Australian short-tailed skink. Short-tailed skink (lat. Tiliqua rugosa). Pictured is a crocodile skink
Short-tailed or short-tailed skink (lat. Tiliqua rugosa) is one of the most interesting skink species. It has a number of features that are uncharacteristic of other members of the family. For example, he does not know how to drop his tail at all. Moreover, the lizard values it very much, since it is in the tail area that the nutrients that are so necessary for hibernation accumulate.
The tail itself is shaped like a head, which often confuses predators and makes it possible for the short tail to escape from dangerous territory in time. The entire body of the skink is covered with rather strong scales, which can be of various colors: from cream to dark brown. The length of the body with a tail and head rarely exceeds 35-36 cm. But do not be deceived by the size of the lizard - its weight is quite noticeable!
Curiously, short-tailed skinks create long-term marital unions. They mate with the same partner for 10 or even 20 years. They also take care of the cubs together. At the same time, during the period of protecting offspring, males try to eat less and are always on the alert to repel a possible attack of predators. Short-tailed babies stay with their parents for several months, and then occupy their own plots, while trying not to go far.
But short-tailed skinks feed in the same way as other representatives of the genus of gigantic lizards. They eat plants, snails, insects and spiders. They do not refuse carrion if it comes across to them, which benefits their area.
They live in Australia, where they like to settle in hot deserts and semi-deserts with weak vegetation. This is where they are often seen by locals when the lizards get out to bask in the sun. What can you do: heat is the weakness of all cold-blooded.
Short-tailed skink (lat. Tiliqua rugosa) is a lizard of the Skink family (lat. Scincidae) that lives in South Australia. More than 1300 species of lizards belong to the Skink family. All these reptiles are covered with overlapping scales, which makes them look like fish.
The short-tailed skink is also called simply the short-tailed skink because of the small tail compared to the length of the body. The cunning lizard uses its unusual tail as bait to divert the predator's attention away from its head. In case of mortal danger, she simply discards her tail.
The pitiful stump looks like her head and continues to writhe in convulsions. While the aggressor, shocked by the unprecedented spectacle, stares at what is happening for several seconds, the tailless dodger manages to hide in the nearest shelter.
Behavior
The short-tail prefers to settle on the coast, where a relatively mild and humid climate prevails, in places with abundant grassy vegetation. It is also found in semi-desert areas overgrown with shrubs. Leading a terrestrial lifestyle, short-tailed skinks are active depending on the ambient temperature. Early in the morning they crawl out of their shelters and bask in the sun, and after sunbathing they go hunting.
The reptile moves slowly, awkwardly wriggling its whole body.
The shorttail, in addition to plant foods in the form of fruits, consumes a variety of small animals, hunting snails and insects. With external slowness, the lizard is distinguished by its quick reaction and, in hunting, completely relies on its eyesight and a well-developed eye.
In the midday heat, the skinks stop fishing and hide, burrowing into the forest floor or hiding under a fallen tree. In case of possible starvation, they actively store fat. A short and thick tail serves as a pantry for fat.
Short-tailed skinks are very cautious and shy.
At the same time, at the sight of danger, they rarely flee, but consider it their duty to frighten the enemy. To do this, they open their mouths wide and, hissing menacingly, scare the adversary with a long dark blue tongue. Lizards are generally completely harmless, but a particularly annoying person can be bitten quite painfully.
Skinks are eaten with pleasure by dingoes, pythons, foxes and cats. Aborigines love to fry them on an open fire. Nevertheless, they are not afraid of people and often visit their dwellings, begging for pieces of sausage, fried chicken or ripe bananas.
reproduction
Short-tailed skinks are viviparous lizards. During the mating season, which runs from late September to November, they form monogamous pairs. The couple stay together for 2 months, after which they go about their business. Often they form a couple in the next season, and occasionally remain faithful to each other until death.
Pregnancy lasts about 5 months. Embryos are attached to niches in the walls of the oviducts and do not form egg shells.
The walls of the oviducts are covered with a dense network of blood vessels, so the embryos receive nutrients directly from the mother's blood. The female usually brings two babies, occasionally three or four.
The body length of newborns is about 15 cm, while 12 cm falls on the body, and the weight does not exceed 140 g. Soon after their birth, young lizards undergo the first molt. Adolescents from the day of their birth can completely take care of themselves, but remain for several months next to their mother, and then move away a little, forming small colonies of relatives.
Their proud and vigilant father, gravitating toward philosophical loneliness, does not take part in the upbringing of offspring, but considers it his own to squeal for a long time when he sees danger. Shorttails reach sexual maturity at 3 years.
Description
The body length of an adult lizard does not exceed 33 cm. It weighs 600-900 kg. The body is dense, somewhat flattened laterally. The entire skin is covered with dark bumpy and shiny scales.
There is often a pattern of yellow and white specks on the top of the tail and back.
The tail is short, thick and rounded bluntly behind. The legs are very short and very strong. The fingers are short, armed with small strong claws. The tongue is broad and dark blue, with flat, scaly tubercles.
The lifespan of short-tailed skinks is about 20 years. They are easily tamed and do well in captivity.
Abstract on the topic:
Plan:
- Introduction
- 1 Classification
- 2 Spreading
- 3 Appearance
- 4 Nutrition
- 5 Breeding
- 6 Subspecies Notes
Introduction
Short-tailed skink, short-tailed (Tiliqua rugosa) is a short-tailed species of blue-tongued skink that lives in Australia.
1. Classification
The bobtail was first described in 1825 by John Edward Gray, who gave it its name. Trachydosaurus rugosus. Subsequently, the Latin name of the lizard was changed to Tiliqua rugosa. According to herpetologists, this species has the largest number of names among lizards.
2. Distribution
The shorttail is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert climates of southern and western Australia. It is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia along the southern regions of Australia all the way to northern Queensland. Four subspecies of the lizard are found in Western Australia, including one subspecies on Rottnest Island. In addition, the shorttail is found in the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales, although it is not found in coastal areas.
The main habitat is shrub steppes and semi-deserts. During the daytime, they bask in the sun, located along roadsides or open areas in their habitat.
3. Appearance
It has fairly strong scales. There are several colors of the lizard: from dark brown to cream. The body length rarely exceeds 36 cm, however, the weight of the short tail is extremely high.
The head is triangular in shape; tongue is light blue. The short-tailed tail is short and thick, shaped like a lizard's head, which is a good distraction for potential predators. In addition, significant reserves of fat are deposited in the tail, which are used during hibernation. Unlike other skink species, the short-tailed skink does not have the ability to autotomy and cannot shed its tail.
4. Nutrition
Shorttails are omnivorous, eating both plants and snails, insects, and carrion. In the past, this species of lizard was hunted by local dingoes, Australian pythons (for example, rhombic pythons), as well as Australian aborigines. Currently, foxes and cats brought to the continent by Europeans pose a threat to them.
5. Reproduction
Shorttails are viviparous skinks that produce one to four relatively large offspring. Unlike other species of lizards, short-tailed lizards strive for monogamy: during the breeding season, pairs return to each other annually for up to twenty years.
Immediately after birth, the cubs eat the placenta. Young lizards stay with their parents for several months, after which they begin an independent life, although they live in close proximity, forming colonies of related skinks.
During babysitting, males tend to eat less than females, always remaining on alert in case of unforeseen circumstances.
6. Subspecies
There are four subspecies of the shorttail
- Tiliqua rugosa rugosa
- Tiliqua rugosa asper
- Tiliqua rugosa konowi
- Tiliqua rugosa palarra
Notes
- Gray, J.E. 1825. A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description of some new species. Annals of Philosophy, 10:193-217
- 1 2 Tiliqua rugosa GRAY, 1825 - reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Tiliqua&species=rugosa (English) . J. Craig Venter Institute.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pianka, Eric R. & Vitt, Laurie J. (2003), Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity (Organisms and Environments, 5), vol. 5 (1 ed.), California: University of California Press, ISBN 9780520234017
- Cogger Harold G. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia.
- Browne-Cooper Robert Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. - University of Western Australia Press, 2007. - P. 99. - ISBN 9778 1 920694 74 6
- Lizards & Snakes: Alive! | American Museum of Natural History - www.amnh.org/exhibitions/lizards/nose/shingle.php
- C. M. Bull, and Y. Pamula (1998). "Enhanced vigilance in monogamous pairs of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa - beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/9/5/452" (PDF). Behavioral Ecology 9 (5): Pp. 452–455. DOI:10.1093/beheco/9.5.452 - dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/9.5.452. ISSN 1465-7279 - worldcat.org/issn/1465-7279. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- C. Michael Bull, Steven J. B. Cooper, Ben C. Baghurst (1998). "Social monogamy and extra-pair fertilization in an Australian lizard, Tiliqua rugosa». J. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 44 (1).
- Gray, J. E. 1845. Catalog of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of die British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp.
- Mertens, R. 1958. Neue Eidechsen aus Australien. Senckenbergiana Biologica, 39:51-56.
- Shea, G.M. 2000. Die Shark-Bay-Tannenzapfenechse Tiliqua rugosa palarra subsp. nov. - in: HAUSCHILD, A., R. HITZ, K. HENLE, G.M. SHEA & H. WERNING (Hrsg.): Blauzungenskinke. Beiträge zu Tiliqua und Cyclodomorphus, pp. 108-112. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 287 pp.
This abstract is based on an article from the Russian Wikipedia. Synchronization completed on 07/16/11 07:03:47
Similar abstracts:
Skinks or skinks (Latin Scincidae) are a smooth-scaled reptile from the family. This family is very extensive and includes more than 1500 species, which are grouped into 130 genera.
lizard skink
In terms of size, most skinks in body length from 10 to 15 centimeters. They have an elongated body, similar to a snake, with small, or rather very small, paws.
The exception is long-legged skink, its paws are quite powerful and elongated, have elongated fingers at the ends. Also, there are a number of species of lizards that have lost their fore and hind limbs in their evolution, for example, some subspecies Australian skinks do not have paws on the body at all.
Pictured is a blue-tongued skink
Body, main species skink lizard, covered from the back and from the belly with smooth scales, like fish, thereby forming a kind of protective shell. Some types, for example New Guinea crocodile skink, covered with a kind of armor in the form of scales with small thorns-thorns.
Many types of skinks have a long tail, except short-tailed skink with a shortened tail. The main function of the tail of most reptiles is to store fat. Some arboreal tails are prehensile and are used for the convenience of moving the animal along the branches.
In a number of genera, the tail is brittle, and when danger is detected, the reptile throws it off, thereby giving itself a head start in order to leave the dangerous area, and the discarded tail twitches for some time, creating the illusion of a living creature for the hunter.
Pictured is a New Guinea crocodile skink
Genus of lizards of the skink family has a pointed head with round eyes and movable separate eyelids. The eyes are protected by temporal arches that stand out on the skull.
The color scheme of most species of these reptiles does not stand out for its brilliance, it is mainly dominated by gray-yellow, greenish dirty, marsh tones. There are, of course, species that have a bright color, for example, fire skink on the sides of his body is bright red pigmentation.
skink habitat
The habitat of the skink family is the whole world with the exception of the Far North and Antarctica. Most species live in deserts, tropical and subtropical regions.
These live, both on the ground in burrows and crevices, and on trees. They like humid, warm climates and some species are semi-aquatic, but swampy areas are unacceptable.
Basically, skinks are diurnal lizards and can often be seen basking in the sun on rocks or tree branches. For our country, the most famous species of lizard is far eastern skink.
It lives on the Kuril and Japanese islands. The species is quite rare and therefore listed in the Red Book. The habitat of his residence are the stones of the sea coast and the outskirts of the coniferous forest.
Pictured is a crocodile skink
Breeding and skink content This species is kept in terrariums by special organizations controlled by the state. Their significance for our country is so great that in 1998 the Bank of Russia issued a silver investment coin with a face value of one ruble with the image Far Eastern skinks.
Skink nutrition
The diet of skink reptiles is very diverse. Most species eat various insects and some vegetation. Also, many can eat small vertebrates, including their own kind. For example, diet blue-tongued skink, roughly can be divided into 25% animal feed and 75% vegetable feed.
Moreover, at home, this species with great pleasure eats meat, heart and liver of beef, which in the wild it will never meet. And from plant foods, do not mind eating carrots, cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers.
At the same time, in the natural environment, the blue-tongued skink feeds mainly on vegetation and insects in the form of snails, cockroaches, ants, spiders, and only large individuals prey on small rodents and lizards.
Pictured is a crocodile skink in wildlife
There are species that practically do not consume plants, but prefer insects and small vertebrates, one of these representatives is new guinea skink. Adult skinks eat no more than once or twice a week, young animals need more to grow energy and feed every day.
In a terrarium, you should carefully monitor the nutrition of the reptile, because the skinks cannot limit themselves in food and will eat everything they are given, often suffering from excess weight after that.
Reproduction and lifespan of the skink
Basically, skinks are oviparous reptiles, but there are species that produce ovoviviparous and even live births. Sexual maturity in most representatives of these reptiles occurs by three to four years of age.
fire skink
Oviparous females lay their eggs in the ground. Some species protect their offspring. For example, a female crocodile skink protects the laid egg during the entire incubation time, and if it is in danger, it promptly transfers it to another place.
The number of eggs in a clutch can vary from one to three in different species. The hatching period lasts an average of 50 to 100 days. Most species breed easily in captivity, including at home. The average lifespan of a skink is 8-15 years.
skink price
Nowadays, it has become very exclusive and fashionable to keep a reptile in a home terrarium. Skinks were no exception. Buy skink nowadays it is very simple, in most pet stores there are many copies. skink price largely depends on its type, size and age.
On average, the most common types are sold in the region of 2,000 - 5,000 rubles. For example, a medium-sized representative of such a wonderful and beautiful appearance as fire skink fernana can be purchased for 2.5-3.5 thousand rubles. If you decide to get a pet reptile, then many photo of skinks hosted on the World Wide Web.
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✪ 6 Strangest Animal Breedings
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Hello, friends. We all have an idea of how certain types of creatures reproduce. However, among them there are those that cause genuine amazement, and sometimes disgust. Now you will see 6 of the strangest types of animal reproduction. 6. Tasmanian Devil Tasmanian devils are known to be aggressive animals. Even the breeding process is based on the display of aggression. Before mating, male Tasmanian devils enter into a deadly fight. At the end of the fight, the winner must prove his dominance to the female and this time, enters the fight with her. After mating, the male will carefully protect his pair, because the female will not miss the chance to escape to mate with another individual. If the male catches her while trying to escape, then he will grab her by the skin around her neck and drag her back to his lair. Despite the violent nature of mating, Tasmanian devils are actually social animals and can spend their entire lives with one partner. 5. Centipede Centipedes have one of the most romantic mating types. When a female feels threatened during mating, she curls up into a tight ball. To calm her down and turn her around, the male will crawl alongside and knock the female on the back with his paws. Some species of centipedes make sing-like sounds to soothe and relax their partner for successful fertilization. 4. Australian Beetle These small beetles are native to Australia and made headlines in 2013. Then a couple of biologists vacationing in Western Australia discovered a beetle that wanted to fertilize a beer bottle. He persistently tried to mate with a glass container. Then, for the purposes of the experiment, biologists left 3 bottles on the ground and after 30 minutes watched how already 6 beetles tried to have sex with them. It turned out that the shape and color of the bottle had been inadvertently designed to resemble a female Australian beetle. Science calls this effect an evolutionary trap. This means that certain human inventions trick living beings into performing certain biological actions. 3. Short-tailed skink Monogamy in the animal world is a rare phenomenon. But there are bright representatives who demonstrate loyalty to one partner throughout their lives. One of these representatives is the short-tailed skink. He can mate with one partner for 20 years. These reptiles are also devoted to their offspring. It is not uncommon for males to refuse food in order to always stay close to their cubs and protect them from danger. When one of the partners dies, the other will sit next to him for several days, all the while pushing him in the side, as if trying to revive him. 2. Snake This vile sight is actually the offal of a pregnant viper. Blogger Kevin Cameron took this photo before roasting and eating a pregnant snake with his neighbor. He stated that the taste of the snake turned out to be quite ordinary, and nothing outstanding. Snakes lay their eggs when the young in them are fully formed and are able to break through the shell on their own. They abandon their young as soon as they come out of their shells. Unlike human newborns, snake offspring can take care of themselves and defend themselves from the first minutes of their hatching. 1. Dog Unsterile female dogs can suffer false pregnancies. Hormones rise in the animal's body and make it think that embryos are developing inside. The entire period of imaginary pregnancy, the dog will behave like a truly pregnant animal. After a while, her contractions will pass, after which the dog will begin to take care and care for any toy that she likes in the house, considering it her newborn puppy. In the same way, a similar phenomenon occurs in people and this is connected with psychological experiences. Thanks for watching, friends. Don't forget to subscribe to the Vuz channel and see you soon.
Classification
The bobtail was first described in 1825 by John Edward Gray, who gave it its name. Trachydosaurus rugosus. Subsequently, the Latin name of the lizard was changed to Tiliqua rugosa. According to herpetologists, this species has the largest number of names among lizards.
Spreading
The shorttail is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert climates of southern and western Australia. It is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia along the southern regions of Australia all the way to northern Queensland. Four subspecies of the lizard are found throughout the state of Western Australia, including one subspecies on Rottnest Island. In addition, the shorttail is found in the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales, although it is not found in coastal areas.
The main habitat is shrub steppes and semi-deserts. During the daytime, they bask in the sun, located along roadsides or open areas in their habitat.
Appearance
The head is triangular in shape; tongue is light blue. The short-tailed tail is short and thick, shaped like a lizard's head, which is a good distraction for potential predators. In addition, significant reserves of fat are deposited in the tail, which are used during hibernation. Unlike other skink species, the short-tailed skink does not have the ability to autotomy and cannot shed its tail.
Nutrition
Shorttails are omnivorous, eating both plants and snails, insects, and carrion. In the past, this species of lizard was the object of hunting for local dingoes, Australian pythons (for example, diamond pythons), as well as Australian aborigines. Currently, foxes and cats brought to the continent by Europeans pose a threat to them.
reproduction
Shorttails are viviparous skinks that produce one to four relatively large offspring. Unlike other species of lizards, short-tailed lizards strive for monogamy: during the breeding season, pairs return to each other annually for up to twenty years.
Immediately after birth, the cubs eat the placenta. Young lizards stay with their parents for several months, after which they begin an independent life, although they live in close proximity, forming colonies of related skinks.
During babysitting, males tend to eat less than females, always remaining on alert in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Subspecies
There are four subspecies of the shorttail
- Tiliqua rugosa rugosa
Notes
- Gray, J.E. 1825. A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description of some new species. Annals of Philosophy, 10:193-217
- Anan'eva N. B. , Borkin L. Ya., Darevsky I. S. , Orlov N. L. Five-language dictionary of animal names. Amphibians and reptiles. Latin, Russian, English, German, French. / under the general editorship of acad. V. E. Sokolova. - M.: Rus. yaz., 1988. - S. 259. - 10,500 copies. - ISBN 5-200-00232-X.
- Tiliqua rugosa GRAY, 1825(English) . J. Craig Venter Institute. Retrieved December 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 12, 2012.
- Pianka, Eric R. & Vitt, Laurie J. (2003), Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity (Organisms and Environments, 5), vol. 5 (1 ed.), California : University of California Press, ISBN 9780520234017