The Tetrapod Reptiles of Ceylon: Vol I : Testudinates and Crocodilians

Contents: Author's preface. Systematic index. Glossary of technical terms. Introduction: 1. History of local herpetology. 2. Zoogeography. 3. Reptilia defined. 4. Economics. 5. Herpetological collecting. 6. Classification. 7. On employing a key. 8. System of description. Key to orders of reptilia in Ceylon. Order Testudinata: 1. Suborder Athecoidea. 2. Suborder Thecophoroidea. Order Emydosauria. Bibliography. Index.

"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 especially 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 appetising, 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 species. Here too there is something similar in the corcodiles. 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 more overgrown than those of Southern India, and in consequence a Ceylon species has its own characteristics both in structure and habits, which even extend to burrowing." (jacket)

[P.E.P. Deraniyagala was Director, Colombo Museum.]