Dasia haliana
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2014) |
| Haly's tree skink | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Dasia |
| Species: | D. haliana
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| Binomial name | |
| Dasia haliana | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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The Haly's tree skink (Dasia haliana) is a
Description
An
Like other reptiles its
The dorsal scales have 3 or 5 blunt keels, and the two vertebral rows of dorsal scales are wider than the rest. The tail tapers to a point and is as long as the head and body. The limbs are short, and the toes are long, with 17 or 18 lamellae (or plate like scales) beneath the fourth toe. The palms and soles have flat tubercles with larger ones on the heel, especially in the male.
The colouration is yellowish-olive above, with broad black bands which are as wide as the spaces between them. There are 5 or 6 of these bands on the neck and body, with a black mark on the occiput extending forward as streaks on top of the head. There are two lateral stripes passing through the eye and nostril. The underside is yellow.[6]
Behaviour and geographic range
D. haliana is the only arboreal skink in Sri Lanka.[citation needed] It is known much from the dry zone of the country, including Pallegama, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Bakamuna, Horana, Anuradhapura, Palatupana, Gampaha and Jaffna.[citation needed] It was also reported from southern India but the species that occurs there was found to be different and given the name of Dasia johnsinghi.[citation needed]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of D. halianus is forest, at altitudes of 450–1,200 m (1,480–3,940 ft).[1]
Ecology
D. haliana is confined to the dry and intermediate zones of the island of Sri Lanka,[1] where it is found on large vine-covered trees,[1] occupying tree holes as refuge.[citation needed]
Reproduction
D. haliana is oviparous.[3] Clutch size is two eggs.[1] Copulation is known in late January, and eggs are laid in early March.[citation needed]
References
- ^ IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.U.2021-3.RLTS.T172685A1366811.en. Accessed on 03 October 2023.
- PMID 25661958.
- ^ a b Species Dasia haliana at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- .
- .
- ^ Smith, M.A. (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Dasia haliana, new combination, pp. 278–279).
Other sources
- Annandale N (1906). "New and interesting lizards in the Colombo Museum". Spolia Zeylandica 3: 189–192.
- Deraniyagala PEP (1931). "Some Ceylon Lizards". Ceylon Journal of Sciience B 16: 139–180.
- Greer AE (1970). "The Relationships of the Skinks Referred to the Genus Dasia". Breviora (348): 1–30.
- Joshua, Justus; Sekar, A.G. (1985). "Range extension of the skink Dasia haliana (H. Nevill, 1887)". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 82 (2): 422–423.
- Karthikeyan S (1991). "Sighting of the arboreal skink Dasia haliana at Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 88 (1): 122–123.