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

Lankascincus gansi, also commonly known as Gans's lankaskink[2] and Gans's tree skink,[3] is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.[3]

Etymology

The specific name, gansi, is in honor of German-born American herpetologist Carl Gans (1923–2009).[3][4]

Habitat

L. gansi is found commonly in home gardens and forests from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the wet climatic zones.[1]

Geographic range

Localities in Sri Lanka from which L. gansi has been recorded include Gampola, Deniyaya, Akuressa, Ratnapura, Sinharaja, Kuruwita, and Pallegama.

Description

L. gansi has 23–28 scale rows at midbody. The lamellae under the fourth toe number 12–16. The dorsum is grayish brown, with brownish-black vertebral and flank stripes. The flanks are spotted with yellowish cream. The iris is yellowish brown in color. The venter is unpatterned grayish yellow. The throat of the male is dark.

Behavior

L. gansi hides under logs, stones, leaf litter, becoming active and coming out for foraging in morning and at dusk.[1]

Diet

L. gansi preys on insects.[1]

Reproduction

A sexually mature female of L. gansi may lay a clutch of one to two eggs[1] in loose soil.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Karunarathna S, Ukuwela K, Kannishka [sic] S (2021). "Lankascincus gansi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197212A123312072.en. Accessed on 30 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Tetrapod Reptiles of Sri Lanka". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Lankascincus gansi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Beolens, 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 gansi, p. 97).

Further reading

  • 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 gansi, new species).
  • Somaweera R, Somaweera N (2009). Lizards of Sri Lanka, A Colour Guide with Field Keys. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira / Serpents Tale. 304 pp. ISBN 978-3899734782.



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.