Ecological observations on the Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Abstract:Observations on the Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) were undertaken in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India during the monsoons (July) following quadrat sampling that was time-constrained. The study revealed that the area is one of the preferable habitats for the species. A population analysis showed that the relative abundance of the subadults was higher, followed by juveniles and adults during the study period. The beginning of activity of the lizards was found to vary over the study period depending on prevailing weather conditions. The activity pattern was bimodal, except across rain events. The study revealed two important ecological findings about these lizards; complete sealing of burrow during rains which differed from partial sealing on normal days and complete diurnal cycle of body colour changes during the monsoon. Feeding was the predominant activity of this lizard followed by basking, resting and chasing each other. The adult lizards were found to be strictly herbivorous, in spite of an abundance of insects available in the area during the period. Subadults and juveniles were found to eat both plant parts, as well as insects. Microhabitat use such as inside grass clumps was found to be higher followed by barren ground, under shade and on stones.Keywords: Activity pattern, borrow sealing, colour change, food and feeding, habitat use, population, Rajasthan, Spiny-tailed Lizard, Wildlife Sanctuary.Hindi Abstract: rky Nkij oU;tho vH;kj.; es a Hkkjrh; dka W Vs nkj&iw W Nokyh fNidyh Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) ij oS Kkfud vuos D'k.k fd;k x;kA vË;;u DokMjs V fofèk (quadrat sampling method) vkS j flfer le;kofèk (time-constrained) ls ekulw u vofèk ds tq ykà ekg es a fd;k x;kA vË;;u es a ;gkW a dk okl&LFkku bl iz tkfr ds fy, eq [; #i ls ila fnnk okl&LFkku ik;k x;kA tula [;k fo"ys 'k.k es a vèkZ o;Ld dh la [;k lcls T;knk] fd"kks j vkS j o;Ld dh mÙkjks rj la [;k de ikbZ xbZ A bl iz tkfr ds nS fud xfrfofèk;ks a ds le; es a egÙoiw .kZ #i ls ekS le ds vuq #i nS fud ifjorZ u ik;k x;kA bldk nS fud fØ;kDyki] o'kkZ ds le; dks Nks Mdj] ckbZ eks My ns [kk x;kA bl vË;;u es a eq [; #i ls bl iz tkfr ds nks ikfjfLFfrdh igyw fudy dj vk,( o'kkZ ds nkS jku fcy dks iw .kZ r;k ca n djuk ogha lkekU; fnuks a es a vkèkk ca n djuk vkS j blds fnu ds le; "kjhj ds ja x dks ifjofrZ r djus dk pØA nS fud fØ;kDyki es a [kkuk [kkus es a lokZ fËkd le; O;rhr fd;k x;k ogh lw ;Z dh jks "kuh es a "kjhj dks rkiuk] vkjke djuk vkS j ,d&nw ljs dk fiNk djuk bldh vU; xfrfofËk;kW a FkhA o;Ld fNidfy;kW a iw .kZ r;k "kkdkgkjh ns [kh xbZ ] ogh ekulw u vofèk es a fdVks a dh ckgw Y;rk FkhA vèkZ o;Ld vkS j fd"kks jks a dks ikniks a ds Òkx ds lkFk& lkFk fdVks a dk Òh ÒD'k.k djrs ns [kk x;kA bl iz tkfr )kjk lq {e okl&LFkku ds #i es a ?kkl ds >q ..k lcls ila fnnk ns [kk x;s ogh likV èkjry] Nk;k vkS j Nks Vs iÙFkj Øe"k% de ila n fd;s x;s A ISSN Online 0974-7907 Print 0974-7893

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“…Most importantly from MSA, all the sequences generated in this study found to be monomorphic. Since this species is conservation dependent and in India currently it exists in small pocket populations in northwestern part [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] , DNA sequence monomorphism suggests that there is an urgent need of conservation of this species in its present distribution in northwestern India. However, this cannot be completely ascertained from this study because of the small sample size and thus study with large sample size might be useful for more accurate population genetic analysis.…”

“…the Thar desert of Rajasthan and Gujarat [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . Recently, one small population of this species is reported from the Sariska National Park [23] , which at present is the only known population of this species in Rajasthan outside the Thar desert area.…”

“…Recently, one small population of this species is reported from the Sariska National Park [23] , which at present is the only known population of this species in Rajasthan outside the Thar desert area. In India, there is a lack of intensive study on this species as all studies on it so far are either occasional observations or short term studies [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . Due to lack of proper information on this species it has not been accessed by IUCN, though considered as Data Deficient Nationally [24,25] .…”

“…The main threat to this lizard is its commercial exploitation for meat, skin and oil, the later supposedly having great medicinal value. This species is also threatened due to illegal trading and habitat destruction [13,18,22] . The pocket population of S. hardwickii in India points towards an immediate genetic assessment of the species in order to understand the genetic variation among populations of this species so as to know the exact nature of evolutionary pressure on it.…”

Population ecology of spiny tailed lizard (Saara hardwickii) from lesser Cholistan desert, Bahawalpur, Punjab

“…Body fat stored in the tail assumed to have medicinal value as it is boiled down and oil is used as a cure for impotence and embrocation. These lizards are frequently used in different parts of Pakistan and India for medicinal purpose [7]. Due to illegal trade and habitat destruction; this species is threatened.…”