Lankascincus deraniyagalae

Lankascincus deraniyagalae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Sauria / Lacertilia
Infraorder: Scincomorpha
Family: Scincidae
Subfamily: Sphenomorphinae
Genus: Lankascincus
Species: L. deraniyagalae
Binomial name
Lankascincus deraniyagalae
Greer, 1991

Lankascincus deraniyagalae, commonly known as Deraniyagala's Lanka skink or Deraniyagala's tree skink,[1] is a species of skink endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.

Etymology

The specific name, deraniyagalae, is in honor of Sri Lankan zoologist Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala.[1]

Habitat & distribution

L. deraniyagalae is confined mainly to montane forests between 700–1,300 m (2,300–4,300 ft) in the Central Hills, the Knuckles Mountain Range, and Galle district, in localities Pundaluoya, and Dimbula.

Description

The head, body, and tail are slender and long. The tail is a little over one and a half times the length of the body. Midbody scales rows are 26-28. Lamellae under fourth toe are 16-18. The dorsum is medium brown. A dark brown line runs laterally from the eye to the hind limbs, extending to the middle of the tail. There are scattered white spots laterally. The throat is blue with pale spots. The rest of the venter, body, and tail is yellow.

Ecology & diet

Found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests. Diet comprises insects.

Reproduction

Typically 1 egg laid per one time.

References

  1. 1 2 Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lankascincus deraniyagalae, p. 70).

Further reading

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