Rough-nosed horned lizard

Rough-nosed horned lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Draconinae
Genus: Ceratophora
Species: C. aspera
Binomial name
Ceratophora aspera
Günther, 1864

The rough-nosed horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera) is a lizard from Sri Lanka in lowland dipterocarp forests and secondary forests in the wet zone. It is distinguished from all the other Ceratophora species by the presence of a complex rostral appendage, comprising more scales than rostral scale alone. The lateral body scales are small and more or less regular shape.

An X-shaped dorsal ridge at back of head. Tympanum hidden under the skin. A weak dorso-nuchal crest confined to the neck region. Gular fold absent. Body slightly compressed. Lamellae under fourth toe counts 11-14. Males are dark brown or brick-red dorsally and on the flanks. Females may be similar to males in coloration and can be lighter, with some individuals have four diamond-shaped marks and black spots or longitudinal lines on dorsum.

Natural history

A terrestrial species, it is found on leaf litter in well-shaded forests, usually in pairs. Two soft-shelled eggs are laid.

Habitat & Distribution

A ground-dwelling species and lives in pairs. Restricted to the moist lowlands and submontane dipterocarp forests region in southern Sri Lanka, including Hiniduma, Kottawa below 900m of elevation.

Reproduction

2 eggs are laid at a time.

References

  1. Somaweera, R. & de Silva, A. (2010). "Ceratophora aspera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.