Nessia sarasinorum
| Nessia sarasinorum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Nessia |
| Species: | N. sarasinorum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nessia sarasinorum (F. Müller, 1889)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Nessia sarasinorum, commonly known as Sarasins's snake skink, Müller's nessia, and Muller's [sic] nessia, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
Etymology
The specific name, sarasinorum, is in honor of Swiss zoologists Karl Friedrich Sarasin and Paul Benedict Sarasin, who were cousins.[3]
Geographic distribution
A dry zone skink, Nessia sarasinorum is known in Sri Lanka from Maha Oya, Lahugala Kitulana National Park, Polgahawela, Polonnaruwa, Galigamuwa, Buttala, Inamaluwa, Dambulla, Kandalama, and Batticaloa.
Description
The body of Nessia sarasinorum is slender and of equal girth, from head to tail. The snout is acute and short. The fronto-nasal is shorter and broader than the frontal. The lower eyelid is scaly. The midbody scale rows number 22. The pre-anals are distinctly enlarged. The anterior limbs missing, and each posterior limb is reduced to a bud. The dorsum is light brown or bluish gray. There are individual scales with darker patches. Ventrally, it is lighter.
Behavior
Nessia sarasinorum is terrestrial and fossorial.[1]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Nessia sarasinorum is forest, at elevations of 100–500 m (330–1,640 ft), where it burrows in loose soil beneath plant litter and around tree roots. It is also occasionally found in home gardens.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Ukuwela, K.; Kannishka, S. (2021). "Nessia sarasinorum ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197200A123312012.en. Accessed on 29 November 2025.
- ^ Species Nessia sarasinorum at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ 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. (Nessia sarasinorum, p. 233).
Further reading
- 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. (Acontias sarasinorum, p. 228).
- Müller F (1889). "Sechster Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums". Verhandlung der Naturforschender Gesellschaft in Basel 8: 685–705. (Acontias sarasinorum, new species, pp. 702–704). (in German).
- 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. (Nessia sarasinorum, p. 360).
- Somaweera, R.; Somaweera, N. (2009). Lizards of Sri Lanka: A Colour Guide with Field Keys. Frankfurt am Main Germany: Edition Chimaira / Serpents Tale. ISBN 978-3899734782. 304 pp.