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Delmas
Delma - Gray, 1831

Pronunciation: DELL-mah
Etymology: apparently meaningless

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 21 out of 21 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: heath delma (Delma hebesa) at 7.9 cm
 Longest Australian species: Atherton delma (Delma mitella) at 20 cm
Number of Australian species: 21
 

marble-faced delma (Delma australis)
Ngarkat Conservation Park, South Australia
Photo © Jordan de Jong
marble-faced delma (Delma australis) distribution range map Delma australis
Marble-faced delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description
"A small species of Delma (SVL to 93 mm) with: ventral scales not markedly larger than adjacent lateral scales; one pair of supranasals; typically 18 midbody scales; 68–92 ventral scales (males average 76.3, females 83.5); six upper labials typically with fourth below eye; loreal scale row typically interrupted by a ventral extension of supraloreal scale that contacts upper labials; modally 5‒7 hindlimb scales in both sexes; strong dark variegations on upper surface of head; narrow dark bars on side of head (extending onto labial scales), napeand forebody."1

rusty-topped delma (Delma borea)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
rusty-topped delma (Delma borea) distribution range map Delma borea
Rusty-topped delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

unbanded delma (Delma butleri)
Denham, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
unbanded delma (Delma butleri) distribution range map Delma butleri
Unbanded delma
Year described
Storr 1987
Description

javelin legless lizard (Delma concinna)
Gingin, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
javelin legless lizard (Delma concinna) distribution range map Delma concinna
Javelin legless lizard
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

banded delma (Delma desmosa)
Tanami Desert, Northern Territory
Photo © Ray Lloyd
banded delma (Delma desmosa) distribution range map Delma desmosa
Banded delma
Year described
Maryan, Aplin & Adams 2007
Description

Pilbara delma (Delma elegans)
Hamersley Range, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Pilbara delma (Delma elegans) distribution range map Delma elegans
Pilbara delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

Fraser's delma (Delma fraseri)
Perth, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
Fraser's delma (Delma fraseri) distribution range map Delma fraseri
Fraser's delma
Year described
Gray 1831
Description

side-barred delma (Delma grayii)
Perth, Western Australia
Photo © David Fischer
side-barred delma (Delma grayii) distribution range map Delma grayii
Side-barred delma
Year described
Smith 1849
Description

heath delma (Delma hebesa)
Fitzgerald National Park, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
heath delma (Delma hebesa) distribution range map Delma hebesa
Heath delma
Year described
Maryan, Brennan, Adams & Aplin 2015
Description
"A small species of Delma (SVL to 79 mm) with: ventral scales not markedly larger than adjacent lateral scales; one pair of supranasals; modally 18 midbody scales; modally 10 hindlimb scales in both sexes; 73‒92 ventral scales (males average 76.8, females 85.5); six upper labials with fourth typically below eye; loreal scale row typically interrupted by a ventral extension of supraloreal scale that contacts upper labials; essentially unpatterned head, sometimes with weak dark variegations on sides of head and indistinct narrow bars or smudges on labial scales, nape and forebody."1 "Top of head bluish to light grey and unpatterned or with weak dark variegations. Lower labials whitish with blackish bars or smudges, centred on sutures of mental and anterior two lower labial scales, corner of mouth, grading to obscure variegations or weak bars around ear opening and on lateral scales of forebody. There is only very weak ventral extension of black bars or smudges on to chin and throat. Dorsal body surface bluish to light grey anteriorly, gradually merging to light brown body than to light grey tail. Lower flanks are slightly pinkish to reddish brown. Dorsal surface is uniform, except for some indication of obscure dark spots or variegations, particularly on some sutures of body scales. Ventral surface under head and along body whitish, with blackish variegations, becoming less pigmented under tail."1

striped legless lizard (Delma impar)
Victoria
Photo © Angus McNab
striped legless lizard (Delma impar) distribution range map Delma impar
Striped legless lizard
Year described
Fischer 1882
Description

patternless delma (Delma inornata)
Bowenville, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
patternless delma (Delma inornata) distribution range map Delma inornata
Patternless delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

stripe-tailed delma (Delma labialis)
Townsville, Queensland
Photo © Ray Lloyd
stripe-tailed delma (Delma labialis) distribution range map Delma labialis
Stripe-tailed delma
Year described
Shea 1987
Description
Reddish-brown body grading to a greyish-brown tail. Pale throat and neck, with yellowish-brown barring on lips and throat. Darker dorsolateral stripes running from posterior body down tail.

Atherton delma (Delma mitella)
Kirrama, Queensland
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Atherton delma (Delma mitella) distribution range map Delma mitella
Atherton delma
Year described
Shea 1987
Description

Gulfs delma (Delma molleri)
Melrose, South Australia
Photo © Rob Valentic
Gulfs delma (Delma molleri) distribution range map Delma molleri
Gulfs delma
Year described
Lütken 1863
Description

sharp-snouted delma (Delma nasuta)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
sharp-snouted delma (Delma nasuta) distribution range map Delma nasuta
Sharp-snouted delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

peace delma (Delma pax)
Tom Price, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
peace delma (Delma pax) distribution range map Delma pax
Peace delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

Peterson's delma (Delma petersoni)
Great Victorian Desert, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Peterson's delma (Delma petersoni) distribution range map Delma petersoni
Peterson's delma
Year described
Shea 1991
Description

leaden delma (Delma plebeia)
Barakula State Forest, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
leaden delma (Delma plebeia) distribution range map Delma plebeia
Leaden delma
Year described
De Vis 1888
Description

Teale's delma (Delma tealei)
Shothole Canyon, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Teale's delma (Delma tealei) distribution range map Delma tealei
Teale's delma
Year described
Maryan, Aplin & Adams 2007
Description

excitable delma (Delma tincta)
Western Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
excitable delma (Delma tincta) distribution range map Delma tincta
Excitable delma
Year described
De Vis 1888
Description

collared delma (Delma torquata)
Brisbane, Queensland
Photo © Mark Sanders
collared delma (Delma torquata) distribution range map Delma torquata
Collared delma
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description
Smallest of all the delmas. Mainly brown, with a paler belly. Gloss black head with four yellow/red/pale bars.

References
  1. Maryan, Brad; Brennan, Ian G.; Adams, Mark; & Aplin, Ken P. (2015). Molecular and morphological assessment of Delma australis Kluge (Squamata: Pygopodidae), with a description of a new species from the biodiversity 'hotspot' of southwestern Western Australia. Zootaxa, 3946(3):301-330.
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