Zozaya, Stephen M., Case, Dylan W., and Hoskin, Conrad J. (2024) Ctenotus rungulla sp. nov. (Scincidae; Sphenomorphinae), a new sandstone-associated skink that highlights reptile endemism in Queensland's Gregory Range. Australian Journal of Taxonomy, 67. pp. 1-16.

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Abstract

We describe a new sphenomorphine skink, Ctenotus rungulla sp. nov., currently known only from sandstone habitats in the Gregory Range of inland northern Queensland. Ctenotus rungulla sp. nov. would be identified as C. brevipes or C. terrareginae using keys available at the time of publication. The new species differs most obviously from the regionally sympatric C. brevipes in having 5–6 distinct ear lobules, which are entirely absent in C. brevipes. The new species differs from the allopatric C. terrareginae in being smaller and in various aspects of colour-pattern. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data, however, indicate that C. rungulla sp. nov. is most closely related to the allopatric C. ingrami, from which the new species differs in being smaller, lacking a vertebral stripe, possessing a red-orange flush on the hindbody, and in having a higher midbody scale row count. Ctenotus rungulla sp. nov. is now the fourth reptile species known to be endemic to the Gregory Range, highlighting the biodiversity values of this remote rocky region.

Item ID:	89421
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2653-4649
Copyright Information:	© Copyright of this paper is retained by its authors, who, unless otherwise indicated, license its content under a CC BY 4.0 license
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2025 22:53
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3104 Evolutionary biology > 310401 Animal systematics and taxonomy @ 50% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3109 Zoology > 310914 Vertebrate biology @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity @ 100%
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