Eremiascincus phantasmus

The Eremiascincus family of skinks is characterised by being nocturnal and fossorial (which means they burrow).[4] These adaptations lead to them mostly inhabiting ecosystems consisting of loose substrate such as sand dunes and sandy plains.[3] It is a nocturnal forager, consuming mostly insects. This skink genus are referred to as 'sand-swimmers' due to the way it looks when they move through sand, they wriggle in a snake-like motion and can dive underneath the sand to evade danger.[5]

In 2013 Sven Mecke, Paul Doughty and Stephen C. Donnellan examined variation in morphology of the Eremascincus fasciolatus, providing clarification on four different species, and providing the description and clarification of diagnostic features for Eremiascincus phantasmus (Ghost skink) as a distinct species.

Worrell (1963) is thought to be the first author to use the colloquial name 'Ghost skink' which he used to refer to the Eremiascincus richardsonii. In 1974, Storr referred to an extremely pale form of Eremiascincus faciolatus located in the Lake Eyre region of north-eastern South Australia as a ghost skink and then later in 1979, Greer did so too.[3]

• Pale dorsal bands which graduate to being narrow faded bands on the tail.[3] Bands are markings of contrasting colour that run perpendicular to the long-axis of the body. Usually 29-29 bands[3]
• Medium to large size (snout to vent length is up to 92.5mm)[6]

• Very glossy, smooth scales (except for granular and smooth scales that feature on hands and feet)[3]

• Pale yellowish, brownish, whitish in colouration[3]
• Faded lateral banded pattern on dorsal/back which graduates to be more well-defined on the tail[3]
• The ventral/belly side is usually cream or pink coloured[3]
• Small head[3]
• Depressed snout[3]
• Small circle-shaped ear opening[3]
• Strong ridges in tail[3]
• 5 digits and 5 toes[7]
• scale characteristics: usually 8 undivided supralabials, 2 infralabials that are usually in broad contact with the postmental scale. At least 2 rows subdigital lamellae that are basally keeled. 12-18 plantar scales. 28-33 mid-body scale rows[3]

Diagnostic features:

The pale dorsal coloration is usually the easiest and most distinguishable diagnostic feature. The only other skink that has similar faded colouring is the Eremiascincus pallidus which is smaller in size, lives in the western arid zone.[3]

Endemic to Australia, occurring in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. Mostly found in low-elevation areas of the Lake Eyre Basin in north-eastern South Australia but also extending into the southern Northern Territory, south-western Queensland and western New South Wales.[8]

Approximate habitat distribution

• Terrestrial

• Desert
• Low-elevation
• Loose substrate with soft sand and sparse vegetation

Eremiascincus mostly feed on insects such as moths, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders but they also consume some small reptile species such as geckos or smaller skinks.[5]

Crepuscular and nocturnal foraging on the surface of loose substrates.[9]

Burrows into the loose substrates if disturbed.[3]

Eremiascincus phantasmus is oviparous with clutch sizes ranging from 2-7 eggs.[10]

In June 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red list assessment classified the Eremiascincus phantasmus to the 'Least Concern' category. The justification for this is that it is a "widespread, common desert species and is subject to no threats".[8]

General threats to reptiles include: habitat loss, habitat modification and habitat degradation, death on roads, and predation from feral animals including dogs, cats, pigs and foxes.[11]

'phantasmus' is Latin for 'ghost' and in the case of Eremiascincus phantasmus, refers to the faded "ghostly" visibility of its dorsal bands.[12]