of India

Harikrishnan S.

Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered (LaCONES), Hyderabad

&

Saurashtra University, Rajkot

India Biodiversity Portal Community Meet, 20 February, 2016. Diversity

Varanidae (4) (1) Chamaeleonidae (1) Eublepharidae (4) (1) (14)

Nine families 237 species (89) (57)

Scincidae (66) Gekkonidae: /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:

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: -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:

• 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 : monitor lizards

Varanus bengalensis

Varanus flavescens

Photo: Abhirup Dutta Gupta

Varanus salvator

Varanus griseus Some field guides Thank you