Biology:Ctenophorus fionni

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Short description: Species of lizard

Ctenophorus fionni
Peninsula Dragon.jpg
A peninsula dragon in captivity
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Ctenophorus
Species:
C. fionni
Binomial name
Ctenophorus fionni
(Procter, 1923)
Synonyms[1]
  • Amphibolurus fionni
    Procter, 1923
  • Ctenophorus fionni
    — Cogger, 2000

Ctenophorus fionni, also known commonly as the Arcoona rock dragon, the peninsula crevice-dragon and the peninsula dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Australia n state of South Australia.[2][1][3][4]

Etymology

The specific name, fionni, is in honor of someone called "Fionn", the identity of whom Procter never revealed.[1][5]

Description

Adults of C. fionni have a total length (including tail) of 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in). Females range in colour from brown to reddish-brown, with dark mottling. Males tend to have grey backs, brown heads and a multitude of white, cream and yellow-orange spots. The patterns and colours of males can vary drastically between different geographically isolated populations, with each isolated population having its own unique colour/pattern combination.[6]

Distribution

The entire geographic range of C. fionni is in South Australia and includes the Eyre Peninsula, the adjacent interior areas (including the Gawler Ranges), and many offshore islands.[2]

Ecology and behaviour

C. fionni occurs in the rocky ranges and outcrops.[2] It is diurnal,[7] seeking shelter in narrow rock crevices and perching on prominent protruding rocks. Males often perform displays involving push-ups, tail-coiling, and head-bobbing.[2]

Reproduction

The breeding season of C. fionni starts at around spring, when the weather is beginning to warm up. Males in this time of year become very active, showing dominance and fighting for females. Females are known to lay up to 6 eggs, typically during spring and summer depending on the location and conditions.[8]

Diet

The peninsula dragon feeds on invertebrates.[7]

Threats

There are no known major threats to C. fionni; albeit present in the national pet trade, this is not taking place at levels that would constitute a threat.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ctenophorus fionni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 February 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named iucn status 19 November 2021
  3. "Peninsula dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Agamidae/Ctenophorus/fionni. 
  4. "PENINSULA ROCK DRAGON". kingsnake.com. http://www.kingsnake.com/oz/lizards/agamids/cfionni.htm. 
  5. 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. (Ctenophorus fionni, p. 90).
  6. Wilson, S.; Swan, G. (2013) A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN:9781921517280
  7. 7.0 7.1 Rodda, Gordon H. (2020). Lizards of the World: Natural History and Taxon Accounts. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-4214-3823-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=HAb5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA283. 
  8. Johnston, Greg (1999). "Reproductive biology of the peninsula dragon lizard, Ctenophorus fionni ". Journal of Herpetology 33 (4): 697. doi:10.2307/1565588. 

Further reading

  • Procter JB (1923). "On New and Rare Reptiles and Batrachians from the Australian Region". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1923: 1069–1077. (Amphibolurus fionni, new species, pp. 1075-1076, Text-figures 4a, 4b, 4c).

Wikidata ☰ Q3006455 entry