Biology
provided by Arkive
Few studies of the pygmy lizard have taken place and little is therefore known of its biology, but more general information does exist on agamids as a family. Agamids are diurnal and visually-orientated, with their crests and other ornamentation thought to serve as important signals in establishing and maintaining territories or in courtship (5). Unlike the vast majority of agamids (5), the pygmy lizard does not lay eggs, but rather gives birth to live young after the eggs hatch within its body, a process known as ovoviviparity (6). This is thought to be an adaptation to the cold montane climate, where eggs may be exposed to chilling overnight (6).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
Project Knuckles 2004, and a follow-up expedition in 2005, were initiated to conduct the first in-depth study of reptiles and the primary threats facing them in the Knuckles Mountain Range. It was discovered that the region held some of the highest reptile diversity in the country, and is therefore an important site for conservation. As of 2000, areas above 1,067 m above sea level in the Knuckles Mountains were given protected status as conservation forest (3). With 11 out of Sri Lanka's 17 agamid species being threatened with extinction, in what is the most heavily populated of the world's 25 Biodiversity Hotspots, this group of lizards and their diminishing forest habitat are clearly in need of serious conservation attention. It is vital that threatened species restricted to small forest fragments, such as the pygmy lizard, be continuously monitored to assess population trends and, if necessary, the establishment of captive-breeding programmes could play an important role in ensuring their future survival (1).
Description
provided by Arkive
The pygmy lizard is one of 14 agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka (1). One of the slowest-moving reptiles in the country, the pygmy lizard can be easily identified by the irregular-shaped body scales and unique, curled, prehensile tail (2). Adults are dark brown, and males bare a distinctive white stripe from their snout to their shoulder, and white rings around their tail.
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Found in tropical moist montane forests, between 1,300 and 2,200 m above sea level (1).
Range
provided by Arkive
Confined to Horton Plains, Hakgala and the Knuckles Mountain range in Sri Lanka (1). Many experts suspect that the Knuckles population is distinct from the populations found elsewhere in the country and may qualify as separate subspecies (3) (4).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Endangered (EN) using the IUCN (2001) Red List criteria (1), but not yet officially listed on the IUCN Red List.
Threats
provided by Arkive
Pygmy lizard populations suffered mass mortality during the mid-1990s in the Nuwara Eliya and Hakgala areas, where hundreds of specimens died daily, plummeting the previously high populations into virtual extinction. The population at the Knuckles Mountains is thought to have endured a similar drastic population crash, and there were even fears that the population was extinct, until a handful of individuals were located in the 2004/5 research expeditions known as Project Knuckles. The precise causes are unknown, although these deaths are believed to be a result of climatic changes (3). Sri Lanka's montane forest have also experienced severe habitat fragmentation and loss during the last two centuries as a result of clearance for cinchona, coffee, tea, cardamom and rubber plantations, for grazing livestock, by logging companies, illegal logging and removal of timber by peripheral villagers. In addition, further threats facing other Sri Lankan agamids include rainwater acidification causing forest die-back, and pesticides potentially causing bioaccumulation (1).
Distribution
provided by ReptileDB
Continent: Asia
Distribution: Sri Lanka (Ceylon), elevation > 1,700 m.
Type locality: Ceylon [Sri Lanka]
Cophotis ceylanica
provided by wikipedia EN
Cophotis ceylanica, the Ceylon deaf agama, is an agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka.
Description
Body is compressed. Head is narrow. Long dorso-nuchal crest developed. Temporal scales with three to five large conical scales. Tympanum absent. Tail is short and prehensile. Dorsal scales enlarged. Gualr sacs laterally compressed. Some individuals show orange patches. Pre-anal and femoral pores absent. Dorsum is olive green with darker markings, forming three bands on body and more on tail. A light spot on nape. A broad stripe along anterior of body and one in front of the eyes. Limbs are dark-banded.
Distribution and habitat
A slow-moving lizard, found on moss-covered tree trunks in montane regions of Sri Lanka. Localities include Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Hakgala, Adam's Peak and Knuckles Mountain Range.
Ecology and reproduction
Inhibits within forest mosaic comprising Cyperus and hedges. Social interactions known to include head-bobbing, in response to threat as well as aggressive between males. Four to five live young are produced at a time, measuring 47–50 mm, between May and August.
References
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Cophotis ceylanica: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Cophotis ceylanica, the Ceylon deaf agama, is an agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka.
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Cophotis ceylanica
(
Basque
)
provided by wikipedia EU
(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.log.warn("Gadget "ErrefAurrebista" was not loaded. Please migrate it to use ResourceLoader. See u003Chttps://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berezi:Gadgetaku003E.");});
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Cophotis ceylanica: Brief Summary
(
Basque
)
provided by wikipedia EU
Cophotis ceylanica Cophotis generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Agamidae familian sailkatuta dago.
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Cophotis ceylanica
(
French
)
provided by wikipedia FR
Cophotis ceylanica est une espèce de sauriens de la famille des Agamidae[1].
Répartition
Cette espèce est endémique du Sri Lanka[1].
Étymologie
Cette espèce est nommée en référence au lieu de sa découverte, Ceylon, l'ancien nom du Sri Lanka[1].
Publication originale
- Peters, 1861 : Eine neue Gattung von Eidechsen, Cophotis ceylanica, aus Ceylon. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, vol. 1861, p. 1103-1105 (texte intégral).
Notes et références
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Cophotis ceylanica: Brief Summary
(
French
)
provided by wikipedia FR
Cophotis ceylanica est une espèce de sauriens de la famille des Agamidae.
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Cophotis ceylanica
(
Vietnamese
)
provided by wikipedia VI
Cophotis ceylanica là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Agamidae. Loài này được Peters mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1861.[1]
Chú thích
Tham khảo
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Cophotis ceylanica: Brief Summary
(
Vietnamese
)
provided by wikipedia VI
Cophotis ceylanica là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Agamidae. Loài này được Peters mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1861.
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