Eulamprus tympanum at Booth, ACT

Eulamprus tympanum

Southern Water Skink at Booth, ACT

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Identification history

	Eulamprus tympanum	6 Nov 2017	WillO
	Eulamprus heatwolei	6 Nov 2017	JohnBundock

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3 comments

WillO wrote:

7 Nov 2017

Water skinks can be very hard to identify from a single photograph. I am pretty sure this is Eulamprus tympanum - it lacks the pale mark along the dorso-lateral area from above shoulder to above forelimb that E. heatwolei has. I can see what is probably a pale front edge to the ear opening (although in my experience this character is unreliable). Subjectively I have found that E. tympanum always seems to have a rounder head profile (boof head) compared to E. heatwolei with its slightly flattened look to the head. My guess is that you saw this on the valley floor in cold air drainage basin near a swampy creek or bog.

JohnBundock wrote:

7 Nov 2017

You are correct with the location description.

PatrickCampbell wrote:

24 Jun 2018

Very good insight into subtleties of appearance, reliability of distinguishing characteristics and microhabitat preferences between these two species WillO.

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