| Sphenomorphus dussumieri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Sphenomorphus |
| Species: | S. dussumieri |
| Binomial name | |
| Sphenomorphus dussumieri (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839) | |
 | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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.
S. dussumieri is found in the Western Ghats of India, in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu [1] [2]
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)".
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]
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]
The genus Sphenomorphus – vernacularly also known as the common skinks – currently serves as a "wastebin taxon" for numerous skinks. While most or all species presently placed here are probably rather close relatives, the genus as presently delimited is likely to be not monophyletic and is in need of review. Some species in this genus have been moved to Pinoyscincus.
Ophisops jerdonii, commonly known as Jerdon's cabrita, Jerdon's snake-eye, or Punjab snake-eyed lacerta, is a species of lacertid lizard, which is distributed in east Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
Eumeces blythianus, commonly known as Blyth's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to South Asia.
Riopa guentheri, commonly known as Günther's supple skink and Günther's writhing skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to India.
Vosmer's writhing skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to India.
Eutropis beddomei, commonly known as Beddome's mabuya or Beddome's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Eutropis tytleri is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Andaman Islands, India.
Ophiomorus tridactylus, commonly known as the three-toed snake skink, is a species of skink endemic to sandy desert areas of South Asia. It is also called the Indian sand-swimmer for its habit of moving just under the sand.
Ristella rurkii, commonly known as Rurk's ristella, is a species of skink endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India. It is a small, insectivorous, diurnal skink found in shola grasslands and rainforests of hills ranges in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of India.
Ristella travancorica, commonly known as the Travancore cat skink or the Travancore ristella, is a species of skink endemic to the Western Ghats in India.
Thwaites's skink, also known commonly as the fourtoe snakeskink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
Nessia burtonii, commonly known as Burton's nessia, Gray's snake skink, or the three-toed snakeskink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
Otosaurus cumingii, commonly called Cuming's sphenomorphus or the Luzon giant forest skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines.
Kaestlea beddomii, also known as Beddome's ground skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
Jagor's sphenomorphus is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines. There are two recognized subspecies.
Scincella doriae, also known commonly as Doria's ground skink and Doria's smooth skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.
Sphenomorphus forbesi, also known commonly as Forbes' forest skink and the slender litter skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Papua New Guinea.
Sphenomorphus helenae, also known commonly as the Notaburi forest skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Sphenomorphinae of the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Thailand.
Sphenomorphus woodfordi is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the Solomon Islands and Bougainville.
Tytthoscincus butleri, also known commonly as Butler's forest skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to Malaysia and Thailand.
