Cogger's island skink (''Geomyersia coggeri'') is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Scincidae. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are an archipelago group of 18 islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island.
These rainforest-co ...
.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''coggeri'', is in honor of Australian herpetologist Harold Cogger
Harold George "Hal" Cogger (born 4 May 1935) is an Australian herpetologist. He was curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Australian Museum from 1960 to 1975, and Deputy Director of the museum from 1976 to 1995. He has written extensively ...
.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
of ''G. coggeri'' is forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
, but it has also been found under debris in coconut plantations.
Description
''G. coggeri'' is a small, brown lizard, with a rounded snout. It has four short well-developed legs, with five digits on each foot.[ Greer AE (1982).]
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of ''G. coggeri'' is unknown.[
]
References
Further reading
* Adler GH, Austin CC, Dudley R
Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the M ...
(1995). "Dispersal and speciation of skinks among archipelagos in the tropical Pacific Ocean". ''Evolutionary Ecology'' 9: 529–541.
* Greer AE (1982). "A New Species of ''Geomyersia'' (Scincidae) from the Admiralty Islands, with a Summary of the Genus". ''Journal of Herpetology'' 16 (1): 61–66. (''Geomyersia coggeri'', new species).
Geomyersia
Reptiles described in 1982
Reptiles of Papua New Guinea
Endemic fauna of Papua New Guinea
Taxa named by Allen Eddy Greer
Skinks of New Guinea
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