Psammophilus dorsalis
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| Peninsular Rock Agama | ||||||||||||||||
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| Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray, 1845) |
The Peninsular Rock Agama Psammophilus dorsalis is a common species of agama found on rocky hills in south India (Malabar, Mysore, Nilgiris, S Arcot, Nallamali Hills).
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[edit] Description
Head rather large, elongate, depressed, the cheeks swollen in the adult male ; snout longer than the orbit; upper head-scales unequal, smooth or obtusely keeled, larger upon the sinciput than on the occiput; canthus rostralis and supraciliary edges sharp ; two small separated spines or groups of spines above the ear present or absent ; diameter of the tympanum half or a little more than half that of the orbit; 10 to 13 upper and as many lower labials. Body feebly depressed; dorsal scales small, uniform, smooth or feebly keeled in the adult, strongly in the young, all pointing backwards and upwards ; dorsal crest reduced to a ridge of enlarged scales ; ventral scales as large as the dorsals, smooth (keeled in the young) ; from 115 to 150 scales round the middle of the body ; gular scales a little smaller than the ventrals ; 4 or 5 enlarged scales on the chin parallel with the anterior labials, separated from them by two rows of scales; a strong transverse fold covered with small scales across the throat; nuchal and dorsal crests a mere denticulation. Limbs strong, covered with uniform keeled scales; the hind-limb reaches to the ear or the posterior border of the orbit, sometimes a little farther in the young. Tail feebly compressed, covered with keeled scales which are larger below than above. In the adult male it is distinctly swollen at the base, the scales on that part of it thickened, those of the upper median row enlarged.
Young olive-brown, spotted, speckled or marbled with dark brown, and with a series of white elongated spots along each side of the back; this coloration more or less distinctly retained by the female. Male pale brownish on the top of the head and back ; lips yellowish-brown, the stripe-extending to beyond the ear : a dark brown or black lateral stripe commencing from behind (he eye and broadening to .over the whole of the lower half of the flank : yellowish below, the throat usually variegated with grey.
This species frequents bare rocks only, with which its colour matches. Feeds on insects. The male in the breeding season assumes bright colours. The upper parts become fine vermilion red or yellow, the lip-stripe sometimes pink. The under surfaces, limbs and tail are black.[1]
From snout to vent 135 ; tail 200 mm. Females are smaller.
[edit] Distribution
Southern India south of about 16 Latitude. (Malabar, Mysore, Nilgiris, S. Arcot, Nallamalai Hills); found only in the hills at considerable altitudes. Very common in some parts of the Nilgiris and in Mysore State, especially near Bangalore. In the Nilgiris it is found up to 6000 ft.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Smith, M. A. 1941. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Amphibia.
[edit] References
- Gray, J. E. 1831 A synopsis of the species of Class Reptilia. In: Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon: The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation by the Baron Cuvier with additional descriptions of all the species hither named, and of many before noticed [Vol. 9]. Whittaker, Treacher and Co., London: 481 + 110 pp.
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