Sphenomorphus dussumieri

Sphenomorphus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's forest skink and Dussumier's litter skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to southern India.

Sphenomorphus dussumieri
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Sphenomorphidae
Genus:	Sphenomorphus
Species:	S. dussumieri
Binomial name
Sphenomorphus dussumieri (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)
Synonyms[2]
Lygosoma dussumierii A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 Eumeces dussumieri — Beddome, 1870 Hinulia dussumieri — Stoliczka, 1872 Sphenomorphus dussumieri — Taylor, 1953

Geographic range

S. dussumieri is found in the Western Ghats of India, in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu^[1][2]

Etymology

In Kanjirappally

The specific name, dussumieri, is in honor of Jean-Jacques Dussumier, a French voyager who collected zoological specimens in South Asia in the early 19th century.^[3] It is locally known as "അരണ (arana)".

Description

Dussumier's litter skink also known as Dussumier's forest skink

The head of S. dussumieri is distinct from the neck, and the snout is short. The tympanum is situated on the surface, not sunk as in other skinks. The body is slender. The dorsal scales are smooth, with fine striations. The limbs are relatively short. The dorsum is bronze brown, with dark spots. There is a light dorso-lateral stripe running from the eye to the side of the body, its inner edge with a dark brown, white spotted streak. There is also a broad stripe on the sides that is edged with white below. The venter is creamy.^[4]

Ecology

S. dussumieri is a diurnal skink, which inhabits evergreen, moist deciduous, and plantation forests, such as rubber plantations, in closed as well as open forests, at altitudes of 15–500 m (49–1,640 ft).^[1]