Lerista frosti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lerista frosti |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Lerista |
| Species: |
L. frosti
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| Binomial name | |
| Lerista frosti (Zietz, 1920)
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| Synonyms | |
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Lerista frosti is a small lizard species. It lives in the highlands of central Australia. Many people call this lizard the centralian slider. It is a type of skink, which is a kind of lizard known for its smooth scales.
How Scientists Named This Lizard
Scientists give every living thing a special name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about.
- In 1895, two scientists, Arthur H. S. Lucas and Charles Frost, first described this lizard. They gave it the name Rhodona tetradactyla.
- Later, another scientist named Frederick Robert Zietz studied the lizard. He realized it belonged in a different group of lizards called Lygosoma.
- Because the name Rhodona tetradactyla was already used for another lizard, Zietz gave it a new name. He called it Lygosoma frosti to honor Charles Frost.
Over time, scientists have learned more about these lizards. In 1985, they sorted out some similar species. They named new lizards like Lerista flammicauda and Lerista chalybura from northwest Australia. They also named Lerista dorsalis from southern Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
The centralian slider is a small and slender lizard. It has eyelids that can move, just like yours!
- Its body color is usually olive grey to brown. Sometimes it might have hints of green or reddish-brown.
- It often has two or four rows of dark dots along its back. This pattern starts near its ear and goes all the way down its tail.
- Sometimes, you might see light dots or dashes mixed in with the dark pattern.
- Its front legs are quite short, less than 6 millimeters long. Each front foot has four toes.
- The tail of L. frosti is reddish-brown. The dark pattern from its ear becomes less clear as it goes down the tail.
Scientists measure these lizards from their snout (nose) to their vent (a small opening near the tail). This measurement is called the "snout to vent length." For the centralian slider, this length is usually between 36 and 60 millimeters. The average length is about 47 millimeters.
This lizard looks a lot like another species in the same group, called L. orientalis.
Where Does It Live?
The centralian slider lives in a specific area of Australia.
- It is mostly found around the MacDonnell Ranges.
- These lizards usually live on sandy plains. They like to find safe places to hide, such as under rocks or plants.
 | Audre Lorde |
 | John Berry Meachum |
 | Ferdinand Lee Barnett |
