Ctenotus

Ctenotus is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Australia. The genus Ctenotus belongs to a clade in the Sphenomorphus group which contains such genera as Anomalopus and the close relatives Eulamprus and Gnypetoscincus.<ref>Template:Aut (2006). "Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. {{#invoke:doi|main}} (HTML abstract)</ref>

Lizards in the genus Ctenotus are commonly called comb-eared skinks, a reference to the scales aligned near the ear.<ref name="AusMus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ctenotus lizards are able to move very quickly, disappearing whilst being observed. They are highly active in their habits, foraging amongst a diverse range of habitat.

The members of the genus Ctenotus are widely distributed, in all states of Australia, and are especially diverse in arid regions and the tropical north, accounting for 10–20% of the lizard species. Around a quarter of lizards found in one area of the Great Sandy Desert are Ctenotus skinks, 11 of the 40 species.<ref name="AusMus" /> A single dune may have up to six species of Ctenotus. The Southwest Australian region contains 23 species. The size ranges from very small to moderately large, being similarly varied in body types from slender to stout.<ref name="Bush">Template:Cite book</ref> The diversity of forms allows species to occupy different niches, often in the same locality.<ref name="AusMus" />

Species

Ctenotus is the most diverse reptile genus in Australia, with approximately 100 member species. Identification to the rank of species is regarded as difficult, and the largest lizard genus is also one of the most poorly understood.<ref name="Bush" /><ref>"Ctenotus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

• Ctenotus agrestis Template:Small – Mitchell grass ctenotus
• Ctenotus alacer Template:Small – lively ctenotus
• Ctenotus alleni Template:Small – Ajana ctenotus
• Ctenotus allotropis Template:Small – brown-blazed wedgesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus angusticeps Template:Small – northwestern coastal ctenotus, little leopard ctenotus, Airlie Island ctenuous
• Ctenotus aphrodite Template:Small – Oorida ctenotus
• Ctenotus arcanus Template:Small – arcane ctenotus
• Ctenotus ariadnae Template:Small – Ariadna's ctenotus
• Ctenotus arnhemensis Template:Small – Jabiluka ctenotus
• Ctenotus astarte Template:Small – stony downs ctenotus
• Ctenotus astictus Template:Small – Arnhem striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus atlas Template:Small – southern mallee ctenotus
• Ctenotus australis Template:Small – western limestone ctenotus
• Ctenotus borealis Template:Small – white-faced ctenotus
• Ctenotus brachyonyx Template:Small – short-clawed ctenotus
• Ctenotus brevipes Template:Small – short-footed ctenotus
• Ctenotus brooksi Template:Small – wedgesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus burbidgei Template:Small – plain-backed Kimberley ctenotus
• Ctenotus calurus Template:Small – blue-tailed finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus capricorni Template:Small – Capricorn ctenotus
• Ctenotus catenifer Template:Small – chain-striped south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus coggeri Template:Small – brown-backed ctenotus
• Ctenotus colletti Template:Small – Collett’s skink, buff-tailed finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus decaneurus Template:Small – ten-lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus delli Template:Small – Darling Range south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus duricola Template:Small – Eastern Pilbara lined ctenotus, Pilbara ctenotus
• Ctenotus dux Template:Small – fine side-lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus ehmanni Template:Small – brown-tailed finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus essingtonii Template:Small – lowlands plain-backed ctenotus
• Ctenotus euclae Template:Small – wedgesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus eurydice Template:Small – brown-backed yellow-lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus eutaenius Template:Small – black-backed yellow-lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus fallens Template:Small – West-coast laterite ctenotus
• Ctenotus gagudju Template:Small – Magela ctenotus, Kakadu ctenotus
• Ctenotus gemmula Template:Small – jewelled south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus grandis Template:Small – grand ctenotus
• Ctenotus greeri Template:Small – spotted-necked ctenotus
• Ctenotus halysis Template:Small – chained ctenotus
• Ctenotus hanloni Template:Small – nimble ctenotus
• Ctenotus hebetior Template:Small – stout ctenotus
• Ctenotus helenae Template:Small – clay-soil ctenotus
• Ctenotus hilli Template:Small – top-end lowlands ctenotus
• Ctenotus iapetus Template:Small – North West Cape ctenotus
• Ctenotus impar Template:Small – odd-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus ingrami Template:Small – unspotted yellow-sided ctenotus
• Ctenotus inornatus Template:Small – bar-shouldered ctenotus
• Ctenotus joanae Template:Small – black-soil ctenotus
• Ctenotus kurnbudj Template:Small – Kurnbudj ctenotus
• Ctenotus kutjupa Template:Small
• Ctenotus labillardieri Template:Small – common south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus lancelini Template:Small – Lancelin Island skink, Lancelin south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus lateralis Template:Small – gravelly-soil ctenotus
• Ctenotus leae Template:Small – orange-tailed finesnout skink
• Ctenotus leonhardii Template:Small – Leonhardi's ctenotus, Leonhardi's skink, common desert ctenotus
• Ctenotus maryani Template:Small – Maryan's ctenotus

• Ctenotus mastigura Template:Small – whiptail ctenotus
• Ctenotus mesotes Template:Small – median-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus militaris Template:Small – soldier ctenotus
• Ctenotus mimetes Template:Small – checker-sided ctenotus
• Ctenotus monticola Template:Small – Atherton ctenotus
• Ctenotus nasutus Template:Small – nasute finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus nigrilineatus Template:Small – pin-striped finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus nullum Template:Small – nullum ctenotus
• Ctenotus olympicus Template:Small – spotted ctenotus
• Ctenotus ora Template:Small – coastal plains skink
• Ctenotus orientalis Template:Small – oriental ctenotus
• Ctenotus pallasotus Template:Small – Western Pilbara lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus pallescens Template:Small – north-western wedgesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus pantherinus Template:Small - leopard ctenotus
• Ctenotus piankai Template:Small - course sand ctenotus
• Ctenotus pulchellus Template:Small - red-sided ctenotus
• Ctenotus quattuordecimlineatus Template:Small - fourteen-lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus quinkan Template:Small - Quinkan ctenotus
• Ctenotus quirinus Template:Small - Arnhem land ctenotus
• Ctenotus rawlinsoni Template:Small - Cape Heath ctenotus
• Ctenotus regius Template:Small - pale-rumped ctenotus
• Ctenotus rhabdotus Template:Small - Kimberley lined ctenotus
• Ctenotus rimacolus Template:Small - crack-dwelling ctenotus
• Ctenotus robustus Template:Small - robust ctenotus, striped skink
• Ctenotus rosarium Template:Small - beaded ctenotus
• Ctenotus rubicundus Template:Small - ruddy ctenotus
• Ctenotus rufescens Template:Small - rufous finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus rutilans Template:Small - rusty-shouldered ctenotus
• Ctenotus saxatilis Template:Small - stony-soil ctenotus
• Ctenotus schevilli Template:Small - black-soil rises ctenotus
• Ctenotus schomburgkii Template:Small - barred wedge-snout ctenotus
• Ctenotus septenarius Template:Small - massive-gibber ctenotus
• Ctenotus serotinus Template:Small - gravel-downs ctenotus
• Ctenotus serventyi Template:Small - north-western sandy-loam ctenotus
• Ctenotus severus Template:Small - stern ctenotus
• Ctenotus spaldingi Template:Small - straight-browed ctenotus
• Ctenotus storri Template:Small - buff-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus strauchii Template:Small - eastern barred wedge-snout ctenotus
• Ctenotus striaticeps Template:Small - stripe-headed finesnout ctenotus
• Ctenotus stuarti Template:Small - Stuart's ctenotus
• Ctenotus superciliaris Template:Small - sharp-browed ctenotus
• Ctenotus taeniatus Template:Small - eyrean ctenotus
• Ctenotus taeniolatus Template:Small – copper-tailed skink, copper-tailed ctenotus
• Ctenotus tanamiensis Template:Small – Tanami ctenotus
• Ctenotus tantillus Template:Small – Kimberley wedge-snout ctenotus
• Ctenotus terrareginae Template:Small – Hinchinbrook ctenotus
• Ctenotus uber Template:Small – spotted ctenotus
• Ctenotus vagus Template:Small – uneven-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus vertebralis Template:Small – scant-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus xenopleura Template:Small – wide-striped ctenotus
• Ctenotus youngsoni Template:Small – Shark Bay south-west ctenotus
• Ctenotus zastictus Template:Small – Hamelin ctenotus, Hamelin Pool ctenotus
• Ctenotus zebrilla Template:Small – Southern Cape York fine-snout ctenotus

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Ctenotus.

Further reading

• Storr GM (1964). "Ctenotus, a New Generic Name for a Group of Australian Skinks". Western Australian Naturalist 9 (4): 84-85.

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