Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Sauria | |
Similar Nessia, Lankascincus, Sphenomorphus, Calotes | ||
Nessia sarasinorum, commonly known as Sarasins' snake skink or Müller's nessia, is a species of skink, which is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
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Etymology
The specific name, sarasinorum, is in honor of Swiss zoologists Karl Friedrich Sarasin and Paul Benedict Sarasin, who were cousins.
Habitat and distribution
A dry zone skink, N. sarasinorum is known in Sri Lanka from Maha oya, Lahugala Kitulana National Park, Polgahawela, Polonnaruwa, Galigamuwa, Buttala, Inamaluwa, Dambulla, Kandalama, and Batticaloa.
Description
Body slender and of equal girth, from head to tail. Snout acute, and short. Fronto-nasal shorter and broader than frontal. Lower eyelid scaly. Midbody scale rows 22. Pre-anals distinctly enlarged. Anterior limbs missing. Each posterior limb reduced to a bud. Dorsum light brown or bluish gray. Individual scales with darker patches. Ventrally lighter.
Ecology and diet
Inhabits moist loose soil or vegetation, such as tree roots.