A New Calotes Species from Sri Lanka with a Redescription of Calotes liolepis Boulenger, 1885

Researchers have identified a new species of agamid lizard, Calotes manamendrai, endemic to the Knuckles massif in Sri Lanka's central highlands. This discovery, based on morphological evidence, highlights the unique biodiversity of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. The new species closely resembles Calotes liolepis but can be distinguished by several key features, including nonenlarged pectoral scales, keeled dorsal scales, and distinct color patterns. Additionally, the study provides a comprehensive redescription of Calotes liolepis, contributing to a better understanding of Sri Lanka's agamid lizard diversity.

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., Karunarathna, D. M. S. S., & Fujinuma, J. (2014). A New Calotes Species from Sri Lanka with a Redescription of Calotes liolepis Boulenger, 1885. Herpetologica, 70(3), 323–338. https://doi.org/10.1655/herpetologica-d-13-00087