The saltbush Morethia skink (''Morethia adelaidensis''), or more commonly referred to as saltbush skink, 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
skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Ski ...
found in Australia. They are part of an 8 species genus of
Recorded habitat range spans from Lake Eyre Basin, extending into coastal regions of Nullarbour, arid regions of
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
and the northern corner border of NSW, Australia. Saltbush Morethia skinks have a preference for arid shrublands, which make up their primary habitat zones. In reference to the species name, Its spatial distribution is primarily linked to the presence of Saltbush chenopod shrubs in these habitat zones. Their distribution is generally shared with other species in the
Morethia
''Morethia'' is a skink genus of the order Squamata, commonly called Morethia skinks or firetail skinks, found in Australia.
Species
Listed alphabetically by specific name.Morethia boulengeri
''Morethia boulengeri'' is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Scincidae. The species is Endemism, endemic to Australia and Indonesia.
Common names and etymology
Common names for ''Morethia boulengeri'' include south-eastern Mor ...
, which also have a preference for this habitat type.
Higher abundances are generally observed in areas with observable grass cover, such as temperate native grasslands in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, while non-grassland habitat contains more infrequent populations. Saltbush skinks additionally occupy river gorges and rocky granite outcrops; however, their widespread arid distribution does not limit them to these zones.
Description
Saltbush skinks are small sized
skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Ski ...
s, with adult males averaging 5 cm in size based on snout-vent length, with grey, or olive grey complexions. Two primary black bands stretch dorsally and laterally, extending down to the tail. The upper black band is darker, with significant speckled markings. Directly below black bands is a singular interrupted, irregular white band which extends through the ear and above each forelimb.
Species examined in Lake Eyre are found to feature paler markings, with lateral black lines less visible compared to species found elsewhere. However, most species exhibit darker markings. Saltbush Morethia skinks feature visibly separated nasal superiors, or supranasals. While its eyes are surrounded by granule-like scale clusters.
Reproduction
Saltbush skinks produce egg clutches and do not produce live offspring, which means that they are
oviparous
Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...
by nature. Clutches generally average around 5 eggs per breeding female, which are usually buried in sandy substrates, or amongst rocky granite outcrops. While egg clutch size is dependent on the size of breeding females. Like other
Morethia
''Morethia'' is a skink genus of the order Squamata, commonly called Morethia skinks or firetail skinks, found in Australia.
Species
Listed alphabetically by specific name.ventral edges, which also extend under the tail and around both hind and forelimbs for territorial purposes. Breeding observations are limited, however anecdotal findings suggest that communal nesting patterns are possible, with numerous breeding females.
Diet and behaviour
Saltbush skinks are insectivorous, akin to other
Morethia
''Morethia'' is a skink genus of the order Squamata, commonly called Morethia skinks or firetail skinks, found in Australia.
Species
Listed alphabetically by specific name.diurnal and is mostly active during the day. Like other reptiles, saltbush skinks require thermal heat for temperature regulation. Saltbush skinks are halophytic and have a high tolerance for saline areas. Like other Morethia taxa, saltbush skinks burrow shallow perturbations in sandy soils, either amongst shrubs or rocky outcrops. This behaviour has been observed in salt flat shrub lands of Lake Eyre Basin, along with saltbush vegetation found in southern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
.
Threats and predators
The Union for Conservation of Nature (
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
) currently lists saltbush skinks as 'Least concern'. Therefore, the species is unabated from general
land clearing
Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...
and
grazing
In agriculture, grazing is a method of animal husbandry whereby domestic livestock are allowed outdoors to roam around and consume wild vegetations in order to convert the otherwise indigestible (by human gut) cellulose within grass and other ...
.
Akin to other smaller sized skinks of the Morethia genus, saltbush skinks are preyed upon by native snake species of the Elapidae genus. The species has been found in the stomachs of curl snakes (''Suta suta.'') in Western Australia, along with other medium to large
snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...
species with diets consisting of smaller sized reptiles.