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The present monograph ‘The Tetrapod Reptiles of Ceylon’ deals with all species exclusive of Serpentoidea, which have already been monographed by Colonel F. Wall (1921). Thus, this first volume deals with the testudinates and crocodilians.
In testudinates, the author mentions about Leathery Turtle, as the possible ancestor of all turtles, the most thoroughly and efficiently adapted of chelonians to a water habit, the only form that has acquired the torpedo- shape. An account of its habits, egg laying, anatomy and development is the result of an intensive study. In addition, four typically shielded, marine turtles are found on Ceylon coasts, two Loggerheads of different genera, one Hawksbill and the Green Turtle. They are useful for comparison of their structure and habits are much with the Leathery Turtle each has its own interest. According to the author, there is nothing peculiar round the coasts of Ceylon to produce aspecially adapted species, and these species can float or swim away and so people any tropical coast. All probably like best to feed on the attached cotyledonous plants, that were transferring their lives to the salt water, perhaps at the same time as these turtles were adapting themselves to the same. The Loggerheads wander along the coasts, but the Green and Hawksbill are often met with floating hundreds of miles from land on the high seas, their only available food the jelly-fishes, beautiful and perhaps appetizing , but certainly not nutritious.
For the rest, Ceylon has two Terrapins and one Tortoise and this may be regarded as a reasonable fauna for an island, since animals such as these highly specialized Chelonians with a rigid skeleton and a fixed mode of living can only rarely have evolved to form new specie. Here too there is something similar in the Crocodiles. There are only two environments suitable, the swamps and pools and the coastal estuaries and plains – and there is a species peculiar to each. The marshes and streams of Ceylon are smaller and consequence a Ceylon species has its own characteristics both in structure and habits, which even extend to burrowing.
The author’s full account of the Estuarine or Sea Crocodile, its anatomy, habits and development, fills a gap second only in importance to that of the Leathery Turtile. Its bones may be found on any isle of the Indian or Western Pacific Oceans, carried with ease if floated by dried plant remains, but in reality it is only an inhabitant of tropical continental coasts. These, so rich in variety of life, are poor in the quantity of animal life available to so large a dile obtains most of his food on the coastal plain, wandering far inland Elsewhere he may be a visitor to some coral reef, seeking daily at low tide for the crabs, which seek its shelter and the fishers, that are enclosed in its shallow pools.
To the zoologist this monograph will be a pleasure enabling him to dip deep in his search for law in the correlation of structures and habits, while the naturalist will gain all that he desires. It is good to see the Government of Ceylon recognizing its obligation in the dissemination to the world of such knowledge, as has been acquired within its domain.
Conditon Good
Sinhale And The Patriots 1815-1818
Author: P.E.Pieris
Our Price: $89.00
History of Ceylon Book - IV
Author: H. C. Ray,
Our Price: $39.00
Memoirs Of The Archaeological Survey of Ceylon Vol
Author: S. Paranavitana
The Rock And Wall Paintings of Sri Lanka
Author: Senake Bandaran
Our Price: $129.00
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