Lizards of India
Harikrishnan S.
Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), Hyderabad
&
Saurashtra University, Rajkot
India Biodiversity Portal Community Meet, 20 February, 2016. Diversity
Varanidae (4) Anguidae (1) Chamaeleonidae (1) Eublepharidae (4) Dibamidae (1) Lacertidae (14)
Nine families 237 species Gekkonidae (89) Agamidae (57)
Scincidae (66) Gekkonidae: geckos/house lizards
• Body dorsally flattened Hemidactylus brookii • Head and body covered in small, granular scales • Eyelids immovable • Pupil vertical in most species • Ear opening present • Most species nocturnal • Ability to vocalize • Exceptions Cnemaspis & Phelsuma
Geckoella collegalensis Cnemaspis sp.
Photo: Kartik A. K., IBP Eublepharidae: leopard geckos
Eublepharis fuscus • Terrestrial • Nocturnal • Movable eyelids • Vertical pupil • Bright colours • Thick tail • No expanded lamellae under fingers & toes Photo: Abhishek Narayanan, IBP Scincidae: skinks
Eutropis carinata • Head covered in large symmetrical scales • Overlapping body scales (smooth or keeled) • Relatively short limbs • Muscular but fragile tail • Ear opening present • Eyelids movable (exception Sphenomorphus apalpebratus)
Eutropis macularia Sphenomorphus dussumieri Lygosoma albopunctata Lacertidae: snake-eyes, fringe-toed lizards, & grass lizards. Ophisops leschenaultii • Large regular head scales • Eyelids movable (Tachydromus & Acanthodactylus) • Eyelids immovable - Ophisops • Rough scaled appearance (not shiny as in skinks • Long hind limbs & toes Photo: Gopakumar VR Namboothiri, IBP • Relative tail-length Tachydromus sexlineatus
Acanthodactylus cantoris (Juvenile)
Photo: Ridhima Solanki
Photo: Vijay Anand Ismavel, IBP Agamidae: garden lizards & agamas
Calotes versicolor • Diurnal, terrestrial/arboreal • Pronounced sexual dimorphism • No large plate like scales on head
• Tympanum exposed/hidden Psammophilus dorsalis • Size, shape, & orientation of scales • Ornamentation/ Dorsal spines • Gular pouch/dewlap • Skin extensions/patagium Photo: Devayani, IBP (Draco)
Chamaeleonidae: Chameleons
• 1 species Chamaeleo ceylanicus • Diurnal • Arboreal • Eyes covered by thick, granular lid • Prehensile tail • Zygodactylus limbs • No tympanum
Photo: Dennis C. J., IBP
Photo: Neeta Shashi Anguidae: glass lizards
• 1 species Dopasia gracilis • Terrestrial • No limbs • Head covered in large plate like scales • Ear opening visible • Movable eyelids
• Body scales smooth Photo: Rohit George, IBP
Dibamidae: worm lizards
• Burrowing Dibamus nicobaricus • No limbs • Smooth scales • Eyes covered by scales Varanidae: monitor lizards
Varanus bengalensis
Varanus flavescens
Photo: Abhirup Dutta Gupta
Varanus salvator
Varanus griseus Some field guides Thank you