White's skink (''Liopholis whitii)'', also known commonly as White's rock 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 ...

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 Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, ''whitii'', is in honour of Irish surgeon and naturalist John White.

Geographic range

''L. whitii'' is widespread in south-eastern Australia, including

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

and many

Bass Strait Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The strait provides the most direct waterwa ...

islands.

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 ...

s of ''L. whitii'' are

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' ...

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

, and rocky areas, at altitudes from sea level to . White's skinks prefer a habitat with rocks, shrubby heathland and minimal human environmental disturbance. They also dig tunnels underground and have two entrances to the tunnel if needing an escape route. They also have well covered and hidden entrances to avoid predators.

Description

The White's skink is a stocky slow-growing medium-sized species, growing to a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about . That matures at ~ (SVL) in both sexes, this size is typically achieved at three years,. but may be sooner within captivity. Whites' Skinks are

omnivorous An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutri ...

, capable of eating meat, insects and plant matter. Will also occasionally eat strawberries and raspberries. They are variable in colour and pattern, some populations display no back pattern and/or lip stripes. Their base colours found on the central stripe range from grey, brown and red. The sides of their body is patterned with black and white rosettes backgrounded with a grey/brown gradient. Their underbelly is a pale peachy orange which increases in colour intensity towards the tail and on the underside of the limbs. Their back is patterned with three bars, the middle being solid brown, and parallel on either side two black bars with white spots towered in a single sequence that terminate at the base of the head and tail. Their head and tail are a colour, typically brown with no patterning and minimal scale outlining present. Most specimens have black stripes on both sides of their lips that run from their yellow lined eye, down to a random speckling on the bottom of the chin. All individuals have varying lip patterns, and some do not have any at all.

Taxonomy

''E. whitii'' is highly variable and may be a complex of closely related speciesWildlife of Tasmania – White’s Skink
/ref> Cogger HG (1979). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia''. Reed: Sydney. .

Behaviour

''L. whitii'' are a burrowing

polygynous Polygyny (; from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία (); ) is the most common and accepted form of polygamy around the world, entailing the marriage of a man with several women. Incidence Polygyny is more widespread in Africa than in any ...

(1 male per group of females) species, often digging or reusing complex tunnels. They live in small, sometimes temporary familial groups, with up to five females per male. However the females do sometimes mate with males outside the group. They are a highly aggressive species that will viciously attack other individuals that they do not recognize or 'like' via scent. This includes outside females that the group could potentially include, making them very difficult to pair. Adults also will sometimes cannibalize rival juveniles they do not recognize, this includes tails.

Reproduction

''L. whitii'' are viviparous and give birth to live young. Females will mate in September–October and give birth in late January–February over a period of two to ten days. Litter size ranges from 1–4. Offspring are highly aggressive from the start and will fight amongst themselves to chase away their rival

neonates An infant or baby is the very young offspring of human beings. ''Infant'' (from the Latin word ''infans'', meaning 'unable to speak' or 'speechless') is a formal or specialised synonym for the common term ''baby''. The terms may also be used to ...

from the group. Juveniles will stay within the protection their family/parent until they reach ~half the size of an adult. At this stage, the adult will chase the juvenile out of the group by attacking it on sight.

Subspecies

Two

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are recognized as being valid, including the

nominotypical subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

. *''

Egernia whitii moniligera ''Egernia'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae) that occurs in Australia. These skinks are ecologically diverse omnivores that inhabit a wide range of habitats. However, in the loose delimitation (which incorporates about 30 species) the ...

'' *'' Egernia whitii whitii'' ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

other than ''Egernia''.