Rankinia adelaidensis

Taxobox
name = Rankinia
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
familia = Agamidae
subfamilia = Agaminae
genus = "Rankinia"
species = "R. adelaidensis"
binomial = "Rankinia adelaidensis"
binomial_authority = Gray
subdivision_ranks=Subspecies
subdivision ="Rankinia adelaidensis adelaidensis" "Rankinia adelaidensis chapmani"

"Rankinia adelaidensis" is a species of Heath Dragon, small Agamid reptiles, occurring in southern regions of Australia.

These dragons are pale in colour, usually grey-brown, although males develop a reddish hue in the breeding season. They 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.

Classification of species

This species is contained by the genus "Rankinia", subspecies of this taxon have also been described and published. The species 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. The common name for these subspecies is Western and Eastern Heath Dragon.
*"Rankinia adelaidensis adelaidensis"
*"Rankinia adelaidensis chapmani"

References

*cite book |last=Browne-Cooper |first= Robert|coauthors= Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, David Robinson |title= Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia|year= 2007|month= |publisher= University of Western Australia Press|isbn= 9778 1 920694 74 6 |pages= pp. 162,163|chapter= |chapterurl= |quote=