Contents: Foreword. Introduction. Phylogeny. Zoogeography of Indian lizards. 1. Key to the families of the sub-order Sauria. Family I. Gekkonidae: 2. Key to the genera of the family Gekkonidae. 3. Key to the species of genus Cyrtodactylus. 4. Key to the species of genus Cnemaspis. 5. Key to the species of genus Hemidactylus. Family II. Agamidae: 6. Key to the genera of family Agamidae. 7. Key to the species of genus Draco. 8. Key to the species of genus Japalura. 9. Key to the species of genus Salea. 10. Key to the species of genus Calotes. 11. Key to the species of genus Psammophilus. 12. Key to the species of genus Agama. 13. Key to the species of genus Phrynocephalus. Family III. Chamaeleonidae. Family IV. Scincidae. 14. Key to the genera of family Scincidae. 15. Key to the species of genus Mabuya. 16. Key to the species of genus Sphenomorphus. 17. Key to the species of the genus Scincella. 18. Key to the species of the genus Riopa. 19. Key to the species of the genus Ristella. Family V. Dibamidae. Family VI. Lacertidae: 20. Key to the genera of family Lacertidae. 21. Key to the species of genus Cabrita. 22. Key to the species of genus Ophisops. Family VII. Anguidae. Family VIII. Varanidae: 23. Key to the species of genus Varanus. Bibliography. Maps. Plates. Alphabetical index.

From the foreword: "The modern lizards exhibit remarkable ecological diversities and represent a most primitive and ancient group of animals. These creatures have a great role in the ecological balance and in the conservation of nature and most of the lizards are the strong predators on the insect pests of agriculture and as such bear an indirect but most useful impact on the economy of our country. Studies on the Indian lizards started in the middle of the last century, and intensive studies have been taken up recently. However, the results published through various journals in India and abroad are scattered and are not easily accessible to majority of workers. The present "Handbook" gives a comprehensive taxonomic account of all the species available in India long with their phylogeny, distribution, habits and habitats and the actual status during the recent times. In includes other information, wherever known about their biology, ecology, conservation and breeding. A total of 165 species and subspecies distributed over fifty genera and eight families are dealt with here."

[B.K. Tikader also wrote Handbook Indian Testudines, Handbook on Indian Spiders and Threatened Animals of India.] No. 9574

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