S.R. Ganesh

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Research Director at Kalinga Foundation

We present new findings on Dussumier’s Mud Snake Dieurostus dussumierii based on recent fieldwork conducted in and around Vembanad Lake (Kumarakom) in Kerala, Southwest India. We describe a series of 10 voucher specimens, eight females and two males, ranging from juveniles (207 mm) to adults (835 mm). We report new data on microhabitat associations...

The taxonomy of king cobras (Ophiophagus) was reevaluated using qualitative, mensural and meristic characters, based on 148 entire and five skeletal specimens, and supported by a recent molecular phylogenetic analysis. We provide nomenclatural synopses of both the genus and species-series nomina. We restrict the concept of Ophiophagus hannah s. str...

The genus Tereturus is a small and poorly studied group of uropeltid snakes, known from only a few localities in the Western Ghats of southwest India. Recent taxonomic reviews as well as phylogenetic reconstructions have suggested the presence of cryptic diversity within Teretrurus. Here, based on additional collections from previously unsampled re...

We report on the molecular phylogenetic position of the Western Ghats bronzeback, Dendrelaphis chairecacos (Boie, 1827), and new sightings from Dangs in Gujarat and Goa State in western India. Based on COI genes sequenced from two samples from Goa and the Dangs, we report that D. chairecacos was 5.59-5.60% (the total percentage of divergence is 5.7...

We surveyed for snakes in a historic, old, educational institution having a large and well-vegetated campus. From a three-year survey (2016-18), spanning 288 field days, covering 1152 hours of fieldwork, a total of 132 snake sightings representing 23 species were obtained. This also includes medically important venomous snakes (Naja, Bungarus, Dabo...

We here report on likely human-mediated, stray sightings of Dendrelaphis proarchos (Wall, 1909) in an unnatural range-Surat, Gujarat in western India. This population shows the following characters: (1) vertebral scales distinctly enlarged, larger than the dorsals of the first row; (2) 185-194 ventrals; (3) 139-142 divided subcaudals in complete ta...

Sepsophis punctatus commonly known as the Spotted Eastern Ghats Skink is the type species of the monotypic genus Sepsophis Beddome, 1870. Recently, Datta-Roy et al. (2013) reported its rediscovery after 137 years and redescribed this species based on a series of seven freshly collected specimens. In the present paper, we elaborate on five additiona...

We report the Erode Ground Gecko Cyrtodactylus speciosus (Beddome, 1870), a rare, hill forest-dwelling species, from two sites in the northern periphery of Coimbatore city. These two sites, viz., Nallusamy checkdam (Site–1) and Sarkar Sama Kulam (Site–2) are lakes with remnant vegetation belts, surrounded by pastures, farmlands, and villages. From...

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the Inter...

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the Inter...

Rats and mice are among the foremost of agricultural pests that are plentiful in farmlands. Snakes are one of the most specialized natural rat-controlling predatory species, also equally prevalent in farmlands. We studied the snake fauna of agroecosystem in southeastern India by gathering concomitant data on snakes, during rodent surveys wherein ro...

We describe a new species of Dravidogecko from the poorly-inventoried Periyar Plateau of Southern Western Ghats, Peninsular India. The new species Dravidogecko beddomei sp. nov.is characterized by: precloacal-femoral pores 46‒52; scales across belly 31‒33; supralabials 9–11; infralabials 8–9; lamellae on digit IV of pes 10–11. Additionally, the new...

India is home to a diverse spectrum of medically-significant snakes accounting for the world's largest burden of envenoming, morbidity and mortality. Indian polyspecific antivenom is derived from the venom of four snake species (Daboia russelii, Echis carinatus, Naja naja and Bungarus caeruleus), considered to be responsible for the majority of sna...

We reviewed the systematics of Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802), including all available name‐bearing types of its synonyms after evaluating phylogeographic (genetics), morphological (morphometry, meristic, and hemipenes), osteological and distribution evidence. Lycodon striatus sensu lato is widely distributed throughout South and Central Asia and mi...

We analysed the distribution pattern in India, of the agamid lizard Calotes calotes based on localities of the many voucher specimens that we examined, direct field observations by us and literature records. Our preliminary MaxEnt analysis run based on 48 localities revealed that hilly terrain of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are the most ide...

We resurrect the nominal taxon Boiga ranawanei Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama, Wijesena et Orlov, 2005 as a valid species endemic to Sri Lanka. We uphold the view that B. ranawanei is conspecific with what was previously considered as the Sri Lankan population of ‘B. beddomei’. The revised concept of B. beddomei as a species endemic to the Western...

Uropeltis dindigalensis (Beddome, 1877) is a poorly known uropeltid (shieldtail) snake from peninsular India. Here we report morphological data for 14 preserved and nine uncollected specimens, most of which have not been previously reported. We designate a lectotype from the type series, describe it, and present the first published photographs of s...

The taxonomic status of the nominal taxon Dryophis prasinus flavescens Wall, 1910 is reevaluated herein. Based on molecular data generated from fresh collections of Ahaetulla prasina (H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827) auctorum from Northeast India and, additionally, morphological data from museum specimens originating from the same areas, we resurrect this...

The political boundaries of the Republic of India are known to harbour about 447 species of amphibians and 681 species of reptiles. About 73% of the amphibians and 47% of the reptiles are endemic to the country, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth. Indian herpetofauna is poorly studied with few detailed comprehensive works on their taxonomy, biology,...

We revisit the identities of ‘Trimeresurus albolabris’ records from India and Nepal, based on a re-examination of historically mentioned specimens. Based on morphological congruence, we identify an old specimen originally labeled as T. albolabris from ‘Nagpur, Central Province’ as Trimeresurus salazar. We also provide new records of T. salazar base...

We redescribe and illustrate the type specimens of ten taxa of sea snakes of the genera Hydrophis Latreille in Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 and Laticauda Laurenti, 1768 in the collections of the Zoological Survey of India. The specimens comprise holotypes and syntypes of ten synonymous nominal taxa that represent seven valid nominal taxa. We here clar...

Monitoring the status of wildlife such as venomous snakes that are medically important and thus directly relevant to public life has gained prominence over the years. We studied the patterns of venomous snake occurrences and incidences in a mosaic of protected and marginal habitats (in Vellode Bird Sanctuary) as well as humanized habitat (Erode Rai...

The systematics of the shield tail snake genus Teretrurus is reassessed, involving a range-wide sampling, from Wayanad to Agasthyamalai in the Western Ghats. Based on published genetic differences, geographical-correlation, differences in scalation and subtle colour characters that are consistent in the freshly studied/collected specimens and in hi...

We report for the first time an accurate record of Dendrelaphis bifrenalis (Boulenger, 1890), a colubrid snake thus far considered endemic to Sri Lanka, from southern India. Our data is based on a voucher specimen collected from Shenbagathoppu, Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India. We also refer a paratype of D. girii from Sirumalai and a voucher spec...

Hemipenial characteristics have historically provided a wealth of comparative morphological characters for the systematic classification of snakes. However, the organs remain poorly known in many groups, particularly tropical and burrowing lineages. Here, we report on hemipenial morphology for 12 species from five genera from the family Uropeltidae...

The gekkonid diversity of the under-explored dry zones in Peninsular India is not yet completely inventoried, as evidenced by frequent new species descriptions. Here, we describe two new species of Hemidactylus from the dry rocky zones of Deccan Plateau viz. Hemidactylus mahonyi sp. nov. from Sandur Hills and Hemidactylus srikanthani sp. nov. from...

Herpetological diversity of the Eastern Ghats hill range in the Indian peninsula has been mostly overlooked and incompletely documented. We here present information on the amphibian and reptile diversity in the poorly-explored Central Eastern Ghats hill range in peninsular India. Based on a 1,000-hour bio-inventory study of the series of ranges bet...

The recent revision of the Ahaetulla nasuta complex in South Asia (India and Sri Lanka) resulted in a major modification of the systematics of this previously wide-ranging species. Ahaetulla nasuta sensu stricto is now endemic to Sri Lanka while other species inhabit Peninsular India. We here analyze the status of the nominal taxa including those c...

We review the taxonomic status of Oligodon arnensis (Shaw 1802) after examining all the name-bearing types of its synonyms, and evaluating morphological and biogeographic evidence. Oligodon arnensis sensu lato is widely distributed throughout Peninsular India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. We demonstrate that southern, eastern...

We re-evaluate the taxonomic identities of five-lined skinks of the genus Eutropis (E. trivittata, E. beddomei, E. nagarjunensis, and E. bibronii) inhabiting the Indian subcontinent. Previously it has been considered that E. trivittata is distributed in the western India and E. dissimilis in the northern India (from north-eastern India up to Pakist...

Asian pit vipers belonging to the genus Craspedocephalus are a complex group of vipers, distributed in South and Southeast Asia. Their taxonomy is unresolved in many lineages across their distributional range. Here, we reassess the taxonomy and systematics of pit vipers of the genus Craspedocephalus in Peninsular India based on extensive field samp...

Against the backdrop of published cryptic genetic diversity and partly resolved taxonomy of the Eutropis macularia complex of skinks in the Indian Peninsula, we reassess the taxonomic status of the Western Ghats populations. Based on our examination of name-bearing types of two synonymised nomina (Euprepes brevis, Lygosoma dawsoni) and a valid (Mab...

In recent years, several studies have revealed significant unknown and cryptic diversity of agamids in peninsular India, particularly in the Western Ghats. Here, we examine the morphology, anatomy and genetics of the sole Indian representative of the otherwise Sri Lankan agamid genus Otocryptis from the Western Ghats. Our analyses reveal significan...

In widespread species, the diverse ecological conditions in which the populations occur, and the presence of many potential geographical barriers through their range are expected to have created ample opportunities for the evolution of distinct, often cryptic lineages. In this work, we tested for species boundaries in one such widespread species, t...

We report on a topotypical specimen of the spot-tailed pit viper Trimeresurus erythrurus recorded from Sunderbans in India and a distant, southerly, range extension from Kakinada mangroves, based on preserved (n= 1, seen in 2019) and live uncollected (n= 2; seen in 2014) specimens, respectively. The specimens (n= 3) share the following characterist...

We examined the holotype of Euprepes innotatus Blanford, 1870 which was presented to the Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK) by Blanford himself, and is redescribed herein. Based on the morphological similarity, we placed Eutropis innotata within the E. carinata group (contra Blanford, 1870), as it is closely allied to E. dissimilis and E. carin...

We conducted a molecular phylogenetic study on the Boiga ceylonensis group from the Western Ghats of India, building on a recent morphology-based study. Our analysis supports previous work in elucidating the phylogenetic position of B. nuchalis and B. beddomei s. str. (of Matheran, Western Ghats) as clustering closely with B. ceylonensis, while B....

A new species of shieldtail snake, Uropeltis jerdoni, is here described based on eight specimens from Devarayana Durga and Nandi Durga that are under-researched hills near Bengaluru in southern India. The new species is a member of the Uropeltis ceylanica group that can be distinguished from related taxa as follows: a truncate and flattened caudal...

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...

We describe a new species of Asian gracile skink from the dry leeward slopes of the Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu state, India which forms a part of the eastern, rain shadow escarpment of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. The new species, Subdoluseps nilgiriensis sp. nov., is characterized by: slender, small-sized body (47–67 mm); sandy brown abov...

A new cryptic lineage of bush frogs of the genus Raorchestes from the understudied Eastern Ghats of India is described. Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences suggest that the new species belongs to the Raorchestes charius clade, is sister to the allopatric R. charius of the Western Ghats and support the...

We carried out a taxonomic revision of Ahaetulla species inhabiting Peninsular India, using a multiple criteria approach (including genetics, morphology, and geography). Our work included populations of the A. nasuta complex (widespread across the entire region, including the Western Ghats), the A. pulverulenta complex (in the Western Ghats, within...

A new species of wolf snake, Lycodon deccanensis sp. nov., is described from southern India, from the hill ranges situated in the Deccan Plateau adjacent to the Southern Eastern Ghats and the Mysore uplands. The new species somewhat resembles, and has previously been confused with, another predominantly wet-zone taxon Lycodon travancoricus. The new...

We document two toad species Duttaphrynus scaber and D. stomaticus from southeastern India, in the Coromandel Coastal Plains. Owing to incorrect data presented in previous reports denoting the occurrence of these toad species, their occurrence in the said region has remained obscure. Our results, presented here, on both the species are based on mor...

Morphology of a hitherto fore unsampled population of Duttaphrynus hololius from Hyderabad in mid-Deccan plateau (outlier), is presented and found consistent with that of populations characterised so far. We re-map its distribution based on further findings, since the last attempt (in 2013) and our revised analysis revealed a better resolution and...

We provide further notes on taxa assigned to little-known uropeltid snake genus Platyplectrurus. Based on our field surveys and in situ wild encounters of live specimens we illustrate P. trilienatus in life for the very first time and provide what is perhaps the first report of albinism in this group. We also provide live colouration data for both...

We list the herpetological voucher specimens in the holdings of the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON), a wildlife research institute in India. Most of the collections are the fruition of fieldwork by SACON’s herpetologist and a coauthor of this work—late Dr. Subramanian Bhupathy (1963–2014). Taxonomically, the collection re...

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 redescribe the poorly-known peninsular India endemic colubrid snake Lycodon travancoricus based on its traceable syntype. We elaborate on the geographic range of the species and reveal its distribution in several disjunct hill ranges scattered across its range-the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats and the Central Indian Highlands. Discussions abo...

Liopeltis calamaria, a rare non-venomous colubrid snake of South Asia, is redescribed. Its syntypes and all the available type specimens of its recognized synonyms are examined, including information about the respective populations found across India and Sri Lanka. Our literature compilation and mapping analyses reveal three distinct populations-(...

We describe a new species of shieldtail (uropeltid) snake, Uropeltis rajendrani sp. nov., from the Kolli Hill complex of the southern Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India. The new species belongs to the U. ceylanica group and is differentiated from related species in having 16–17:16–17:15–16 dorsal scale rows; 145–158 ventral scales; 8–11 pairs of su...

The Western Ghats are well known as a biodiversity hotspot, but the full extent of its snake diversity is yet to be uncovered. Here, we describe a new genus and species of vine snake Proahaetulla antiqua gen. et sp. nov., from the Agasthyamalai hills in the southern Western Ghats. It was found to be a member of the Ahaetuliinae clade, which current...

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...

We report the Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolata from the Coromandel Coast in peninsular India, where its occurrence remained doubtful. This is based on four specimens—two live, uncollected ones from Tambaram and Auroville, respectively, and two preserved specimens from Tuticorin. The sighting points span a distance of 500 airline km north-south ac...

We compile an up-to-date checklist of 26 species of marine snakes known from the Indian coastlines. We furnish information on the original orthography, authorship, date of publication, current binominal representation, synonymy and chresonymy lists for each recognized taxon. In addition, we provide details of name-bearing types, repository and type...

We compile an up-to-date checklist of 26 species of marine snakes known from the Indian coastlines. We furnish information on the original orthography, authorship, date of publication, current binominal representation, synonymy and chresonymy lists for each recognized taxon. In addition, we provide details of name-bearing types, repository and type...

We report the Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolata from the Coromandel Coast in peninsular India, where its occurrence remained doubtful. This is based on four specimens-two live, uncollected ones from Tambaram and Auroville, respectively, and two preserved specimens from Tuticorin. The sighting points span a distance of 500 airline km north-south ac...

We report on further specimens of the rare and elusive Pruthi's skink Lygosoma pruthi based on both preserved and live specimens. We review and summarise its taxonomic and nomenclatural history. Detailed description of a voucher specimen from Pachaimalai is provided and the species is illustrated in life depicting both adult and juvenile morphology...

The description of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii is expanded herein based on recent field sightings and a voucher specimen. Three individuals comprising an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile were encountered in Kodaikanal, Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats. Morphological and ecological notes on the voucher specimen and these liv...

We reassess the systematics of Hemidactylus scabriceps, a recently rediscovered and poorly known gecko, and elucidate its phylogenetic position using molecular data for the first time. Contrary to previous speculations prompted by its morphological resemblance to other terrestrial Hemidactylus, our phylogenetic analyses recovered H. scabriceps to b...

We studied the population systematics of the group of the Common Indian Wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus s. Lat.) based on a series of specimens from throughout most of their geographic range. Two discrete species-groups could be discerned based on head dimensions, collar band pattern, hemipenal morphology and frontal-preocular-prefrontal-suproacular sc...

A revised and updated list of reptiles of India

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

We reassess the systematics of Hemidactylus scabriceps, a recently rediscovered and poorly known gecko, and elucidate its phylogenetic position using molecular data for the first time. Contrary to previous speculations prompted by its morphological resemblance to other terrestrial Hemidactylus, our phylogenetic analyses recovered H. scabriceps to b...

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 White-spotted Skink Lygosoma albopunctatum, a rarely recorded lizard, has been re-sighted from its type locality: Madras in the Coromandel Coastal Plains. Morphological details and field notes on the findings are elaborated. Since many past surveys in and around Madras, and in southern India generally, did not record this species, lack of conse...

We present new records of the Indian Sand Snake Psammophis condanarus from southern India, where its existence has remained doubtful till date. Our records are based on both live and preserved voucher specimens that are illustrated and described here. We furnish distribution records of this species from two sites belonging to two different ecoregio...

We studied two poorly known terrestrial geckoes inhabiting peninsular India namely, Hemidactylus reticulatus Beddome, 1870 and H. scabriceps (Annandale, 1906). We present data on their morphometry, scalation, colouration and field observations based on both studies in the field and on voucher specimens. Hemipenal morphology for H. scabriceps is pre...