Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink or Hosmer's skink (Egernia hosmeri) is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is a diurnal, rock-dwelling species native to Northern Australia.

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink at Philadelphia Zoo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Egernia
Species:
E. hosmeri
Binomial name
Egernia hosmeri
(Kinghorn, 1955)

Description

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is mostly reddish-brown on top, with both scattered darker and paler spots along the back, legs, and tail. It has a darker brown head and neck, white abdomen, and a few dark brown blotches under the chin. The snout–vent length (SVL) is 180mm, with a round, tapering tail about 60% of the SVL.[2] It is most closely related to Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), however the tail of E. hosmeri is flattened and spinier than that of E. cunninghami.[3]

Geographic range

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skin is found throughout dry, rocky regions of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[2][4]

Reproduction

Like some other reptiles, it is viviparous, giving birth to an average of four live young at a time.[5]

Diet

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is omnivorous, eating insects, leaves, shoots, and berries.[5]

References
  1. Hoskin, C.; Couper, P. (2018). "Egernia hosmeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T109470437A109470442. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109470437A109470442.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Cogger, Harold (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). CSIRO PUBLISHING. p. 544. ISBN 9780643109773. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. Kinghorn, J. Roy (1 September 1955). "Herpetological notes. No. 5" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 23 (5): 286. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.23.1955.638. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  4. Clayton, Mark; Wombley, John; Mason, Ian; Chesser, R. Terry; Alice, Wells (2006). CSIRO list of Australian vertebrates: a reference with conservation status (2nd ed.). CSIRO PUBLISHING. p. 29. ISBN 9780643098800. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  5. "Hosmer's skink". Australian Reptile Park. Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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