Status of reptiles in Meghamalai and its environs, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Reptiles of MeghamalaiBhupathy & Sathishkumar 4954been made to study the reptiles of this area (Bhupathy et al. 2009;Chandramouli & Ganesh 2010). In the present paper, we update the reptile fauna of Meghamalai area and provide data on species richness, composition, distribution with respect to Indian biogeographic zones and their threat status. MethodsMeghamalai (9 0 30'-10 0 30'N & 77 0 -78 0 30'E) is located in Theni Forest Division (Theni District) of Tamil Nadu state (Fig. 1). Herpetofauna of the area was studied by Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) during 2006-2008, wherein reptiles were sampled in three belt transects (21km 2 ; Bhupathy et al. 2009; Fig. 1) using quadrat, and time constrained visual encounter survey (TCVES) protocols (Campbell & Christman 1982;Crump & Scott 1994) on seasonal basis during day-light hours. However, specimen collection was not done due to non-availability of permits. An inventory of reptile fauna of the area was made based on historic collections and reviews (Boulenger 1891;

Species Diversity of Snakes in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

“…A study conducted by Nitin [8] concluded the new locality of C. h. monticollaris in Vansda National Park, Navsari, Gujarat, India. Subsequently, Bhupathy and Sathishkumar [9] reported C. h. (Table 1) and few belongs to rare category that is globally threatened. Hence, there is an urgent need for strategies to conserve these rare and threatened snakes in STR and PBR.…”

Anurans of the Meghamalai landscape, Western Ghats, India

“…Time-constrained visual encounter surveys (TCVES) and quadrat search (size: 10x10 m) as described in Heyer et al (1994) were used for data collection in three belt transects for a period of two years between December 2006 and November 2008 on a seasonal basis; dry (December-May) and wet (June-November) seasons (also see Bhupathy et al 2009;Bhupathy & Sathishkumar 2013). These transects (fixed width of 1000m) were located in Mavadi, Suruli and Vellimalai areas of Meghamalai (Fig.…”

TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF Liopeltis calamaria (GÜNTHER, 1858) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), INCLUDING REDESCRIPTION OF THE SYNTYPES

“…Very few recent workers have reported the species from India. Malhotra & Davis (1991) report sighting of three specimens in rock piles situated within the montane grasslands atop the Srivilliputhur Hills, at 1290-1690 m. Recent reports originated from Nallamalai Hills in Andhra Pradesh (Rao et al 2005), Kambakkam Hills in Andhra Pradesh (Ganesh & Asokan 2010), Kaas plateau in Maharashtra (Chikane & Bhosale 2012), Meghamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu (Bhupathy & Sathishkumar 2013), Kalakadu Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu (Narayanan 2016), and Vellore as well as the Gingee Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu (Ganesh et al 2018). Bhattarai et al (2018) also reported the species from Nepal (Chitwan, Makwanpur).…”