Wood mulch-slider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wood mulch-slider |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lerista
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| Species: |
muelleri
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The wood mulch-slider or Mueller's three-toed lerista (Lerista muelleri) is a type of lizard. It belongs to a large group of lizards called skinks, which has over 1,500 different species. This small lizard is found all across Australia, living in many different climates and places. It was named after a German-Australian scientist, Ferdinand von Mueller.
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Meet the Mueller's Three-Toed Lerista
The Mueller's three-toed lerista is a small lizard. It usually grows to about 50 millimeters (2 inches) long from its snout to the start of its tail. Including its tail, it can reach up to 103 millimeters (4 inches) in total length. A special thing about this lizard is that it has three toes on each of its front and back feet.
Its scales are small, shiny, and smooth. They fit together very tightly. The lizard's head is long and often has brown or black spots. Its ears are tucked back, and it has a pointy snout. This shape helps it dig and move around underground.
The color of these lizards can change depending on where they live. They are often brown, grey, or bronze. Lizards in western Australia might not have clear stripes. But those in the east often have clear black stripes running along their bodies. Their undersides are usually lighter with brown spots. Young lizards often have a reddish tail.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the Mueller's three-toed lerista all over mainland Australia. This includes the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. They are not found in Tasmania. These lizards can live in many different places. They are found in hot, dry, sandy deserts. They also live in cooler, more vegetated areas in the southern parts of Australia.
Daily Life and Habitat
The Mueller's three-toed lerista is a fossorial animal, which means it likes to burrow. It is also diurnal, meaning it is active during the day. These lizards spend their daylight hours looking for food. Like many other reptiles, they are ectothermic. This means they rely on their surroundings to control their body temperature.
In the morning, they often look for sunny spots to warm up. This gives them energy to hunt for food and digest it. Once they have enough energy, they often hide. They might burrow into sand or loose soil. They also hide under fallen logs, leaves, and other debris on the ground.
Their homes vary a lot. In hot, dry desert areas, they might burrow into the sand or hide under rocks. In cooler parts of Australia, they can be found in many different places. These include floodplains, grassy woodlands, and areas with certain types of trees like black box and mallee woodlands.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The Mueller's three-toed lerista is an oviparous reptile. This means the female lays eggs. On average, she lays about two eggs at a time. When they reproduce depends on the season and the environment.
Female lizards choose safe places to lay their eggs. These spots help protect the eggs from animals that might eat them. In dry areas, eggs are often laid under the sand. This keeps them safe and provides good conditions for them to hatch. In cooler areas, they look for places that will help the eggs hatch well. This might mean hiding them under fallen leaves, loose soil, logs, or rocks. Many young lizards do not survive because of tough environmental conditions.
What Do They Eat?
The diet of the Mueller's three-toed lerista is varied. They eat different kinds of small creatures. This includes insects and tiny worms that live underground. There are some differences in what males and females eat. Females are usually bigger, so they tend to eat larger insects found on the surface. Males often hunt for smaller prey that is harder to find. These lizards use both their sense of smell and their eyesight to find food. This depends on where they are.
Who Are Their Predators?
Many animals hunt the Mueller's three-toed lerista. Birds often attack them from above. On the ground, they can be eaten by many different mammals, both native and introduced. Other dangers include snakes, spiders, and parasites like ticks and mites. Like many skinks, these lizards have a cool trick called caudal autotomy. This means they can drop or lose part of their tail if something catches them. This helps them escape from predators.
Threats to Their Survival
Like many animals in Australia, the Mueller's three-toed lerista faces threats. Clearing land for farms and other uses, and changes in how fires are managed, can destroy their homes. However, for now, there are no major concerns about this species becoming endangered.
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN: 978-0643100350.
- Fischer JG (1881). "Beschreibung neuer Reptilien ". Archiv für Naturgeschichte 47 (1): 225-238 + Plates XI-XII. (Phaneropis muelleri, new species, pp. 236–238 + Plate XII, figures 13-15). (in German).
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN: 978-1921517280.
