Sphenomorphus dussumieri

Sphenomorphus dussumieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Sphenomorphus
Species:	S. dussumieri
Binomial name
Sphenomorphus dussumieri (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)

Sphenomorphus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's forest skink, is a species of skink found in the Western Ghats of India, and in Peradeniya and other central highlands of Sri Lanka.

Etymology

In Kanjirappally

The specific name, dussumieri, is in honor of Jean-Jacques Dussumier, a French voyager who collected zoological specimens in South Asia in the early 19th century. It is locally known as "അരണ(arana)"^[1]

Description

The head is distinct from the neck, and the snout is short. The tympanum is situated on the surface, not sunk as in other skinks. The body is slender. The dorsal scales are smooth, with fine striations. The limbs are relatively short. The dorsum is bronze brown, with dark spots. There is a light dorso-lateral stripe running from the eye to the side of the body, its inner edge with a dark brown, white spotted streak. There is also a broad stripe on the sides that is edged with white below. The venter is creamy.

Ecology

This diurnal skink inhabits evergreen, moist deciduous and plantation forests, such as rubber plantations, in closed as well as open forests.

References

1. 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. (Sphenomorphus dussumieri, p. 78).

Further reading

• Annandale N. 1905. Contributions to Oriental Herpetology. Suppl. III. Notes on the Oriental lizards in the Indian Museum, with a list of the species recorded from British India and Ceylon. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal (2) 1: 139-151.
• Beddome RH. 1870. Descriptions of new reptiles from the Madras Presidency. Madras Monthly J. Med. Sci. 2: 169-176. [Reprint: 1940. J. Soc. Bibliogr. Nat. Sci., London 1 (10): 327-334.]
• Greer AE. 1991. Lankascincus, a new genus of scincid lizards from Sri Lanka, with descriptions of three new species. Journal of Herpetology 25 (1): 59-64.
• Smith MA. 1937. A review of the genus Lygosoma (Scincidae, Reptilia) and its allies. Rec. Indian Mus. 39 (3): 213-234.
• Stoliczka F. 1872. Notes on various new or little-known Indian lizards. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 61 (2): 86-135.

External links