Ctenotus ora

Kay, Geoffrey M. & Keogh, Scott, 2012, Molecular phylogeny and morphological revision of the Ctenotus labillardieri (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) species group and a new species of immediate conservation concern in the southwestern Australian biodiversity hotspot, Zootaxa 3390, pp. 1-18 : 16

Ctenotus ora , a new species of immediate conservation concern

Ctenotus ora sp. nov. comprises specimens that previously were allocated to the widely distributed and morphologically variable C. labillardieri . Our genetic data demonstrate that it instead is the sister taxon to the threatened C. lancelini . Ctenotus lancelini is distributed only on Lancelin Island and the immediate adjacent mainland. A recovery plan for this species outlined unpublished allozyme data (Mark Adams, South Australian Museum) and morphological evaluation (Ken Aplin, Western Australian Museum) which suggested ‘the existence of a taxon closely related or the same as C. lancelini ’ and made a call for detailed genetic and morphological data to sort out this problem ( Pearson & Jones 2000). Our molecular and morphological data resolve this issue and demonstrate that C. lancelini and C. ora sp. nov. are closely related but genetically and morphological quite distinct species, each of which are habitat specialists. Ctenotus lancelini is threatened and a recovery plan is in place for its longterm survival ( Pearson & Jones 2000). Ctenotus ora sp. nov. is restricted in distribution to the sandy Swan Coastal Plain subregion south of Perth, a region now under heavy development from population growth from Perth, and an area of biogeographic significance ( Horwitz & Adams 2000; Wheeler & Byrne 2006). Ctenotus ora sp. nov. is known to be very sparsely distributed in the region and may already be under threat. The conservation status of this new species should be assessed immediately.