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Wildlife Spotting

Diporiphora sp.

Photo by Liana
Published on Project Noah
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-16.53, 126.13

Field Notes

Description:

This beautiful little Lizard has 3 distinct white stripes down the back. Perpendicular to the middle and outer stripes are dark horizontal stripes...looks like a ladder with the middle white stripe cutting between the dark stripe steps (see pic 4). I think the stripes begin somewhere near the base of the head. There is a black strip running from the back of the eye, through the centre of the eye, over the top of the nostril opening to just before the top lip. There is a splash of yellow on the side (see pic 2). It seems to have a little orange dot just under the eyebrow ridge (see pic 1). Unsure of length but a guess would be approximately 15cm (5.9 inches) snout to vent, with quite a long tail. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the tail or a clear shot of the back!

Habitat:

On the rocky track along the top of the gorge at Jigngarrun (Barnett Gorge on Gibb River Station).

Species ID Suggestions

Pindan Dragon

Diporiphora pindan

Reference Link
Neil Ross
1

Comments (6)
Liana
Oh for sure! There have been sightings of salties down at Cable Beach and there's crocs in the water off the jetty here in Derby. Mind you, people still swim off the jetty! Thankfully the freshies do live up to their timid nature. Generally just slapping the water a lot and keeping an eye out are enough to be able to swim. I recommend taking a long break and heading this way. The biodiversity is gold!
Neil Ross
It's the salties I'd be worried about, although I'd be very suspicious of a 3 foot freshie as well. Big teeth and pure instinct is more than a match for me.
Liana
Thanks for that Neil. For the time being I'll stick with Diporiphora sp. and see what else can be dug up :D It is quite remote up here! As for the crocs...I was out bush this week just gone for work and one of the kids that was out there caught a small freshie on a handline! Probably about 3ish feet long snout to tail tip. One of the fellas and I managed to get it back in the water though, minus the hook thankfully. Biggest croc I've held thus far!
Neil Ross
I think this is definitely Diporiphora sp., and pindan certainly fits the range. D. valens was another one I checked out. Hope this helps to ID your beautiful lizard, Liana. PS: I'm kind of envious that you've been to such a remote part of the continent. Crocs in the river?
Liana
Thank you Neil. This little one stuck around long enough for three of us to get quite close and take shots. I had a check up on your suggestion and those little lizards aren't here unfortunately. All good. One day an id will be found! :D Liana
Neil Ross
This is a wonderful spotting. If it wasn't for the range, I would suggest this is a tommy roundhead (Diporiphora australis), but I don't think they're to be found in WA. Has the same profile as a young beardie. Very cool :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Biodiversity of The Kimberley
Photographed
PublishedOctober 8, 2016

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