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Lankascincus taylori

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Lankascincus taylori
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lankascincus
Species:
L. taylori
Binomial name
Lankascincus taylori
Greer, 1991

Lankascincus taylori, commonly known as Taylor's tree skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.

Etymology

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The specific name, taylori, is in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.[2]

Habitat and Geographic range

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A montane representative of Lanka skinks, L. taylori is found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests,[1] at elevations from 470–1,350 m (1,540–4,430 ft) above sea level,[citation needed] at Sinharaja, Knuckles Mountain Range, Gampola, Hantana, and Udawatta Kele.[citation needed]

Description

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The head, body, and tail of L. taylori are long and slender. The midbody scales are in 24-26 rows. The lamellae under the fourth toe number 12-18. The dorsum is chocolate brown. Each dorsal scale has a dark gray horseshoe mark, which is open-ended posteriorly. A dark brown flank band can be seen with blue spots. The throat is grayish with blue spots. The venter is yellow.[citation needed]

Diet

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The diet of L. taylori includes insects.[citation needed]

Reproduction

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Sexually mature females of L. taylori usually lay 2 eggs at a time.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ukuwela K, Karunarathna S, Kannishka [sic] S (2021). "Lankascincus taylori ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.1305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197208A123312052.en. Accessed on 31 July 2022.
  2. ^ Boelens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lankascincus taylori, p. 261).
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Further reading

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  • Austin CC, Das I, de Silva A (2004). "Higher-level molecular phylogenetic relationships of the endemic genus Lankascincus from Sri Lanka based on nuclear DNA sequences". Lyriocephalus 5 (1-2): 11-22.
  • 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. (Lankascincus taylori, new species).
  • Somaweera R, Somaweera N (2009). Lizards of Sri Lank, A Colour Guide with Field Keys. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira / Serpents Tale. 304 pp. ISBN 978-3899734782.