Earless Dragon, Tympanocryptis lineata

Plate 181. The White-streaked Earless Lizard, Tympanocryptis lineata (now known as the Earless Dragon, Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla), found at Essendon and plains of Sunbury

The species of Tympanocryptis are remarkably distinguished from all of the genus Grammatophora or Amphibolurus by the ear openings being absent or entirely concealed by being covered over by the ordinary scales of the adjacent parts of the head. The present species, at first glance, resembles the young of the G. muricata or "Blood-sucker" of colonists, figured on our plate 111, so much as to be easily mistaken for it.

The habits of this little Lizard are entirely different from those of the G. muricata, never ascending trees of bushes like that creature, but inhabiting stony plains and retreating into small holes, like those of the "Trap-door Spider," on the ground when alarmed.

Not very uncommon at Essendon and the plains near Sunbury, &c., to the north of Melbourne.

This interesting reptile has not been figured before.