The Peninsular Rock Agama (Psammophilus dorsalis) is a common rock dwelling lizard with a widespread distribution throughout the Indian peninsula of elevations up to 1829 m(Daniel, 2002). This species is characterized by a large head which is laterally elongated and dorso-ventrally depressed. The cheeks are swollen only in adult males and their snout is longer than their orbit. This species shows distinct sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than females. Males are brightly colored only during the breeding season while females show cryptic coloration and often resemble the color of the rocks on which they are found (Smith, 1935). These lizards are known to breed from April to August (Sarkar and Shivanandappa, 1989; Shanbhag, 2002). About eight eggs are known to be present in the ovaries of gravid females (Daniel, 2002). However, information on the ovipositional behavior of P. dorsalis is nonexistent. This note provides a detailed description of the ovipositional behavior of a single gravid female P.dorsalis observed in Savandurga Forest area, southwestern Karnataka, India. The female was observed digging a burrow between two rocks (Fig. 1A) (separated by a distance of 0.6 m) between 1115-1305 h on July1 st 2012. The rocky formations were in the midst of a dry deciduous forest within the Savandurga forest areas, Karnataka (12° 55.16’ N, 77° 18.25’ E; 851 m elevation). The atmospheric temperature (measured using a laboratory thermometer, mercury filled-ZEAL®) was 24° C at 1115 h and the weather was cloudy during the observations made by the author. All observations were made by the observer located about 3 m away from the lizard. The soil in the area where the eggs were laid was predominantly sandy. Before ovipositioning, a male P.dorsalis was present at the same location with its anterior part of the body arched up on one of the rocks about two feet from the nest site. It took cover regularly along the side of that rock when disturbed on spotting the observer initially but got back to its position on the rock after about 6 min. After egg-laying both individuals were captured using a noose, measured using a one meter flexible tape and weighed using a 250 ± 5 g spring balance (Salter ®). The female measured, snout to vent length=85 mm, tail= 210 mm, total= 295 mm and mass=30 g and the male measured, snout to vent length=95 mm, tail= 172 mm, total= 267 mm and mass=45 g. The ovipositional behavior was as follows (Table 1): The female P. dorsalis was excavating a burrow with its right fore-limb, scraping the mud out with its claws. Initially, the head was held above the ground but as the burrow got deeper than about 2 cm (visual approximation) the head gradually went into the burrow. The lizard continued digging using both right and left forelimbs alternately for about 10-25 sec. In this period, the lizard would lift its head and scan the surroundings for 6-15 sec, possibly for predators. As the burrow was excavated, the hind limbs were not spread to its widest limits but the abdomen was raised from the ground. It took about 50 min for the completion of the burrow. The lizard now turned 180° with respect to its initial position of head towards the burrow to vent being over the burrow for laying eggs (Fig. 1B). The hindlimbs were placed on the circumference of the circular burrow as it started to lay eggs. A total of 10 Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 319-322 (2014) (published online on 26 May 2014) Preliminary observations on the ovipositional behavior of the Peninsular Rock Agama Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray, 1831) from Savandurga forest area of Southwestern Karnataka, India. Shashank Balakrishna* and Nitin Achari Department of Zoology, St. Josephs College, #36 Langford road, Bangalore-560027 *Corresponding author Email: rb.shashank@gmail.com