Rankinia

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Rankinia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Agamidae Subfamily: Agaminae Genus: Rankinia
Species
Rankinia adelaidensis Rankinia diemensis Rankinia parviceps

Rankinia, commonly known as Heath Dragons, is a genus containing three species of small agamid reptiles.

These dragons occur in heathlands, sandplains, and wooded country in southern regions of Australia. They are pale in colour, usually grey-brown, although males develop a reddish hue in the breeding season. This allows them to blend with their habitat, they are a ground dwelling species that dwells amid the leaf litter and sand. Rankinia are timid in their behaviour, and will only briefly break from the cover of vegetation. They have a burrowing behaviour that is unique in Australian dragons, they will cover all but their snouts with a shuffling action, burying themselves in the sand. this behaviour may help the dragons to regulate their temperature.

[edit] Classification of genus Rankinia

Three species are contained by the genus, and subspecies of these have also been described and published.

• Rankinia adelaidensis
• Rankinia diemensis
• Rankinia parviceps

Many of the subspecies are restricted to a small range. Their distribution in Southwest Australia is represented by two subspecies of Rankinia adelaidensis; one at the western coast, another along the southeast coast of the region. A third subspecies, Rankinia parviceps butleri is found in a small range near Shark Bay and Dirk Hartog Island.

[edit] References