Ornate crevice-dragon

Ornate crevice-dragon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Amphibolurinae
Genus: Ctenophorus
Species: C. ornatus
Binomial name
Ctenophorus ornatus
Gray, 1845

The ornate crevice-dragon ('Ctenophorus ornatus') is a species of lizard in the Agamidae family. It is found on granite outcrops of Western Australia.

The species is a member of a diverse genus, Ctenophorus, that contains a group known as rock dragons. It can be distinguished from the others by its greatly flattened body, around 290 mm, with a snout-to-vent length of 95 mm, and a distinctly banded tail.

Ctenophorus ornatus is common on granite outcrops, where it shelters under slabs and boulders, especially in undisturbed areas. When out in the open, often basking on warm rocks, it displays a head-bobbing characteristic seen in many related species.

The distribution range of this species extends from the Goldfields to the Darling Range, and to the southern coastline. It is recorded at the Archipelago of the Recherche, offshore granite islands, and a reddish form is noted in the Murchison district.

References


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