The species may reach total lengths of up to 60 cm (23.6 inches). They are uniform glossy black to brown, with a paler ring around the eye. Their colour, along with their large size, allow them to maintain a body temperature of 30 degrees Celsius; they spend much of the day basking in the sun.[2] Adult males have slightly shorter bodies but slightly longer forelimbs and heads than adult females [3] The ventral side (belly) ranges in colouration from auburn (orange-brown) to white [4] Juveniles have prominent cream lateral spots[5]
It is long-lived - with one captive female lizard known to have lived for at least 23 years [3]
The common name "land mullet" is said to date back to Longman (1918), who reported it to be in common usage for the species around Tamborine Mountain. The name probably alludes to the superficial resemblance to the homonymous fish, which has a similarly blunt head, large scales and is of similar size and coloration.[6]
Habitat and distributionedit
Native to Australia, they are generally restricted to the rainforest of south-eastern Queensland, Australia.[2] The range of natural distribution is in discontinuous locations from the northern side of the Hawkesbury River in the south, to the Conondale Range, near Maleny in south eastern Queensland.[7] They occur at altitudes from sea level (Park Beach, New South Wales) to 840 m (Acacia Plateau, Queensland)[8]
The species favours habitat with many fallen logs, and it remains in close proximity to these. The restricted sunlight of the forest type require a number of basking sites to be available. It is less frequently found in other types of environs, such as the open eucalypt woodland of the region.[2]
The lizards shelter in hollow logs or burrows. Often these are dug into the soil-bound root systems of fallen trees.[5]
Behaviouredit
Land mullets are normally reported to be very shy, dashing noisily to the cover of dense low vegetation if disturbed. However, in some popular National Parks, the lizards have become habituated - scavenging close to humans for scraps at picnic and camping sites.[5]
Reproductionedit
Land mullets are live-bearing reptiles which usually reproduce roughly 4 to 9 independent offspring per litter. Largely solitary, they primarily associate only when it is time to mate.[4]
Dietedit
The land mullet eats woody fungi, mushrooms, berries, seeds, insects such as beetles and grasshoppers as well as decaying fruit material[8]'
Galleryedit
Land mullet, Lamington National Park, Queensland
Land mullet, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia
^ abcKlingenböck, A.; K. Osterwalder; R. Shine (December 22, 2000). "Habitat Use and Thermal Biology of the "Land Mullet" Egernia major, a Large Scincid Lizard from Remnant Rain Forest in Southeastern Australia". Copeia. 2000 (4): 931–939. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2000)000[0931:huatbo]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 1448004.
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Morphology and natural history of the Land Mullet Egernia major (Squamata: Scincidae)
Australian Reptile Park
March 06, 2024
land, mullet, land, mullet, bellatorias, major, largest, members, skink, family, scincidae, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, reptiliaorder, squamatafamily, scincidaegen. The land mullet Bellatorias major is one of the largest members of the skink family Scincidae Land mulletConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily ScincidaeGenus BellatoriasSpecies B majorBinomial nameBellatorias major JE Gray 1845 SynonymsTropidolepisma major Gray 1845 Tropidolepisma majus Gunther 1875 Egernia bungana De Vis 1888 Egernia major Cogger 1983 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat and distribution 3 Behaviour 4 Reproduction 5 Diet 6 Gallery 7 References 8 External linksDescription editThe species may reach total lengths of up to 60 cm 23 6 inches They are uniform glossy black to brown with a paler ring around the eye Their colour along with their large size allow them to maintain a body temperature of 30 degrees Celsius they spend much of the day basking in the sun 2 Adult males have slightly shorter bodies but slightly longer forelimbs and heads than adult females 3 The ventral side belly ranges in colouration from auburn orange brown to white 4 Juveniles have prominent cream lateral spots 5 It is long lived with one captive female lizard known to have lived for at least 23 years 3 The common name land mullet is said to date back to Longman 1918 who reported it to be in common usage for the species around Tamborine Mountain The name probably alludes to the superficial resemblance to the homonymous fish which has a similarly blunt head large scales and is of similar size and coloration 6 Habitat and distribution editNative to Australia they are generally restricted to the rainforest of south eastern Queensland Australia 2 The range of natural distribution is in discontinuous locations from the northern side of the Hawkesbury River in the south to the Conondale Range near Maleny in south eastern Queensland 7 They occur at altitudes from sea level Park Beach New South Wales to 840 m Acacia Plateau Queensland 8 The species favours habitat with many fallen logs and it remains in close proximity to these The restricted sunlight of the forest type require a number of basking sites to be available It is less frequently found in other types of environs such as the open eucalypt woodland of the region 2 The lizards shelter in hollow logs or burrows Often these are dug into the soil bound root systems of fallen trees 5 Behaviour editLand mullets are normally reported to be very shy dashing noisily to the cover of dense low vegetation if disturbed However in some popular National Parks the lizards have become habituated scavenging close to humans for scraps at picnic and camping sites 5 Reproduction editLand mullets are live bearing reptiles which usually reproduce roughly 4 to 9 independent offspring per litter Largely solitary they primarily associate only when it is time to mate 4 Diet editThe land mullet eats woody fungi mushrooms berries seeds insects such as beetles and grasshoppers as well as decaying fruit material 8 Gallery edit nbsp Land mullet Lamington National Park Queensland nbsp Land mullet Mullumbimby New South Wales AustraliaReferences edit Bellatorias major IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 2018 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 1 RLTS T47155294A47155305 en a b c Klingenbock A K Osterwalder R Shine December 22 2000 Habitat Use and Thermal Biology of the Land Mullet Egernia major a Large Scincid Lizard from Remnant Rain Forest in Southeastern Australia Copeia 2000 4 931 939 doi 10 1643 0045 8511 2000 000 0931 huatbo 2 0 co 2 JSTOR 1448004 a b cited in Shea 2006 Morphology and natural history of the Land Mullet Squamata Scincidae Australian Zoologist 31 2 December 1999 Accessible at http www rzsnsw org au Volumes 20of 20RZS 20papers 1999 20vol 2031 2 Shea 20G 20M 20Morphology 20and 20natural 20history 20of 20the 20Land 20Mullet 20Egernia 20major 20 Squamata 20Scincidae pdf Accessed 14 April 2014 a b Egernia Major Land Mullet 2001 Queensland Term Wildlife Field Guide Vince King Hobart College 2002 Accessible at http people hws edu fieldguide show asp ID 105 Archived 2010 07 04 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 18 April 2014 a b c Steve Wilson 2005 A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland Australia New Holland Publishers ISBN 1 876334 97 5 cited in Shea Morphology and natural history of the Land Mullet Squamata Scincidae Australian Zoologist 31 2 December 1999 Accessible at http www rzsnsw org au Volumes 20of 20RZS 20papers 1999 20vol 2031 2 Shea 20G 20M 20Morphology 20and 20natural 20history 20of 20the 20Land 20Mullet 20Egernia 20major 20 Squamata 20Scincidae pdf Accessed 14 April 2014 A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia Steve Wilson amp Gerry Swan ISBN 1 876334 72 X page 206 a b Shea 2006 Morphology and natural history of the Land Mullet Squamata Scincidae Australian Zoologist 31 2 December 1999 Accessible at http www rzsnsw org au Volumes 20of 20RZS 20papers 1999 20vol 2031 2 Shea 20G 20M 20Morphology 20and 20natural 20history 20of 20the 20Land 20Mullet 20Egernia 20major 20 Squamata 20Scincidae pdf Accessed 14 April 2014External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellatorias major Morphology and natural history of the Land Mullet Egernia major Squamata Scincidae Australian Reptile Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Land mullet amp oldid 1170036034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
