Liopholis whitii

White's Skink at Mount Clear, ACT

Liopholis whitii at Mount Clear, ACT - 10 Nov 2015
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Identification history

Liopholis whitii 14 Dec 2016 GeoffRobertson
Liopholis whitii 14 Dec 2016 GeoffRobertson
Unidentified 7 Jan 2016 SuziBond

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Significant sighting

8 Jan 2016

Exciting observation. Tan-backed skink was only described in 2002. This may be the first record outside Kosciuszko National Park and the first in the ACT.

8 comments

   8 Jan 2016
Possibly the first recorded in the ACT.
wombey wrote:
   12 Dec 2016
Geoff, why are we calling these montana. All populations outside Tasmania can have unmarked dorsal patterns and even in this animal I can see a faint vertical mark about the forelimb, albeit a little less convincing than the others I have highlighted. I stand corrected but I think at least three of these are whitii.
   12 Dec 2016
John, I came across L montana in a Reptiles of NSW book which I cannot put my hands on right now. (Books constantly move here.) I notice that Wilson and Gerry Swan (2003) do not have L montana and talk about two forms of L whitii. Do you agree that L montana is a separate species, or just a form of L whitii. If yes, how do you tell them apart?
wombey wrote:
   13 Dec 2016
Although I am not familiar with them in the field, according to the literature, whitii always has that vertical white bar or spots surrounded by black above the forearm, this is considered diagnostic. The colour pattern on the back of whitii can be marked or plain in all populations except in Tasmania. Of the four montana listed here so far all but one fits this description. The only proper montana has nothing like it above the forearm and can be clearly seen in the one submitted, and on the image in Wilson and Swan, 2010 page 307, third Ed. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, the other three should be changed to whitii!
   14 Dec 2016
John, I am happy to make the changes that you suggest. I suggest the following change to the description of White's Skink.

White’s Skink is the most common species throughout the region while the Snowy Mountains and Tan-back Skink very restricted in to small isolated populations. White’s Skink is a somewhat variable species and is sometimes referred to as a White’s Skink complex; suggesting that more research is required into its taxonomy. White’s Skink has two distinct forms, both have striped backs but one has yellow markings along the other stripes (as does the Snowy Mountains Skink) and the other does not have these yellow markings. Interestingly, White’s Skink in Tasmania does not the form with the yellowing markings on its back. According to the literature, White’s Skink always has that vertical white bar or spots surrounded by black above the forearm; this is considered diagnostic. Neither of the other species have this feature.
wombey wrote:
   14 Dec 2016
That sounds ok. If you make the changes to the three whitii now listed as montana I concure.
   16 Dec 2016
John, I have made the necessary changes. Thanks for clarifying this. It isn great that we are improving this as we go.
wombey wrote:
   17 Dec 2016
Yes, sorry it took so long for me to pick up on this, but all good now. We should be on top of this from now on.

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 10 Nov 2015 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • SuziBond Recorded by

Species information

  • Liopholis whitii Scientific name
  • White's Skink Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 1468.5m Recorded at altitude
  • 85 images trained Machine learning

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