Grassland Earless Dragon

[sobrien]

Hi Guys,
I just got back from a school hike up in the Mt Buller/Mt Sterling area. A friend of mine found this little fella under a rock. It's either a Mountain Heath Dragon Rankinia diemensis or a Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis pinguicolla. If it is Tymp., the last time it was seen in Vic was the 1960's. What do you think?

Sorry about the size.

 

[africancichlidau]

Sorry mate but don't think it's a Tymp. Could be wrong though as that pic is pretty small to see properly

 

[sobrien]

Dang. Especially because it has an ear hey . Thanks Af

 

[Brodie]

Mountain heath dragon

 

[zen]

Not a Tympanocryptis, all members of that genus have the tympanum concealed by scaly skin.

Also, it has a row of enlarged spinose scales on each side of the tail-base.
Which is characteristic of Rankinia genus.

So it's probably a Rankinia diemensis.

Looks like a hatchling to me, though it's a bit early for this years.
:idea: But you never know these days with Global Warming making herps breed earlier & earlier each year :!:


zen