Delma australis species-group

Diagnosis. Based on the molecular analysis of Jennings et al. (2003) and this study we formally propose a D. australis species-group, currently comprising D. australis, D. hebesa sp. nov. and D. torquata . The morphological characteristics of this species-group are relatively small-size (SVL to 93 mm); ventral scales usually not markedly larger than adjacent lateral scales (enlarged in some D. torquata); one pair of supranasal scales; modally 16 or 18 midbody scales (occasionally 17, 19 or 20); loreal scale row usually interrupted by a ventral extension of supraloreal scale that contacts upper labials. For comparisons of ventral body scale size between D. australis and D. fraseri see Kluge (1974: 9).