Endemic reptiles of srilanka (Scincid)

Endemic Scincid Lizards of Sri Lanka
01. Four-toed Skink                             Chalcidoseps thwaitessi  (GÜnther,1872)

A highly fossorial skink from Knuckles Massif. Found under rocks, boulders, decaying logs and leaf litter in shady part of the forest. MOstly dweel in slopes rather than inhabiting flat lands. When exposed, they immediately slither into loose soil or under rocks , and when picked up, may bite. Confined to Knuckles Massif, between 700-1000m.

IUCN SL 2007 List:CR / FFPO: Protected

02. Deignan’s Lanka Skink                   Lankascincus deignani (Taylor, 1950)

A rather robust and a large species . Found in moist litter, under stones and logs in forests. Confined to the midhills, submontane and montane forest, between 600 to 1700m.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected

03. Deraniyagala ’s Lanka Skink Lankascincus deraniyagalae       (Greer, 1991)

 IUCN SL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected

04. Common Supple Skink                  Lankascincus fallax (Peters, 1860)

A common garden skink in Sri Lanka, the red throated male in particular being distinctive. This species conceals under stones, leaf litter and under logs, actively foraging in the morning around 7.30 a.m and in the evening around 5-6 pm on insects. Males demonstrate territorial behavior, chasing others away. Widely distributed in the island, from sea level to about 1050m in nearly all climatic regions.

  
05. Gans’s Lanka Skink                         Lankascincus gansi (Geer, 1991)

Commonly found in home gardens and forests from 30 to 700m in the wet climatic zone. It hides under stones, leaf litter and under logs, becoming active and coming out to forage in the morning hours around 7.30 am and at dusk. Localities include Gampola, Deniyaya, Akuressa, Ratnapura, Sinharaja, Kuruwita, and Pallegama.

FFPO: Protected

06. Smooth Lanka Skink                Lankascincus taprobanensis (Kelaart, 1854)

A dark montane representative of the genus. It hides under rubble, decaying logs, leaf litter and at the base of grass in loose soil. Montane species from 1000 to 2300m.It is the only skink found at elevations of 2300m and is common at Horton Plains, Hakgala, Namunukula and Nuwara Eliya.

FFPO: Protected

07. Taylor’s Lanka Skink           Lankascincus taylori (Greer, 1991)

Another montane skink. Found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests. Confined mainly to montane forests above 470m to 1350m at Sinharaja, Knuckles, Gampola, Hantana and Udawattakale.

IUCN SL 2007 List:VU / FFPO: Protected

07. Catenated Lanka Skink           Lankascincus dorsicatenatus (Deraniyagala, 1953)

Another mid- elevational rain forests inhabiting skink. Found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests, especially near the water streams. This species is commnly observed on rocks in the streams and when disturbed jump to the water and swim away to hide. Found in Sinharaja, Knuckles, Gampola, Elpitiya, Kitulgala, Galle and Hantana.

 IUCN SL 2007 List:DD /  FFPO: Protected

09. Taylor’s Skink      Lygosma singha (Taylor, 1950)
10. Taylor’s Striped Skink            Mabuya floweri (Taylor, 1950)

A small, ground dwelling skink from the arid north-east. This species is known only from Trincomalee.
11. Spotted Skink                        Mabuya madaraszi (Mehely, 1897)

widespread terrestrial skink, reported from both the wet and dry zones. Found in elevations up to 800m, in rock crevices, under leaf litter or under logs, and seen basking at midday.

FFPO: Protected

12. Smith’s Snake Skink             Nessia bipes (Smith, 1935) 

A poorly-known burrowing skink from Knuckles Massif. Hides under rubble, decaying logs and in leaf litter in submontane forests, at elevations of up to 750m. Known localities are few and include Udadumbara, Gammaduwa and Matalapitiya.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN             FFPO: Protected

13. Three-toed Snake Skink          Nessia burtonii (Gray, 1839)

Found in wet zone. It hides during the day, under rubble, decaying logs and in leaf litter within submontane forests, up to 1200m. Widely distributed in the wet climatic zone in Maskeliya, Gampola, Veyangoda, Lunava, Matugala, Pallevala, Kuruvita, Rakvana and Kadugannawa.

 

14. Deraniyagala’s Snake Skink    Nessia deraniyagalai (Taylor, 1950)
A limbless species known only from the dry north-east.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN /  FFPO: Protected
15. Two-toed Snake Skink               Nessia didactylus (Deraniyagala, 1934)

IUCNSL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected

FFPO: Protected
15. Two-toed Snake Skink               Nessia didactylus (Deraniyagala, 1934)

A low hill to submontane species, Known localities include Polgahavela, Billegama and Dewatura.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected
17. Layard’s Snake Skink                 Nessia  layardi (Kelaart, 1854)

A poorly known limbless Snake Skink from the wet coastal areas. Inhabits moist soil and decaying leaf litter, especially at base of trees, at elevations of up to 150m. Known localities include Millawa, Vallavatta in Colombo, Yakvala in Lunava and Polgahavela.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected

 
18. Toeless Snake Skink                   Nessia monodactylus (Gray, 1839)

Distinguished from other species of the genus by the presence of four toeless limb buds. Widely distributed in the wet climatic zone and known localities include Hantana, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, Nawalapitiya and Deniyaya especially in shady forests.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN             FFPO: Protected

   
19. Sarasins’ Snake Skink                  Nessia sarasinorum  (MÜller,1889)

A dry-zone Snake Skink. Inhabits moist loose soil or vegetation, such as tree roots. Known localities include Laggala-Pallegama, Maha-Oya, Lahugala, Kumbukgam Oya, Polgahawela, Polonnaruwa, Galgamuwa, Buttala, Inamaluawa, and Batticaloa.

IUCN SL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected
20. Carinated Litter Skink Sphenomorphus dorsicatenatus (Deraniyagala, 1940)
FFPO: Protected
 

21. Sphenomorphus dussumieri (Dumeril & Bibron, 1839)
 

22. Sphenomorphus megalops (Annandale, 1906)
 

23. Sphenomorphus rufogulus (Taylor, 1950)
 

24. Sphenomorphus striatopunctatus (Ahl, 1925)
25.Haly’s Tree Skink Dasia haliana
IUCN SL 2007 List: NT / FFPO: Protected