Chandramouli S.R.

Abstract A new bufonid amphibian, belonging to a new monotypic genus, is described from the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, Republic of India, based on unique external morphological and skeletal characters which are compared with those of known Oriental and other relevant bufonid genera. Blythophryne gen. n. is distinguished from other bufon...

A comprehensive review of members of the gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was undertaken to assess the true diversity of the genus in this region. Samples collected across different islands within the archipelago show significant and consistent morphological variation associated with the region of origin....

A new species of green pit viper of the genus Trimeresurus, in the T. albolabris complex, is described from Car Nicobar Island of the Nicobar Archipelago, Indian Ocean. The new species, Trimeresurus davidi sp. nov., can be distinguished from all other members of this group by the following characteristics: medium to large body size (277-835 mm SVL)...

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (~92% of the world's ~1714 described species) of the conservation 1 Joint senior authors...

The taxonomic status of the large-sized Fejervarya frogs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was assessed based on integrative analysis of molecular, morphological and acoustic data. Our results identify the population from the Andaman Islands as Fejervarya moodiei, and that from the Nicobar Islands as F. limnocharis. Representative specimens collec...

The poorly-known, insular endemic frog species, Minervarya nicobariensis (Stoliczka, 1870) is re-described based on new material from the Nicobar Archipelago. A neotype is designated as its holotype had been lost. Novel data on biology, ecology, distribution and natural history of this poorly known species are provided. Breeding biology and larval...

We reassessed the systematic position of the ranid frog Hylorana (=Hylarana) nicobariensis that, owing to its uncertain phylogenetic position and lack of clear morphological characterisation, has lately been allocated to various Asian and African frog genera such as Rana, Sylvirana, Hylarana, Amnirana, and most recently to Indosylvirana. Based on a...

We examined the syntype series of Eutropis rudis (6 specimens) collected from Sumatra and Borneo, currently deposited at the Natural History Museum, London. We observed that the type series is composed of two species. In order to stabilize application of the name, we designate a lectotype for E. rudis from Sumatra. Mabuya lewisi, described based on...

We conducted a taxonomic revision of the arboreal snakes of the Boiga ceylonensis-group, all inhabiting the Indian subcontinent. Based on 15 characters, recorded from more than 100 specimens, representing eight recognized taxa, we conducted a multivariate morphometric analysis to redefine the taxonomic boundaries. We provide redescriptions of the n...

We examined the holotype of Eutropis tytleri and one of the syntypes of E. andamanensis collected from the Andaman Islands, currently deposited at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Information on taxonomy, morphology, distribution, behaviour and natural history of these two poorly-known, insular endemic skinks are presented here based on indivi...

We examined the syntype series of Eutropis rudis (6 specimens) collected from Sumatra and Borneo, currently deposited at the Natural History Museum, London, and it was observed that the type series is composed of two species. In order to stabilize application of the name, we designate a lectotype for E. rudis from Sumatra. Mabuya lewisi, described...

The frog family Ranixalidae is endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India and contains two genera, Indirana and Walkerana. The three known species of Walkerana are restricted to different hill ranges south of the Palghat Gap, an ancient valley in the Western Ghats. In this study, we report the discovery of a deeply divergent lineage of Walker...

Analysis of mitochondrial 16s rDNA data from a nearly topotypical specimen of the common Indian cricket frog (Minervarya agricola) sequenced during this study revealed a potential conspecificity among samples of Minervarya originating from different parts of the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats. As th...

The islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago feature a fairly high diversity of gekkonid lizards, being home to several genera such as Hemidactylus, Gekko, Cyrtodactylus, Cnemaspis, Gehyra, Ptychozoon, Lepidodactylus, Hemiphyllodactylus, and the predominantly Malagasy genus Phelsuma (Blyth 1861, Stoliczka 1870, 1873, Smith 1935, Das 2002). Am...

Observations on the natural history of the poorly known, insular rhacophorid species, Polypedates insularis Das, 1995 are presented herein for the first time. Courtship, breeding behaviour and calls of this species are described. The morphology of the larvae of P. insularis is described in detail across different developmental stages and the struct...

We surveyed for herpetofauna along the poorly-explored sections of Southern Eastern Ghats. This 1000 hours-long large scale survey covered ranges stretching from near Western Ghats eastwards to the Coroman-del Coastal Plains, across a longitudinal gradient. Study area consisting of the tall and wet Bilgiri-Melagiri massifs to the west and the low a...

We surveyed for herpetofauna along the poorly-explored sections of Southern Eastern Ghats. This 1000 hours-long large scale survey covered ranges stretching from near Western Ghats eastwards to the Coroman-del Coastal Plains, across a longitudinal gradient. Study area consisting of the tall and wet Bilgiri-Melagiri massifs to the west and the low a...

Distribution of the Horse-shoe pitviper Trimeresurus strigatus

Taxonomic status of the Andamanese subspecies of Kaloula baleata i.e., Kaloula baleata ghoshi is re-evaluated based on a comparative analysis of morphological data from members of this species complex from different parts of Southeast Asia. The Andamanese population is shown to be a morphologically distinct, allopatric species deserving specific re...

The Indian cricket frog that is widespread across the plains of peninsular India has thus far been represented as Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829), a name that has been applied to a multitude of different populations in tropical Asia. An array of taxonomic studies resulted in description and recognition of many species and consequently F....

The critically endangered, insular endemic dicroglossid frog Ingerana charlesdarwini was described from three adult specimens from Mount Harriet National Park, South Andaman (India). The description of this species is here expanded based on fresh collections made from the Andaman archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. Morphometric analysis based on a la...

Tiliqua bibronii was described by J.E. Gray in December, 1838 based on two syntypes (MNHN-RA 2940, 7076), but the details for locality was missing. These syntypes are currently housed at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN-RA). The same species (based on the same type specimens) was described by A.M.C. Duméril & G. Bibron...

Euprepes beddomei was described by Jerdon (1870) from “Mysore” (Karnataka State, India). Simultaneously, Euprepes (Tiliqua) septemlineatus, which is morphologically similar to E. beddomei, was described by Blanford (1870) based on a single specimen collected from the Ganga River Valley, Southeast Berar, Madhya Pradesh, India. Smith (1935) synonymis...

We reassessed the taxonomic status of an Asian genus of arboreal bufonids, Pedostibes, based on examination of preserved material of the two species currently attributed to this genus. Analysis of their morphological, morphometric, and geographic distribution data revealed that Pedostibes tuberculosus, the type species of this genus from the Wester...

A new bufonid amphibian, belonging to a new monotypic genus, is described from the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, Republic of India, based on unique external morphological and skeletal characters which are compared with those of known Oriental and other relevant bufonid genera. Blythophryne gen. n. is distinguished from other bufonid genera...

In this study, for the first time, we present quantitative information about the species richness, habitat associations and abundances of insular frog species in Wandoor, South Andaman Island, Bay of Bengal, India. During our surveys spanning across pre and post-monsoon seasons, we recorded six species of anurans including two endemics. Another end...

Diversity of skeletal characters in 11 genera of anurans representing nine families from the Western Ghats of peninsular India is investigated. The osteology of each of these genera is described and characters are compared among the genera. The analysis reveals that some pairs of genera resemble one another osteologically and that this morphologica...

South Asian members of the arboreal skink genus Dasia Gray, 1839 were recently reviewed using morphological and molecular approaches (Wickramasinghe et al. 2011; Harikrishnan et al. 2012). Harikrishnan et al. (2012) described a new species, Dasia johnsinghi, from South India. Both reviews add considerably to our taxonomic knowledge of the genus, bu...

The Asian pitviper currently identified as Trimeresurus labialis Fitzinger in Steindachner, 1867 is revised on the basis of morphological data obtained from 37 preserved specimens originating from seven islands of the Nicobar Islands. Multi-variate analyses shows that these specimens can be divided into two clusters of populations which differ by a...

The Asian pitviper currently identified as Trimeresurus labialis Fitzinger in Steindachner, 1867 is revised on the basis of morphological data obtained from 37 preserved specimens originating from seven islands of the Nicobar Islands. Multivariate analyses shows that these specimens can be divided into two clusters of populations which differ by a...

Morphology of tadpoles of the little known, Peninsular Indian endemic bufonid Duttaphrynus hololius (Günther, 1876) is described across different stages in detail, with observations on natural history. The oral apparatus of these benthic feeding tadpoles was examined using scanning electron microscopy and the ultra-structure is illustrated and desc...

We examined the species richness and distribution patterns of reptiles inhabiting the Central Western Ghats Moun-tains of southwestern India. In the past few years, field work by us as well as our colleagues resulted in a steady stream of several new regional records of species of day geckos (Cnemaspis), skinks (Scincidae), shieldtail snakes (Urope...

The distinction between two similar Western Ghats-endemic agamid lizards — Calotes nemoricola and C. grandisquamis is discussed here in the context of published misidentifications that we identified based on portrayed characters appearing in their captioned photographs. Therefore, to further differentiate and accurately identify these two sister-sp...

The Western Ghats Mountains of southwestern India harbours a unique endemic radiation of biogeographically ancient reptile fauna. This fauna is now facing increasing threat due to several man-made factors such as habitat loss alteration wanton killing killing out of fear and vehicular traffic mediated road-kills. Given that there are some taxonomic...

The systematic position of the agamid genus Coryphophylax (Squamata: Agamidae) is given as monotypic and endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. After having surveyed intensively in thirteen different Islands and examined several individuals in the Andamans group of islands, we describe a second species of Coryphophy...

Description of a poorly-known endemic Indian homalopsid water snake Enhydris dussumierii is expanded based on character state data obtained anew from newly examined live and preserved specimens in captive facilities. Knowledge on the natural history of this uncommon, endemic species is supplemented by our observations. Further field surveys in sout...

Description of a poorly-known endemic Indian homalopsid water snake Enhydris dussumierii is expanded based on character state data obtained anew from newly examined live and preserved specimens in captive facilities. Knowledge on the natural history of this uncommon, endemic species is supplemented by our observations. Further field surveys in sout...

any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication. Acknowledgement: We would like to thank the Department of Forests and Wildlife, Andaman and Nicobar Islands for permission to conduct herpetofaunal surveys in these Islands. We especially thank the Divisional...

In the last 150 years, herpetological studies in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have uncovered forty species of terrestrial reptiles and eight species of frogs from the Andaman Islands. However, fine scale information on the distribution and status of the herpetofauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is still lacking. In an attempt to fill the gaps...

We report abnormal individuals of Ramanella variegata, Lycodon aulicus (sensu lato), Bungarus caeruleus which exhibited variation from the 'typical morphs' of their respective species. Also we report a rarely recorded species Polypedates cf. leucomystax (from south India), from the Mannampandal area of Tamil Nadu. These observations based on vouche...

Duttaphrynus hololius (Günther, 1876), a rarely-sighted, endemic toad species known only from a few documented specimens was re-sighted in Devarabetta, Krishnagiri dt., Eastern Ghats hill range, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. Data from our four live, uncollected conspecifics are provided to update and expand the external morphological characteri...