-like scales, are found in addition to the hind-limb ‘flaps’ on males, are thought to assist the male in gripping the female.[4]
Predation
Predators of the hooded scaly-foot include: raptors, elapid snakes, goannas, feral cats, and foxes. Burton's snake lizard (Lialis burtonis) is also known to eat legless lizards. In all cases, legless lizards are a minor component of the predator's diet.[7]
References
- ↑ Cowan, M., How, R. & Ellis, R. 2017. Pygopus nigriceps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T102831509A102831677. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102831509A102831677.en. Downloaded on 11 February 2019.
- ↑ Pygopus nigriceps at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 September 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Patchell, Frederick; Richard Shine (February 1986). "Food habits and reproductive biology of the Australian legless lizards (Pygopodidae)". Copeia 1986 (1): 30–39. doi:10.2307/1444884.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Hoser, Raymond (1989). Australian Reptiles and Frogs. Pierson & Co.. pp. 79–83.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 Cronin, Leonard (2001). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians. Envirobook. pp. 166.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 Wilson, Steve (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. New Holland: Reed. pp. 102–122.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 Shea, Glenn. "Fauna of Australia: Family Pygopodidae". Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120824080320/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fauna-of-australia/pubs/volume2a/28-fauna-2a-squamata-pygopodidae.pdf. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Wilson, Steve (2005). A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland. Australia: New Holland. pp. 62–69.
External links
- https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=pygopus+nigriceps&f=hp
- http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Pygopus+nigriceps
Wikidata ☰ Q2030189 entry
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