Description

Frontoparietal scales and interparietal scales fused; 2 pretemporal scales; enlarged upper palpebral scales; 2 supraocular scales; 5 supraciliary scales, 3 of which contact the 1st supraocular scale; 55 paravertebral scales.
Drab brown.

Similar species

Taxonomic notes

This species was described by Greer in 1991.2 - Greer, A.E. (1991). Two new species of Menetia from northeastern Queensland, with comments on the generic diagnoses of Lygisaurus and Menetia. Journal of herpetology, 25(3):268-272.
Holotype: QMJ24448: Magnetic Island; July 1974; T. Low, collector.2 - Greer, A.E. (1991). Two new species of Menetia from northeastern Queensland, with comments on the generic diagnoses of Lygisaurus and Menetia. Journal of herpetology, 25(3):268-272.

Range

Known from only Magnetic Island, off the coast of Townsville, Queensland.

Found in the following Australian states/territories

Queensland

Habitat

Lowlands of Magnetic Island, including "seasonally dry Melaleuca swamps and areas with thick leaf litter"3 - Vanderduys, Eric (2006). Magnetic Island Dwarf Skink, Menetia sadlieri. .

Recorded from the following parks/reserves

• Bolger Bay Conservation Park - Queensland
• Hinchinbrook Island National Park - Queensland
• Magnetic Island National Park - Queensland

The following sources may have been consulted when the above list was compiled:

• Environmental Protection Agency (2008). Wildlife Online (Database). Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. Available: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife_online/index.html Accessed: 28 March 2007

Natural history

Diet

Conservation status

Qld: vulnerable (was Rare)

Conservation notes

General threats

General threats to reptiles, and indeed all native wildlife, include:

• habitat loss from land clearing - it is estimated that between 1997 and 1999 in Queensland, 89 million reptiles were killed each year due to land clearing (Cogger et al. 2003) Impacts of Land Clearing on Australian Wildlife in Queensland.
• habitat degradation by introduced species such as cattle and rabbits - do your bit: eat roo not beef!
• habitat modification caused by global climate change
• death on roads
• feral predators such as dogs, cats, pigs and foxes
• the introduced cane toad
• emerging diseases

Note: these are general threats and may not apply to this particular species.

How you can help

There are many ways you can help our reptiles. Here are my top three suggestions:

1. donate to a habitat restoration organisation
2. ensure your carbon footprint is as small as possible
3. donate to another habitat restoration organisation

References

1. Ehmann, Harald (1992). Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus and Robertson. 495 pp - search web for this book
2. Greer, A.E. (1991). Two new species of Menetia from northeastern Queensland, with comments on the generic diagnoses of Lygisaurus and Menetia. Journal of herpetology, 25(3):268-272.
3. Vanderduys, Eric (2006). Magnetic Island Dwarf Skink, Menetia sadlieri.

 

Additional links

• EPA - Sadlier's skink

Note: the links below are automatically generated. Some may not take you to useful information.

• Google searches - web | images | scholar
• Search The University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web
• Search Wikipedia for Menetia sadlieri
• Magnetic Island dwarf skink at The TIGR Reptile Database