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Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink
Species of lizard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri), also known commonly as Hosmer's egernia and Hosmer's skink, is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is a diurnal, rock-dwelling species native to Northern Australia.
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Etymology
The specific name, hosmeri, is in honour of Australian herpetologist William Hosmer.[2]
Description
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is mostly reddish-brown on top, with both scattered darker and paler spots along the back, legs, and tail. It has a darker brown head and neck, white abdomen, and a few dark brown blotches under the chin. The snout-to-vent (SVL) is 18 cm (7.1 in), with a round, tapering tail about 60% of the SVL.[3] It is most closely related to Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), however the tail of E. hosmeri is flattened and spinier than that of E. cunninghami.[4]
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Geographic range
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skin is found throughout dry, rocky regions of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[3][5]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of E. hosmeri is rocky areas.[1]
Behaviour
E. hosmeri is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction
Like some other reptiles, E. hosmeri is viviparous, giving birth to an average of four live young at a time.[6]
Diet
Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink is omnivorous, eating insects, leaves, shoots, and berries.[6]
References
Further reading
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