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| Eremiascincus erebos Zozaya, Lloyd, Budd & Torkkola, 2026 Garrwa Banded Skink | www.TaxonomyAustralia.org.au |
Abstract
We describe Eremiascincus erebos sp. nov., a new species of banded, crepuscular and nocturnal skink from sandstone habitats of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria region in the Northern Territory, Australia. The species is known to inhabit scree and deep, cave-like crevices in gorges and rock towers. Morphology and genomic sequence data indicate E. erebos sp. nov. is most closely related to E. fasciolatus—with which it shares divided posterior supralabials, a character otherwise absent in Eremiascincus—but differs in having a larger ear opening, no ridges along the dorsal surfaces of the hindbody and tail, and a higher midbody scale row count. Although currently known from only two localities in the north-eastern Northern Territory, E. erebos sp. nov. is likely more widespread across the region south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
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| Eremiascincus erebos sp. nov. in life and associated habitat: (A) MAGNT R36326 (holotype) and (B) MAGNT R36327 (paratype) from Pungalina–Seven Emu Sanctuary; (C) an unvouchered individual from Caranbirini; (D) typical habitat at Caranbirini; (E) an unsampled individual from Caranbirini observed inside a deep, horizontal rock crevice. Photos: R. Lloyd (A–B); E. Budd (C); S. Zozaya (D–E). |
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| Eremiascincus erebos sp. nov. (A) compared with the morphologically similar E. fasciolatus (B), geographically adjacent E. intermedius (C), and sympatric E. isolepis (D). Note that E. erebos sp. nov. lacks the longitudinal dorsal ridges on the posterior body and tail visible in B and C. Localities: (A, D) Caranbirini Conservation Reserve, NT; (B) Cecil Plains, Qld; (C) Barkly Homestead, NT. Photos: S. Mahony (A), W. Read (B), M. Clancy (C), S. Zozaya (D). |
Eremiascincus ereboss sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Can be differentiated from all other Eremiascincus by the following combination of characters:
irregular, dark, transverse bands on dorsal surface of
body and original tail; dark bands on torso 1–2.5 scales
wide; 37–39 MBSR; 8–9 supralabials, the penultimate
and/or posteriormost being divided horizontally; ear
opening very large (ear height 33–34% head depth) and
elliptical; scales on dorsal surface of fourth toe arranged
in multiple rows with oblique sutures, with only the terminal and penultimate scale row single; dorsum and tail
completely lacking longitudinal ridges; snout rounded in
lateral view, not depressed.
Etymology. From the Greek ἔρεβος (erebos), used by
Homer in the Iliad for the dark, gloomy passages
between Earth and Hades, in reference to the dark
sandstone crevices and caves in which this species is
often found. The epithet was intentionally chosen for its
phonetic resemblance to the generic name Eremiascincus, with both names beginning with ere- despite deriving from different Greek roots. The name is used as a
noun in apposition. Coincidentally—and unknown to us
until we compiled the reference list for this paper—the related species E. pallidus (Günther, 1875) was described
in The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Erebus and Terror,
which refers to a ship bearing the same name in its
Latinised form.
We recommend the common name 'Garrwa Banded
Skink' given that the species' known extent of occurrence falls mostly within Garrwa country. We thank
Daphne and Peggy Mawson, Garrwa Elders, for their
ongoing support toward understanding the lizard diversity on their country.
Stephen M. Zozaya, Ray Lloyd, Elliot Budd and Janne J. Torkkola. 2026. Eremiascincus erebos sp. nov., A New banded skink (Scincidae; Sphenomorphini) from sandstone habitats of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Taxonomy Australia. 130: 1–11. [2026-09-09]