| Common scaly-foot | |
|---|---|
| |
| at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Pygopodidae |
| Genus: | Pygopus |
| Species: | P. lepidopodus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pygopus lepidopodus | |
| |
The common scaly-foot (Pygopus lepidopodus) is a widespread species of legless lizard in the Pygopodidae family. [1] It is endemic to Australia.
Mostly active at dusk or dawn ( crepuscular), it can be nocturnal after high daytime temperatures. It lives in long grasses, heaths, and woodlands, and is most often seen on warm mornings, foraging for food. When threatened, the scaly-foot flashes its thick, fleshy tongue, in an apparent mimicry of snakes. Usually two eggs are laid per clutch. [2]
Its diet includes a variety of invertebrates such as burrowing spiders. [3] The scaly-foot reportedly also eating other lizards in captivity, and vegetable matter, [4] with a preference for bananas.
It is found mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Australia, though isolated populations occur in semiarid southern Queensland and tropical wet Queensland. [1]
The scaly-foot is snake-like in appearance, up to 80 cm in length with a noticeable "keel" or ridge on the top. Variable in colours and pattern, it occasionally is grey with black spots or [1] sometimes coppery brown with a grey tail. Other patterns and variations occur. Prominent limb flaps may be seen on close inspection, hence the name "scaly-foot".
Considered an easy to keep species, [2] a license is required to keep the common scaly-foot as a pet in Australia.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Reed New Holland. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-876334-72-7.
- ^ a b "Complete outline of the NSW reptile licensing system (PDF - 117KB) - Publication | NSW Environment & Heritage". Environment.nsw.gov.au. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
- ^ Patchell, Frederick C.; Shine, Richard (1986). "Captive breeding". Journal of Herpetology. 20 (1). Jstor.org: 59–64. doi: 10.2307/1564125. JSTOR 1564125.
- ^ "Notes on the feeding behaviour of the Common Scaly Foot - Pygopus lepidopodus - and Burton's Legless Lizard - Lialis burtonis". Smuggled.com. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
.png){kind=small} | This article about a gecko is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Common scaly-foot | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Pygopodidae |
| Genus: | Pygopus |
| Species: | P. lepidopodus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pygopus lepidopodus | |
|
| |
The common scaly-foot (Pygopus lepidopodus) is a widespread species of legless lizard in the Pygopodidae family. [1] It is endemic to Australia.
Mostly active at dusk or dawn ( crepuscular), it can be nocturnal after high daytime temperatures. It lives in long grasses, heaths, and woodlands, and is most often seen on warm mornings, foraging for food. When threatened, the scaly-foot flashes its thick, fleshy tongue, in an apparent mimicry of snakes. Usually two eggs are laid per clutch. [2]
Its diet includes a variety of invertebrates such as burrowing spiders. [3] The scaly-foot reportedly also eating other lizards in captivity, and vegetable matter, [4] with a preference for bananas.
It is found mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Australia, though isolated populations occur in semiarid southern Queensland and tropical wet Queensland. [1]
The scaly-foot is snake-like in appearance, up to 80 cm in length with a noticeable "keel" or ridge on the top. Variable in colours and pattern, it occasionally is grey with black spots or [1] sometimes coppery brown with a grey tail. Other patterns and variations occur. Prominent limb flaps may be seen on close inspection, hence the name "scaly-foot".
Considered an easy to keep species, [2] a license is required to keep the common scaly-foot as a pet in Australia.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Reed New Holland. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-876334-72-7.
- ^ a b "Complete outline of the NSW reptile licensing system (PDF - 117KB) - Publication | NSW Environment & Heritage". Environment.nsw.gov.au. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
- ^ Patchell, Frederick C.; Shine, Richard (1986). "Captive breeding". Journal of Herpetology. 20 (1). Jstor.org: 59–64. doi: 10.2307/1564125. JSTOR 1564125.
- ^ "Notes on the feeding behaviour of the Common Scaly Foot - Pygopus lepidopodus - and Burton's Legless Lizard - Lialis burtonis". Smuggled.com. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
|
| This article about a gecko is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |