South-eastern lined earless dragon
South-eastern lined earless
dragon ©Colin Dollery, QPWS 2002
Common name: South-eastern lined earless dragon, grassland earless dragon
Scientific name: Tympanocryptis pinguicolla
Conservation status: The south-eastern lined earless dragon is 'Endangered' in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and 'Endangered' nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
Description: The south-eastern lined earless dragon is a small lizard of the family Agamidae. Earless dragons differ from other members of the family by lacking an external ear opening and functional tympanum (ear drum). Adult T. pinguicolla range in size from 50-70mm snout-vent length, with a head to tail length generally less than 150mm. The adults have stout bodies and short robust legs, with a body mass between 5 and 9g. The main morphological differences separating T. pinguicolla from other members of the genus are the greater number of mid-dorsal scales, and the greater number of scattered, enlarged, spiny dorsal scales, which are also higher than wide.
T. pinguicolla is light to dark brown dorsally, with three thin white lines running the length of its body. These lines separate darker transverse patches into individual segments. Some individuals have yellow or orange colouration on the throat, sides of the head, flanks, or legs. Such colouration has been suggested to be male reproductive colours, although they have been found in juveniles. Significantly more adult males display these colours than females, and the distribution of the coloured areas may also vary between sexes and among age classes. Individuals can vary in darkness (light to dark brown) in captivity, suggesting that the integument is capable of melanic changes in association with background or environmental conditions.
Habitat and distribution: All specimens are known from highly modified agricultural land. These are small holdings devoted to strip-farming of mixed crops, such as cotton, sorghum, maize and sunflower interspersed with fallow land. Large areas of native and introduced grasses existing as headlands, and along drainage lines are a feature of the farmlands where the dragon exists. Soils are essentially black, cracking clays of the Condamine River flood plain.
The species occurs near Bongeen, Mount Tyson and Brookstead on the eastern Darling Downs (Pittsworth and Jondaryan Shires) in the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion. A single specimen has also been recorded from near Dalby on the Cecil Plains Road (thought to have been collected in the early 1990's).
Behaviour and life history: This dragon will crouch and freeze, depending on its cryptic colouration, to escape detection. If pressed it will scuttle swiftly into surrounding vegetation or dart down cracks in the soil. It is diurnal, often out even in very hot weather and in quite exposed situations. Like other Tympanocryptis species it can often be seen perched up on stones or clods of earth. One of only two species of Australian Agamid known to vocalise (excluding hissing). A female collected in 2001 uttered several short, sharp squeaks whilst being handled. The only other Australian dragon lizard known to vocalise is also a Tympanocryptis species.
Very little is known about the south-eastern lined earless dragon's life history. A male in breeding colour (canary yellow throat and chin) has been found in December and a gravid female was recorded in 2001. Hatchlings have been recorded in March 2001 and 2003. Hatchlings are a very dark charcoal colour with very little patterning compared to adults.
Threatening processes: No populations are known from protected estates. All lizards found to date were on private land. Known populations seem to be stable but any changes in land management and practices could impact severely on these lizards. Possible predators that exist in the same area as the earless dragon include feral cats and foxes. It is also possible that native predators including the spotted black snake, eastern brown snake, pied butcherbird, laughing kookaburra and various raptors prey on this dragon. Brown Falcons have been seen taking individuals on several occasions.
Recovery actions:
- The extent and distribution of this species needs to be investigated.
- Further knowledge of its biology and ecology needs to be acquired.
- Landholder's with known populations of the lizard should be informed regarding about the threats to the species and discussions held about the potential conservation agreements.
- Develop and promote guidelines and provide incentives for landowners to reduce the impact of current land use practices on the species outside reserves.
- Survey known and potential habitat within the species known range.
- Develop community awareness within the species' known range. Encourage schools participating in reptile educational programs to adopt a local reptile species as their school icon. Encourage local governments participating in recovery actions to adopt a local reptile species as the shire icon.
- Work with local governments to protect habitat on the stock route network and shire roadsides and reserves.
- Work with landholders to conduct monitoring programs on land with species presence, potential key habitat and/or high threatening processes identified.
- Establish the taxonomic status of the Darling Downs population of the lizard presently known as Tympancryptis pinguicolla
Further information:
A draft recovery plan is being prepared for Brigalow Belt Reptiles that includes this species: Richardson, R. (in prep). Draft Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan 2007-2011. Report to the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. WWF, Australia.
Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E., Sadlier, R.A. and Eggler, P. 1993. The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Endangered Species Program. Project Number 124.
Robertson, P. & Cooper, P. 2000. Recovery Plan for the Grassland Earless Dragon (PDF)* (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla). Report to Environment Australia, Canberra.
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 05 September 2006