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War-like skinks
Bellatorias - Wells & Wellington, 1984

Pronunciation: bell-ah-tor-EE-ahs
 Etymology: 'war-like'.1

Taxonomic notes:

Genus resurrected from synonymy with Egernia in 2008.2

 Notes: Squarish in cross section. Dorsal scales smooth to weakly keeled. Dorsal scales in 26-36 rows. Postnarial groove running to first supralabial. Incomplete subocular scale row. Distinct cream margins to eyelid.3
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Live-bearing - 3 out of 3 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: major skink (Bellatorias frerei) at 18 cm
 Longest Australian species: land mullet (Bellatorias major) at 30 cm
Number of Australian species: 3
 

major skink (Bellatorias frerei)
Daintree Rainforest, Queensland
Photo © Kirrily Douglas
major skink (Bellatorias frerei) distribution range map Bellatorias frerei
Major skink
Year described
(Günther 1897)
Description

land mullet (Bellatorias major)
Lamington Plateau, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
land mullet (Bellatorias major) distribution range map Bellatorias major
Land mullet
Year described
(Gray 1845)
Description

Arnhem Land skink (Bellatorias obiri)
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Photo © Lindley McKay
Arnhem Land skink (Bellatorias obiri) distribution range map Bellatorias obiri
Arnhem Land skink
Year described
(Wells & Wellington 1985)
Description
Pale grey/brown. Dark lateral streak above forelimb. Darker barring on lips/throat.

References
  1. Wells, Richard W. & Wellington, C. Ross (1984). A synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1(3-4):73-129. - search web for this article
  2. Gardner, Michael G.; Hugall, Andrew F.; Donnellan, Stephen C.; Hutchinson, Mark N.; & Foster, Ralph (2008). Molecular systematics of social skinks: phylogeny and taxonomy of the Egernia group (Reptilia: Scincidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 154:781-794. - search web for this article
  3. Brown, Danny (2009). A guide to keeping Australian lizards. Australian Bird Keeper Publications. - search web for this book
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