| Lankascincus deignani | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Scinciformata |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Family: | Ristellidae |
| Genus: | Lankascincus |
| Species: | L. deignani |
| Binomial name | |
| Lankascincus deignani (Taylor, 1950) | |
 | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Lankascincus deignani, commonly known as Deignan's tree skink and the Deignan tree skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. [1] [2]
L. deignani is named after American ornithologist Herbert Girton Deignan, [3] being originally named Sphenomorphus deignani by Kansas University's Edward H. Taylor, based on a specimen collected by Deignan from Gannoruwa Mountain on November 12, 1944. [4] The synonym, L. greeri, was named in honour of Australian herpetologist Allen Eddy Greer.
Deignan's Lanka skink is confined to the midhills, submontane and montane forests, at 600 to 1,700 m (2,000 to 5,600 ft) of elevation. [1]
L. deignani is a rather large and robust Lanka skink. The midbody scale rows number 28. The lamellae under the fourth toe number 19–20. [2]
The dorsum is olive brown. There is a thick dark lateral stripe, edged above by a brownish yellow stripe, and below by 3–4 gray stripes extending from edge of the orbit to the tail-tip. The venter is cream white or pale pink. There are black spots on the upper jaw.
L. deignani is found in moist leaf litter, under stones and logs in forests. [1]
L. deignani is oviparous. [2] Typically two eggs are laid per one time. [1]
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