Burton's nessia
| Nessia burtonii | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Nessia |
| Species: | N. burtonii |
| Binomial name | |
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Nessia burtonii Gray, 1839 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Nessia burtonii, commonly known as Burton's nessia, the three-toed snake skink, or Gray's snake skink, is a species of skink endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
The specific name, burtonii, is in honor of British army surgeon Edward Burton (1790–1867).
A burrowing skink found in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, N. burtonii is widely distributed at 30–300 m (98–984 ft) at Gampola, Veyangoda, Lunawa, Mathugama, Kuruwita, Rakwana, and Kadugannawa.
Midbody scales rows 24-26. Body slender and of equal girth from head to tail. Snout acute. Each limb with three tiny clawed toes, hence the common name. The dorsum is brown or light reddish brown, each scale with a darker edge. The venter is creamy or may be gray.
N. burtonii hides during the day, under rubble, decaying logs, and in leaf litter within submontane forests, up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). When exposed, it immediately wriggles into loose soil or under rubble. When caught, it regurgitates its food, presumably as a predator-deflection response. It forages at night on insects and possibly earthworms.
Two eggs are laid in loose soil.
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Wikipedia