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| A gr8 pictorial reptile key - http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/research/biological-sciences/reptiles-and-amphibians/south-australian-reptile-keys |
Species (α list) | Stat' |
| Thumbnails: 374. 45 native species (0 introduced) listed, with 23 natives (0 introduced) from Ellura |
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Dragon (Agamidae); 8 species, 4 from Ellura | ||||||||
| All our Dragons have 5 fingers & 5 toes. | Swift Rock Dragon Ctenophorus modestus iNaturalist | RA m f |
Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. These were called Tawny Crevice-dragon (Ctenophorus decresii), but that species has now been split in 2. We suspect the one photographed here is a gravid female. 2 observed in Spring on 04-Nov-2021 | |||||
| Painted Dragon Ctenophorus pictus iNaturalist | LC e m f r | Thank you Reiner Richter, Ralph Foster, Mark Hura, Asimakis Patitsas, Stephen Mahony, Scott Eipper & Petra Hanke for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Painted dragons are a beautifully coloured, small, dragon lizard native to Australia. Females are more plain brown coloured. Females will mate with multiple males in one season; but she will chose males of different colour morphs and with few ticks. The lack of ticks indicates health, so taking ticks off a male will interrupt breeding selection and hence the gene pool. The female's habit of mating with males of different colour morph improves genetic diversity which is important for the species survival. Males come in 4 colour morphs: Blue, Orange, Red & Yellow colours. All male morphs have blue belly & legs. The Blue morphs have a blue throat; with white / brown cheeks like females. HD saw a pair mating and observed the male "was lethargic and slow" afterwards, indicating it was a taxing process for him. She sprinted away afterwards; keeping her energy for the upcoming egg production. 37(11M,7F,1J) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(5:1M,1J), Feb(6:1M,2F), Mar(3), Apr(7:2M,3F), May(1), Aug(1M), Sep(8:4M,1F), Oct(3:2M), Nov(2:1F) & Dec(1) Recorded between 02-Jan-2011 and 12-May-2024 | ||||||
| Triodia Dragon Ctenophorus spinodomus iNaturalist | LC e m r |
Thank you Ralph Foster for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. A little dragon at only ~40mm snout to vent length. They measure reptiles this way because so many loose their tails and total length doesn't really describe them as accurately. Quite similar to our Nobbi's until you take a closer look These were split out from C. fordi in 2019 and prefer Triodia habitat. We don't have any triodia on Ellura, so a bit surprised to find one. They are very hard to differentiate visually. Trying to get a photo of the throat/chest helps with id. A lack of black horizontal bar indicates C. spinodomus. 9 specimens observed in Spring: Sep(3) & Oct(6) Recorded between 07-Oct-2018 and 30-Sep-2022 | ||||||
| Southern Mallee Dragon Ctenophorus tuniluki iNaturalist | LC m | Thank you Ralph Foster & Sam Gordon (SamGordon) for identifying and Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Ctenophorus fordii was broken up into a number of different species. Here it is now represented by Ctenophorus spinodomus & Ctenophorus tuniluki. Note here that S4 is VERY dark, possibly about to moult. 5 specimens observed in Autumn & Winter: Mar(2), Apr(1) & Aug(2) Recorded between 13-Mar-2020 and 29-Aug-2020 | ||||||
| Red-barred Crevice Dragon Ctenophorus vadnappa iNaturalist | Na f | Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. 1M observed in Spring on 01-Oct-1999 | ||||||
| Nobbi Dragon Diporiphora nobbi iNaturalist | LC e m |
Thank you Asimakis Patitsas, Stephen Mahony & Scott Eipper for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Grey, sometimes with a pale brown star pattern around the eye. This varies with the angle of light. 2 silver grey stripes down the back, which can be solid or with diamond breaks or non-existant. Large rear legs (almost frog like) with very long toes. Jacky Lizards (Amphibolurus muricatus) are hard to tell from Nobbi Lizards, but we don't get Jacky's in our area. We've just discovered a species we do get in the area that is *very* similar, a Mallee Tree Dragon (Amphibolurus norrisi); these have yellow mouths but don't have coloured males. As such, we can be sure our males in breeding colours are D. nobbi. The SA Museum's "Key to the Dragons of South Australia" talks about Nobbi's having 3 or 5 "keel" lines. You can see them clearly in the photo's of the gravid females shown here; they are 5 lines of scales with longitudinal vertical projections. We recognise the gravid females by the bulging abdomen just forward of the rear legs. Males in breeding colours have yellow around the eye, 2 yellow dorsal stripes, a pinkish tail and red under-abdomen. Asimakis said "D. nobbi can appear superficially similar to A. norrisi, but the head is much more elongated and depressed in the latter, and the scalation is quite different overall. Subtle, but different. these two dragons have very interesting distributions in Southern SA." He indicated they are *very* rare on the western side of the Murray Valley, between the river and the MLR. 19(5M,4F,2J) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(3:2F,1J), Feb(1), Mar(3:1J), Jun(1), Aug(2), Oct(7:4M,1F), Nov(1F) & Dec(1M) Recorded between 07-Oct-2003 and 01-Oct-2017 | ||||||
| Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata iNaturalist | LC e m | Similar Species: Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) Thank you Ralph Foster for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. ~150mm SVL (Snout to Vent Length). These are very difficult to distinguish with the Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps). These have a curved spine line (behind the head) and many flank spines (not just one or 2 rows). One of the difficulties is that the skin has folds in the side. They can blow themselves up to look larger, or sitting normally the folds of skin bring the flank spines closer together. They are very variable in size, colour and attributes. We think the majority of these variations are due to age, environment & health. Suspecting the larger, more colourful specimens being older; and the smaller, grey ones being younger. Another indicator is that P barbata have yellow mouths, while P vitticeps have pink. Matt Campbell said Eastern Bearded Dragons have "Irregular rows of spines along the side." Asimakis Patitsas also said of Eastern; "the base of the tail has rings of enlarged scales". We actually find that a profile shot of the head seems to highlight the difference between these & V. vitticeps more easily; the ears on these have a deep grove behind them. V. vitticeps don't seem to. 6(1J) specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(2:1J), Aug(1), Oct(1) & Nov(2) Recorded between 26-Aug-2013 and 23-Mar-2026
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| Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps iNaturalist | LC m f r | Similar Species: Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) Thank you Darren Schmitke for identifying this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. 5 specimens observed in Autumn & Spring: Mar(1), Apr(1), Sep(2) & Oct(1) Recorded between 25-Sep-2009 and 05-Sep-2023 | ||||||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Gecko (Gekkota:Carphodactylidae); 1 species from Ellura | |||
| All our Gecko's have 5 fingers & 5 toes. | Barking Gecko Underwoodisaurus milii iNaturalist | LC e m a |
Thank you Stephen Mahony & Yingyod Lapwong for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. We've measured them from 35mm (juvi, S18) to 87mm (adult, S19) SVL (snout to vent length). We weighed a large one, (85mm svl, S15, with full tail), which came in at 17g. The juvi is the most colourful one we've come across. The yellow spots on the backs & sides of these occur in highly variable patterns, and are raised protuberances. Some of them are very rounded and some are nearly spiny. Underneath they have pink skin covered in white scales without any yellow protuberances. The feet have thin toes that are clawed, no "suction" pads. As such they can't climb glass or slippery hard surfaces. Notice S19 has lost it's tail in the past and regrown a new one. When this happen the new tail doesn't have any of the yellow spots, and is generally less colourful than the orginal tail. 22(2M,2F,2J) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(3), Feb(4:1M,1F), Mar(5:1M,1F,1J), Apr(2:1J), May(2), Jul(1), Aug(1), Sep(2), Oct(1) & Dec(1) Recorded between 01-Oct-2004 and 15-Mar-2026 |
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Gecko (Gekkota:Diplodactylidae); 4 species, 1 from Ellura | ||||
| All our Gecko's have 5 fingers & 5 toes. | Ranges Stone Gecko Diplodactylus furcosus iNaturalist | LC m r | Thank you David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) & Bruce Edley for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. A couple of these were found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. Easily confused with other Diplodactylus gecko's, having a variable wavy stripe on it's back, breaking up on the tail. The two we found ranged between ~50mm to ~60mm SVL. 2 specimens observed in Spring: Oct Recorded between 14-Oct-2019 and 17-Oct-2019 | |
| Beaded Gecko Lucasium damaeum iNaturalist | LC m r | Thank you David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. A few of these were found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. Quite unique in their patterning, two specimens here show the difference between the original tail & a regrown one. They have a very large "eyebrow" which generally looks yellow. The three we found ranged between ~35mm to ~50mm SVL. 3 specimens observed in Spring: Oct Recorded between 14-Oct-2019 and 15-Oct-2019 | ||
| Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko Strophurus intermedius iNaturalist | NT e m | Thank you Matthew Connors (Matthew_Connors) & Sam Gordon (SamGordon) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. ~50mm to 60mm SVL. S1 found by Matthew Connors when he came for a visit The "spines" are not sharp, quite rounded, and are pale orange. Can be seen more in profile shots of the tail, protruding above the other scales. They extend up on the abdomen, almost like wavy lines, to the neck behind the head. 2 specimens observed in Summer & Spring: Jan(1) & Sep(1) Recorded between 22-Jan-2025 and 13-Sep-2025 | ||
| Eastern Spiny-tailed Gecko Strophurus williamsi iNaturalist | NT r | Thank you Antoni Camozzato & Bruce Edley for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. We found one of these on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. An amazing eye pattern with knobs on it's tail; not really spines. The spines are in 2 rows of two that extend up to the front legs, becoming irregularly spaced. Overall a dusty grey colour. ~55mm SVL. 1 observed in Spring on 15-Oct-2019 | ||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Gecko (Gekkota:Gekkonidae); 3 species from Ellura | |||||
| All our Gecko's have 5 fingers & 5 toes. | Southern Marbled Gecko Christinus marmoratus iNaturalist | LC e m a | Thank you Yingyod Lapwong
for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Of the 4 we measured, they ranged in size from ~22mm to 50mm SVL (Snout to Vent Length). Feet are important diagnostics with geckos. So if you find one and photograph it, try to get a shot of it's toes. Even better try and get it on glass/clear plastic so you can get the underneath of toes & feet. Be very careful if you handle them though, a high proportion are infected with Salmonella. Plus they drop their tails very easily, which is an important energy store for lean times. Many specimens of this species have a row of diamond marks running down their tails; we suspect these disipate with age but haven't found any documentation related to them. We have found a gravid female with the marks so it's not just a juvenile trait. If you google these there is plenty of discussion about how they store calcium, visibule lumps, near their throat for egg production. They often have blue hues to their skin tone. With skinks, it's important to count the number of toes they have on both their front & back legs. Both sides too, as sometimes they loose fingers & toes, which is not obvious. However, all geckos have 5 fingers & 5 toes. But they have very different shaped fingers & toes, these have suction pads allowing them to climb slipery surfaces such as wet rocks & pebbles. As such, they can be found climbing glass. Louise Merigot researched their life span. Advice varies, but between 5 & 12 years in captivity. That's a long time. Generally in the wild you'd expect that to be shorter, perhaps at the 5 years end. Still quite a surprise. 10(1J) specimens observed in Summer, Autumn & Winter: Jan(1), Mar(4), Apr(3), May(1) & Jul(1J) Recorded between 29-Mar-2006 and 25-Apr-2020 | ||
| Southern Rock Dtella Gehyra lazelli iNaturalist | LC e m |
Thank you Yingyod Lapwong for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Of those we've measured, they were between ~43mm to ~55mm SVL; we just found a juvenile (S19) @ ~25mm SVL. Notice the unusual toes for Gehyra. They appear to have "suction pads" AND still one claw in the middle of each toe. These "suction pads" are actually lots of tiny hairs that are grippy and allow them to walk on smooth surfaces. Only 4 toes, of 5, have a claw (on each foot/hand) The individual can choose to drop it's tail if it feels in danger. The tail wriggles actively taking the predators attention while the gecko slips away. There are no vital organs in the tail, but it is used as a fuel store to help survive over winter. As such a lost tail at the end of the season could still be fatal if it can't replenish it's fuel store. Notice S13 has a divided/split/double tail. This only ever occurrs when the tail has been dropped and regrown. This is evident by the different colour/pattern of the tail. Skinks can also drop their tails if needed. Occasionally a gecko or skink is found with multiple tails (like S13 here). (JustAnExplorer) said "It typically happens when the tail is not completely dropped so a new one grows around it, giving it that forked look". Matt Campbell followed this up with "I've found skinks with 3 'tails' and I once saw a photo of one with 7! As mentioned above, it's where the fracture plane doesn't break the entire way across, so the original tail stays while a regen one grows out of the split." The 2025 South Australian Museum Gecko Key shows maps of Gehyra versicolor being only 20-30kms North of us; it's range starting around Blanchetown. They are very similar and can be separated by the white markings. We found a juvenile yesterday whose "white" markings were quite dark, so would be difficult to id to species if not for their range/location. 19(2F,2J) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(2), Feb(1F), Mar(1), Apr(2:1J), Jul(2), Aug(1J), Sep(3:1F), Nov(6) & Dec(1) Recorded between 07-Nov-2014 and 10-Apr-2026 | |||
| Bynoe's Gecko Heteronotia binoei iNaturalist | LC e m r | Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) & Yingyod Lapwong
for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes, with the toes being more finger like with claws underneath. Unlike other gecko's with suction pads under their tows. The 2 we measured were vastly different sizes. S2 being 50mm SVL & S3 being 25mm. As such we assume S3 is a juvenile. You can see S2 has lost it's tail at some point and regrown it. 4 specimens observed in Winter & Spring: Jun(1), Sep(2) & Oct(1) Recorded between 01-Jun-2011 and 14-Oct-2019 | |||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Flap-footed Lizard (Pygopodidae); 1 species from Ellura | |||
| Legless lizards don't have any legs, let along fingers & toes. | Burton's Legless Lizard Lialis burtonis iNaturalist | LC e m r |
Thank you Ralph Foster, Stephen Mahony & Yingyod Lapwong for confirming the id of this species for us While calles legless, they do have vestigial hind legs in the form of tiny flaps. They don't have any fingers or toes. 2 specimens observed in Spring: Sep(1) & Oct(1) Recorded between 08-Sep-2013 and 14-Oct-2019 |
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Skink (Scincidae); 19 species, 9 from Ellura | ||||||||
| Skinks break the mould here where the number of fingers & toes they have is variable & diagnostic for each species.. | Eastern Three-lined Skink Acritoscincus duperreyi iNaturalist | Na a | Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) for identifying and Asimakis Patitsas & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Matt said "This is one that you can make mistakes with around here (S.E. Victoria) where it occurs with one or more Pseudemoia species but as none of those are found in your area it has to be the Eastern Three-lined Skink." 1 observed in Spring on 26-Nov-2011 | |||||
| Speckled Wall Skink Cryptoblepharus pannosus iNaturalist | LC e m f |
Similar Species: Mallee Snake-eyed Skink (Morethia obscura) Thank you David Armstrong for identifying and Asimakis Patitsas, Stephen Mahony & Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. 6 specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(1), May(1), Aug(1), Sep(2) & Nov(1) Recorded between 15-May-2005 and 12-Nov-2025 | ||||||
| Short-clawed Comb-eared Skink Ctenotus inornatus iNaturalist | LC m r |
Thank you David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes, We found one of these on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. The least striped Ctenotus in the area, but with a yellow belly. 1 observed in Spring on 14-Oct-2019 | ||||||
| Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink Ctenotus orientalis iNaturalist | LC e m | Similar Species: Eastern Desert Comb-eared Skink (Ctenotus regius) Thank you Dr Mark Hutchinson & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. They are recorded as averaging 82mm long. However, of the 3 we've managed to catch we've recorded 2 at ~35mm & one at ~60mm. As such, we've labelled the smaller ones as juveniles. Even the 60mm one is small compared to 82mm; but perhaps the smaller ones are easier to catch? Extremely fast. Very hard to see, let alone photograph. The name "orientalis" doesn't refer to Asia as is commonly thought, but "of the East" as in "Eastern". We actually call them "Ellura Ghosts". We'll be walking Ellura and something will catch the corner of your eye on the ground. But by the time you turn your head it's gone. Eventually, with practice we managed to spot these. You can see their rear toes are so long; they help them run VERY quickly 18(1F,2J) specimens observed in Summer, Autumn & Spring: Jan(1), Feb(4:2J), Apr(4), May(1), Sep(3) & Oct(5:1F) Recorded between 10-Apr-2010 and 26-Apr-2026
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| Eastern Desert Comb-eared Skink Ctenotus regius iNaturalist | LC m f r | Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink (Ctenotus orientalis) Thank you Stephen Mahony, Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) & Bruce Edley for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 very long toes. We found a number of these on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. Very similar to the Eastern Spotted Ctenotus we find here at Ellura. The main difference is the solid line between the eye & the front shoulder seen here, missing on C. orientalis. There are a couple of specimens depicted here, we suspect S3 is an adult (~65mm SVL & less colourful) & S2 is a juvenile (less spotty). Unfortunately we didn't measure the size of S2. 4(1J) specimens observed in Spring: Sep(1) & Oct(3:1J) Recorded between 14-Oct-2019 and 11-Sep-2023 | ||||||
| Sandplain Comb-eared Skink Ctenotus schomburgkii iNaturalist | RA m r | Thank you Stephen Fricker for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 very long toes. We found many of these on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. Very orange stripes and spots, with a white belly. 6 specimens observed in Spring: Oct Recorded between 14-Oct-2019 and 16-Oct-2019 | ||||||
| Tree Skink Egernia striolata iNaturalist | RA m f r | Similar Species: White's Skink (Liopholis whitii) Thank you Asimakis Patitsas & David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. One of these was found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. A large, robust skink with subtle patterns. 7(1M,1F) specimens observed in Autumn & Spring: Apr(1), Sep(4:1M,1F), Oct(1) & Nov(1) Recorded between 13-Oct-2019 and 02-Apr-2026 | ||||||
| Broad-banded Sand-swimmer Eremiascincus richardsonii iNaturalist | LC m r | Thank you David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. We found a number of these on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. They have quite a bit of yellow around the mouth. The main specimen here lost it's tail at some point, with the 2nd one showing an original tail. 3 specimens observed in Spring: Oct(2) & Nov(1) Recorded between 08-Nov-2003 and 14-Oct-2019 | ||||||
| Mainland Three-toed Earless Skink Hemiergis decresiensis ssp continentis iNaturalist | LC e m a |
Thank you John Fowler, Dr Mark Hutchinson & Patrick Campbell for identifying and Asimakis Patitsas & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 3 fingers & 3 toes. John, & independantly Mark, identified S1 here, which we thought was Dwarf Three-toed Slider (Lerista timida). We had already worked out that S2 was Hemiergis decresiensis. Mark said "Clearly shows the big eyes and snub nose that distinguish Hemiergis from Lerista." Patrick then narrowed even further to sub-species. 8 specimens observed in Autumn, Winter & Spring: Mar(2), Jul(1), Aug(1), Sep(2), Oct(1) & Nov(1) Recorded between 13-Aug-2012 and 18-Mar-2026 | ||||||
| Four-toed Earless Skink Hemiergis peronii iNaturalist | LC e m p |
Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us 4 fingers & 4 toes; which are all quite short. ~60-75mm SNVL 4 specimens observed in Summer, Winter & Spring: Feb(1), Jun(2) & Oct(1) Recorded between 05-Oct-2019 and 02-Feb-2026 | ||||||
| Copperhead Skink Lampropholis guichenoti iNaturalist | RA m a |
Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) for identifying and Asimakis Patitsas & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. ~35mm for S3, ~44mm SVL (Snout to Vent length) for S5 Gravid Female & ~40mm for S6. These get some very metallic blue sheen in the right light. 8(1F,1J) specimens observed in Summer, Autumn & Spring: Jan(2), Feb(2:1F), Mar(1), Apr(1), Nov(1J) & Dec(1) Recorded between 21-Apr-2009 and 24-Feb-2019 | ||||||
| Spotted Slider Lerista punctatovittata iNaturalist | LC e m r |
Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS), Max Tibby & Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming the id of this species for us 1 finger & 2 toes. A couple of these were found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. Specimen 1 had an amputated toe and was ~85mm SVL. S3 was found on Ellura. As you can see in the photo's, these have very reduced legs and look like snakes when sliding along. The body has an indent which the front legs fit into when digging thru sand. 3 specimens observed in Summer & Spring: Jan(1) & Oct(2) Recorded between 15-Oct-2019 and 16-Jan-2022 | ||||||
| Desert Skink Liopholis inornata iNaturalist | NT m r | Thank you Bruce Edley for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. One of these was found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. It was ~75mm SVL Notice the eye's pupil is more square/diamond shaped rather than perfectly round. With the eye-lid it'd be easily confused with the more southern located White's Skink (Liopholis whitii). 1 observed in Spring on 16-Oct-2019 | ||||||
| White's Skink Liopholis whitii iNaturalist | Na a | Similar Species: Tree Skink (Egernia striolata) Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) for identifying this species for us 5 fingers & 5 toes. Matt said "Whilst a particularly dark specimen, this is the plain backed form of Liopholis whitii. Immediately recognisable as a Liopholis species, the small black patch containing the white spot (usually 1 to 3) above the forelimb and the pale upper lip give it away." 1 observed in Autumn on 13-Mar-2010 | ||||||
| Dwarf Skink Menetia greyii iNaturalist | LC e m r | Thank you Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS) & Graham Armstrong
for confirming the id of this species for us 4 fingers and 5 toes. ~35mm snout to vent length. Like most skinks, they are variable. The one we found was dark coppery brown above with a dark stripe down each side and pale underneath. The ears opening are minute, hence appears to be earless. 4(1J) specimens observed in Summer & Spring: Feb(1J) & Oct(3) Recorded between 01-Oct-2018 and 08-Feb-2021 | ||||||
| South-eastern Morethia Skink Morethia boulengeri iNaturalist | LC e m f |
Thank you Stephen Fricker, Stephen Mahony & Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming the id of this species for us 4 fingers and 5 toes. The 1st specimen we found was small at ~44mm SVL. Weighting ~1.6gm The eybrow shot shows the single supraciliary scales interlocking; as opposed to 2 for M. obscura. With S2 & S3 you can see the strong red throat colour of the male in breeding colours. 3(2M) specimens observed in Spring: Sep Recorded between 13-Sep-2019 and 13-Sep-2024 | ||||||
| Mallee Snake-eyed Skink Morethia obscura iNaturalist | LC e m | Similar Species: Speckled Wall Skink (Cryptoblepharus pannosus) Thank you Stephen Fricker & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us 4 fingers and 5 toes. We haven't managed to catch any yet, so don't have an measurments We can see two supraciliary scales interlocking; as opposed to 1 for M. boulengeri Stephen Mahony said "The supraciliaries are certainly right for M. obscura." 7(2M) specimens observed in Summer, Autumn & Spring: Jan(1), Apr(2), Oct(2:1M), Nov(1) & Dec(1M) Recorded between 07-Oct-2012 and 21-Dec-2016
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| Eastern Shingleback Tiliqua rugosa ssp aspera iNaturalist | LC e m f r |
Thank you Antoni Camozzato, Alan Melville, Geoffrey Cox & Michele Chiacchio for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers and 5 toes. Very variable in colour. Also called "stumpy" due to its short fat tail, or "Sleepy" cause they are often seen sleeping on roads, but they can move pretty quickly! If they feel threatened they will gape their mouth at you to bite and keep turning to face you if you circle them. Antoni highlighted to us that this is the only sub-species in SA, the other three being found in WA. Wendy Hayward said "Females have an arrow shaped head, males broader all over. Larger size head to body too. They mate for life but only come together for breeding season." 42(5M,5F,2J) specimens observed in Every Season: Jan(4), Feb(1), Mar(2:1J), Apr(1), May(1), Aug(4), Sep(5), Oct(16:3M,3F,1J), Nov(4:1M,1F) & Dec(4:1M,1F) Recorded between 11-Oct-2003 and 21-Feb-2026 | ||||||
| Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides ssp scincoides iNaturalist | LC m a c |
Thank you Mark Hura & (JudeBirder) for confirming the id of this species for us 5 fingers and 5 toes. 3 specimens observed in Spring: Oct Recorded between 14-Oct-2007 and 16-Oct-2022 | ||||||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Venomous snake (Serpentes:Elapidae); 4 species, 2 from Ellura | ||||||
| Snakes don't have any legs, let alone fingers & toes. | Australia Coral Snake Brachyurophis australis iNaturalist | RA m r | Thank you Prakrit Jain for confirming the id of this species for us Two of these were found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. A small beautiful snake with 2 black patches on it's head & neck. Specimen 2 was ~260mm long (full length as we aren't sure where the vent is, we weren't able get ventral shots). The dorsal area is covered with large red patches, of varying widths, separated by white & black diamonds. This gives it a very striped appearance. They have a curious snout, like a curved up lip. Shown here is the 1st specimen at the point of release. The 2nd specimen was covered in sand which hid the patterns, but we managed to get the shape of the stout in one shot. 2 observed in Spring on 14-Oct-2019 | |||
| Yellow-faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophis iNaturalist | DD m r | Thank you David Muirhead (DaveMMDave) for confirming the id of this species for us One of these was found on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. The black teardrop and pale/yellow highlights is quite unique. 1 observed in Spring on 18-Oct-2019 | ||||
| Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis iNaturalist | LC e m a | Thank you Connor Margetts for identifying and Matt Campbell (MattCampbellAUS), Ralph Foster, Mark Hura, Asimakis Patitsas, James Nankivell, Adam Brice & Michael Jacobi for confirming the id of this species for us S6 shows an Eastern Brown Snake, eating an Eastern Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa ssp aspera). This sequence was taken over 35 minutes. The shingleback was a very small one. We estimate the snake was about 1.5m long. We were surprised it seemed to be using a python like mechanism to kill it's prey. We believe this will sustain the snake for over a month. HD, who used to keep Brown Snakes, observed "They generally killed by constricting and invenomated to assist digestion." Oskar Schiller kindly shared his expertise by saying "To shed some light on the coiling seen by the eastern brown here, it is quite common. Unlike other elapids the eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is commonly seen to use this technique along with utilizing venom. My understanding is that it is a failsafe plan to ensure that the prey cant run away into an inaccessible location or harm/injure the snake before the venom can take effect. In addition the eastern brown seen is quite large in comparison to the small shingleback as you outlined so I would be surprised if it couldn't give an envenomating bite as they are known predators of the species." 6(1J) specimens observed in Summer & Spring: Jan(1), Sep(2), Oct(2:1J) & Dec(1) Recorded between 16-Oct-2013 and 28-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Dwyer's Snake Suta dwyeri iNaturalist | LC e m |
Thank you Oskar Schiller (OSchiller) for confirming the id of this species for us ~290mm long. These were thought to be Suta nigriceps (previously Parasuta nigriceps), but recent research shows the Murraylands species to be Suta dwyeri. While these are not known to be dangerous to humans, they are venomous and can easily be confused with dangerous snakes; eg baby brown snake, etc. 1 observed in Spring on 17-Oct-2025 | ||||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Python (Serpentes:Pythonidae); 1 species, none from Ellura | |||
| Snakes don't have any legs, let alone fingers & toes. | Inland Carpet Snake Morelia spilota ssp metcalfei iNaturalist | P-R m | Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us 1 observed in Autumn on 27-Mar-2011 |
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Blind Snake (Serpentes:Typhlopidae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura | ||||||
| Snakes don't have any legs, let alone fingers & toes. | Southern Blind Snake Anilios bicolor iNaturalist | LC m r |
Thank you Bruce Edley for confirming the id of this species for us Daren found one of these at night on an expedition North of here, with a team of people helping with id's. He came knocking at the caravan door looking for a container to put it in to identify it. We weren't using a camera flash on this expidition, so got a strong light out to get some clear photo's. But it clearly agittated the snake, so didn't persist. While much darker (ie black) than the reddish A. bituberculatus specimens we've seen, we have seen reddish A. bicolor photo's on-line, as such, this colour variation is not diagnostic. The spine was very obvious and it seemed to try and bury it in a finger, which felt scratchy. Shorter than the A. bituberculatus we've found at ~200mm long, making it look quite stubby/fat. 1 observed in Spring on 15-Oct-2019 | |||
| Rough-nosed Blind Snake Anilios bituberculatus iNaturalist | LC e m r |
Thank you Stephen Mahony, James Nankivell & Tony and Jenny Dominelli (Cinclosoma) for confirming and Darren Schmitke for helping with the id of this species for us We've now found 3 at Ellura. Very hard to measure their length but we estimate the 1st here was ~300mm, while the 2nd two were ~200mm. These are all small, with a considered average length being ~450mm. Went to go to the loo and was frightened by this little fellow. At first we were concerned it was a baby brown. It looked like a very large, very active worm. This was a strong hint it was a blind snake, but we weren't taking any chances. These are non-venomous. Darren says the brown spot on it's back is probably due to a previous injury. Unlike their common name suggests they aren't quite blind. They burrow and live underground, so have a scale covering each eye for protection, but it is beleived they can still determine light levels and possibly general shapes. We accidentally dug it up, in the garden, the specimen in the last photos. Worried we had killed it we kept it inside for the afternoon to monitor it's condition. It seemed fine, and they are nocturnal, so released it that evening. 5 specimens observed in Summer & Spring: Jan(1) & Oct(4) Recorded between 24-Oct-2014 and 05-Jan-2022 | ||||
| Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia) - Scaled Reptiles (Squamata) - Goanna (Varanidae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura | ||||
| All our Goannas have 5 fingers & 5 toes. These are the only Lizards we have that have a forked tongue, like snakes, used to "smell". In Australia, this family only has one genus, Veranus (Goanna or Monitor Lizard). Surprisingly there are 33 recognised Veranus species, with 8 recorded in SA on Atlas. While Goanna's are not at all hostile, they will defend themselves. If you are too still they can also think you are a tree and injure you climbing you. As you can see by their powerful claws, they are can inflict severe lacerations without trying. Like most of our wildlife, beautiful to study from a distance, but not to be interacted with. | Sand Goanna Varanus gouldii iNaturalist | LC e m | Thank you Ralph Foster, Max Tibby, Ernst Weiher & Richard D Reams for confirming the id of this species for us We were able to measure S18 as we photographed along a fence, and photographed a rule along the fence and were able to deduce it was ~290mm SVL; ~700mm tip to tail. This is normal adult size. More colourful when younger, turning more grey as they age. Sometimes when walking around Ellura we'll hear a thumping near by, turn and see the back of one lifting dust as it disappears - no chance of a photograph Recently (Summer 2020/21) we have had a "resident" around the campsite. It's young, ~400mm long (SVL-not including the tail), and seems quite placid. Happy to sit there (but forever watching) as we move about; got some close up shots. She's labelled S7. We saw a pair mating, 9th Nov 2021 (S8 & S9); S9 had the tip of his tail missing and an injured eye. S18 is shedding it's skin. 18(1M,1F) specimens observed in Summer, Autumn & Spring: Jan(1), Feb(3), Mar(2), Sep(1), Oct(1), Nov(8:1M,1F) & Dec(3) Recorded between 07-Nov-2003 and 23-Feb-2026 | |
| Lace Monitor Varanus varius iNaturalist | P-R m f | Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us These climb trees, unlike sand goanna's. They also don't like the heat as much, and so are generally restricted to wetter areas of the country. Surprisingly a nearby neighbour has spotted one on their semi-arid property! 2 specimens observed in Spring: Oct(1) & Nov(1) Recorded between 26-Oct-2011 and 02-Nov-2021 | ||
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