Studies on Pholidosis and Variability in Characters Showing Sexual Dimorphism in Various Species of Indian Reptiles

In the present paper the meristic variations in various characters in series of examples of 43 species have been summarised in a tabular form (Tables 1-43) and the frequency percentages of their scale and certain other characters have been studied. The work is based on the detailed studies on the reptile material available in the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta from the various localities of Peninsular India viz. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore & Tamil Nadu. The pholidostie characters taken in consideration are such as number of upper labials (left & right), number of lower labials (left & right), number of plates beneath the basal phalanges (left and right), number of lamellae under first toe, number of lamellae under fourth toe, number of dorsal rows of tubercles, number of pre-anofemoral or femoral pores (left & right), number of scales round the middle of body, number of enlarged chin-shields, number of keels on dorsal scales, number of scales down the back, number of longitudinal rows of plates on belly, number of transverse rows of plates on ventrum, number of temporal scales, number of ventral shields, number of scales round the eye, number of scales round the anal region number of subcaudal shields, number of scales across the forehead, and number of scales round the neck. Observations were taken only on the adult examples.