Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), also known commonly as Cunningham's skink, is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to southeastern Australia.
Both the specific name, cunninghami, and the common names are in honour of English botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham.[3]
E. cunninghami can reach up to 40 cm (16 inches) in total length (including tail), and may be confused with the blue-tongued lizards (genus Tiliqua).
Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink has a distinctive keel on each scale, which gives it a slightly spiny appearance. It is extremely variable in colour, ranging from dark brown to black, with or without blotchy patches, speckles, or narrow bands.[4]
E. cunninghami prefers to live communally in the crevices of rocky outcrops or hollow logs.[4]
Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink is a diurnal omnivore, with its diet including insects, flowers, berries, fungi, leaves and young shoots.
There is currently research being done on the isolated population of Cunningham's skink that inhabits the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. This population is considered vulnerable due to the fragmented (disjunct) distribution of the "colonies". There is evidence that at least one of these colonies has totally disappeared. It is more common within suitable habitat along the southeastern coast and ranges of Australia.
Like some other reptiles, E. cunninghami is viviparous,[2] giving birth to six or more live young in a litter.[5]
Habitat fragmentation can affect a species population by disrupting core processes. One such process is inbreeding avoidance (avoiding inbreeding depression). The impact of habitat alteration (deforestation) on inbreeding was studied in the rock-dwelling Australian lizard Egernia cunninghami.[6] Such populations in deforested areas experience potentially inbreeding-enhancing factors such as reduced dispersal and increased relatedness. However, active avoidance of close kin as mates was observed, as indicated by the substantially lower relatedness in actual breeding pairs compared to potential ones expected if there were random mating. This finding, as well as heterozygous excesses in immature lizards from disturbed (as well as undisturbed) habitats indicated that it maintains outbreeding in the face of increased accumulation of relatives.[6]
Egernia cunninghami basking on fallen log.
Two Cunningham's spiny-tailed skinks resting on granite boulders, the spiny keel of the scales can be seen on the tail.
Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink in southern Australian Capital Territory.
Three E. cunninghami, Cabbage Bay, near Sydney, New South Wales.
Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia cunninghami), also known commonly as Cunningham's skink, is a species of large skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to southeastern Australia.
Egernia cunninghami Egernia generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Scincidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Egernia cunninghami Egernia generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Scincidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Egernia cunninghami est une espèce de sauriens de la famille des Scincidae[1].
Cette espèce est endémique d'Australie. Elle se rencontre au-dessus de 1 000 m d'altitude au Queensland, en Australie-Méridionale, au Victoria et en Nouvelle-Galles du Sud[1].
Egernia cunninghami peut atteindre jusqu'à 30 cm de longueur et peut être confondu avec des lézards à langue bleue. Il a une excroissance acérée caractéristique sur chaque écaille, ce qui lui donne un aspect légèrement épineux. Il aime vivre sur les affleurements rocheux dans les forêts et est omnivore diurne. Il y a actuellement des recherches en cours sur la population isolée qui habite le sud de la chaîne du Mont-Lofty en Australie-Méridionale. Cette population est considérée comme vulnérable en raison de la fragmentation des « colonies ». Il existe des preuves qu'au moins une de ces colonies a totalement disparu. Il est plus abondant dans les habitats appropriés du long de la côte sud-est des collines.
Comme certaines autres espèces de reptiles, il est vivipare. Il donne naissance à six jeunes ou plus sur une litière.
Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur d'Allan Cunningham[2].
Egernia cunninghami là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Scincidae. Loài này được Gray mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1832.[1]
_(8656349891).jpg)
Bài viết về phân họ thằn lằn Lygosominae này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn.
Egernia cunninghami là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Scincidae. Loài này được Gray mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1832.
カニンガムイワトカゲ（学名：Egernia cuninnghumi）は、トカゲ科イワトカゲ属に分類されるトカゲ。
オーストラリア（クイーンズランド州、ニューサウスウェールズ州、ビクトリア州、南オーストラリア州）固有種
最大全長53cm。全身は棘状の突起がある鱗で覆われ、特に尾で発達する。胴体中央部の斜めに列になった背面の鱗の数（体列鱗数）は36-44。
左右の鼻孔のある鱗（鼻孔板）は接しない。尾は全長の1/2程度、もしくは尾の方がやや長い。尾の断面は円形。
出産直後の幼体は全長12cm程。
以前はオレンジや褐色の斑紋が入る個体を亜種クレフトカニンガムイワトカゲ（E. c. kreffti）として分割していたが、現在は地域個体群としてこの分割を認めない説が有力。
山地にあるやや湿度の高い岩場に生息する。昼行性。岩の隙間を巣穴として2-17頭の群れを形成し生活する。
食性は雑食で、主に果実を食べるが昆虫類、節足動物、小型爬虫類、小型哺乳類等を食べる。
繁殖形態は卵胎生。1-3月に1回に2-8頭の幼体を産む。
ペットとして飼育されることもあり、日本にも輸入されている。オーストラリアは野生動物の輸出を禁止しているため、動物園での展示用や研究用に過去に海外に持ち出された個体からの飼育下繁殖個体が流通する。飼育下での繁殖例が多いためイワトカゲ属の他種よりは流通量が多い。野生では群れを作って生活するが、オス同士では激しく争うためオスの複数飼育はできない。
この項目は、動物に関連した書きかけの項目です。この項目を加筆・訂正などしてくださる協力者を求めています（Portal:生き物と自然／プロジェクト:生物）。 
