Shark Bay worm-lizard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Pygopodidae
Genus: Aprasia
Species:
A. haroldi
Binomial name
Aprasia haroldi
Storr, 1978

The Shark Bay worm-lizard (Aprasia haroldi), also known commonly as Harold's legless skink, is a species of lizard in the family Pygopodidae. The species is endemic to the Shark Bay region in Western Australia, Australia.[1][2] It is a limbless lizard[2] found burrowing in loose soil in arid areas.[1]

Etymology

The specific name, haroldi, is in honor of Australian herpetologist Gregory Harold.[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of A. haroldi are coastal sand dunes and sandy desert.[1]

Description

A small limbless lizard, A. haroldi has an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 8.6 cm (3.4 in), and an average tail length of 6.1 cm (2.4 in). It has only four upper labials. The prefrontal is in broad contact with the first upper labial and in narrow contact with the second upper labial. The second upper labial is in contact with the eye. There are 14 scale rows around the body at midbody. Both dorsally and ventrally, A. haroldi is pale brownish grey with darker markings, except for the lips and chin which are yellowish white, and the underside of the tail which is creamy white.[4]

Reproduction

A. haroldi is oviparous.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lloyd, R.; Gaikhorst, G.; Oliver, P.; Wilson, S. (2017). "Aprasia haroldi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T102827720A102827752. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102827720A102827752.en. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Aprasia haroldi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Aprasia haroldi, p. 116).
  4. ↑ Storr GM (1978).

Further reading

  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Maryan B, Adams M, Aplin KP (2015). "Taxonomic resolution of the Aprasia repens species-group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from the Geraldton Sandplains: a description of a new species and additional mainland records of A. clairae ". Records of the Western Australian Museum 30 (1): 12–32.
  • Storr GM (1978). "Taxonomic Notes on the Reptiles of the Shark Bay Region, Western Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum 6 (3): 303–318. (Aprasia haroldi, new species, pp. 307–308).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.



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