Ctenotus

Ctenotus
Robust striped skink (Ctenotus robustus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia (paraphyletic)
(unranked):	Sauria
Order:	Squamata (paraphyletic)
Suborder:	Lacertilia
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Scincidae
Subfamily:	Lygosominae
Genus:	Ctenotus Storr, 1964[1]
Species
97, see list

Ctenotus is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae). It belongs to a clade in the Sphenomorphus group which contains such genera as Anomalopus and the close relatives Eulamprus and Gnypetoscincus.^[2]

These lizards are commonly called comb-eared skinks, a reference to the scales aligned near the ear.^[3] 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.^[3] A single dune may have up to six species of Ctenotus. The Southwest Australian region contains 23 species. The size ranges from very small to moderately large, being similarly varied in body types from slender to stout.^[4] The diversity of forms allows species to occupy different niches, often in the same locality.^[3]

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.^[4][5]

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 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 skink 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 ora – Coastal plains skink 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 taeniolatus – Copper-tailed skink Ctenotus tanamiensis Ctenotus tantillus Ctenotus terrareginae Ctenotus uber Ctenotus vertebralis Ctenotus xenopleura Ctenotus youngsoni Ctenotus zastictus – Hamelin ctenotus Ctenotus zebrilla

References

1. Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Squamata/Scincomorpha/Scincidae (A bis C).
2. Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (2006): Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39(2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
3. Sadlier, Ross (2003). "Ctenotus - Australian Lizards". Fact sheets. Australian museum. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
4. Browne-Cooper, Robert; Brian Bush; Brad Maryan; David Robinson (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. pp. 174, 175. ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6.
5. Ctenotus, The Reptile Database

Further reading

• Storr GM. 1964. Ctenotus, a New Generic Name for a Group of Australian Skinks. Western Australian Naturalist 9 (4): 84-85.