Blanford's rock agama (Psammophilus blanfordanus) is species of lizard in the familyAgamidae. The species is endemic to Peninsular India. One of two species in the genus, P. blanfordanus is found mainly to the east of the distribution of P. dorsalis. Unlike the other species, the male P. blanfordanus in breeding season has the red body color restricted to the head and lacks the broad dorsal stripe.
Both the specific name, blanfordanus, and the common name, Blanford's rock agama, are in honor of English naturalist William Thomas Blanford (1832–1905), member of the Geological Survey of India.[4]
Descriptionedit
Male in breeding colours
Although very similar to P. dorsalis, a specimen of P. blanfordanus can be separated by several features. P. blanfordanus has a deeper fold on the front of the humerus. The scales on the body are a little larger, and number from 80 to 100 round the middle of the body. The dorsal scales appear keeled and imbricated. When the hind leg is stretched forward and held along the body, it reaches the eye or extends beyond it. Often, a small spine is found behind the edge of the brow-ridge of the eye, and a few enlarged scales are scattered on the sides. Young lizards are olive-brown above, spotted or marbled with brown very similar to the female, but often have a series of large, lozenge-shaped, dark brown spots with pale centres on the back and tail. The adult male is much like P. dorsalis, but in the summer breeding season, the head and anterior part of the body of the males become scarlet or red while the posterior parts are nearly black.
P. blanfordanus is found mainly on rocks. The male displays by head nodding.[5]
Snout-to-vent length (SVL) is about 10 cm (3.9 in), and the tail is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long. Females are slightly smaller than males.[5]
Behaviouredit
P. blanfordanus spends most of its time resting or basking under the sun. Excess heat causes it to rest inside water holes to decrease overall body temperature.[citation needed]
Dietedit
The diet of P. blanfordanus consists of insects.[1]
P. blanfordanus is common on many of the hills from Chota Nagpur, as high as Parasnath Hill to 4,500 feet (1,400 m), Madhya Pradesh and extending south along the Godavari Districts, hills of the Eastern Ghats. The southernmost record appears to be Talayar in Travancore, where a specimen was collected by Harold S. Ferguson at 7,000 feet (2,100 m).[6]
Referencesedit
^ abSrinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B, Sreekar R, Mohapatra P, Murthy BH (2013). "Psammophilus blanfordanus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T172604A1350372. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172604A1350372.en. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^Stoliczka F (1871). "Notes on new or little known Indian Lizards". Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal1871:192–195. (Charasia blanfordana, new species, p. 194).
^ abSpecies Psammophilus blanfordanus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
^Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Psammophilus blanfordanus, p. 27).
^ abSmith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Psammophilus blanfordanus, new combination, p. 210).
^Boulenger GA (1891). "Description of a New Species of Lizard obtained by Mr. H. S. Ferguson in Travancore, Southern India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society6 (4): 449. (Lygosoma subcæruleum, new species).
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psammophilus blanfordanus.
Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. ... Agamidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. ("Charasia blanfordiana [sic]", pp. 333–334).
Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. ("Charasia blanfordiana [sic]", p. 145).
January 01, 1970
blanford, rock, agama, psammophilus, blanfordanus, species, lizard, family, agamidae, species, endemic, peninsular, india, species, genus, blanfordanus, found, mainly, east, distribution, dorsalis, unlike, other, species, male, blanfordanus, breeding, season, . Blanford s rock agama Psammophilus blanfordanus is species of lizard in the family Agamidae The species is endemic to Peninsular India One of two species in the genus P blanfordanus is found mainly to the east of the distribution of P dorsalis Unlike the other species the male P blanfordanus in breeding season has the red body color restricted to the head and lacks the broad dorsal stripe Blanford s rock agama Psammophis blanfordanus in Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh India Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Iguania Family Agamidae Genus Psammophilus Species P blanfordanus Binomial name Psammophilus blanfordanus Stoliczka 1871 2 Synonyms 3 Charasia blanfordana Stoliczka 1871 Charasia blanfordiana sic Boulenger 1885 Psammophilus blanfordanus M A Smith 1935 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Behaviour 4 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 Distribution 7 References 8 Further readingEtymology editBoth the specific name blanfordanus and the common name Blanford s rock agama are in honor of English naturalist William Thomas Blanford 1832 1905 member of the Geological Survey of India 4 Description edit nbsp Male in breeding colours Although very similar to P dorsalis a specimen of P blanfordanus can be separated by several features P blanfordanus has a deeper fold on the front of the humerus The scales on the body are a little larger and number from 80 to 100 round the middle of the body The dorsal scales appear keeled and imbricated When the hind leg is stretched forward and held along the body it reaches the eye or extends beyond it Often a small spine is found behind the edge of the brow ridge of the eye and a few enlarged scales are scattered on the sides Young lizards are olive brown above spotted or marbled with brown very similar to the female but often have a series of large lozenge shaped dark brown spots with pale centres on the back and tail The adult male is much like P dorsalis but in the summer breeding season the head and anterior part of the body of the males become scarlet or red while the posterior parts are nearly black P blanfordanus is found mainly on rocks The male displays by head nodding 5 Snout to vent length SVL is about 10 cm 3 9 in and the tail is about 20 cm 7 9 in long Females are slightly smaller than males 5 Behaviour editP blanfordanus spends most of its time resting or basking under the sun Excess heat causes it to rest inside water holes to decrease overall body temperature citation needed Diet editThe diet of P blanfordanus consists of insects 1 Reproduction editP blanfordanus is oviparous 3 Distribution editP blanfordanus is common on many of the hills from Chota Nagpur as high as Parasnath Hill to 4 500 feet 1 400 m Madhya Pradesh and extending south along the Godavari Districts hills of the Eastern Ghats The southernmost record appears to be Talayar in Travancore where a specimen was collected by Harold S Ferguson at 7 000 feet 2 100 m 6 References edit a b Srinivasulu C Srinivasulu B Sreekar R Mohapatra P Murthy BH 2013 Psammophilus blanfordanus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T172604A1350372 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T172604A1350372 en Retrieved 13 May 2021 Stoliczka F 1871 Notes on new or little known Indian Lizards Proc Asiatic Soc Bengal 1871 192 195 Charasia blanfordana new species p 194 a b Species Psammophilus blanfordanus at The Reptile Database www reptile database org 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 Psammophilus blanfordanus p 27 a b Smith MA 1935 The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma Reptilia and Amphibia Vol II Sauria London Secretary of State for India in Council Taylor and Francis printers xiii 440 pp Plate I 2 maps Psammophilus blanfordanus new combination p 210 Boulenger GA 1891 Description of a New Species of Lizard obtained by Mr H S Ferguson in Travancore Southern India Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 6 4 449 Lygosoma subcaeruleum new species Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psammophilus blanfordanus Boulenger GA 1885 Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum Natural History Second Edition Volume I Agamidae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xii 436 pp Plates I XXXII Charasia blanfordiana sic pp 333 334 Boulenger GA 1890 The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma Reptilia and Batrachia London Secretary of State for India in Council Taylor and Francis printers xviii 541 pp Charasia blanfordiana sic p 145 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blanford 27s rock agama amp oldid 1192687075, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
