Victorian grassland earless dragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victorian grassland earless dragon |
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The Victorian grassland earless dragon (scientific name: Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) is a small lizard. It belongs to a group of lizards called Agamidae. Sadly, this dragon might be extinct, meaning it no longer exists. It's one of about 15 to 17 types of small dragons in the Tympanocryptis family.
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What's in a Name?
Scientists used to think many different lizards were all the same species. They thought these lizards, found across Australia, were all T. pinguicolla. But over time, new studies showed they were actually different species.
Discovering New Species
For example, in 2014, scientists studied two groups of these lizards near Darling Downs. They found these were two brand new species: T. condaminensis and T. wilsoni.
Later, in 2019, another study looked at lizards near Canberra. They discovered these were actually a separate group of T. lineata. The study also found two more new species near Cooma and Bathurst. These were named T. osbornei and T. mccartneyi.
Because of these discoveries, the only true T. pinguicolla lizards are those found in Victoria.
Where Does It Live?
The Victorian grassland earless dragon lives only in Victoria. This state is in southeastern Australia. Like other grassland earless dragons, it needs a special home. It lives in areas of temperate grassland. These grasslands have tussock and other small grasses.
Sadly, most of this special habitat in Victoria is gone. It has been damaged or changed a lot over the years. This loss of home is a big reason why the dragon is in danger.
Why Is It in Danger?
The T. pinguicolla is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This list tells us which animals are at risk. However, this listing was made when scientists thought more populations were part of this species.
Now, scientists think it's very likely that the T. pinguicolla is extinct. The last time anyone saw one was in 1969. Most of its home has been destroyed. If it is extinct, it would be the first known lizard to disappear from mainland Australia in modern times. This might have happened because of how land was used around Melbourne. Many grasslands were changed for building and farming.
Is There Still Hope?
Even with these worries, there is still some hope. People reported seeing the dragon during surveys from 1988 to 1990. But later searches in those same areas did not find any lizards.
It's also true that not all the remaining grasslands have been fully searched. The dragon is small and hard to spot. A group called Zoos Victoria is working hard. They are doing surveys to try and find any dragons that might still be alive.
