Biology:Nessia hickanala

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Short description: Species of lizard

Nessia hickanala
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Nessia
Species:
N. hickanala
Binomial name
Nessia hickanala
Deraniyagala, 1940[1]

Nessia hickanala, also known as the shark-headed snake skink[2] and Hickanala nessia, is a species of skink endemic to island of Sri Lanka.[3]

Description

Midbody scales rows 2–21. Body is elongated and limbless. Head flattened, wedge-shaped. Eyes greatly reduced. Lower eyelid comprising three transparent scales. Ears are small. Dorsal scales enlarged. Dorsum and venter are pinkish brown. Scales dark brown.

Distribution and habitat

A fossorial skink, known only from the dry North West. One specimen was found from a depth of 6 cm under a heap of coconut branches at Pomparippu, Snout 8 km from the coast. Species is also known from Wilpattu National Park.

Ecology and diet

Inhabits lowlands, under 50m.

Reproduction

2 eggs are laid in loose soil.

References

  1. Deraniyagala, P. E. P. (1940). "A new apodal lizard, Nessia hickanala, from Ceylon". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 152 (1): 37–39. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1940.tb00243.x. 
  2. "Tetrapod Reptiles of Sri Lanka". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. https://biodiversityofsrilanka.blogspot.com/p/diversity-of-tetrapod-reptile.html. 
  3. Nessia hickanala at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 29 May 2021.

Wikidata ☰ Q5125367 entry