As a member of the family Pygopodidae, Paradelma orientalis is a snake-like lizard with an elongated tail and no visible limbs apart from a pair of flaps equivalent to the hindlimbs of other lizards. Its body is dark brownish or greyish, with 18-20 rows of glossy scales and a subtle pale sheen. A patch of creamy coloration is present at the back of the head, followed by a black bar. Head scales are large and essentially symmetrical, and the two rows of ventral scales are wide and smooth. The nasal scales contact each other and a large ear hole is visible near the back of the head. Four preanal pores are present. The snout-vent length (to the base of the tail) is 16 cm (6.3 inches).[3]
The species is restricted to dry woodlands and rocky escarpments in the Brigalow Belt region of southeastern Queensland. It is unusual among pygopodids in several respects. It is a nocturnal species which is typically found sheltering under rocks and fallen logs during the day. P. orientalis derive most of their food from the nutrient-rich sap of Acacia falciformis trees, which they access by climbing up the rough bark on the trunks of the trees. Their diet also includes small arthropods. They are oviparous with a clutch size of two eggs.[4][5]
Paradelma orientalis is rated as Least Concern by the IUCN, as it is fairly common and widely distributed among suitable habitat. However, the Brigalow Belt ecoregion has been heavily modified by cattle grazing, agricultural development, and wildfires, as well as invasive species such as cats, pigs, and foxes. The species may be experiencing slow population decline as a result of these threats, and may have been much more abundant before the arrival of Europeans. P. orientalis was previously rated as Vulnerable by the EPBC Act until 2013, and by the IUCN until 2018. Its status was only downgraded once wider sampling established that it occurred in a larger area than previously suspected.[1][4]
Referencesedit
^ abcWilson, S.; Sanderson, C.; Vanderduys, E.; Venz, M.; Hobson, R. (2018). "Paradelma orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T16069A101743558. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T16069A101743558.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^Paradelma orientalis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
^ abCogger, H.G. (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Updated Seventh Edition. Clayton South VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. 1060 pp. ISBN978-0643100350 (Paradelma orientalis, p. 402).
^ abKutt, A.S.; Hannah, D.S.; Thurgate, N.Y. (2003). "Distribution, habitat and conservation status of Paradelma orientalis Günther 1876 (Lacertilia: Pygopodidae)". Australian Geologist. 32 (2): 261–264. doi:10.7882/AZ.2003.009.
^Tremul, Peter R. (2000). "Breeding, feeding and arboreality in Paradelma orientalis: a poorly known, vulnerable pygopodid from Queensland, Australia". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 45: 599–609.
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brigalow, scaly, foot, paradelma, orientalis, commonly, known, queensland, snake, lizard, species, legless, lizard, family, pygopodidae, endemic, australia, only, species, monotypic, genus, paradelma, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, class. Paradelma orientalis commonly known as the Brigalow scaly foot or Queensland snake lizard is a species of legless lizard in the family Pygopodidae 2 It is endemic to Australia and is the only species in the monotypic genus Paradelma 1 3 Brigalow scaly footConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily PygopodidaeGenus ParadelmaKinghorn 1926Species P orientalisBinomial nameParadelma orientalis Gunther 1876 As a member of the family Pygopodidae Paradelma orientalis is a snake like lizard with an elongated tail and no visible limbs apart from a pair of flaps equivalent to the hindlimbs of other lizards Its body is dark brownish or greyish with 18 20 rows of glossy scales and a subtle pale sheen A patch of creamy coloration is present at the back of the head followed by a black bar Head scales are large and essentially symmetrical and the two rows of ventral scales are wide and smooth The nasal scales contact each other and a large ear hole is visible near the back of the head Four preanal pores are present The snout vent length to the base of the tail is 16 cm 6 3 inches 3 The species is restricted to dry woodlands and rocky escarpments in the Brigalow Belt region of southeastern Queensland It is unusual among pygopodids in several respects It is a nocturnal species which is typically found sheltering under rocks and fallen logs during the day P orientalis derive most of their food from the nutrient rich sap of Acacia falciformis trees which they access by climbing up the rough bark on the trunks of the trees Their diet also includes small arthropods They are oviparous with a clutch size of two eggs 4 5 Paradelma orientalis is rated as Least Concern by the IUCN as it is fairly common and widely distributed among suitable habitat However the Brigalow Belt ecoregion has been heavily modified by cattle grazing agricultural development and wildfires as well as invasive species such as cats pigs and foxes The species may be experiencing slow population decline as a result of these threats and may have been much more abundant before the arrival of Europeans P orientalis was previously rated as Vulnerable by the EPBC Act until 2013 and by the IUCN until 2018 Its status was only downgraded once wider sampling established that it occurred in a larger area than previously suspected 1 4 References edit a b c Wilson S Sanderson C Vanderduys E Venz M Hobson R 2018 Paradelma orientalis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T16069A101743558 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 1 RLTS T16069A101743558 en Retrieved 17 November 2021 Paradelma orientalis at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database a b Cogger H G 2018 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia Updated Seventh Edition Clayton South VIC Australia CSIRO Publishing 1060 pp ISBN 978 0643100350 Paradelma orientalis p 402 a b Kutt A S Hannah D S Thurgate N Y 2003 Distribution habitat and conservation status of Paradelma orientalis Gunther 1876 Lacertilia Pygopodidae Australian Geologist 32 2 261 264 doi 10 7882 AZ 2003 009 Tremul Peter R 2000 Breeding feeding and arboreality in Paradelma orientalis a poorly known vulnerable pygopodid from Queensland Australia Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45 599 609 nbsp This article about a gecko is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brigalow scaly foot amp oldid 1136116005, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
