Carlia longipes ( Macleay, 1877 )

Donnellan, S. C., Couper, P. J., Saint, K. M. & Wheaton, L., 2009, Systematics of the Carlia ‘ fusca’ complex (Reptilia: Scincidae) from northern Australia, Zootaxa 2227 (1), pp. 1-31 : 13-17

Carlia longipes ( Macleay, 1877)

( Figs 6 , 7 & 8 ; Tables 3 & 4)

1877 Heteropus longipes Macleay. Proc Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 2: 66. Endeavour River , north-eastern Queensland. Holotype AMS R 31878 .

1877 Heteropus cheverti Macleay. Ibid. 2: 67. Barrow Island , north-eastern Queensland. Lectotype AMS R 31877 .

Material examined: Holotype: AMS R 31878 , Endeavour River , north-eastern Queensland (approx. 15°27'S, 145°14'E).

Other material: Queensland - QM J20508 -9 , QM J2051-2 , Melville Range (14°16'S, 144°30'E) ; QM J20596 , Melville Range (14°16'S, 144°30'E) ; QM J60602 , Rocky Peak , 6 km ENE Saddle Hill (14°43'59"S, 144°46'52”E) ; QM J60609 , Rocky Peak , 6 km ENE Saddle Hill (14°43'59"S, 144°46'28”E) ; QM J51112 , 13 km NW Cape Flattery (14°55'3”S, 145°13'3”E) ; QM J53107 , Cape Flattery, Barracks 14°58'S, 145°21'E ); QM J53138 , Cape Flattery (14°58'S, 145°21'E) ; QM J20606 -8 , McIvor River crossing, Starcke Station- Cooktown Road (15°06'S, 145°09'E) ; QM J20597 , McIvor River (15°09'S, 145°14'E) ; QM J32361 , McIvor River crossing, near Hopevale Mission (15°09'S, 145°5'E) ; QM J87039 , QM J87050 , Mary Vale, Endeavour Valley road, Cooktown (15°25'48"S, 145°07'07"E) ; QM J87057 , Jensen's Crossing, Endeavour River, Cooktown (15°25'49"S; 145°07'06"E) ; QM J24396 , QM J24531 Cooktown (15°28'S, 145°15'E) ; QM J27086 , Mt Cook, S Cooktown (15°30'S, 145°16'E) ; QM J87008 , QM J87049 , Black Mountain (15°38'54"S, 145°13'08"E) ; QM J25163 , Home Rule Camp site, S of Cooktown (15°44'S, 145°17'E) ; QM J25188 , Wallaby Creek, Home Rule , (15°44'S, 145°15'E) ; QM J25292 near Home Rule Falls (15°44'S, 145°18'E) ; QM J25133 , Mt Hartley, near Home Rule , S of Cooktown (15°46'S, 145°19'E) ; QM J27142 , near site 36, Shipton’s Flat (15°48'S, 145°16'E) ; QM J75262 , Daintree River (16°17’S, 145°27’E) ; QM J75264 /7, Daintree River (16°17'S, 145°27'E) ; QM J41348 -9 , QM J41351 -4 7km N Ellis Beach, via Cairns (16°42'S, 145°36'E) ; QM J24193 /5 , QM J29955 24km N Cairns , (16°45'S, 145°39'E) ; QM J47551 , 24 km S Mt Carbine , 16°50'S, 145°09'E ); QM J27312 , Bessie Point, Cairns (16°54'S, 145°49'E) .

Distribution: Coastal areas of eastern Queensland between Cape Melville (14°10'S, 144°30'E) and Gordonvale (17°06'S, 145°47'E).

Diagnosis: Carlia longipes most closely resembles C. sexdentata from which it is here separated. The two species are most readily distinguished by the colour pattern of adult males (compare Figs 6a, c & d with Figs 9a, d & f ) and the nature of the ear lobules ( Figs 7a–d & Figs 10a–d ). (in C. longipes the dark midlateral zone between the ear and shoulder is well-defined and contrasting sharply with the lower neck colouration vs not contrasting sharply with lower neck colour; in C. longipes the ear aperture is completely surrounded by sharply pointed lobules vs usually a series of well-developed lobules on anterior margin often producing a distinctive comb-like effect, lobules poorly to moderately developed on other surfaces of ear). Carlia longipes lacks the dorsal and lateral pattern seen in C. quinquecarinata (large, longitudinally aligned, dark-edged, pale dashes on the dorsum and a broken midlateral line). Carlia longipes need only be distinguished from other species of Carlia with a smoothly rounded posterior edge to the midbody scales. It is distinguished from C. munda and C. tetradactyla by the nature of its ear lobules (sharply pointed on all surfaces of the ear aperture vs small and rounded); from C. rimula by its greater midbody scale count and larger size (32–36 vs ≤ 30; max SVL = 68.8mm vs 39mm); from C. rhomboidalis and C. rubrigularis by the state of the interparietal scale (free vs fused); from C. rostralis by its ear lobules and male breeding colours (sharply pointed lobules on all surfaces of the ear aperture vs well-developed lobules only present on anterior margin; males with pale throat vs black throat). Of the above listed species, its broad distribution only overlaps with C. munda , C. rostralis and C. rubrigularis . Whether it overlaps with C. sexdentata remains unclear. The two species may be mutually exclusive but, if so, the northern limit for C. longipes is in close proximity to the southern limit for C. sexdentata .

Description: SVL (mm) 35.91–68.77, n = 41. Proportions as %SVL(mean ± standard deviation): TL 168.91–209.42 (188.44 ± 10.93, n = 11); AG 43.0–52.80 (48.20 ± 2.33, n = 40); L1 31.88–41.65 (35.51 ± 2.61, n = 41); L2 45.0–61.56 (53.00 ± 3.65, n = 41); HL 20.31–26.38 (22.23 ± 1.24, n = 41); Eye-ear 6.60– 8.60 (7.66± 0.44, n = 41); Snout 7.32–10.36 (8.93± 0.60, n = 41). Body robust. Head barely distinct from neck. HW 60.72–74.39% HL (68.32 ± 3.35, n = 41). Limbs moderate. L1 59.35–74.86% L2 (67.14 ± 3.49, n = 41).

Scalation: Rostral in broad contact with frontonasal. Prefrontals large, narrowly (61% of specimens) to moderately (39% of specimens) separated. Supraoculars 4, 1 and 2 in contact with frontal, 2, 3 and 4 in contact with frontoparietal. Frontoparietals fused, forming a single shield. Interparietal free. Enlarged nuchal scales 1–3 (mode = 2, n = 42). Snout rounded in profile. Loreals 2. Preoculars 2. Presubocular single. Supraciliaries 5–8 (mode = 7, n = 42). Lower eyelid moveable with clear window; palpebral disc small, occupying about half of lower eyelid. Ear aperture subequal or larger than palpebral disc; usually round (59% of specimens) but sometimes vertical (32% of specimens) or slightly horizontal (9% of specimens), with enlarged, sharp lobules on all margins ( Figs 7a–d ). Supralabials 7–8 (7.05±0.22, mode = 7, n = 42), with fifth or sixth below centre of eye (5.05±0.22, mode = 5, n = 42) eye. Infralabials 6–7 (6.05±0.21, mode = 6, n = 42). Dorsal scalation smooth to weakly tricarinate; posterior edge smoothly curved. Midbody scale rows 32–36 (34.82±1.18, mode = 34, n = 38). Paravertebral scale rows 44–54 (48.95±1.89, mode = 49, n = 38). Lamellae beneath 3 rd finger 18–25 (21.87±1.49, mode = 22, n = 38). Lamellae beneath 4 th toe 27–36 (32.47±2.45, mode = 31, n = 38).

Colour pattern in spirit: Mid-olive brown dorsally; uniform or lightly marked with dark specks. Tail often with a longitudinal series of dark-edged pale flecks. Venter off-white.

Colour pattern in life: adult males in breeding colours ( Figs 6a, c & d ): with a distinct, white dorsolateral stripe (commencing behind the supraciliaries, running through upper secondary temporal and terminating just behind forelimb). This is bordered below by a broad, dark, well-defined upper lateral zone (encompassing 2–3 scales rows and extending from eye to just behind forelimb) which contrasts sharply with the scales of the lower neck and is continuous with the metallic pink flank coloration (rich orange in life). Limbs and sides of tail orange brown. Females ( Fig. 6b ): with a narrow, pale facial stripe that begins beneath the eye and terminates near the dorsal margin of the ear aperture. The dark upper lateral is enclosed between narrow, white dorsolateral and midlateral stripes which are most prominent anterior to the forelimb (the former commencing behind the eye, the latter behind the ear). This pattern extends varying distances along the flanks but becomes increasingly diffuse. The upper lateral zone is broken by one or more, obscure vertical, white bars in front of forelimb and has irregular white dashes along its full length. Dorsum often with pale flecking. Juveniles: similar to females with obscure pale flecking on dorsum and flanks.

Raw measurements and scale counts of Holotype: ( Fig. 8a ): AMS R31878 . SVL 63.07 mm; AG 30.03 mm; L1 23.44 mm; L2 52.23 mm; HL 13.58 mm; HW 10.01 mm; Eye – ear 4.82; Snout 5.87; midbody scale rows 36; paravertebral scale rows 48; supraciliaries 7; supralabials 7; fifth supralabial below centre eye; infralabials 6; subdigital lamellae beneath 3 rd finger 23; subdigital lamellae beneath 4 th toe 33; enlarged nuchals 2; preoculars 2; presuboculars 1; postsupralabial divided; temporals – 1 primary, 2 secondary; ear round – surrounded by sharp lobules ( Fig. 8b ); palpebral disc subequal to ear opening. The scales of the dorsal surface are largely smooth but those of the lateral surfaces are faintly tricarinate. Pattern of holotype: AMS R31878 is badly faded but a slight darkening of the upper lateral zone is evident from behind the ear aperture to the posterior margin of the forelimb; the fine, pale dorsolateral and midlateral stripes that enclose this zone can still be detected.

Comments: Our data are in agreement with Ingram and Covacevich (1989) that H. cheverti is a junior synonym of C. longipes .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Images of Carlia longipes in life (a) ♂ from near Cairns (image: S. Donnellan). (b) ♀ from 7 km north of Ellis Beach, near Cairns (image: S. Donnellan). (c) ♂ from Mossman (image: Queensland Museum). (d) ♂ coming into breeding colours. Endeavour River, Cooktown (image: P. Couper).

FIGURE 7. Variation in the ear lobules of C. longipes. (a) QM J41349 Ellis Beach; (b) QM J20509 Melville Range; (c) QM J25163 Home Rule; (d) QM J53107 Cape Flattery. (All images G. Thompson).

FIGURE 8. (a) AM R31878, Holotype of H. longipes Macleay 1877, Endeavour River, north-eastern Queensland. (image: J. Wright). (b) Ear lobules, left side of AMS R31878 (image: G. Thompson). (c) AMS R31877, Lectotype of H. cheverti Macleay 1877 Barrow Island, north-eastern Queensland (image: J. Wright). (d) Ear lobules, right side of AMS R31877 (image: G. Thompson).

FIGURE 9. Images of Carlia sexdentata in life. (a) ♂ from tip of Cape York Peninsula (image: S. Wilson). (b) ♀ from Somerset, Cape York Peninsula (image: H. Cogger). (c) ♀ Red Beach, Mapoon (image: S. Donnellan). (d) ♂ from Iron Range (image: S. Wilson). (e) QM J86281, non-reproductive ♂ from Maningrida, NT (image: A. Amey). (f) ♂ from Saibai Island, Torres Strait (image: S. Wilson).

FIGURE 10. Variation in ear lobules in C. sexdentata. (a) QM J45598 Jardine River; (b) QM J46341 road to Double Point; (c) QM J72702 Lilyvale Station; (d) QM J67615 Haggerstone Island. (all images: G. Thompson).