Species:

Takydromus sikkimensis  (GÜNTHER, 1888)

Common names:

Sikkim Long-tailed Grass Lizard (English)

Types:

Neotype: ZSI 25761

Terra Typica:

Dalep village, nearby Singtam, South Sikkim, India, 27°14’N, 88°28’E, 550 m elevation.

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Günther, A. (1888) -  Description of Takydromus sikkimensis. -  In: “On a collection of reptiles from China”. - The Annals and magazine of natural history, (6) 1: 165-172.   

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• Bhupathy, S. & Chettri, B. & Bauer, A. (2009) -  Rediscovery and Revalidation of Takydromus sikkimensis (Günther, 1888) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Sikkim, India. -  Journal of Herpetology, 43 (2): 267–274.    

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  Takydromus sikkimensis was named in 1888 by A. Günther on the basis of an 1872 description of grass lizards from Sikkim by F. Stoliczka. Subsequent workers have not considered this species valid and have even doubted the occurrence of Takydromus in Sikkim. We confirm the occurrence of grass lizards in the lower Teesta valley of Sikkim. These are consistent with the description of T. sikkimensis and are distinguishable from all other congeners on the basis of having 12 rows of enlarged ventral scales across midbody, three pairs of chin shields, 3–6 femoral pores on each thigh, and color pattern lacking stripes, spots, or ocelli. Because the type specimens are lost, and because there has been a persistent confusion regarding the identity, and even the existence, of the taxon described by A. Günther as T. sikkimensis, we designate a neotype to stabilize the use of the revalidated name.

• Gautam, B. & Bhattarai, S. & Kandel, R.C. (2022) -  First record of Takydromus sikkimensis Günther, 1888 (Squamata, Lacertidae) from Nepal. -  Herpetozoa 35: 159–163.    

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  We report the first record of Sikkim grass lizard, Takydromus sikkimensis Günther, 1888 in Nepal based on morphological characters such as the presence of four pairs of femoral pores, 12 rows of ventral scales, tail more than 3.6 times longer than snout-vent length. Our record of T. sikkimensis at Miklajung, Morang district represents the western-most observation of the species, ca. 94 km west of its type locality, Sikkim, India and is the first in Nepal for this species, genus, and family. This record is from Chure/Siwalik hill range which lies outside of Nepal’s protected area network. This species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and warrants detailed inventory and immediate conservation interventions.