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Lankascincus taylori, commonly known as Taylor's tree skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
| Lankascincus taylori | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Lankascincus |
| Species: | L. taylori
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lankascincus taylori Greer, 1991
| |
Etymology edit
The specific name, taylori, is in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.[2]
Habitat and Geographic range edit
A montane representative of Lanka skinks, L. taylori is found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests,[1] at elevations from 470–1,350 m (1,540–4,430 ft) above sea level,[citation needed] at Sinharaja, Knuckles Mountain Range, Gampola, Hantana, and Udawatta Kele.[citation needed]
Description edit
The head, body, and tail of L. taylori are long and slender. The midbody scales are in 24-26 rows. The lamellae under the fourth toe number 12-18. The dorsum is chocolate brown. Each dorsal scale has a dark gray horseshoe mark, which is open-ended posteriorly. A dark brown flank band can be seen with blue spots. The throat is grayish with blue spots. The venter is yellow.[citation needed]
Diet edit
The diet of L. taylori includes insects.[citation needed]
Reproduction edit
Sexually mature females of L. taylori usually lay 2 eggs at a time.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Ukuwela K, Karunarathna S, Kannishka [sic] S (2021). "Lankascincus taylori ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.1305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197208A123312052.en. Accessed on 31 July 2022.
- ^ Boelens, 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 taylori, p. 261).
External links edit
- Lankascincus taylori at The Reptile Database. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Lankascincus&species=taylori
- Lankascincus taylori at Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lankascincus_taylori/classification/
- Photos of Taylor's Lanka Skink
- Books about Lanka Skinks
Further reading edit
- Austin CC, Das I, de Silva A (2004). "Higher-level molecular phylogenetic relationships of the endemic genus Lankascincus from Sri Lanka based on nuclear DNA sequences". Lyriocephalus 5 (1-2): 11-22.
- 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 taylori, new species).
- Somaweera R, Somaweera N (2009). Lizards of Sri Lank, A Colour Guide with Field Keys. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira / Serpents Tale. 304 pp. ISBN 978-3899734782.
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