Biology:Kaestlea travancorica
| Kaestlea travancorica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Kaestlea |
| Species: | K. travancorica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kaestlea travancorica | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Mocoa travancorica Beddome,1870 | |
Kaestlea travancorica, also known as the Travancore ground skink or Barbour's ground skink, is a species of skink endemic to southern Western Ghats.
Description
A medium-sized (3.8 cm), blue-tailed forest skink.[2] Earlier placed in the genus Scincella, it is now included in the genus Kaestlea.[3] It is diurnal and known to feed on insects on the forest floor.
Distribution
Restricted to the Western Ghats, India. Mainly known from Travancore regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. Studies conducted in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve show that this species occurs mainly in high-altitude rain forest habitat[4] at elevations between 1,000–1,700 m (3,300–5,600 ft) above sea level.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Das, I.; Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B. (2011). "Kaestlea travancorica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T174134A7020778. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T174134A7020778.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/174134/7020778. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ↑ Das, I. (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other reptiles of India. New Holland Publishers (UK).
- ↑ Eremchenko, V.K.; Das, I. (2004). "Kaestlea: A new genus of scincid lizards (Scincidae: Lygosominae) from the Western Ghats, southwestern India". Hamadryad 28 (1–2): 43–50.
- ↑ Ishwar, N.M.; Chellam, R.; Kumar, A. (2001). "Distribution of forest floor reptiles in the rainforest of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, South India". Current Science 80 (3): 413–418.
Notes
- Ouboter, P.E. 1986 A revision of the genus Scincella (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae) of Asia, with some notes on its evolution. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) (No. 229) 1986: 1-66 PDF
- Smith,M.A. 1937 A review of the genus Lygosoma (Scincida Reptilia) and its allies. Rec. Ind. Mus. 39 (3): 213-234
Wikidata ☰ Q3008530 entry
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