Nessia hickanala

Nessia hickanala
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Nessia
Species:	N. hickanala
Binomial name
Nessia hickanala Deraniyagala, 1940[1]

Nessia hickanala, also known as the shark-headed snake skink[2] and Hickanala nessia, is a species of skink endemic to island of Sri Lanka.[3]

Description

Midbody scales rows 2–21. Body is elongated and limbless. Head flattened, wedge-shaped. Eyes greatly reduced. Lower eyelid comprising three transparent scales. Ears are small. Dorsal scales enlarged. Dorsum and venter are pinkish brown. Scales dark brown.

Distribution and habitat

A fossorial skink, known only from the dry North West. One specimen was found from a depth of 6 cm under a heap of coconut branches at Pomparippu, Snout 8 km from the coast. Species is also known from Wilpattu National Park.

Ecology and diet

Inhabits lowlands, under 50m.

Reproduction

2 eggs are laid in loose soil.

References

1. Deraniyagala, P. E. P. (1940). "A new apodal lizard, Nessia hickanala, from Ceylon". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. 152 (1): 37–39. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1940.tb00243.x.
2. "Tetrapod Reptiles of Sri Lanka". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
3. Nessia hickanala at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 29 May 2021.