Closed-litter Rainbow Skink (species: Carlia longipes) in ALA: Lizard Island (Lizard Island Field Guide)
ALA: Lizard Island > Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Squamata > Scincidae > Carlia > Carlia longipes (gallery)
Carlia longipes
Closed-litter Rainbow Skink


©Anne Hoggett: Carlia longipes at Lizard Island, breeding male.

©Anne Hoggett: Carlia longipes at Lizard Island Research Station in Jan 2009, breeding male.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Scincidae
Genus Carlia
Species Carlia longipes
Status unspecified

Show in taxonomy
Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

As with other species of Carlia, there are four fingers and five toes. This is a robust species, and is larger than the other species of Carlia reported from the island. Dorsal colouration is a dull brown, and lacks patterning. A prominent dark band extends from the eye to just behind the forelimb in males, forming a stark contrast with the pale whitish-yellow scales of the throat and neck region. When breeding, the lateral portion of the body of males is orange. Dorsal scales in the mid back region have three poorly developed keels (see photo). The ear opening is surrounded by pointed lobules (scales) that are especially prominent anteriorly (see photo).

Size

  • Up to 6.8 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to ; up to 68 mm snout-to-vent length (SVL)

Synonyms

Similar taxa

  • Animalia: species: Carlia fusca
    Limpus (1982) recorded Carlia fusca and Carlia dogare at Lizard Island. As at 8 Sep 2019, ALA lists no Australian records for Carlia fusca. Presumably, the record by Limpus relates to Carlia longipes which is known from Lizard Island.

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

  • Wilson, S. and G. Swan (2010). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia: 3rd Edition 558 pp. New Holland Publishers, Australia.