The pygmy spiny-tailed skink, Egernia depressa, sometimes also known as the small spiny-tailed skink, is a species of skink found in western Australia.
| Pygmy spiny-tailed skink | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Egernia |
| Species: | E. depressa
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| Binomial name | |
| Egernia depressa (Günther, 1875)
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| Synonyms | |
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Silubosaurus depressus Günther, 1875 | |
The species is endemic to Australia and is found in the states Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.[2]
A somewhat social species, pygmy spiny-tailed skinks live in small family groups in the desert. Omnivores, they feed on insects, some flowers, fruits, shoots, and leaves.[3]
Pygmy spiny-tailed skinks grow up to 16 centimetres long, however, they are able to inflate their bodies larger to jam themselves into crevices as a predator evasion tactic. Their spine-covered tails help block the way.[3][4] They are known to live in crevices, hollows of trees, and termite mounds.[3]
The skinks have very spiny back scales and smooth bellies; however, often their dorsal scales become ground down with rocks. Each dorsal scale has three spines, or keels, unlike some other Egernia species. The central spine is the largest, usually twice as long as the two other spines which flank it.[5]: 77 [6]: 123
References
edit- ^ "Egernia depressa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. 2017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T109470276A109470293.en.
- ^ Egernia depressa at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Hayes, David (2017-11-17). "An illustrated guide to Aussie skinks". Australian Geographic. Archived from the original on 19 Jul 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ O'Shea, Mark (2021). Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family. Princeton University Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-691-19869-9. LCCN 2020948791.
- ^ Glaubert, L. "XII.—the Family Scincidae in Western Australia Part I—the Genera Tiliqua, Trachysaurus and Egernia". Western Australian Naturalist. 7 (3).
- ^ Doughty, Paul; Kealley, Luke; Donnellan, Stephen C. (2011). "Revision of the Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skinks (Egernia depressa species-group) from Western Australia, with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. doi:10.18195/issn.0312-3162.26(2).2011.115-137.
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