Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink
S14, Juvi, profile, close
Ellura
Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink
S13, Head
 
                      
Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink (Ctenotus orientalis)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia)
Order: Scaled Reptiles (Squamata)
Family: Skink (Scincidae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Eastern Spotted Comb-eared Skink (Ctenotus orientalis)
This Photo:     🔍S13, anterior🔎

Thank you Dr Mark Hutchinson & Stephen Mahony for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
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


Similar Species: Eastern Desert Comb-eared Skink (Ctenotus regius)

Copyright © 2018-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 11-Oct-2018
This species is classed as LC (Least Concern) in the Murray Mallee, SA, by DENR (Regional Species Status Assessments, July 2010)