Liopholis aputja
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Central Ranges rock-skink | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Liopholis |
| Species: | L. aputja |
| Binomial name | |
| Liopholis aputja | |
Liopholis aputja, also known as the Central Ranges rock-skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to central Australia.
The specific epithet aputja means “of the hills” in the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara dialects of the Western Desert language spoken within the species' range, with reference to its preferred habitat.[1]
Discovery
The species was described following a scientific collecting expedition by Monash University researchers to the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands of north-western South Australia, where the team worked with the traditional owners, being assisted by the Anangu Rangers with local knowledge and by access to particular sites.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was described in 2024. Following morphological and molecular analysis, Liopholis aputja was split from its closest congener Liopholis margaretae. The degree of genetic divergence between the two taxa indicates genetic separation took place during the aridifying environmental conditions of the Late Miocene.[1]
Description
The Central Ranges rock skink is a moderately large and robust Liopholis species, with a snout–vent length (SVL) of up to 135 millimetres (5.3 in) and a tail length up to 158 millimetres (6.2 in). The back, sides, limbs and tail are coloured dull orangish-brown with thin black scale margins, with the top and sides of the head a more vibrant orangish shade. There are also distinctive arrangements of the supraciliary scales and ear lobules on the head.[1][2]