Ctenotus astarte, also known commonly as the stony downs ctenotus, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Ctenotus astarte
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Ctenotus
Species:
C. astarte
Binomial name
Ctenotus astarte
Czechura, 1986

Etymology

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The specific name, astarte, is an allusion to Astarte, the goddess of fertility, sexuality, and war in ancient Assyrian mythology.[2]

Geographic range

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In Australia, C. astarte is found in southwestern Queensland and extreme northeastern South Australia.[3][1]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitats of C. astarte are grassland, shrubland, and savanna.[1]

Description

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Moderately large for its genus, C. astarte has a snout-to-vent length of 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in).[4]

Reproduction

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C. astarte is oviparous.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wilson S, Hobson R, Vanderduys E, Dickman C (2018). "Ctenotus astarte". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T109462967A109462970. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109462967A109462970.en. Downloaded on 05 May 2020.
  2. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ctenotus astarte, p. 12).
  3. ^ a b Ctenotus astarte at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 March 2015.
  4. ^ Czechura (1986).

Further reading

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  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Czechura GV (1986). "Skinks of the Ctenotus schevilli species group". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 22 (2): 289–297, Plates 1–2. (Ctenotus astarte, new species, pp. 289–291, Figure 1 + Plate 1, figures C–D).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.