Ristella beddomii
| Ristella beddomii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Sauria |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Ristella |
| Species: | R. beddomii |
| Binomial name | |
| Ristella beddomii Boulenger, 1887 | |
Ristella beddomii, commonly known as Beddome's cat skink,[1] is a species of skink endemic to India.
Etymology
It is named after Richard Henry Beddome (1830–1911) British army officer and botanist.[2]
Description
Ear-opening larger than the nostril; a single azygos prefrontal, nearly as large as the frontonasal; fourth to sixth upper labials below the eye. Body much shorter than in the other species of the genus, the adpressed limbs meeting or slightly overlapping. Dorsal scales sharply bicarinate. 26 scales round the middle of the body. Reddish brown above, with or without 2 or 3 lighter dorsal streaks; sides with scattered minute whitish dots; usually a black blotch with a few white dots above the axilla; lower surfaces uniform whitish. From snout to vent 1.25 in (3.2 cm).[3]
All claws completely retractile, each into a scale sheath.[1]
Geographic range
R. beddomii is found in India (Tenmalai, Travancore, Sharavati River, N Kanara district, Parambikulam).[4]
Reproduction
This species is oviparous. Egg laying coincides with the southwestern monsoons. An adult female may lay a clutch of up to 3 eggs. Each egg measures about 9 mm (0.35 in) x 6 mm (0.24 in).[1]
References
- 1 2 3 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. (Ristella beddomii, p. 113).
- ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ristella beddomi, p. 21).
- ↑ 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. (Ristella beddomii, p. 216).
- ↑ "Ristella beddomii ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
- 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. (Ristella beddomii, p. 359 + Plate XXIX, Figures 4, 4a).
- Smith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Ristella beddomii, p. 332).