Beddome’s cat skink:
A biodiversity survey has, for the first time, recorded the presence of Beddome’s cat skink (Ristella beddomii) at the Aralam and Kottiyoor Wildlife sanctuaries.
- Beddome’s cat skink is also called Beddome’s ristella.
- It is named after British naturalist Richard Henry Beddome, the species is considered rare and endemic to the Western Ghats region.
- It is a small reddish brown lizard with retractile claws and bicarinate scales.
- It is found in the forests of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 400-1,300 metres.
- It is an oviparous species and egg laying coincides with the southwestern monsoons.
- Skink is the common name for the lizards that comprise the family Scincidae.
- It is a type of reptile that has been around since the time of the dinosaurs.
- It is typically smooth and shiny with small or rudimentary legs.
- They are mostly secretive ground dwellers or burrowers.
- Skinks are highly alert, agile and fast moving and actively forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates.
- They can be found in a variety of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, and are well-known for their ability to camouflage with their surroundings.
- These are represented throughout most of the world but are especially diverse in Southeast Asia and its associated islands, the deserts of Australia, and the temperate regions of North America.
