''Morethia butleri'', also known
commonly as Butler's Morethia and the woodland Morethia 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
lizard in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
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 else ...
to
Australia.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''butleri'' is in honor of Australian naturalist
William Henry "Harry" Butler.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Morethia butleri'', p. 44).]
Geographic range
''M. butleri'' is found in the Australian states of
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 ...
and
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 ...
.
[
]
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 ''M. butleri'' is shrubland.
Reproduction
''M. butleri'' is oviparous.[
]
References
Further reading
* Cogger HG (2014). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition''. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. .
* Greer AE (1974). "The generic relationships of the scincid lizard genus ''Leiolopisma'' and its relatives". ''Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series'' (31): 1–67. (''Morethia butleri'', new combination, p. 21).
* Storr GM (1963). "''Ablepharus butleri''. A new scincid lizard from Australia". ''Australian Naturalist'' 9: 46–47.
* Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). ''A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition''. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. .
Morethia
Reptiles described in 1963
Skinks of Australia
Endemic fauna of Australia
Taxa named by Glen Milton Storr
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