a guide to australian lizards in captivity

reptilepublications

A Guide to…

Australian LIZA

RDS in Captivity By D

r Danny Brow

n BVSc (H

ons) Bsc (Hons)

reptilepublications

By Dr Danny Brown BVSc (Hons) BSc (Hons)

AUSTRALIAN

IN CAPTIVITY

A Guide to… Limited editionby Dr Danny Brown BVSc (Hons) BSc (Hons)

944 Pages

3000 Colour Photos

EnquiriEs and OrdErsEmail: [email protected] Phone: 07 5568 0011 (Australia) +61 7 5568 0011 (International)Postal: PO Box 2330 Burleigh BC, Queensland 4220Web: www.reptilepublications.com

oRdeR YoUR CoPY noW

172 l AustrAliAn lizArds

breeding

Indentation in the nesting substrate is a sure sign of test digs or nesting

Eggs are invariably laid away from the nest entrance—Varanus ‘kuranda’

Most species such as this Eremiascincus richardsonii dig an enlarged cavity at the end of the burrow in which to place their eggs

Eggs are usually laid on or near the bottom of the container—Oedura marmorata

If suitable nest sites are not provided, some females will lay in the nearest darkened cavity, Lucasium steindachneri

Embryo spots are often quite obvious in dragon eggs, such as this Pogona vitticeps

Monitor eggs generally do not display obvious embryo spots, but do display visible pale germinal rings, Varanus tristis

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AustrAliAn lizArds l 173

Breeding

a container, simply tip the container into another bowl or tray. Spread the substrate so that it acts as a cushion for the eggs that follow—eggs are usually laid on the bottom of the container, therefore, a good cushioning layer will be tipped into place before the eggs appear. If the eggs are laid in the substrate, the entire clutch may be scooped up and sorted out away from the enclosure. Over the past 25 years I have never associated a failed egg with the use of this method.

Once the eggs have been tipped out, they need to be repositioned using candling. This involves the use of a bright, cool light source, such as a small incandescent torch or LED torch, to shine a light through the egg. While rotating the egg slowly and gently, two distinct sides should be visible—a yellow side and a pink side. The yellow side represents the yolk side of the egg and the pink side represents the embryonic side. The eggs should be positioned in the incubation container with the pink side facing upwards.

Gecko eggs are among the hardest to candle, as substrate often adheres to them. However, they are still easy to reposition thanks to their obvious blood vessels.

Pygopod eggs are easy to candle and generally free from substrate.Dragon and skinks eggs are very easy to candle—the embryonic side is often visible to the

naked eye without the need for illumination. Monitor eggs are somewhat difficult to candle, as they are laid at a very early stage of

embryonic development, meaning a pink side is not usually evident. A pale circle—known as the germinal disk, where the embryo will start to develop over the next week or so—is usually visible. Eggs should be placed with the germinal disk up.

Determining Egg Viability

There is little benefit incubating eggs that have no likelihood of hatching. Therefore, it is important to be able to identify which eggs are viable—of adequate quality and fertility. Viability should be assessed pre-incubation—at the time of collection and post-incubation—for 10−20 days following incubation.

Pre-incubation indicators of non-viable eggs are:•Yellowish coloured eggs. Good quality eggs are generally a clean, white colour.•Sunken eggs. Particularly if other eggs in the clutch appear normal.•Soft and squishy eggs. Eggs that indent easily may indicate drying or non-viability. •Firmness. Viable eggs are generally plump and slightly compressible like a well inflated

balloon. Eggs that are hard are often referred to as ‘slugs’ and are infertile, non-viable eggs.

Candling involves holding the egg over a cool, bright light

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LEfT:‘Pink side up’—the pink side represents the embryonic side. This should be placed upwards in the incubation containerRIGHT:The yellow side of the egg represents the yolk side. This should be placed downwards in the incubation container


Ring-tailed geckos

The five mainland species can be distinguished using the following key to Australian Cyrtodactylus (adapted from Shea et al 2011):

1a Number of scales in femoroprecloacal scale row <50 ....................................................21b Number of scales in femoroprecloacal scale row <50 ....................................................42a Anterior and posterior margins of body bands dark, femoral/cloacal pores continuous from knee to knee ....................................................32b Only posterior margins of body bands dark, femoral/cloacal pores in three patches separated by imperforate scales ...............................C. mcdonaldi3a Dark bars in the pale interspace area and 38−44 midbody ventral scale rows ...........................................................................................C. hoskini3b No bars (occasionally spots) in the pale interspace area and 24−37 midbody ventral scale rows .....................................................................C. tuberculatus4a Body band anterior margin sharply defined, forelimb with small tubercles .......................................................................... C. adorus 4b Body band anterior margin not sharply defined, forelimb with sparse to absent tubercles ...................................................... C. pronarus

There are no recognised subspecies of ring-tailed geckos. The Kimberley Ring-tailed Gecko C. kimberleyensis is known from a single gravid female.

They are very small and are genetically more related to those species from Timor and neighbouring islands, than to species from eastern Australia.

From a captive perspective, there is additional confusion as most archival references to members of Cyrtodactylus in the louisiadensis complex kept in captivity overseas actually referred to C. irianjayensis, which originates from New Guinea and the Solomon

Islands. Morphologically, these are obviously different—C. irianjayensis has ragged edges to its body stripes, whereas the Coastal Ring-tailed Gecko C. tuberculatus and the Inland Ring-tailed Gecko C. mcdonaldi have smooth-edged stripes.

Body comparison of Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus (left) and Cyrtodactylus mcdonaldi

Dorsal body scales of Cyrtodactylus mcdonaldi

Forelimb scales of Cyrtodactylus mcdonaldi showing sparse, large scales

Head comparison of Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus (left) and Cyrtodactylus mcdonaldi

Consistent dark marks within the interspace area and vertebral projections of the dark body bands is diagnostic of Cyrtodactylus hoskini

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Dorsal body scales of Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus

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Forelimb scales of Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus showing numerous large scales

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Ring-tailed geckos

In the WIld

Distribution anD Habitat Cytrodactylus is a large genus distributed across a wide area from the western Pacific Ocean to southern Europe. There are currently six Australian species of Cyrtodactylus, although Cyrtodactylus sadleiri from Christmas Island is technically a seventh Australian species as it occurs in an Australian territory. Australian Ring-tailed geckos are found in north-eastern Queensland from Chillagoe to Cape York and offshore from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Habitat varies from dry, inland granite outcrops and coastal rainforest to the giant black boulders of Black Mountain, near Cooktown, Queensland. It may also be found around farms and in urban areas adjacent to its natural habitat.

Behaviour is primarily nocturnal, although I have observed specimens moving around rock crevices in the late afternoon. They forage on the ground among foliage and vines, on tree trunks and logs, and among rock fissures and non-vertical boulders.

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LEFt:habitat of Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus, Black Mountain, Queensland

riGHt:habitat of Cyrtodactylus hoskini, William thompson Range, Cape York, Queensland

habitat of Cyrtodactylus mcdonaldi, Chillagoe, Queensland


Blue-TongueD anD ShingleBack SkinkS

Features of the Eastern Blue-tongued Skink T. s. scincoides include:•Avaryingbackgroundcolourrangingfrommustardyellowtobrownandsilver-grey.•Sixtoninepalebandsbetweentheneckandhipsand7–10palebandsonthetail.•Palebandsaregenerallyseparatedbydarker,irregularbands.Thedarkerbandsmaybe

suffusedwithpalerbrownventrally.•Somepalerscalesmayhavelateraldarkedgesthatappearasthin,darkstripesrunning

longitudinally.Whencombined,thesecreatevariablethindarkstripesrunningdownthebody.

•Specimens from the southern part of the range possess strong eye stripes (temporalstripes)andaredarkeroverallwithmoredarkbodybandsandtailbands.Features of the Northern Blue-tongued Skink T. s. intermedia include:

•Largermaximumsize.•Varyingbackgroundcolourrangingfrompaletanandsilvertoivorywhite.•Pale bands that are brighter in colour—often yellowish or orange—and more intense

ventrally.•Thedarkbandsarelessdiscrete,becomingvariegatedandoftenobscuredbypalerdorsal

scalesandbecomingblackeronthesides.Thevariegationisgenerallythesameshadeofcolourasthetopofthehead.

•Dorsalvariegationsthatmergeandformasoliddorsalstripe,oftencontinuouswiththenapeanddorsalhead—particularlyinsomespecimensfromthewesternpartoftherange.Variegationsinthesespecimensmaybepepperedwithblack.

•Bandingonthetailthatmaybecompletelyobscuredbyvariegation.Partoftheconfusionamongcaptivespecimensisthathybridsbetweenthetwosubspecies

havemuddiedthedistinguishingfeatures.Itisnotclearifanaturalintergradezoneexistsinthewildorifthesubspeciesaresufficientlyseparatedbyenvironmentalfactorstokeepthemisolated.

Tiliqua scincoides scincoides—typical side and back patterning of a southern specimen

Tiliqua scincoides scincoides—typical side and back patterning of a northern specimen

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Tiliqua scincoides intermedia—typical side and back patterning of a Northern Territory specimen

Tiliqua scincoides intermedia—typical side and back patterning of a Western Australian specimen


Blue-TongueD anD ShingleBack SkinkS

The Shingleback Skink T. rugosa is separated into four subspecies—T. rugosa rugosa, T. rugosa aspera, T. rugosa pallara and T. rugosa konowi.

T. r. rugosa is found in the south-west of Western Australia and is distinguished by its variable colour, larger ear opening, irregular pale bands and pale head—often flushed with orange.

T. r. aspera is found from the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia to eastern Queensland and is distinguished by its more robust build, shorter and thicker tail, wrinkled scales and varying colour. It does not have a pale head.

T. r. pallara is found on the mid-west coast of Western Australia from Shark Bay to Carnarvon and is distinguished by its relatively narrow and dark head, small ear opening, pale streaks and spots and large brown mid-ventral patch.

T. r. konowi is found on Rottnest Island, Western Australia, and is smaller than the nominate with a narrower head and darker, less variable colour. It is generally dark grey with paler peppering above and below.

T. gigas from New Guinea also has subspecies allocated.

In the WIld

Distribution anD Habitat Blue-tongued and shingleback skinks are distributed throughout Australia. Their range varies according to species.

The Centralian Blue-tongued Skink T. multifasciata is found throughout central Australia from Queensland to Western Australia.

Comparison of members of the Tiliqua family. From left to right: Tiliqua nigrolutea, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, Tiliqua multifasciata, Tiliqua occipitalis, Tiliqua scincoides intermedia, Tiliqua rugosa rugosa, Tiliqua rugosa aspera

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CrEViCE sKinKs And tHEir AlliEd spECiEs

Egernia depressa, Leonora, Western Australia

Egernia eos, Warburton, Western Australia

Egernia ‘stokesii’, Woolgorong Station, Western Australia

Egernia stokesii badia, Shark Bay, Western Australia

Egernia depressa, Western Australia

Egernia stokesii zellingi, Longreach, Queensland

Egernia stokesii zellingi, Longreach, Queensland

Egernia saxatilis intermedia, Victoria

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CrEViCE sKinKs And tHEir AlliEd spECiEs

Egernia saxatilis saxatilis, the Warrumbungles, New South Wales

Egernia formosa, Leonora, Western Australia

Egernia kingii, Yallingup, Western Australia

Egernia kingii, Cheyne Beach, Western Australia

Egernia ‘roomi’, Mount Kaputar, New South Wales

Egernia formosa, Karijini, Western Australia

Egernia kingii, Penguin Island, Western Australia

Egernia kingii, Western Australia

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DESCRIPTION

Adults Slender blue-tongued skinks and the Pink-tongued Skink C. gerrardii are of medium to large size with long bodies, short limbs and glossy scales.

They range in size—the smallest species the Common Slender Blue-tongued Skink C. branchialis measures 88mm SVL and the largest species the Giant Slender Blue-tongued Skink C. maximus measures 232mm SVL. The majority of species in this group measure 100–200mm SVL.

A typical specimen measuring an average length of 130mm SVL will weigh an average of 55 grams.

Colouration varies—most species are generally red-brown to grey-brown with transversely arranged spots and banding that form intricate patterns.

The common name ‘She-oak Skink’ is a rather misleading name for these skinks and does not reflect either an association with the She-oak tree, Casuarina species, nor their ventral patterning which might be said to resemble the She-oak seedpods. The etymology stems from the species name Cyclodomorphus casuarinae—once a species complex that has since been split repeatedly—and is in honour of ‘The Casuarina’, a French exploration schooner ship used by the Baudin expedition in 1902.

Juveniles Juveniles vary in colouration to the adult. Their markings are more pronounced than the adult, the contrast between colours greater and their banding darker. They develop adult colouration from 4−6 months of age. They are generally 15−30% of average adult size and achieve adult proportions at 18−30 months of age.

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Newborn Cyclodomorphus gerrardii, typical colour form

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Newborn Cyclodomorphus gerrardii, patternless formCyclodomorphus gerrardii have large litters of very small babies

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Slender Blue-Tongued and Pink-Tongued SkinkS


Slender Blue-Tongued and Pink-Tongued SkinkS

Sexing This group of skinks can be difficult to sex as adults.

Females generally have longer trunks than males of the same SVL in order to have enough space for developing offspring. Females are also bulkier in build with wider and more rectangular heads, whereas males have narrower more triangular heads.

Adult males display obvious hemipenal bulges that may be viewed from behind with the tail elevated to 45 degrees or more. They appear as raised tubular bodies with a central depression. In comparison, the tail base of the female appears rounder and narrower.

Hemipenal transillumination has been used on the Tasmanian She-oak Skink C. casuarinae and the Mainland She-oak Skink C. michaeli. Heavy scalation and dark pigmentation of the tail may make this technique difficult to perform on other species.

Hemipenal popping can be used on juveniles and sub adults, although this can be difficult with these species. The absence of a popped hemipene does not imply female gender, as some males are difficult to pop.

All species in this group are difficult to sex as juveniles.

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Head shape variation of Cyclodomorphus gerrardii female (bottom) and male

CENTRE:Head shape of a Cyclodomorphus gerrardii male

RIGHT:Head shape of a Cyclodomorphus gerrardii female

Head shape variation of Cyclodomorphus michaeli, female (bottom) and male

Head shape variation of Cyclodomorphus casuarinae, female (left) and male

LEFT:Ventral view of a Cyclodomorphus michaeli male

RIGHT:Ventral view of a Cyclodomorphus michaeli female

Cyclodomorphus gerrardii male. When viewed from behind, the depression between the hemipenes of a male is usually quite visible and the tail base is broader

Cyclodomorphus gerrardii female. When viewed from behind, the tail base of the female is more rounded and narrower

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Bearded dragons

618 l australian lizards

Preanal and femoral pores are much larger and more visible in males. They are not well developed until maturity in some species.

Hemipenal transillumination can be used on hatchlings and small sub adults—this may need to be achieved in a side-on position in sub adults. Thick tail scales together with changes in pigmentation as a result of handling may make this technique difficult to perform on older specimens.

Hemipenal popping can be used, although this can be difficult with some individuals. Harlow’s technique can be used on hatchlings.

Subspecies Pogona henrylawsoni is often incorrectly referred to as Pogona brevis or Pogona rankini—both these names are synonymous with, but have been superseded by P. henrylawsoni—as have the common names Rankin’s, Down’s or Lawson’s Dragons.

The Dwarf Bearded Dragon P. minor is the only species in this group with recognised subspecies and comprises P. minor minor, P. minor minima and P. minor mitchelli. Some herpetologists have elevated these to full species status.

P. m. minor ranges from western South Australia across most of the southern half of Western Australia. It has a uniform, longitudinal row of spines across the nape, from the back of the eye to just above the ear, and a mouth that varies in colour from yellow in the south of the range to pink in the north of the range.

P. m. minima is only found on Houtman Abrolhos Island off the coast of Western Australia. It is similar in appearance to the nominate form, but smaller with a more slender build and a longer tail and limbs.

Head scalation of Pogona vitticeps

Head scalation of Pogona minor minima

Head scalation of Pogona minor mitchelli

Head scalation of Pogona henrylawsoni

Head scalation of Pogona barbata

Head scalation of Pogona ‘vitticeps’ Barkly Tablelands Form

Head scalation of Pogona minor minor

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Bearded dragons

australian lizards l 619

P. m. mitchelli is found in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It has a larger and broader head and brighter colouration than the nominate and its nape spines are arranged in two clusters of irregularly-sized spines, rather than a single uniform line. Due to the fact that the differentiating features are subjective at best, I personally feel that subspecies status is more acceptable than elevation to full species status.

There are numerous locality-specific populations of Central Bearded Dragons P. vitticeps that may warrant subspecies differentiation. For example, specimens from the Barkly Tablelands, Queensland, form a population of dwarf specimens less than 200mm SVL. These dragons are pale in colour with distinctive gold ocelli along the back, spines on the nape that form a shallow ‘V’, as well as lateral body spines in multiple rows. They have large tail spines arranged in loose, concentric rings. They are often referred to as ‘Northern Beardeds’.

Lateral body spines of Pogona vitticeps

Head patterning of Pogona vitticeps hatchling

Tail spines of Pogona vitticeps, larger spines positioned laterally

Lateral body spines of Pogona barbata showing multiple spine rows

Head patterning of Pogona barbata hatchling showing hazard symbol

Tail spines of Pogona barbata, larger spines in concentric rings

Lateral body spines of Pogona ‘vitticeps’ Barkly Tablelands Form showing multiple spine rows

Ventral view Head patterning of Pogona mitchelli hatchling

Tail spines of Pogona ‘vitticeps’ Barkly Tablelands Form, larger spines in loose concentric rings

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lArGE tErrEstriAl And ArBOrEAl MOnitOrs

Varanus gouldii flavirufus, Windorah, Queensland

Varanus gouldii flavirufus, Windorah, Queensland

Varanus gouldii flavirufus, Port Hedland, Western Australia

Varanus gouldii flavirufus, Ethabuka Station, Queensland

Varanus gouldii flavirufus, Roxby Downs, South Australia

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Varanus gouldii gouldii, Moreton Island, Queensland

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Varanus gouldii gouldii, Mungo, New South Wales

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Varanus gouldii gouldii, Girraween, Queensland

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lArGE tErrEstriAl And ArBOrEAl MOnitOrs

Varanus spenceri, Winton, Queensland

Varanus gouldii gouldii, Gluepot, South Australia

Varanus spenceri, Julia Creek, Queensland

Varanus varius, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

Varanus spenceri, Dajarra, Queensland

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Varanus varius, the Warrumbungles, New South Wales

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Varanus varius, Glenmorgan, Queensland

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Varanus varius, Daintree, Queensland

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OverviewA GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS IN CAPTIVITY By dr danny Brown BVsc (Hons) Bsc (Hons)

This full colour, 944 page book provides the most comprehensive and detailed account of Australian lizard species on all aspects of captive husbandry relating to all species of Australian lizards—geckos, pygopods, skinks, dragons and monitors that may be maintained in captivity.

The book is littered with the largest collection of reptile images ever presented, with over 3000 images from some of Australia’s finest reptile photographers, many unique to this book and many showing species never before illustrated, including undescribed species and unobserved behaviours. These full colour images show all aspects of sexing, housing, breeding as well as the general appearance of the species within each chapter including dozens of morphotypes of visually variable species.

The book begins with a 100-page section on General Husbandry that covers Stock Selection, Handling and Hygiene, Transportation, Purchase Etiquette, Security and Safety, Quarantine, Indoor and Outdoor Enclosure Options, Enclosure Size, Compatibility, Ventilation, Substrate Choices, Hide Sites, Enclosure Enrichment, Heating, Lighting, Thermostats, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Food Items, Artificial Diets, Culturing Insect foods, Dietary Supplements and Dealing with Feeding Problems.

This is followed with 60 pages on breeding that includes Visual Sexing Techniques, other Sexing Techniques including some revolutionary new methods, Courtship and Mating, Cooling and Separation, Reproductive Strategies, Caring for Gravid Females, Nest Facilities, Egg Management, Artificial Incubation facilities and regimes, Temperature Dependent Sex Determination and Hatchling Care.

The final section in the Husbandry chapters is a comprehensive 40 page guide to common Diseases and Disorders of Australian lizards such as Nutritional, Parasitic, Skin, Nail, Eye, Respiratory, Traumatic, Reproductive and Oral Disorders. This is completed with a guide to Administration of Medications and Making the most of your Reptile Veterinarian.

Within each of the 39 Genus/Species chapters, information is presented on Pronunciation, Descriptions, Sexing, Subspecies, Distribution, Habitat, Captive Status, Indoor and Outdoor Housing, Compatibility, Feeding, Breeding Methods, Incubation, Colour Variants and Hybrids. Much of this information is published here for the first time.

The book is completed with chapters on Herpetological Societies, Websites, an extensive Bibliography and a Glossary of common reptile words and phrases.

We will place your name on back order and confirm all details closer to the printing date.

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________________________________________

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Mobile: ____________________________________________

Email: _____________________________________________

ENQUIRIES AND ORDERS

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07 5568 0011 (Australia)

+61 7 5568 0011 (International)

Postal: PO Box 2330 Burleigh BC, Queensland 4220

Web: www.reptilepublications.com

reptilepublications

A Guide to…

Australian LIZA

RDS in Captivity By D

r Danny Brow

n BVSc (H

ons) Bsc (Hons)

reptilepublications

By Dr Danny Brown BVSc (Hons) Bsc (Hons)

AustrAliAn

in CAptivity

A Guide to…

reptilepublications

a Guide to australian Lizards in Captivity by dr danny Brown will be printed as a Limited Edition when we have sufficient back orders to make the printing viable.

The estimated price will be $350 plus P & H.

This title is a compilation of a proportion of the information in the four individual titles on Dragons, Skinks, Monitors, and Geckos and Pygopods and includes

• Additional four chapters

• More extensive information on natural history, taxonomy and husbandry techniques

• Over 3000 images, almost twice the number of unique images of all the individual books combined.

a guide to australian lizards in captivity

Documents

dragon eggs

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gecko eggs

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pogona vitticepsmonitor

nesting substrate

egg viabilitythere

failed egg