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| Nessia hickanala | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Nessia |
| Species: | N. hickanala |
| Binomial name | |
| Nessia hickanala Deraniyagala, 1940 | |
Nessia hickanala, also known as the shark-headed snake skink and Hickanala nessia, is a species of skink endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
Description
Midbody scales rows 2–21. Body is elongated and limbless. Head flattened, wedge-shaped. Eyes greatly reduced. Lower eyelid comprising three transparent scales. Ears are small. Dorsal scales enlarged. Dorsum and venter are pinkish brown. Scales dark brown.
Distribution and habitat
A fossorial skink, known only from the dry North West. One specimen was found from a depth of 6 cm under a heap of coconut branches at Pomparippu, Snout 8 km from the coast. Species is also known from Wilpattu National Park.
Ecology and diet
Inhabits lowlands, under 50m.
Reproduction
2 eggs are laid in loose soil.
References
- Deraniyagala, P. E. P. (1940). "A new apodal lizard, Nessia hickanala, from Ceylon". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. 152 (1): 37–39. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1940.tb00243.x.
- "Tetrapod Reptiles of Sri Lanka". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- Nessia hickanala at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 29 May 2021.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Nessia hickanala | |
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