Title: Ctenotus quirinus' sp. Nov. (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae) - a new species of skink from the Northern Territory, with the recognition of 'C. Brevipes' storr, 1981 and 'C. Essingtonii' (gray, 1842) as distinct species
Abstract: A new species of Ctenotus (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae), C. quirinus sp. nov., is described. A member of the C. essingtonii species complex, it is distinguished from congeners, notably C. brevipes, C. burbidgei, C. essingtonii, C. hilli and C. gagudju, by a combination of body pattern, mensural and meristic characteristics. The new species is terrestrial, occurring in woodland habitats on sandy soils in the far north and north-west of the Top End of Australia's Northern Territory. Ctenotus quirinus sp. nov. was previously confused with the polytypic taxon C. essingtonii, whose two described subspecies are herein recognised as distinct species and redescribed.