Black rock skink

Black rock skink
A Black Rock Skink at Binna Burra, Queensland National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Egernia
Species:
E. saxatilis
Binomial name
Egernia saxatilis
Cogger, 1960

The black rock skink (Egernia saxatilis) is a species of large skink native to Eastern and Southern Australia from central New South Wales to Grampians National Park in Victoria.[2] A large, dark colored skink, up to 135 mm from snout to base of the tail, the black rock skink is the first reptile discovered to have a "nuclear family" structure where the parents form a pair and care for their offspring for more than one year.[2][3] The black rock skink is a viviparous skink meaning females give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. They defend their home range and families against conspecifics for up to several years. [4]

  1. ^ Shea, G.; Cogger, H.; Greenlees, M. (2018). "Egernia saxatilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T109470565A109470572. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109470565A109470572.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Sumner, J. (2016) Egernia saxatilis Black Rock Skink in Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/species/14985 Accessed 08 October 2021
  3. ^ O'Connor, D. and Shine, R. (2003), Lizards in ‘nuclear families’: a novel reptilian social system in Egernia saxatilis (Scincidae). Molecular Ecology, 12: 743-752. doi:10.1046/j.1365-294X.2003.01777.x
  4. ^ LANGKILDE, T., O'CONNOR, D. and SHINE, R. (2007), Benefits of parental care: Do juvenile lizards obtain better-quality habitat by remaining with their parents?. Austral Ecology, 32: 950-954. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2007.01783.x