scholarly journals The identity and distribution of Bhavania annandalei Hora, 1920 (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae), a hillstream loach endemic to the Western Ghats of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 16262-16271
Author(s):  
Remya L. Sundar ◽  
V.K. Anoop ◽  
Arya Sidharthan ◽  
Neelesh Dahanukar ◽  
Rajeev Raghavan
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽  
Caudal Peduncle ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase ◽  
The Western Ghats

Bhavania annandalei Hora 1920, is resurrected from the synonymy of B. australis (Jerdon, 1849) based on examination of freshly collected topotypic specimens.  The two species can be distinguished by a combination of morphological characters including low, dense, and sparsely distributed tubercles on dorsal surface of head and operculum, rostral barbels reaching anterior border of upper lip, rostral flaps between the rostral barbels fleshier, 11–12 scale rows above the lateral line, and caudal peduncle stout with its depth to width ratio less than 2.5.  The two species formed significantly distinct clusters in multivariate space.  Further, the two species have a raw genetic distance of 6.4% in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene.  The distribution of B. annandalei is restricted to the river systems draining the Agasthyamalai Hills, below the Shencottah Gap in southern Western Ghats, while B. australis occurs in rivers north of the Shencottah Gap. 

scholarly journals Diversification in the mountains: a generic reappraisal of the Western Ghats endemic gecko genus Dravidogecko Smith, 1933 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with descriptions of six new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4688 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. CHAITANYA ◽  
VARAD B. GIRI ◽  
V. DEEPAK ◽  
ANIRUDDHA DATTA-ROY ◽  
B.H.C.K MURTHY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Gene Trees ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
High Elevations ◽  
The Western Ghats

The monotypic genus Dravidogecko, represented by its type-species D. anamallensis, is singular amongst peninsular Indian gekkonid lineages in its endemism to the Western Ghats. Molecular species delimitation approaches reveal at least seven species-level lineages within the genus from its distribution range across the mid–high elevations of the southern Western Ghats of India. These lineages, albeit superficially cryptic, are patently diagnosable from each other by employing a limited but precise set of morphological characters. Six of these lineages that were obscured under the nomen D. anamallensis are herein recognized as distinct species. A reappraisal of the genus Dravidogecko is provided based on external morphology and osteological characters, along with a detailed redescription of the holotype of D. anamallensis. A key to the species based on diagnostic characters is presented. Gene-trees based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data recovered marginally disparate topologies and were consequently coalesced into a species-tree for phylogenetic inference. Timetree analysis reveals late Miocene cladogenesis in this group and establishes late Palaeocene divergence from its sister genus, Hemidactylus, making Dravidogecko one of the earliest, extant lizard lineages to have colonized peninsular India. 

Rediscovery of Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C. Fisch. (Rubiaceae) from the Western Ghats of India after a lapse of 83 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 18953-18955
Author(s):  
Perumal Murugan ◽  
Vellingiri Ravichandran ◽  
Chidambaram Murugan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Adjacent Area ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C.Fisch. (Rubiaceae), a threatened plant species of southern Western Ghats is rediscovered from the adjacent area of the type locality after lapse of eight decades.  Its distribution and conservation status are discussed.

Description of two new species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4459 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
VIVEK PHILIP CYRIAC ◽  
ALEX JOHNY ◽  
P. K. UMESH ◽  
MUHAMED JAFER PALOT
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
High Elevation Forests ◽  
The Western Ghats

Two new species of geckos of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 are described from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. Both species are medium to large sized Cnemaspis and can be differentiated from all other Indian congeners by a suite of distinct morphological characters. Both species are found in the high elevation forests of the two major massifs—       Anaimalai Hills and Agasthyamalai Hills and are presently known to have very restricted distributional ranges. The discovery of these novel species highlights the understudied diversity of reptiles in the high mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. 

Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4742 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
SANKARAPPAN ANBALAGAN ◽  
SURULIYANDI VIJAYAN ◽  
CHELLAPANDIAN BALACHANDRAN ◽  
BERCHMANS THIYONILA ◽  
AATHMANATHAN SURYA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
South India ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Morphological Classification ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
The Western Ghats

Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dinakarani sp. nov. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) krishnani sp. nov. are described based on reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from the Western Ghats of India. These two new species are placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. The morphological characters of two new species are compared with other related species of batoense species-group in India. The COI gene has successfully differentiated these two new species from its allies, S. (G.) panagudiense and S. (G.) takaokai of the batoense species group and the phylogenetic analysis by using COI gene sequences supporting its morphological classification. 

scholarly journals Freshwater fish fauna of rivers of the southern Western Ghats, India

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1735-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anbu Aravazhi Arunkumar ◽  
Arunachalam Manimekalan
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Freshwater Fish Fauna ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

Abstract. The Western Ghats of India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hotspots” of biological diversity in the world. It is also referred to as the “Great Escarpment of India”. This paper provides information on the diversity of freshwater fish fauna of six river systems of the southern Western Ghats. The study area has been identified geographically using a GPS, and the respective topographic map has been digitized using ArcGIS software. The fish fauna were collected from various streams and rivers using cast nets, dip nets, gill nets and drag nets. Among the 31 georeferenced sites sampled from the rivers of the southern Western Ghats, a total of 64 species, belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera, were recorded. Among them, the order Cypriniformes was dominant, with 3 families, 18 genera and 49 species (76.6 %). Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to express the contribution of the variables and their influence on the species diversity. Interestingly, of the 31 sites, Thunakadavu stream, Gulithuraipatti, Athirapally, Naduthotam, Nadathittu, Mullaithodu, Thonanthikla, Noolpuzha and Sinnaru exhibited high variation in species diversity. Nearly 15 species were found to be threatened in the Western Ghats. Garra periyarensis and Cirrhinus cirrhosus are known to be vulnerable and Hemibagrus punctatus is critically endangered because of various anthropogenic activities. The study clearly indicates that certain timely measures have to be taken immediately to protect the fish fauna in the southern Western Ghats (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.882214).

scholarly journals Distribution and composition of butterfly species along the latitudinal and habitat gradients of the Western Ghats of India

Check List ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Padhye ◽  
Sheetal Shelke ◽  
Neelesh Dahanukar
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Literature Survey ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Habitat Gradients ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Forest Habitats

Distribution of butterfly species along the latitudinal and habitat gradients of the Western Ghats was studied. The Western Ghats was divided into 14 latitude zones and the species diversity in each latitude zone, along with habitats of their occurrence, were studied using the data from literature survey for the entire Western Ghats as well as data from personal observations in the areas between 14°N to 20°N latitudes. Out of 334 species recorded from the Western Ghats, 58 species were found in all latitudinal zones, while 5 species were reported in only one latitudinal zone. Further, southern Western Ghats consisted of more number of species and more number of genera as compared to northern Western Ghats. Latitudinal zones between 10°N to 12°N had most of the Western Ghats endemic species. Habitat wise distribution of species revealed three significant clusters grossly separated by the level of human disturbance. Evergreen forest habitats supported maximum number of species endemic to the Western Ghats.

Description of a cryptic new species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Kerala State of India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4656 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-514
Author(s):  
AMIT SAYYED ◽  
L. LEE GRISMER ◽  
PATRICK D CAMPBELL ◽  
RAVEENDRAN DILEEPKUMAR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Fourth Digit ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
Kerala State ◽  
The Western Ghats

We describe a cryptic new species of gecko of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. This medium-sized Cnemaspis species is differentiated from all other Indian congeners by a suite of the following distinct morphological characters: heterogeneous mid-dorsal scales, 6–7 supralabials; 113–120 paravertebral rows of tubercles; 71–85 mid-dorsal scales; absence of spine-like tubercles on flanks; subimbricate, smooth ventral scales; 135–140 mid-ventral scales; subdigital lamellae under fourth digit of manus 23–25; subdigital lamellae under fourth digit of pes 24–25; males with 7–8 precloacal pores; median row of subcaudals enlarged, smooth, a series of two large scales alternating, containing one divided scale; head and neck colouration brownish-yellow, consistent in adult males; adult females with orange coloured head and neck. Recent new descriptions of Cnemaspis species together with the present discovery show that the southern Western Ghats species have been overlooked by previous studies. Therefore we suggest further studies to evaluate the diversity of Cnemaspis in this region. 

The identity of Rasbora neilgherriensis (Teleostei: Danionidae), with a re-description

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4894 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
DENCIN RONS THAMPY ◽  
AGIN GEORGE KURIAN ◽  
K. REMA DEVI ◽  
RAHUL G. KUMAR
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Caudal Peduncle ◽  
Cauvery River ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Cauvery River Basin ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Pelvic Fin

Rasbora neilgherriensis Day, long considered a synonym of Rasbora daniconius or Rasbora dandia, is re-described and shown to be a valid species based on an examination of type and recently-acquired topotypical specimens from the Western Ghats of India. The species is characterised by a complete lateral line with 32–34 pored scales on body, ½5–6/1/2½ scales in transverse line on body, a mid-lateral stripe that is 2½ scales wide anterior to the pelvic fin and 1–1½ scales wide on the caudal peduncle, and a caudal fin that is emarginate to forked with broadly rounded lobes. The species was recorded from the Cauvery River Basin in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India, at elevations ranging from 710 m to 2015 m above sea level, in stream stretches with relatively denser riparian canopy cover. 

A new species of Luisia (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae) from the Western Ghats of India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 387 (4) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
SUBBIAH KARUPPUSAMY ◽  
VELLINGIRI RAVICHANDRAN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Luisia megamalayana (Orchidaceae) is described and illustrated from Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary of southern Western Ghats of India.

scholarly journals The identity and distribution of Bhavania annandalei Hora 1920 (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae), a hillstream loach endemic to the Western Ghats of India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remya L. Sundar ◽  
V.K. Anoop ◽  
Arya Sidharthan ◽  
Neelesh Dahanukar ◽  
Rajeev Raghavan
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
River Systems ◽  
Meristic Characters ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

AbstractBhavania annandalei Hora 1920, is resurrected from the synonymy of B. australis (Jerdon 1849) based on examination of freshly collected topotypic specimens. The two species can be distinguished by a combination of morphological, morphometric and meristic characters, and by genetic distance using mitochondrial cox1 gene. The distribution of B. annandalei is restricted to the river systems draining the Agasthyamalai hills, below the Shencottah Gap in southern Western Ghats.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document