scholarly journals Functional trait and community phylogenetic analyses reveal environmental filtering as the major determinant of assembly of tropical forest tree communities in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Nagaraju Shivaprakash ◽  
B. R. Ramesh ◽  
Ramanan Umashaanker ◽  
Selvadurai Dayanandan
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Major Determinant ◽  
Tree Communities ◽  
The Western Ghats

scholarly journals Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Garg ◽  
Robin Suyesh ◽  
Sandeep Sukesan ◽  
SD Biju
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

The Night Frog genusNyctibatrachus(Family Nyctibatrachidae) represents an endemic anuran lineage of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Until now, it included 28 recognised species, of which more than half were described recently over the last five years. Our amphibian explorations have further revealed the presence of undescribed species of Nights Frogs in the southern Western Ghats. Based on integrated molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, seven new species are formally described here asNyctibatrachus athirappillyensissp. nov.,Nyctibatrachus manalarisp. nov.,Nyctibatrachus pulivijayanisp. nov.,Nyctibatrachus radcliffeisp. nov.,Nyctibatrachus robinmooreisp. nov.,Nyctibatrachus sabarimalaisp. nov. andNyctibatrachus webillasp. nov., thereby bringing the total number of validNyctibatrachus species to 35 and increasing the former diversity estimates by a quarter. Detailed morphological descriptions, comparisons with other members of the genus, natural history notes, and genetic relationships inferred from phylogenetic analyses of a mitochondrial dataset are presented for all the new species. Additionally, characteristics of male advertisement calls are described for four new and three previously known species. Among the new species, six are currently known to be geographically restricted to low and mid elevation regions south of Palghat gap in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and one is probably endemic to high-elevation mountain streams slightly northward of the gap in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, four new species are also among the smallest known Indian frogs. Hence, our discovery of several new species, particularly of easily overlooked miniaturized forms, reiterates that the known amphibian diversity of the Western Ghats of India still remains underestimated.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding, phylogeny and systematics of Golden-backed frogs (Hylarana, Ranidae) of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, with the description of seven new species

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-S4 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Biju ◽  
Sonali Garg ◽  
Stephen Mahony ◽  
Nayana Wijayathilaka ◽  
Gayani Senevirathne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
The Western Ghats

A systematic revision of the genus Hylarana in the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot is presented. Species delineation in Hylarana is complicated due to a lack of distinct colour differences or striking morphological characters, leading to potential misidentification. We conducted extensive surveys throughout the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot and performed multiple gene (16S, COI and Cytb) barcoding using 103 samples collected from cultivated land and natural habitats. Genetic distance comparisons and Neighbor Joining trees indicated the presence of at least 14 candidate species in the region, supported by taxa groupings for all three genetic markers. Utilising a combination of molecular and morphological data, we describe seven new species, doubling the number of Hylarana species previously known from this region. We further demonstrate that H. temporalis, which was originally described from Sri Lanka, was misidentified with the Western Ghats endemic species for nearly 100 years. Conversely, H. aurantiaca was originally described from the Western Ghats and misidentified in Sri Lanka. Our study confirms that the distribution of H. temporalis is restricted to Sri Lanka, while H. aurantiaca is endemic to the Western Ghats, and that there are no shared Hylarana species between the two regions. Hylarana flavescens, H. intermedius and H. montanus, previously considered synonyms of H. temporalis are confirmed as valid species. Hylarana bhagmandlensis is removed from the synonymy of H. aurantiaca and placed as a junior subjective synonym of H. montanus. To establish nomenclatural stability, H. flavescens, H. malabarica and H. temporalis are lectotypified and H. intermedius is neotypified. Detailed descriptions, diagnosis, morphological and genetic comparisons, illustrations and data on distribution and natural history are provided for all species. Phylogenetic analyses based on three mitochondrial markers (16S, COI and Cytb) and a fragment of the nuclear Rag1 gene, show complete endemism of the Western Ghats-Sri Lankan species. Four major groups in this region are identified as: 1 — the Hylarana aurantiaca group, endemic to the Western Ghats; 2 — the Hylarana flavescens group, endemic to the Western Ghats; 3 — the Hylarana temporalis group, endemic to Sri Lanka; and 4 — the Hylarana malabarica group from Sri Lanka and India. The discovery of numerous morphologically cryptic Hylarana species in this region further emphasizes the benefits of utilizing an integrative taxonomic approach for uncovering hidden diversity and highlighting local endemism in the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot.

Genetic variation and differentiation in Indirana beddomii frogs endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1459-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhilash Nair ◽  
Sujith V. Gopalan ◽  
Sanil George ◽  
K. Santhosh Kumar ◽  
Takahito Shikano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
The Western Ghats

scholarly journals Legumes of Kerala, India: a checklist

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 18257-18282
Author(s):  
Anoop P. Balan ◽  
S.V. Predeep
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
The State ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Extensive Field ◽  
Voucher Specimens ◽  
Kerala State ◽  
The Western Ghats

A checklist of the legumes of Kerala State is presented.  This exhaustive checklist is an outcome of extensive field surveys, collection, identification and documentation of family Leguminosae carried out across Kerala State during the period 2006–2019.  A total of 448 taxa were recorded under five subfamilies and 115 genera.  The majority of the legumes are herbs and shrubs, the rest being trees and woody climbers.  About 81 taxa are endemic to India, especially confined to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, out of which 17 are endemic to  Kerala.  The state is home to two Critically Endangered and six Endangered legumes, facing severe threat of extinction.  Crotalaria is the dominant legume genus in the state with 62 taxa followed by Desmodium and Indigofera.  About 57 genera are represented by single species each.  Legumes are treated according to the latest phylogenetic classification of the Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG).  Updated nomenclature, habit, native countries, voucher specimens, and images of endemic and lesser known legumes found in the state are provided.  Crotalaria multiflora var. kurisumalayana (Sibichen & Nampy) Krishnaraj & N. Mohanan is reduced as a synonym to C. multiflora (Arn.) Benth.

First record of the myrmicine ant genus Syllophopsis Santschi, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India with description of a new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4985 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
SHAHID ALI AKBAR ◽  
HIMENDER BHARTI ◽  
MARIUSZ KANTURSKI ◽  
AIJAZ AHMAD WACHKOO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
National Park ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
First Record ◽  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

Here we describe and illustrate Syllophopsis peetersi sp. nov. from Silent Valley National Park, a biodiversity hotspot region of the Western Ghats of India. The discovery also marks a first native report of the genus from the Indian subcontinent. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was carried out to elucidate the general morphology and sensilla of the new species. The new species is similar to congeners from Madagascar, but with larger differences from species that occur elsewhere.

The pholcid spiders of Sri Lanka (Araneae: Pholcidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4550 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
BERNHARD A. HUBER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Southwestern Part ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Western Ghats

As part of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, Sri Lanka harbors a rich and diverse fauna, especially in the perhumid southwestern part of the island. However, many invertebrate groups such as spiders continue to be poorly studied. The present paper reviews our knowledge about Pholcidae, a family of spiders that is well represented in Sri Lanka, both by numerous (10) introduced species and by a rich native fauna in five genera (described native Sri Lankan species in parentheses): Belisana Thorell, 1898 (6), Leptopholcus Simon, 1893 (1), Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 (4), Tissahamia Huber, 2018 (4), and Wanniyala Huber & Benjamin, 2005 (9). Fourteen species are newly described: Belisana minneriya sp. n., B. badulla sp. n., B. gowindahela sp. n.; Pholcus metta sp. n., P. puranappui sp. n., P. uva sp. n.; Tissahamia karuna sp. n.; Wanniyala mudita sp. n., W. orientalis sp. n., W. upekkha sp. n., W. ohiya sp. n., W. viharekele sp. n., W. mapalena sp. n., and W. labugama sp. n.. All new species are described from males and females. New Sri Lankan records are given for 16 previously described species. Distribution data suggest that most or all of the 24 native species might be endemic to Sri Lanka, but the Indian pholcid fauna remains almost entirely unknown. 

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