Liopholis inornata (Rosén, 1905)

Common Name and Taxonomy

Liopholis inornata, commonly known as the desert egernia, is a medium-sized terrestrial skink.

Dorsal and Lateral Coloration

Its back and sides range from pale to reddish-brown, with cream-colored spots along the tips of its scales; scale color typically darkens closer to the head.

Ventral and Limb Coloration

The underside and ventral area are pale, ranging from creamy white to yellow, and its limbs are often paler than the rest of its body.

Body and Leg Morphology

Like most burrowing lizard species, the desert egernia has a narrow body and strong, small legs that improve burrowing efficiency and reduce energy use.

Tail Morphology

Its tail is usually slightly longer than its snout-vent length, is round and tapering, and matches the body’s color with very little variation.

Toe Identification Feature

A key identifying feature of this species is that its fourth toe is substantially longer than its third toe.

Adult Size and Sexual Dimorphism

Adult desert egernias generally measure 75 to 84 millimeters from snout to vent, and 165 to 184 millimeters from snout to tail, with no significant size difference between males and females.

Color Pattern Polymorphism

Unlike many other skink species, the desert egernia does not show color pattern polymorphism; this absence may be explained by the heterogeneous nature of Australian arid areas, and the species’ effective camouflage against local habitat soils that helps it avoid predators.

Geographic Range

Most of the desert egernia’s range covers central Western Australia, most of inland South Australia, southern Northern Territory, south-west Queensland, western New South Wales, and a small portion of north-west Victoria.

IUCN Conservation Status

Because of its large distribution and relative abundance, the IUCN Red List has assessed the desert egernia as Least Concern for extinction.

Victoria State Conservation Status

However, the species is protected by state legislation in Victoria, where it is classified as threatened due to its very small local range.

Arid Habitat Adaptations

The desert egernia is a xerocole, with numerous adaptations for living in dry, arid areas.

Burrowing Behavior

It is an obligate burrower, meaning it exclusively lives in burrows that it constructs itself, an adaptation to the harsh arid climate it inhabits.

Activity Patterns

It is most commonly active from crepuscular to nocturnal periods, but it may also be active during the day to bask, or to forage when conditions make termites most active.

Preferred Soil and Habitat

The species typically lives in areas with deep, uncompacted sandy or loamy soils, and occurs more often higher on sand ridges than its close-range relatives like the Night Skink (Liopholis striata).

Burrow Complexity Comparison

The desert egernia’s burrow is generally less complex than burrows built by other xerocole lizard species.

Burrow Depth and Entrance Markings

Burrows are usually 30 to 50 centimeters deep, and marked by fanned sand surrounding at least one entrance, or occasionally piled in a nearby clump of grass.

Simple Burrow Configuration

The simplest burrow configuration is U-shaped with two entrances: one entrance is exposed, while the other is covered by a thin layer of soil.

Covered Entrance Function

Researchers hypothesize that the covered second entrance allows the desert egernia to escape from predators such as snakes and sand goannas, which know that blocking the only known entrance will trap the lizard inside.

Complex Burrow Variation

In some regions, such as the Simpson Desert, the desert egernia builds complex burrows with multiple exposed entrances.

Burrow Entrance Orientation

Burrow entrances most often face north or north-west; this may act as a temperature regulation strategy, since the desert egernia rarely travels far from its burrow, and entrances with these orientations receive an appropriate amount of sunlight.

Winter Burrow Sealing

Before winter begins, the species often seals burrow entrances to support thermoregulation during hibernation.

Burrow Site Movement

The desert egernia frequently moves between different burrow sites.

Fire Adaptation

In addition to being a xeric environment specialist, the desert egernia is considered a fire specialist: it is often found in greater numbers in recently burned sites than in sites that have not had fire for many years.

Reproductive Mode

The desert egernia is viviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young.

Breeding Season

Its breeding season usually runs from September to early May, and it can produce two litters in a single breeding season.

Litter Size

Litters typically contain 1 to 4 offspring, with an average litter size of 2.1.

Litter Size Explanation

This small litter size, compared to other Liopholis species, is attributed to the desert egernia’s relatively small body size.

Sexual Maturity and Mating System

The species reaches sexual maturity within two years, and is thought to be mostly monogamous.

Social Behavior

Unlike most other members of Liopholis (and the former Egernia genus), which are typically social and live in family groups, the desert egernia is a solitary species that does not form significant social associations with other members of its own species, its offspring, or related Liopholis species.