Mapping potential distribution of slender loris subspecies in peninsular India

Abstract

The present study mapped the potential geographic distribution of subspecies of slender loris Loris lydekkerianus from peninsular India. We utilized occurrence records of more than 300 confirmed sightings of slender lorises to model the species' potential geographic distribution by applying an ecological niche modeling (ENM) framework using a desktop genetic algorithm for ruleset prediction (GARP) algorithm. Results indicate that the modeled potential distribution of a morphologically different and hitherto undescribed subspecies of slender loris is noticeably different in geographic space from the 2 known subspecies found within peninsular India. The potential geographic distribution of this subspecies appears to occupy a distinct and intermediate climate region running along the eastern fringe of the southern Western Ghats. Among the 2 known subspecies, the modeled potential distribution of L. l. lydekkerianus corresponds with a relatively drier climate, largely occupying deciduous and open-scrub forest types, whereas the modeled potential distribution of L. l. malabaricus corresponds with wetter climates, ranging from deciduous to evergreen forest types. The presence of an undescribed subspecies of slender loris demonstrates an urgent need for a detailed exploration within the range modeled by the present study.

Distribution Patterns of Slender Loris Subspecies (Loris lydekkerianus) in Kerala, Southern India

“…Contrary to the hypothesis of Kumara et al (2009), the results of our study do not support the presence of a new loris subspecies on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Instead, our study shows that north of the Palghat Gap, Malabar slender lorises are distributed in the wet and dry forests of the Western Ghats.…”

“…We used loris subspecies identity in different study sites to map the distribution of the taxa. We expended more survey effort in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the eastern slopes of southern Western Ghats, to test the hypothesis of Kumar et al (2009) regarding a new loris subspecies in this area.…”

Moolah, misfortune or spinsterhood? The plight of Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus in southern India

“…The southernmost point of occurrence of L.l. lydekkerianus according to available literature (CDL 2003;Kumara et al 2009) is the Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu. Our sightings in PWS therefore, extends the range of L.l.…”

Predicting Suitable Habitats for the Vulnerable Eastern Hoolock Gibbon, Hoolock leuconedys, in India Using the MaxEnt Model

“…Moreover, the model has also been used in many mammalian studies [Hernandez et al, 2008], including various primate species, proving the success of the model's application in predicting species distribution (e.g. Mexican primates [Vidal-Garcia and Serio-Silva, 2011], buffy tufted-ear marmosets [Norris et al, 2011], and primates in the genera Nycticebus [Thorn et al, 2009] and Loris [Kumara et al, 2009]).…”