The herpetofauna of the Kei Islands (Maluku, Indonesia): Comprehensive report on new and historical collections, biogeographic patterns, conservation concerns, and an annotated checklist of species from Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tam, and Kur
Author
Karin, Benjamin R.
Author
Stubbs, Alexander L.
Author
Arifin, Umilaela
Author
Bloch, Luke M.
Author
Ramadhan, G.
Author
Iskandar, Djoko T.
Author
Arida, Evy
Author
Reilly, Sean B.
Author
Kusnadi, Agus
Author
Mcguire, Jimmy A.
text
Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
2018
2018-11-19
66
704
738
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.5363075
2345-7600
5363075
DC2B423B-55FE-4F92-985E-39F5A61EE04C
Tiliqua gigas keiensis
Oudemans, 1894
(Fig. 28)
Type
locality.
Kei Islands
.
Distribution in the Kei Islands.
This subspecies is endemic to the Kei Islands. We collected specimens of
T. gigas
on both Kei Kecil and Kei Besar. We did not collect it on Tam and Kur, though it is possible it occurs there as well.
Natural history.
A ground-dwelling active forager in grass and other open habitats though we collected
one specimen
that was attempting to cross a stream over a log in closed canopy forest at Gunung Daab.
Field identification.
Tiliqua gigas
is by far the largest skink in the Kei Islands (SVL to
297 mm
), with a robust body
Fig. 28. Photo in life of
Tiliqua gigas
from Kei Kecil (ALS 465).
shape, short legs, seven to nine dark brown crossbands that are black spotted, and a distinct blue tongue that it will display in defense. The subspecies
T. gigas keiensis
differs from other populations of
T. gigas
in having a greater number of mid-body scale rows (31–34 vs. 28–32); shorter forelimbs (forelimb length less than or equal to head length vs. forelimb length greater than head length; forelimb length 1/3–1/4 vs. 2/5 the axilla-groin distance), and more anterior temporal scales (usually four vs. three) (
de Rooij, 1915
, p. 157–158).