Ristella

R. beddomii, Beddome's Cat Skink

R. guentheri

R. rurki

B. travancorica, Travancore Cat Skink

Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Ristella

R. beddomii

Beddome's Cat Skink

India (Tenmalai, Travancore, Sharavati River, N Kanara district, Parambikulam)

SVL 4cm

Terrestrial and semifossorial. Scalation details: frontonasal broader than long, widely separating the nasals; single azygous prefrontal, nearly as large as the frontonasal; frontal shorter than frontoparietals and interparietal together; 5 supraoculars, of which 3 anterior in contact with frontal; 10 supraciliaries; parietals form a suture behind interparietal; no nuchals; 4^th, 5^th and 6^th supralabials below the eye, from which they are separated by a series of small scales; 26 scale rows at midbody; lateral scales a little smaller than dorsals or ventrals; dorsals sharply bicarinate; preanal scales feebly enlarged or not at all. Other: head small; snout short, obtuse; ear opening larger than nostril; body shorter than in other Ristella, so that limbs meet or slightly overlap when adpressed; 3^rd and 4^th toes equal; tail cylindrical, Coloration: dorsally reddish with brown on the edges or centres of scales; sides with yellow spots and indistinct dark lines; ventrally cream. Reproduction: up to 3 eggs laid per clutch during southwestern monsoons. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Das]

R. guentheri

?

India (Madura district, Tenmalai, Travancore, Anaimalai Hills)

TL 9¾cm

Scalation details: frontonasal broader than long, widely separating the nasals; single azygous prefrontal, nearly as wide as the frontonasal; frontal shorter than frontoparietals and interparietal together; 5 supraoculars, of which 3 anterior in contact with frontal; 10 supraciliaries; parietals form a suture behind interparietal; no nuchals; 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th supralabials below the eye, from which they are separated by a series of small scales; 22-24 scale rows at midbody; lateral scales a little smaller than dorsals or ventrals; dorsals sharply bicarinate; preanal scales feebly enlarged or not at all. Other: head small; snout short, obtuse; ear opening little larger than nostril; limbs short, widely separated when adpressed; 3^rd and 4^th toes equal; tail cylindrical, one and a half to one and two thirds length of SVL. Coloration: dorsally reddish-brown; dark brown lines or minute yellowish dots along scale rows; sides dark brown, dotted with yellowish or with dark brown longitudinal band; lower surfaces whitish; young with 3 light, dark-edged dorsal streaks. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

R. rurki

?

India (Anaimalai Hills, Travancore and Palni Hills)

TL 11cm

Scalation details: frontonasal broader than long, widely separating the nasals; prefrontals present, widely separated; frontal shorter than frontoparietals and interparietal together; 5 supraoculars, of which 3 anterior in contact with frontal; 10 supraciliaries; parietals form a suture behind interparietal; no nuchals; 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th supralabials below the eye, from which they are separated by a series of small scales; 26 scale rows at midbody; lateral scales a little smaller than dorsals or ventrals; dorsals and laterals feebly bi- or tricarinate; preanal scales feebly enlarged or not at all. Other: head small; snout short, obtuse; ear opening much larger than nostril; limbs short, widely separated when adpressed; 3^rd and 4^th toes equal; tail cylindrical, one and a half to one and two thirds length of SVL. Coloration: dorsally reddish-brown; each dorsal scale with small blackish spot or shaft that may join up to form 6 longitudinal lines; sides blackish brown, dotted with whitish; lower surfaces whitish; throat and tail usually brown-spotted. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

R. travancorica

Travancore Cat Skink

India (Western Ghats), Tinnevelly Hills

SVL 4cm

Terrestrial and semifossorial. Scalation details: frontonasal broader than long, widely separating the nasals; prefrontals present, widely separated; frontal shorter than frontoparietals and interparietal together; 5 supraoculars, of which 3 anterior in contact with frontal; 10 supraciliaries; parietals form a suture behind interparietal; no nuchals; 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th supralabials below the eye, from which they are separated by a series of small scales; 22-26 scale rows at midbody; lateral scales a little smaller than dorsals or ventrals; dorsal sharply bicarinate; preanal scales feebly enlarged or not at all. Other: head small; snout short, obtuse; ear opening not or only slightly larger than nostril; limbs short, widely separated when adpressed; 3^rd and 4^th toes equal; tail cylindrical, one and a half to one and two thirds length of SVL. Coloration: dorsally reddish with brown on the edges or centres of scales; sides may have yellow spots or dark stripe; ventrally cream. Reproduction: up to 2 eggs laid per clutch during southwestern monsoons. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Das]