Lerista karlschmidti (Marx and Hosmer, 1959) (Sauria: Scincidae): re-examination of the type series, reassignment of a paratype and distribution notes

Abstract

Lerista karlschmidti was described from three specimens collected in the Woodstock area of north-eastern Queensland in the early 1950s but has not been recorded from Queensland since. A widely disjunct population occurs in the Northern Territory. Consequently, there has been some doubt as to whether the type series is actually from Queensland or whether these specimens had originated from the Northern Territory. The type series was re-examined and only two of the three specimens were found to be conspecific; these were morphologically consistent with material from the Northern Territory. The third specimen can be assigned to a narrowly endemic north-east Queensland population of Lerista cf. storri. Information provided by the collector’s son supports a Queensland origin for the type material, as does the inclusion of a narrowly endemic north-east Queensland taxon in the type series. Given the narrow endemicity that characterises north Queensland Lerista spp., it is unlikely that the Queensland and Northern Territory L. karlschmidti populations are conspecific. Lerista karlschmidti was last collected in Queensland 57 years ago and the Woodstock area has been substantially modified during this time. The conservation status of L. karlschmidti in Queensland warrants further investigation, particularly in light of conservation concerns for the congeneric Lerista allanae.