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Type: Articles
Published: 2009-07-31
Page range: 19–30
Abstract views: 71
PDF downloaded: 3

A new limb-reduced skink (Scincidae: Lerista) from the dry rainforest of north Queensland, Australia

Biodiversity, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia
Reptilia Lerista rochfordensis vine thicket conservation biogeography

Abstract

A new limb-reduced skink from the dry rainforest of north Queensland is described as Lerista rochfordensis sp. nov. It is distinguished from its congeners by forelimb absent with no groove or other indication, hindlimb 5–8% SVL with a single clawed digit, and five supraciliary scales. Its narrow distribution coupled with its apparent reliance on dry rainforest, an endangered habitat, meets the criteria outlined for a Vulnerable listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Qld).

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