Ceratophora karu

Ceratophora karu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Draconinae
Genus: Ceratophora
Species: C. karu
Binomial name
Ceratophora karu
Pethiyagoda & Manamendra-Arachchi, 1998

Ceratophora karu, commonly known as Karu's horned lizard, is a agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Etymology

The specific name, karu, is in honor of Sri Lankan zoologist G. Punchi Banda "Karu" Karunaratne (1930-1996).[1]

Geographic range and habitat

A species of horned lizard, C. karu is known only from Morning Side Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka at an elevation of 1,060 metres (3,480 ft).

Description

Head oval, longer than wide. Rostral appendage comprising more scales than rostral scales. Scales triangular, smooth or weakly keeled. Length of appendage less than eye-nostril distance. Prominent superciliary scales. A backward pointing V-shaped ridge at back of forehead. Dorsal scales larger than scales on flanks. Lamellae under fourth toe numbering 14-17. Dorsum dark black-brown, brown or olive-green on flanks, some specimens with bright orange-red patches on supra-labials. Throat and venter buff or dirty white to yellowish-brown with small black patches.

Reproduction

About 2 eggs are produced at a time, measuring 8.6 mm x 5.0 mm.

References

  1. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ceratophora karu, p. 138).

Further reading

External links

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