Sphenomorphus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's forest skink and Dussumier's litter skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to southern India.
| Sphenomorphus dussumieri | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Sphenomorphus |
| Species: | S. dussumieri
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| Binomial name | |
| Sphenomorphus dussumieri (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
Geographic range edit
S. dussumieri is found in the Western Ghats of India, in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu[1][2]
Etymology edit
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The specific name, dussumieri, is in honor of Jean-Jacques Dussumier, a French voyager who collected zoological specimens in South Asia in the early 19th century.[3] It is locally known as "അരണ (arana)".
Description edit
The head of S. dussumieri is distinct from the neck, and the snout is short. The tympanum is situated on the surface, not sunk as in other skinks. The body is slender. The dorsal scales are smooth, with fine striations. The limbs are relatively short. The dorsum is bronze brown, with dark spots. There is a light dorso-lateral stripe running from the eye to the side of the body, its inner edge with a dark brown, white spotted streak. There is also a broad stripe on the sides that is edged with white below. The venter is creamy.[4]
Ecology edit
S. dussumieri is a diurnal skink, which inhabits evergreen, moist deciduous, and plantation forests, such as rubber plantations, in closed as well as open forests, at altitudes of 15–500 m (49–1,640 ft).[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Ganesh SR (2021). "Sphenomorphus dussumieri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T178709A1542518. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178709A1542518.en. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ a b Sphenomorphus dussumieri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 December 2016.
- ^ 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. (Spenomorphus dussumieri, p. 78).
- ^ Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5. (Sphenomorphus dussumieri, p. 115).
Further reading edit
- Annandale N (1905). "Contributions to Oriental Herpetology. Suppl. III. Notes on the Oriental lizards in the Indian Museum, with a list of the species recorded from British India and Ceylon". J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal (2) 1: 139-151.
- Beddome RH (1870). "Descriptions of new reptiles from the Madras Presidency". Madras Monthly J. Med. Sci. 2: 169-176. [Reprint: 1940. J. Soc. Bibliogr. Nat. Sci., London 1 (10): 327-334.]
- Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III ... Scincidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Lygosoma dussumieri, pp. 243–244).
- Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Lygosoma dussumieri, p. 197).
- Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Lygosoma dussumierii, new species, pp. 725–726). (in French).
- 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.
- Smith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Lygosoma dussumieri, pp. 286–287).
- Smith MA (1937). "A review of the genus Lygosoma (Scincidae, Reptilia) and its allies". Rec. Indian Mus. 39 (3): 213-234.
- Stoliczka F (1872). "Notes on various new or little-known Indian lizards". J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 61 (2): 86-135.