Rankinia

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Cladus: Unidentata Episquamata Toxicofera
Subordo: Iguania
Infraordo: Acrodonta

Familia: Agamidae
Subfamilia: Amphibolurinae
Genus: Rankinia

Species: R. adelaidensis – R. diemensis
Name

Rankinia
Vernacular names
English: heath dragons

Rankinia is a genus of small agamid reptiles. As currently delineated, it is monotypic, containing only Rankinia diemensis (Gray, 1841),[2] also known as the mountain heath dragon or mountain dragon. It is endemic to Australia.[3]
Distribution and habitat

It occurs in the uplands of New South Wales and Victoria, as well as in Tasmania, where it is the only native agamid. Mountain dragons are found in dry woodlands and heaths with access to open areas for sunning themselves. They are oviparous and feed on ants and other small invertebrates.[4][5]

They do not climb very high, relying instead on camouflage to evade predators.[6]
Description

Their overall colour is grey to reddish brown, with two rows of lighter-coloured paravertebral stripes or blotches running down their backs. These stripes are deeply scalloped, so they appear like two series of blotches. They can have cream-coloured bellies. Individuals can grow up to 20 cm in length, although the average length is somewhat smaller, with females typically growing larger than males. The average snout to base of tail length is 7.5 centimeters,[7] but can be up to 9.[8] They have a row of enlarged spinose (spikey) scales on each side of the tail bases.

The mountain dragon appears similar to the jacky dragon, but can be much redder, and the inside of its mouth is pink (compared to the yellow of the jacky dragon).[6]

They breed in summer, laying 2–9 eggs in a burrow.[8]
References

Melville, J., Hutchinson, M., Clemann, N., Robertson, P. & Michael, D. (2018). "Rankinia diemensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T176219A83494457. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T176219A83494457.en. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
Rankinia at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 August 2020.
Rankinia diemensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 August 2020.
TPWS: Wildlife of Tasmania – Mountain Dragon
Cogger, H.G. (1979). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed: Sydney. ISBN 0-589-50108-9
Griffiths, Ken (1987). Reptiles of the Sydney Region. Three Sisters Publications Pty Ltd. p. 50. ISBN 0-9590203-3-0.
"Mountain Dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
"Rankinia diemensis (Gray, 1841), Mountain Dragon". Musem Victoria Collections. Retrieved 11 April 2020.