Yellow-bellied Water Skink at Wandella, NSW
Identification history
| Eulamprus heatwolei | 20 Oct 2018 | PatrickCampbell | ||
| Eulamprus heatwolei | 13 Oct 2018 | PatrickCampbell | ||
| Eulamprus quoyii | 12 Oct 2018 | RobParnell |
Identify this sighting
Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.
4 comments
PatrickCampbell
wrote:
13 Oct 2018
I don't think it's Eulamprus quoyii, as there's no indication of a pale, anterior, dorsolateral stripe.
I'm leaning towards Yellow-bellied Water Skink (E. heatwolei) for a few reasons i.e an indication of yellow undersides (as seen on the hands, wrists and feet), heavily speckled dorsum and tail.
A better look at the head from above, below and sides would help Identify it. Do you have any more shots that you could add?
I'm leaning towards Yellow-bellied Water Skink (E. heatwolei) for a few reasons i.e an indication of yellow undersides (as seen on the hands, wrists and feet), heavily speckled dorsum and tail.
A better look at the head from above, below and sides would help Identify it. Do you have any more shots that you could add?
RobParnell
wrote:
14 Oct 2018
I don't have any better shots than the second photo now which shows a slightly turned head. If I come across another one I'll be sure to photograph the head from all sides.
JackieMiles
wrote:
14 Oct 2018
Hi Rob, You are bound to come across another one, as they are about the most common lizard in the area, especially if, as it appears, your place is on a creek. We tried sticking one in the fridge for a while to slow it down enough to handle, so we could really get to grips with the key in our field guide and try and make certain which of the many Eulamprus species it was. Didn't get far, as the key was a bit inconclusive anyway. But I think heatwolei is the most likely on distribution. If you have a look at all the records on ALCW for that species, there has been a bit of discussion about the finer points of ID over time, so of which may be helpful for your critter. If you get another one trapped in a bucket, then a quick trip to the fridge, followed by a shot of its belly should help!
PatrickCampbell
wrote:
20 Oct 2018
Thanks for the additional pic Rob. It gives us enough to positively ID it as a Yellow-bellied Water Skink i.e pale temporal markings and a bit more of an indication of higher density, dark spotting on the top of the head. There also seems to be a dark anterior edge to the tympanum.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.870156-36.320732
- Places Wandella, NSW
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 12 Oct 2018 03:47 PM Recorded on
- RobParnell Recorded by
-
Collections
Reptiles and Frogs Skinks RobParnell South Coast NatureMapr
Species information
- Eulamprus heatwolei Scientific name
- Yellow-bellied Water Skink Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1619.1m Recorded at altitude
- 384 images trained Machine learning
