Tympanocryptis

Earless dragons
Tympanocryptis - Peters, 1868

Pronunciation:

TIM-pan-oh-KRIP-tiss

Etymology:

'hidden ear'.

Taxonomic notes:

Tympanocryptis taxonomy is currently a mess. Pebble dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus) specimens from Queensland are now considered to be gibber earless dragon (Tympanocryptis intima), with T. cephalus found only in Western Australia1. Tympanocryptis cephalus specimens from the Pilbara coast around Karatha possibly represent an as yet undescribed species1.

Notes:

Statistics:

Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 17 out of 17 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: Monaro grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis osbornei) at cm
Longest Australian species: Eyrean earless dragon (Tympanocryptis tetraporophora) at 7.4 cm

Number of Australian species:


The Olgas, Northern Territory Photo © Dr Danny Brown		Tympanocryptis centralis Centralian earless dragon Year described Sternfeld 1924 Description

Pilbara, Western Australia Photo © Henry Cook		Tympanocryptis cephalus Pebble dragon Year described Günther 1867 Description

Bongeen, Queensland Photo © Ray Lloyd		Tympanocryptis condaminensis Condamine earless dragon Year described Melville, Smith, Hobson, Hunjan & Shoo 2014 Description "A small to medium-sized Tympanocryptis with a well-developed lateral and ventral body patterning, consisting of strongly contrasting brown-black and white irregular banding and speckling. Ventral patterning is concentrated on the head, throat and upper chest, extending posteriorly toward the lateral portions of the belly. Individuals with heavy ventral patterning usually have a narrow longitudinal stripe of white along the centreline of the upper third of the chest. Distinct irregular, dorso-ventral banding of brown-black and white colouration along the sides below a narrow but continuous white lateral stripe, which runs from axilla to groin. Ventral and lateral contrasting patterning consists of more white than brown-black. Three well defined pale spots on dorsal surface of snout: one above each nostril and one at end of snout. Inter-nasal scales .10. Scales on dorsal surface of the torso are heterogeneous with interspersed un-keeled, weakly keeled and strongly keeled scales. A distinct narrow white stripe running along the posterior edge of the thigh, extending onto the base of the tail. Femoral pores absent; preanal pores 2."2

Hamersley Range, Western Australia Photo © Ray Lloyd		Tympanocryptis diabolicus Hamersley pebble-mimic dragon Year described Doughty, Kealley, Shoo & Melville 2015 Description

Chichester Range, Western Australia Photo © Ray Lloyd		Tympanocryptis fortescuensis Fortescue pebble-mimic dragon Year described Doughty, Kealley, Shoo & Melville 2015 Description

		Tympanocryptis gigas Gascoyne pebble-mimic dragon Year described Mitchell 1948 Description

Brooks Soak, Western Australia Photo © Brad Maryan		Tympanocryptis houstoni Nullarbor earless dragon Year described Storr 1982 Description

Birdsville region, Queensland Photo © Stewart Macdonald		Tympanocryptis intima Gibber earless dragon Year described Mitchell 1948 Description

Andado Station, Northern Territory Photo © Chris Jolly		Tympanocryptis lineata Lined earless dragon Year described Peters 1863 Description

		Tympanocryptis mccartneyi Bathurst grassland earless dragon Year described Melville, Chaplin, Hutchinson, Sumner, Gruber, MacDonald & Sarre 2019 Description

Gravid female curled under rock. Cooma, New South Wales Photo © Emma Carlson		Tympanocryptis osbornei Monaro grassland earless dragon Year described Melville, Chaplin, Hutchinson, Sumner, Gruber, MacDonald & Sarre 2019 Description

Normanton, Queensland Photo © Jordan de Jong		Tympanocryptis pentalineata Five-lined earless dragon Year described Melville, Smith, Hobson, Hunjan & Shoo 2014 Description "A medium-sized Tympanocryptis with a distinct dorsal body pattern, consisting of five longitudinal narrow grey or white stripes on a brown-black patterned background. The five stripes consist of: one weak, narrow, grey vertebral stripe; two white, narrow dorso-lateral stripes; and two narrow, white lateral stripes. When examined closely the lateral stripes consist of a single row of enlarged, mucronate white scales extending from axilla to groin, bordered ventrally and dorsally with smaller, darker scales. Strong background patterning is evident between the dorso-lateral and lateral stripes, consisting of three broad transverse bands that are dark-brow to black. Scattered through the darker background colouring are enlarged white mucronate scales, giving the impression of white flecks on a dark background. The dorso-lateral stripes continue onto the tail to about 1/3rd of its length. There is a cluster of 3–5 enlarged, pale mucronate scales at the anterior extent of the paravertebral stripes, sitting at the rear of the head. On the ventral surface, the throat and upper chest area is faintly pigmented with black flecks or pigmentation is absent. Nare slightly off-centre towards the posterior-dorsal section of the nasal scale. Four pores, two pre-anal pores and two femoral pores."2

		Tympanocryptis pinguicolla Victorian grassland earless dragon Year described Mitchell 1948 Description

Meekatharra, Western Australia Photo © Ray Lloyd		Tympanocryptis pseudopsephos Goldfields pebble-mimic dragons Year described Doughty, Kealley, Shoo & Melville 2015 Description

Moon Plain, South Australia Photo © Matthew Bonnett		Tympanocryptis tetraporophora Eyrean earless dragon Year described Lucas & Frost 1895 Description

		Tympanocryptis uniformis Even-scaled earless dragon Year described Mitchell 1948 Description

Roma, Queensland Photo © Steve Wilson		Tympanocryptis wilsoni Roma earless dragon Year described Melville, Smith, Hobson, Hunjan & Shoo 2014 Description "A small to medium-sized Tympanocryptis with a well-developed lateral and ventral body patterning, consisting of extensive brown-black speckling. Ventral patterning is concen- trated on the head, throat and upper chest, extending posteriorly toward the lateral portions of the belly. Heavy brown-black speckling along the sides but white lateral stripe is absent. Ventral and lateral patterning black-brown colouration is greater than white. Three well defined pale spots on dorsal surface of snout: one above each nostril and one at end of snout. Inter-nasal scales ,10. Scales on dorsal surface of the torso are heterogeneous with interspersed un-keeled, weakly keeled and strongly keeled scales. Femoral pores absent; preanal pores 2."2