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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: 17
 

centralian earless dragon (Tympanocryptis centralis)
The Olgas, Northern Territory
Photo © Dr Danny Brown
centralian earless dragon (Tympanocryptis centralis) distribution range map Tympanocryptis centralis
Centralian earless dragon
Year described
Sternfeld 1924
Description

pebble dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus)
Pilbara, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
pebble dragon (Tympanocryptis cephalus) distribution range map Tympanocryptis cephalus
Pebble dragon
Year described
Günther 1867
Description

Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis)
Bongeen, Queensland
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis) distribution range map 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 pebble-mimic dragon (Tympanocryptis diabolicus)
Hamersley Range, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Hamersley pebble-mimic dragon (Tympanocryptis diabolicus) distribution range map Tympanocryptis diabolicus
Hamersley pebble-mimic dragon
Year described
Doughty, Kealley, Shoo & Melville 2015
Description

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

No thumbnail available Gascoyne pebble-mimic dragon (Tympanocryptis gigas) distribution range map Tympanocryptis gigas
Gascoyne pebble-mimic dragon
Year described
Mitchell 1948
Description

Nullarbor earless dragon (Tympanocryptis houstoni)
Brooks Soak, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Nullarbor earless dragon (Tympanocryptis houstoni) distribution range map Tympanocryptis houstoni
Nullarbor earless dragon
Year described
Storr 1982
Description

gibber earless dragon (Tympanocryptis intima)
Birdsville region, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
gibber earless dragon (Tympanocryptis intima) distribution range map Tympanocryptis intima
Gibber earless dragon
Year described
Mitchell 1948
Description

lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata)
Andado Station, Northern Territory
Photo © Chris Jolly
lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata) distribution range map Tympanocryptis lineata
Lined earless dragon
Year described
Peters 1863
Description

No thumbnail available Bathurst grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis mccartneyi) distribution range map Tympanocryptis mccartneyi
Bathurst grassland earless dragon
Year described
Melville, Chaplin, Hutchinson, Sumner, Gruber, MacDonald & Sarre 2019
Description

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

five-lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pentalineata)
Normanton, Queensland
Photo © Jordan de Jong
five-lined earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pentalineata) distribution range map 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

No thumbnail available Victorian grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) distribution range map Tympanocryptis pinguicolla
Victorian grassland earless dragon
Year described
Mitchell 1948
Description

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

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

No thumbnail available even-scaled earless dragon (Tympanocryptis uniformis) distribution range map Tympanocryptis uniformis
Even-scaled earless dragon
Year described
Mitchell 1948
Description

Roma earless dragon (Tympanocryptis wilsoni)
Roma, Queensland
Photo © Steve Wilson
Roma earless dragon (Tympanocryptis wilsoni) distribution range map 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

References
  1. Shoo, LP; Rose, R.; Doughty, P.; Austin, J.J.; & Melville, J. (2008). Diversification patterns of pebble-mimic dragons are consistent with historical disruption of important habitat corridors in arid Australia. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 48(2):528-542.
  2. Melville, Jane; Smith, Katie; Hobson, Rod; Hunjan, Sumitha; & Shoo, Luke (2014). The Role of Integrative Taxonomy in the Conservation Management of Cryptic Species: The Taxonomic Status of Endangered Earless Dragons (Agamidae: Tympanocryptis) in the Grasslands of Queensland, Australia. PloS one, 9(7):e101847.
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