Major skink explained

The major skink (Bellatorias frerei) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to part of Australia and part of Australasia.

Etymology

The specific name, frerei, refers to Mount Bartle Frere where the holotype was collected.^[1]

Geographic range

B. frerei is found in Australia in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, and in Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

B. frerei is found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, grassland, rocky areas, and suburban areas.

Description

The holotype of B. frerei has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of, plus a tail length of .^[2]

Behavior

B. frerei is terrestrial and diurnal, basking to thermoregulate, and living socially in small colonies.

Diet

B. frerei is omnivorous.

Reproduction

B. frerei is ovoviviparous.

Further reading

• Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. .
• Gardner MG, Hugall AF, Donnellan SC, Hutchinson MN, Foster R (2008). "Molecular systematics of social skinks: phylogeny and taxonomy of the Egernia group (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154 (4): 781–794. (Bellatorias frerei, new combination).
• Günther A (1897). "Descriptions of New Species of Lizards and of a Tree-Frog from N.E. Queensland". Novitates Zoologicae, Tring Museum 4: 403–406 + Plates XI–XII. (Egernia frerei, new species, pp. 405–406, no illustration).
• Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. .

Notes and References

1. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
2. [Albert Günther|Günther A]