Two new species of Lankascincus (Squamata: Scincidae) from Sripada Sanctuary (Peak Wilderness), in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The present work describes two new species of Lankascincus from the Sripada Sanctuary (Peak Wilderness Sanctuary) of Sri Lanka. Lankascincus sripadensis sp. nov. is the largest member in the genus and it is morphologically closely related to L. deignani (Taylor 1950). But Lankascincus sripadensis sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from other members of the genus, by having three loreal scales, posterior loreals larger than the anterior in longitudinal axis, prefrontal and upper anterior preocular touching posterior loreal; 2 nd , 3 rd supralabials and 1 st subocular scale touching lower posterior loreal; males with pale brown throat and the ventral head; a dark brown stripe in the light brown background on the dorsal body, divided nasal. The other new species, Lankascincus munindradasai sp. nov. is morphologically closely related to L. taprobanensis (Kelaart, 1854) and can be clearly distinguished from other member of the genus, by having one loreal scale, the loreal is touching the prefrontal, frontonasal, nasal, 1 st and 2 nd supralabial scales, upper and lower preoculars; the loreal is larger than the longitudinal axis.

Reptile diversity in Beraliya Mukalana Proposed Forest Reserve, Galle District, Sri Lanka

“…The species were identified in the field using diagnostic keys given by Deraniyagala (1953Deraniyagala ( , 1955, Das & de Silva (2005), De Silva (1980), Greer (1991), Whitaker & Captain (2004) and Wickramasinghe & Somaweera (2003). After the survey period some specimens were confirmed to species level using Bauer et al (2010), Batuwita & Bahir (2005), , Maduwage et al (2009), Manamendra-Arachchi et al (2007, Praschag et al (2011), Rooijen & Vogel (2009), Somaweera (2006), Somaweera & Somaweeera (2009), Vogel & David (2006), Vogel & Rooijen (2011) and Wickramasinghe et al (2007). Basic environmental parameters were recorded for locations where specimens were collected.…”

<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>The high-level classification of skinks (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincomorpha)</strong></p>

“…and Ristella Gray (4 sp.). This is a family of lygosomoid skink with the following diagnostic characters: premaxillary teeth are 11 or more; Meckel's groove is completely obliterated (closed) by the overlapping and fusion of dentary; parietals meet behind interparietal; parietal bordered along its posterior edge by two or more temporals; nuchals usually absent (undifferentiated); outer preanal scales overlap inner preanals; scales on dorsal surface of fourth toe mostly in a single row; iris variable (paler than, or as dark as, pupil) (Austin et al 2004;Batuwita & Pethiyagoda 2007;Wickramasinghe et al 2007); hemipenis not yet described. Ristellidae fam.…”

An investigation into the taxonomy of Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, 1803): revalidation of Dipsas schokari (Kuhl, 1820) (Serpentes, Colubridae)

“…Recent species descriptions suggest that biodiversity as well as levels of endemism harboured by these areas may be substantially higher than currently known (e.g. Pethiyagoda, 2005;Mendis Wickramasinghe et al, 2007;Mukherjee and Bhupathy, 2007). The resurrection of D. schokari from synonymy highlights the unique biological status of this area.…”