Major skink

The major skink (Bellatorias frerei) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to part of Australia and part of Australasia.

Major skink
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Bellatorias
Species:
B. frerei
Binomial name
Bellatorias frerei
(Günther, 1897)
Synonyms[2]
  • Egernia frerei
    Günther, 1897
  • Hortonia oakesi
    Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Hortonia shinei
    Wells & Wellington, 1985
  • Bellatorias frerei
    — Gardner et al., 2008

Etymology

The specific name, frerei, refers to Mount Bartle Frere where the holotype was collected.[2][3]

Geographic range

B. frerei is found in Australia in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, and in Papua New Guinea.[1][2]

Habitat

B. frerei is found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, grassland, rocky areas, and suburban areas.[1]

Description

The holotype of B. frerei has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 9.3 cm (3.7 in), plus a tail length of 14 cm (5.5 in).[4]

Behavior

B. frerei is terrestrial and diurnal, basking to thermoregulate, and living socially in small colonies.[1]

Diet

B. frerei is omnivorous.[1]

Reproduction

B. frerei is ovoviviparous.[2]

References
  1. Shea G; Allison A; Tallowin O; Vanderduys E; Venz M; Wilson S; Hobson R (2018). "Bellatorias frerei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T42483725A42483732. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T42483725A42483732.en. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. Bellatorias frerei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 January 2019.
  3. 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. (Egernia frerei, p. 94).
  4. Günther A (1897).

Further reading
  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Gardner MG, Hugall AF, Donnellan SC, Hutchinson MN, Foster R (2008). "Molecular systematics of social skinks: phylogeny and taxonomy of the Egernia group (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154 (4): 781–794. (Bellatorias frerei, new combination).
  • Günther A (1897). "Descriptions of New Species of Lizards and of a Tree-Frog from N.E. Queensland". Novitates Zoologicae, Tring Museum 4: 403–406 + Plates XI–XII. (Egernia frerei, new species, pp. 405–406, no illustration).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.



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