Sunday, February 9, 2014

Pygmy lizard (Cophotis ceylanica)

English:    Pygmy lizard
Scientific: Cophotis ceylanica
Sinhala:    කුරු බෝදිලියා

This slow moving rare endemic arboreal lizard is restricted only to highlands of  Sri Lanka. It can be found in Horton Plains National Park, Hakgala and Piduruthalagala mountain range. C. ceylanica has been well adopted to the cold and windy climate of central hills. As adaptations it bears live young instead of laying eggs. Its body texture has the same coloration of lichens and tree moss to make it difficult to identify at once. This species of lizard is considered as highly threatened due to the climatic changed and deforestation.

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