Two new species of Lankascincus (Squamata: Scincidae) from sripada sanctuary (Peak Wilderness), in Sri Lanka

The present work describes two new species of Lankascincus from the Sripada Sanctuary ( Peak Wilderness Sanctuary) of Sri Lanka. Lankascincus sripadensis sp. nov. is the largest member in the genus and it is morphologically closely related to L. deignani ( Taylor 1950). But Lankascincus sripadensis sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from other members of the genus, by having three loreal scales, posterior loreals larger than the anterior in longitudinal axis, prefrontal and upper anterior preocular touching posterior loreal; 2(nd), 3(rd) supralabials and 1(st) subocular scale touching lower posterior loreal; males with pale brown throat and the ventral head; a dark brown stripe in the light brown background on the dorsal body, divided nasal. The other new species, Lankascincus munindradasai sp. nov. is morphologically closely related to L. taprobanensis (Kelaart, 1854) and can be clearly distinguished from other member of the genus, by having one loreal scale, the loreal is touching the prefrontal, frontonasal, nasal, 1(st) and 2(nd) supralabial scales, upper and lower preoculars; the loreal is larger than the longitudinal axis.