Bioscience Discovery, 11(1): 64-66, Jan. – 2020 © RUT Printer and Publisher Print & Online available on https://jbsd.in ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print); ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Research Article Report on peninsular rock agama female Psammophilus dorsalis at Mahalingam hills, Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu, India 1Selvaraj Selvamurugan and 2Usha Balasubramanian 1Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree breeding, Coimbatore,Tamilnadu-642 002. 2Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam,Tamilnadu-627802. *Corresponding author email:
[email protected] Article Info Abstract Received: 04-10-2019, The field study conducted in the month of October 2019, at the Revised: 16-12-2019, Mahalingam Hills around 75 km from Thirunelveli, Tami Nadu, one Accepted: 22-12-2019 specimens of reptile species surveyed in this region is identified as Keywords: Reptile, Psammophilus dorsalis, which is known as Peninsular rock agama Mahalingam hills, female gecko. The distribution pattern and conservation status of the Psammophilus dorsalis. species are discussed in this report. Thirunelveli district. INTRODUCTION areas, Karnataka (12° 55.16’ N, 77° 18.25’ E; 851 The Peninsular Rock Agama (Psammophilus m elevation) Reported by Shashank Balakrishna. dorsalis) is a common rock dwelling lizard with a The Peninsular rock agama P. dorsalis (Gray, 1831) widespread distribution throughout the Indian occurs in most of Peninsular India, Madhya Pradesh peninsula of elevations up to 1829 m(Daniel, 2002). and along the hills of the Eastern Ghats (Smith, The Peninsular rock agama (Psammophilus 1935; Daniel, 2002; Chandra and Gajbe, 2005). Its dorsalis) is, as its name suggests, an agamid lizard food was considered to consist almost entirely of associated with rocky terrain in hilly areas of insects (Daniel, 2002; Radder et al., 2005).