Mallee military dragon

The Mallee military dragon[3] (Ctenophorus fordi), also commonly known as the Mallee dragon or Mallee sand-dragon,[2] is a species of agamid lizard occurring in the arid parts of southern Australia.[3][1] The Mallee military dragon's specific name, fordi was named after Dr. Julian Ralph Ford (1932-1987).[2] Dr. Ford was an ornithologist, herpetologist and chemist who worked at the Western Australian Museum.[2] He collected the lizard holotype and many of the paratypes.[2]

Mallee military dragon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Ctenophorus
Species:
C. fordi
Binomial name
Ctenophorus fordi
(Storr, 1965)[1]
Distribution of Ctenophorus fordi
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Amphibolurus fordi
    (Storr, 1965)
  • Phthanodon fordi
    (Storr, 1965)
  • Phthanodon hawkeswoodi
    (Wells & Wellington, 1985)

Description

Ctenophorus fordi is a small endemic Australian lizard that grows to a maximum size of 5cm snout-vent length [4].C.fordi display a dark reddish-orange colouration with a pale dorso-lateral stripe extending from the posterior region of the neck to the anterior portion of the tail.[4] The pale stripe is bordered by a thin, black strip.[4] The dark orange-brown region enclosed by the pale stripe is flecked with small pale spots.[4]

Distribution

It is commonly found in south-eastern Western Australia, through central South Australia, and into the north-west corner of New South Wales and south-west corner of Queensland.[4][5] What were previously considered to be populations occurring in south-east South Australia, western Victoria and central New South Wales,[4] were reclassified in 2019 as a separate species; the Eastern Mallee dragon.[5]

Ecology and behaviour

The main habitat type for Mallee military dragons include shrubs and hummock grass.[2] The Mallee dragon lives in sandy arid to semi-arid areas of Mallee woodland and spinifex, as well as vegetated sand dunes.[6][7] They prefer areas of Mallee that haven't been burnt for around 30 years, when spinifex cover is at its maximum.[8]

Mallee military dragons emerge from dormancy in August, males appear about four weeks earlier than females.[9] Active even on very hot days, they forage in sandy, open areas, and will dash for cover into nearby grasses or low bushes if disturbed or pursued.[10][6][9] Males are territorial.[9]

The signaling behaviour of C.Fordi is composed almost exclusively of head bobs, which both males and females produce when they encounter another individual [11]

Diet

The Mallee military dragon's diet largely consists of ants [12][13]

Reproduction

The Mallee military dragon reproduces sexually, with an oviparous and dioecious reproduction method.[14] Mating occurs in spring. Females produces sequential clutches of two to five eggs over the reproductive season and the offspring hatch from December to March.[14] Males are not territorial and there has been no evidence of male-male aggression.[14]

Conservation actions

The species is listed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a species of 'Least concern'.[1] The Mallee military dragon occurs in several protected areas, including the Sturt National Park in New South Wales, and the Currawinya National Park in Queensland.[3][5]

Threats

The Mallee military dragon is vulnerable to various threats.[15] These include:

  • Habitat loss from land clearing, degradation by introduced species such as cattle and rabbits, and modification caused by climate change[15]
  • Death on roads[15]
  • Predation by introduced species such as dogs, cats, pigs, and foxes[15]
  • Threats from emerging diseases[15]

References
  1. Cogger, H.; Melville, J.; Wilson, S.; Craig, M. (2017). "Ctenophorus fordi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T83410150A83453708. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T83410150A83453708.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Ctenophorus fordi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 May 2018.
  3. "Ctenophorus fordi (Storr, 1965)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. Garcia J, R. D., Dyer A. (2013). Trade-off between camouflage and sexual dimorphism revealed by UV digital imaging: the case of Australian Mallee dragons (Ctenophorus fordi). The Journal of Experimental Biology 216, 4290-4298. https://doi.org/:10.1242/jeb.094045
  5. Sadlier, R. A.; Colgan, D.; Beatson, C. A. & Cogger, H. G. (2019). "Ctenophorus spinodomus sp. nov., a New Species of Dragon Lizard (Squamata: Agamidae) from Triodia Mallee Habitat of Southeast Australia". Records of the Australian Museum. 71 (5): 199–215. doi:10.3853/j.2201-4349.71.2019.1700.
  6. Swan, G., Shea, G., Sadlier, R. (2004) A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales, Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN 187706906X
  7. Pianka, E. R. (1972). "Zoogeography and speciation of Australian desert lizards: an ecological perspective". Copeia. 1972 (1): 127–145. doi:10.2307/1442789. hdl:2027.42/149326. JSTOR 1442789.
  8. Nimmo, D. G.; Kelly, L. T; Spence-Bailey, L. M.; Watson, S. J.; Taylor, R. S.; Clarke, M. F. & Bennet, A. F. (2013). "Fire Mosaics and Reptile Conservation in a Fire‐Prone Region". Conservation Biology. 27 (2): 345–353. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01958.x. PMID 23163245.
  9. Swan, M., Watharow, S. (2005) Snakes, Lizards and Frogs of the Victorian Mallee, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia ISBN 0643091343
  10. Wilson, S., Swan, G. (2013) A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN 9781921517280
  11. Ramos J, P. R. (2017). Quantifying Ecological Constraints on Motion Signaling. Ecol Evol, 5, 1-14.
  12. Cogger, H. (2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN 1876334339
  13. Abensperg-Traun, M. M. & Steven, D. (1997). "Ant‐and termite‐eating in Australian mammals and lizards: a comparison". Austral Ecology. 22 (1): 9–17. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1997.tb00637.x.
  14. "Mallee Dragon". Encyclopedia of Life. National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  15. "Mallee military dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 20 February 2021.

Further reading
  • Sadlier, R.A., Shea, G.M. (1989). "The reptiles of Mungo National Park and the Willandra Lakes region". Herpetofauna, 19(2), pp. 9–27.
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