Ristella travancorica

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Travancore Ristella

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Ristella
Species:	R. travancorica

Binomial name

Ristella travancorica
(Beddome, 1870)

Travancore Ristella (Ristella travancorica) is a species of skink endemic to the Western Ghats. It is also called the Travancore Cat Skink.

1 Characteristics of the genus Ristella
2 Description
3 Distribution
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Characteristics of the genus Ristella

Palatine and pterygoid bones in contact on the median line of the palate, which is toothless;palatine notch small, far behind , corresponding to the posterior notch of the tongue. Teeth conical. Eyelids well developed, scaly. Ear-opening distinct. Nostril pierced in a single nasal; no supranasals; prefrontals small or coalesced; frontoparietals and interparietal distinct. Limbs well developed, anterior with 4, posterior with 5 digits; claws completely retractile into a large compressed sheath formed of one large scale cleft beneath. Found in the Western Ghats of southern India.^[1]

[edit] Description

Ahaetulla nasuta with Ristella

Ear-opening not or but slightly larger than the nostril; third to sixth upper labials below the eye. Dorsal scales sharply bicarinate; 24, rarely 26 scales round the middle of the body. Otherwise as in R. rurkii. Reddish brown above, each dorsal scale usually with a dark brown dot; usually a rather indistinct darker lateral band; lower surfaces uniform whitish. From snout to vent 1.5 inches.