Heteropus cheverti Macleay, 1877

Donnellan, S. C., Couper, P. J., Saint, K. M. & Wheaton, L., 2009, Systematics of the Carlia ‘ fusca’ complex (Reptilia: Scincidae) from northern Australia, Zootaxa 2227 (1), pp. 1-31 : 31

Heteropus cheverti Macleay, 1877

Fig. 8c, d ; Tables 3 & 4

Lectotype: AMS R 31877: Barrow Island , 25km SSE Cape Melville (14°21’S, 144°39’E)

Paralectotype: AMS R 31876: as for lectotype

Description: SVL (mm) 46.47-55.04, n = 2. Proportions as %SVL (mean ± standard deviation): TL 187.67 (n = 1); AG 45.68-51.13 (48.40 ± 3.86, n = 2); L1 33.12-37.12 (35.12 ± 2.83, n = 2); L2 47.84-54.62 (51.23 ± 4.79, n = 2); HL 22.10-22.35 (22.22 ± 0.17, n = 2); Eye – ear 7.64-7.69 (7.66 ± 0.03, n = 2); Snout 9.27-9.30 (9.29± 0.02, n = 2). Body robust. Head barely distinct from neck. HW 66.21-70.73% HL (68.47 ± 3.20, n = 2). Limbs moderate. L1 67.96-69.24% L2 (68.60 ± 0.90, n = 2).

Raw measurements and scale counts of lectotype: AMS R31877. SVL 55.04 mm; AG 25.14 mm; L1 18.23 mm; L2 26.33 mm; HL 12.30 mm; HW 8.70 mm; Eye – ear 4.23; Snout 5.12: midbody scale rows 36; paravertebral scale rows 49; supraciliaries 7; supralabials 7; fifth supralabial below eye; infralabials 6; subdigital lamellae beneath 3 rd finger 22; subdigital lamellae beneath 4 th toe 29; enlarged nuchals 2; preoculars 2; presuboculars 1; postsupralabial divided; temporals – 1 primary, 2 secondary; ear vertical with sharp lobules at front and top ( Fig. 8d ); palpebral disc smaller than ear opening. The scales of the dorsal and lateral surfaces are smooth.

Pattern: AMS R 31877 is badly faded and has lost all traces of patterning. Paralectotype AMS R 31876 still shows a hint of a dark upper lateral zone anterior to the forelimb, which is bordered above by a narrow, pale dorsolateral stripe .

Figures

FIGURE 8. (a) AM R31878, Holotype of H. longipes Macleay 1877, Endeavour River, north-eastern Queensland. (image: J. Wright). (b) Ear lobules, left side of AMS R31878 (image: G. Thompson). (c) AMS R31877, Lectotype of H. cheverti Macleay 1877 Barrow Island, north-eastern Queensland (image: J. Wright). (d) Ear lobules, right side of AMS R31877 (image: G. Thompson).