The earless skinks form the genus Hemiergis in the skink family Scincidae. All earless skinks are native to Australia.[1] They are also called mulch skinks.
| Earless skinks | |
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| Hemiergis peronii — Peron's earless skink or lowlands earless skink | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Subfamily: | Sphenomorphinae |
| Genus: | Hemiergis Wagler, 1830 |
| Type species | |
| Tridactylus decresiensis Cuvier, 1829
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| Species | |
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7 species (see text) | |
Description
editHemiergis skinks are small, slender fossorial lizards with reduced limbs and varying numbers of digits.[2] Depending on the species and population, individuals can have 2, 3, 4 or 5 fingers/toes.
Ventral surfaces are typically yellow to reddish orange.[3] Snout-vent lengths range from 42 mm to 89 mm [cite Wilson and Swan]. Dorsal surfaces are typically brown and may have dark brown or black paravertebral or dorsolateral stripes.
Variation in digit number between species and populations of Hemiergis has been used to better understand the influence of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene on embryonic development. For example, one study found a clear correlation between adult digit number and duration of the SHH protein expression early in limb development, with reduced expression of the SHH protein correlated with fewer digits.[4][5]
Hemiergis means 'half worker', in reference to the short limbs that are characteristic of the genus.[6]
Hemiergis is closely related to the other Australian skink genera Anomalopus and Eremiascincus..[7][8]
Distribution
editHemiergis is an Australian genus, found across the southern end of the continent, with populations in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.[3]
Reproduction
editHemiergis are ovoviviparous, meaning the mother produces eggs which develop inside her and she gives birth to live young.[9] This is common in southern Australian (cold climate) reptiles. Clutch sizes range from 1 to 6.[10]
Ecology and habitat
editHemiergis individuals are typically found dwelling in loose damp soil under logs, rocks and leaf litter.[3]
Their diet consists of small invertebrates.
Species
editThere are seven species:[11][12]
- Hemiergis decresiensis (Cuvier, 1829) — three-toed earless skink
- Hemiergis gracilipes (Steindachner, 1870) — south-western mulch-skink
- Hemiergis initialis (Werner, 1910) — southwestern earless skink
- Hemiergis millewae Coventry, 1976 — Triodia earless skink
- Hemiergis peronii (Gray, 1831) — four-toed earless skink, Peron's earless skink, or lowlands earless skink
- Hemiergis quadrilineatus (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) — two-toed earless skink
- Hemiergis talbingoensis (Copland, 1946) — eastern three-toed earless skink
Two additional species, H. graciloides and H. maccoyi, have been included in this genus but both are now classified in other genera.
References
edit- ^ "Search results for Common name or synonym: Hemiergis". Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ Cogger, Harold (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7th ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9781486309696.
- ^ a b c Swan, Gerry; Wilson, Steve (2021). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia (6th ed.). Wahroonga, Australia: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781925546712.
- ^ Shapiro, Michael D.; Hanken, James; Rosenthal, Nadia (2003-06-15). "Developmental basis of evolutionary digit loss in the Australian lizard Hemiergis". Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution. 297B (1): 48–56. doi:10.1002/jez.b.19. ISSN 1552-5007.
- ^ Swank, Samantha; Sanger, Thomas J.; Stuart, Yoel E. (2021). "(Non)Parallel developmental mechanisms in vertebrate appendage reduction and loss". Ecology and Evolution. 11 (22): 15484–15497. doi:10.1002/ece3.8226. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 8601893. PMID 34824770.
- ^ "Hemiergis". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Skinner, Adam; Hutchinson, Mark N.; Lee, Michael S. Y. (2013-12-01). "Phylogeny and divergence times of Australian Sphenomorphus group skinks (Scincidae, Squamata)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 69 (3): 906–918. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.06.014. ISSN 1055-7903.
- ^ Reeder, Tod W; Reichert, Jennifer D (2011-03-14). "Phylogenetic Relationships within the Australian Limb-Reduced Lizard Genus Hemiergis (Scincidae: Squamata) as Inferred from the Bayesian Analysis of Mitochondrial rRNA Gene Sequences". Copeia. 2011 (1): 113–120. doi:10.1643/CH-09-096. ISSN 0045-8511.
- ^ "Hemiergis gracilipes". Reptile Database. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Shine, Richard; Greer, Allen E. (1991). "Why Are Clutch Sizes More Variable in Some Species Than in Others?". Evolution. 45 (7): 1696–1706. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb02675.x.
- ^ Hemiergis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 March 2016 {{{year}}}.
- ^ Stewart Macdonald. "Earless skinks Hemiergis - Wagler, 1830". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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