AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF NEPAL LIZARDS AND CROCODILES A CHILDREN’S BOOK g]kfnsf peor/ tyf ;l/;[kx¿ 5]kf/fx¿ / uf]xLx¿ afnk':ts H. Hermann Schleich & Kaluram Rai xd{g :NofOv tyf sfn'/fd /fO{ Published by ARCO-Nepal reg. soc. k|sfzs cfsf{] g]kfn O=eL= 1 Amphibians and Reptiles Class: Reptilia, Reptiles, N: Sarisripaharu Vertebrates with mostly 4 limbs; normally 5 clawed digits. Limbs are lacking in snakes. There are many lizards with reduced limbs and digits. Reptile skin is covered by horny structures of different size (scales, plates, granules, tubercles etc.) and provided with few glands. All main reptilian groups are represented in Nepal: Crocodiles (Order Crocodylia) with 2 species, turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) with about 15, and scaled reptiles (Order Squamata) with about 40 lizard and about 70 snake species. Order Crocodylia - Crocodiles Crocodiles, N: Gohiharu Large to very large aquatic reptiles with a laterally flattened tail and with digits webbed; 5 fingers and 4 toes. Eyes and nostrils are placed on the highest parts of the head. The ears can be closed with a valve. The skin is covered with thick horny plates which are – at least dorsally – underlain with an armour of flat bones. They lay large clutches of oval eggs, being deposited in nests which are dug into sand or consist of large mounds of rotting plants. The nests are guarded by adults. When the eggs are close to hatching, the juveniles inside them start squawking. At this acoustic signal a parent opens the nest, even helps the juveniles out of the eggshell. The offspring is then carried to the water in a parent’s mouth. Family: Crocodylidae -True crocodiles, N: Gohi Family: Gavialidae – Gharials This family comprises only a single species, the Gangetic gharial, a specialised fish eater with a thin and prolonged snout. Order Squamata - Scaled reptiles This group comprises lizards and snakes in two suborders. SAURIA, Lizards (Saurians), N: Chheparaharu Khokchale (Rai), Chaparase Sherpa) With the exception of the geckos (Family Gekkonidae) all Nepalese lizards have movable eyelids. In geckos, skinks and Glass lizards tails break easily. Amputation is facilitated e.g. by fracture plains in tail vertebrae. In the first two families the tail regenerates to a considerable length. All Nepalese lizards with the only exception of Theobald’s toadhead agama (Phrynocephalus theobaldi), the East Himalayan forest skink (Sphenomorphus indicus) and perhaps some populations of the Glacier skink (Asymblepharus ladacensis) lay eggs. 2 Family: Varanidae, Monitors, N: Gohoroharu With total lengths of 80 resp. 175 cm the both Nepalese monitor species are by far the largest lizards of the country. Above all the well-armed Bengal monitor should be handled with care as it can inflict serious wounds with its sharp teeth and dispense heavy blows when lashing its long tail. Family: Agamidae, Agamids, N: Chheparaharuko samuha Diurnal lizards with well-developed limbs; the skin is often capable of a striking colour change. Male agamid lizards may show brilliant colours during courtship and have specific display actions. Family: Anguidae, Glass lizards, N: Kudkesarpaharu This species is the only legless Nepalese lizard. In other species maternal care was observed, the female coiling around the eggs. Family: Gekkonidae, Geckos, N: Bhittiharu & Mousuliharu, Phakcheba (Sherpa) Geckos are very frequent around human habitations and they can be easily distinguished from other lizards by their enlarged digits which allow them to adhere to smooth surfaces, even glass panes. Besides crocodiles, geckos are the only reptiles with a loud voice. They lay eggs with hard, calcified shells – mostly two – which are hid in crevices. All species hunt at dusk or during the night. Most of them can be seen basking by day. Family: Scincidae, Skinks, N: Bhanemungroharu The skinks are rather frequent, but not easy to catch and difficult to identify. Besides the Glass lizard, skinks are the only group of Nepalese lizards with a head covered by large symmetrical scutes. Their body scales are very thin, relatively large and overlapping, reminding fish scales. In most genera (except Eutropis) they are smooth and glossy. 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