Ctenotus
Encyclopedia
Ctenotus is a genus
of skink
s (family
Scincidae). It belongs to a clade
in the Sphenomorphus
group which contains such genera as Anomalopus
and the close relatives Eulamprus
and Gnypetoscincus
.
These lizards are commonly called 'comb-eared skinks', a reference to the scales aligned near the ear. They are able to move very quickly, disappearing whilst being observed. They are highly active in their habits, foraging amongst a diverse range of habitat.
The members of the genus are widely distributed
, in all states of Australia
, and are especially diverse in arid regions and the tropical north, accounting for 10–20% of the lizard species. Around a quarter of lizards found in one area of the Great Sandy Desert
are Ctenotus skinks, 11 of the 40 species. A single dune may have up to six species of Ctenotus. The Southwest Australia
n region contains 23 species. The size ranges from very small to moderately large, being similarly varied in body types from slender to stout. The diversity of forms allows species to occupy different niche
s, often in the same locality.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of skink
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
s (family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Scincidae). It belongs to a clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
in the Sphenomorphus
Sphenomorphus
The genus Sphenomorphus – vernacularly known as the common skinks – currently serves as a "wastebin taxon" for a large number of skinks...
group which contains such genera as Anomalopus
Anomalopus
Anomalopus is the genus of worm-skinks, smallish smooth-scaled burrowing skinks from the eastern half of Australia...
and the close relatives Eulamprus
Eulamprus
Eulamprus, the water skinks, are a genus of skinks in the subfamily Lygosominae. It belongs to a clade in the Sphenomorphus group that contains such genera as Ctenotus and Anomalopus...
and Gnypetoscincus
Gnypetoscincus
Gnypetoscincus is a monotypic genus of skinks . It contains a single species, the Prickly Skink, ....
.
These lizards are commonly called 'comb-eared skinks', a reference to the scales aligned near the ear. They are able to move very quickly, disappearing whilst being observed. They are highly active in their habits, foraging amongst a diverse range of habitat.
The members of the genus are widely distributed
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
, in all states of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and are especially diverse in arid regions and the tropical north, accounting for 10–20% of the lizard species. Around a quarter of lizards found in one area of the Great Sandy Desert
Great Sandy Desert
The Great Sandy Desert is a desert located in the North West of Western Australia straddling the Pilbara and southern Kimberley regions. It is the second largest desert in Australia after the Great Victoria Desert and encompasses an area of...
are Ctenotus skinks, 11 of the 40 species. A single dune may have up to six species of Ctenotus. The Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
n region contains 23 species. The size ranges from very small to moderately large, being similarly varied in body types from slender to stout. The diversity of forms allows species to occupy different niche
Niche
Niche may refer to:*Niche , an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size;*Niche , Colombian/Spanish football player, full name Víctor Manuel Micolta Armero*Niche , a British Thoroughbred racehorse...
s, often in the same locality.
Species
Ctenotus is the most diverse reptile genus in Australia, approaching 100 member species. Identification to the rank of species is regarded as difficult, and the largest lizard genus is also one of the most poorly understood.- Ctenotus agrestis
- Ctenotus alacer
- Ctenotus alleni
- Ctenotus allotropis
- Ctenotus angusticeps
- Ctenotus aphrodite
- Ctenotus arcanus
- Ctenotus ariadnae
- Ctenotus arnhemensis
- Ctenotus astarte
- Ctenotus astictus
- Ctenotus atlas
- Ctenotus australis – Western Limestone CtenotusWestern limestone ctenotusThe Western Limestone Ctenotus is a species of skink native to coastal areas of south west Western Australia. It is found amongst heath on coastal dunes, and in open woodland on the Swan Coastal Plain. It is generally restricted to areas with limestone.It is quite large for a Ctenotus...
- Ctenotus borealis
- Ctenotus brachyonyx
- Ctenotus brooksi
- Ctenotus burbidgei
- Ctenotus calurus
- Ctenotus capricorni
- Ctenotus catenifer
- Ctenotus coggeri
- Ctenotus colletti
- Ctenotus decaneurus
- Ctenotus delli
- Ctenotus dux
- Ctenotus ehmanni
- Ctenotus essingtonii
- Ctenotus eurydice
- Ctenotus eutaenius
- Ctenotus fallens
- Ctenotus gagudju
- Ctenotus gemmula
- Ctenotus grandis
- Ctenotus greeri
- Ctenotus hanloni
- Ctenotus hebetior
- Ctenotus helenae
- Ctenotus hilli
- Ctenotus iapetus
- Ctenotus impar
- Ctenotus ingrami
- Ctenotus inornatus
- Ctenotus joanae
- Ctenotus kurnbudj
- Ctenotus labillardieri
- Ctenotus lancelini – Lancelin Island SkinkLancelin Island SkinkThe Lancelin Island Skink is a species of skink in the Scincidae family.It is found only in Australia.-Source:* Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
- Ctenotus lateralis
- Ctenotus leae
- Ctenotus leonhardii
- Ctenotus maryani
- Ctenotus mastigura
- Ctenotus militaris
- Ctenotus mimetes
- Ctenotus monticola
- Ctenotus nasutus
- Ctenotus nigrilineatus
- Ctenotus nullum
- Ctenotus olympicus
- Ctenotus pallescens
- Ctenotus pantherinus
- Ctenotus piankai
- Ctenotus pulchellus
- Ctenotus quattuordecimlineatus
- Ctenotus quinkan
- Ctenotus quirinus
- Ctenotus rawlinsoni
- Ctenotus regius
- Ctenotus rimacolus
- Ctenotus robustus
- Ctenotus rosarium
- Ctenotus rubicundus
- Ctenotus rufescens
- Ctenotus rutilans
- Ctenotus saxatilis
- Ctenotus schevilli
- Ctenotus schomburgkii
- Ctenotus septenarius
- Ctenotus serotinus
- Ctenotus serventyi
- Ctenotus severus
- Ctenotus spaldingi
- Ctenotus storri
- Ctenotus strauchii
- Ctenotus striaticeps
- Ctenotus stuarti
- Ctenotus taeniolatusCtenotus taeniolatusThe Australian Striped Skink, also known as the Copper-tailed Ctenotus or Copper-Tailed Skink, is a species of medium-sized skinks found commonly along the eastern seaboard of Australia and throughout the country generally. Striped skinks are found in open bushland and heathland...
– Copper-tailed Skink - Ctenotus tanamiensis
- Ctenotus tantillus
- Ctenotus terrareginae
- Ctenotus uber
- Ctenotus vertebralis
- Ctenotus xenopleura
- Ctenotus youngsoni
- Ctenotus zastictus – Hamelin CtenotusHamelin CtenotusThe Hamelin Ctenotus is a species of skink in the Scincidae family.It is found only in Australia.-Source:* Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
- Ctenotus zebrilla