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 Gekkonidae (89) 237 species 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 .