Deignan's tree skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deignan's tree skink |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Lankascincus |
| Species: |
L. deignani
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| Binomial name | |
| Lankascincus deignani (Taylor, 1950)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Lankascincus deignani, also known as Deignan's tree skink, is a special kind of lizard. It belongs to the Scincidae family, which is a group of lizards often called "skinks." This amazing creature lives only on the island of Sri Lanka. This means it is endemic to that country.
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About the Deignan's Tree Skink
Deignan's tree skink is a rather large and strong Lanka skink. It has a unique look and way of life.
What It Looks Like
This skink has about 28 rows of scales around its middle body. It also has 19 to 20 special scales under its fourth toe. These scales help it grip surfaces.
Its back is a brownish-green color. It has a thick, dark stripe along its side. This dark stripe is bordered by a brownish-yellow stripe above it. Below the dark stripe, there are three to four gray stripes. These stripes run all the way from its eye to the tip of its tail. The skink's belly is a creamy white or light pink color. It also has black spots on its upper jaw.
Where It Lives
The Deignan's tree skink lives in the middle hills and mountains of Sri Lanka. You can find it in forests that are between 600 and 1,700 meters (about 2,000 to 5,600 feet) high. These areas are often cool and misty.
How It Lives
This skink likes to live in moist places on the forest floor. You can often find it hiding under fallen leaves. It also likes to hide under stones and logs in the forest.
Its main food is insects. It hunts for them among the leaf litter.
How It Reproduces
Deignan's tree skink reproduces by laying eggs. This is called being oviparous. Usually, a female skink will lay two eggs at one time.
Naming the Skink
The scientific name Lankascincus deignani honors an American bird expert named Herbert Girton Deignan. He collected the first known specimen of this skink. This happened on November 12, 1944, on Gannoruwa Mountain.
Another name, L. greeri, was given to a similar skink. This name honored an Australian lizard expert named Allen Eddy Greer. Later, scientists realized that L. greeri was actually the same species as L. deignani.
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 | Simone Manuel |
 | Shani Davis |
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 | Alice Coachman |
