Papers by P. Karthik
Reptiles & Amphibians, 2020
Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2020
We list the herpetological voucher specimens in the holdings of the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithol... more 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 represents 125 species, comprising 29 amphibian species belonging to eight families and 96 reptilian species belonging to 17 families. Geographically, the material in this collection originates from the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, and the Coromandel Coast, comprehensively covering all ecoregions of peninsular India. A total of 15 taxa (three amphibians, 12 reptiles) remain to be fully identified and are provisionally referred to mostresembling taxa, with cf. prefix. All the specimens in this collection are non-types as on date.
Journal of Threatened Taxa
We list the herpetological voucher specimens in the holdings of the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithol... more 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 represents 125 species, comprising 29 amphibian species belonging to eight families and 96 reptilian species belonging to 17 families. Geographically, the material in this collection originates from the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, and the Coromandel Coast, comprehensively covering all ecoregions of peninsular India. A total of 15 taxa (three amphibians, 12 reptiles) remain to be fully identified and are provisionally referred to most-resembling taxa, with cf. prefix. All the specimens in this collection are non-types as on date.
International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 2019
We are reporting the ecological differences between three sympatric Indian agamids from Gingee hi... more We are reporting the ecological differences between three sympatric Indian agamids from Gingee hills between November 2015 to March 2016. In the present study, we have employed Visual Encounter Method (VES), target species namely, Sitana ponticeriana, Psammophilaus dorsalis, and Calotes versicolor. In this study, we examined agamid niche partitioning and microhabitat habitat utilizations. We also determined the environmental factors that drive agamid distribution in this region. We show that temperature and humidity affect agamid distribution and partition their niches. The occurrence of Sitana ponticeriana, Psammophilaus dorsalis, and Calotes versicolor ranged in temperatures between 30 to 35 °C, 29 to 34 °C and 28 to 33 °C, respectively. The humidity of the locations the three agamids occurred ranged from 52 to 65%, 49 to 65% and 48 to 65%. In addition, we also measured the activity budget of the three agamids and their elevational preference. This study shows niche partitioning between these three common Indian agamids.
A Beaked Wormsnake, Grypotyphlops acutus (Duméril & Bibron 1844), in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve of Southern India, 2018
AJCB, 2019
We surveyed for herpetofauna along the poorly-explored sections of Southern Eastern Ghats. This 1... more 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 and dry South Arcot and North Arcot ranges to the east were selected and surveyed. We recorded a total of 95 species including 23 species of amphibians, 35 species of lizards and 37 species of snakes. A descriptive species accounts with photographic vouchers is presented. Noteworthy findings include significant new range records for many wet-zone taxa and a few dry-zone taxa from hitherto fore under-surveyed regions. This includes many rare and range-restricted ones and newly described little-known taxa. The study highlights the importance of landscape-level, long-term fieldwork to unravel the hidden diversity of tropical montane regions like the Eastern Ghats.
AJCB, 2019
The report contributes to the community structure of the amphibians and reptiles and provides pre... more The report contributes to the community structure of the amphibians and reptiles and provides preliminary information on species diversity and their microhabitat association in Gingee hills. Gingee hills are located in Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu and lying between 12°14´N12°14´N, 79°23´E. The forest habitats are composed of mixed dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub forest. A detailed herpetofauna survey was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016. Data collection were carried out by using Time Constrained Visual Encounter Survey method. Of 120 man hours harbors 56 species of herpetofauna, besides 15 species of amphibians belonging to 10 genera and 41 species of reptiles belonging to 30 genera were recorded, of which 21 species were ophidians (55%) and 20 species of lizards (45%). The micro-climatic analysis of amphibian the temperature varied with 29.4ºC ± 3.57°C and 30.8ºC ± 2.73°C for reptiles. The amphibian humidity varied with 66.1±14.01% and 61.1 ± 10.21% for reptiles. The niche overlap index shows that many amphibian and reptiles overlapping between each other with maximum value of 0.98. This report indicated that the area is notably large in size of the richness of amphibians and reptiles.
Updating new locality of the Swamp Eel (Monopterus indicus) and conservation suggestion.
Conference Presentations by P. Karthik
This study mainly focused on herpetofaunal diversity and species assemblage. Gingee Hills has ric... more This study mainly focused on herpetofaunal diversity and species assemblage. Gingee Hills has rich herpetofauna species and also few elusive elements. This is one of the update herps check list from Gingee Hills.
Thesis Chapters by P. Karthik
Master Thesis, 2016
Gingee hills are located in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. It’s located in
12˚14’N, 79˚23’ E wh... more Gingee hills are located in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. It’s located in
12˚14’N, 79˚23’ E which is an average elevation of 100-500 m. In this range, forest habitat is composed of mixed dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub forest. A detailed Herpetofaunal survey was conducted from December 2015 to February 2016. Data collection were carried out by using a time based visual encounter survey method. Total is 15 species of amphibians belonging to four families and 10 genera were recorded and 41 species of reptiles belonging to 11 families and 30 genera were recorded, of which 21 species were of snakes (55%) and 20 species of lizards (45%). The ophidians belonged to six families, having maximum representation from the family Colubridae (13 species) followed by Boidae (3 species), Elapidae (2 species), Viperidae (3 species) and Typhlopidae (1 species). The lizards are belonging to five families with maximum species from the family Gekkonidae (9 species) followed by Scincidae (6 species), Agamidae (4 species) and Varanidae (1 species) were recorded. The report contributes to the community structure of the amphibians and reptiles and provides preliminary information about species diversity and microhabitat preference of different species. This report indicated that the area is containing a rich population of amphibians and reptile species in Gingee hills.
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Papers by P. Karthik
Conference Presentations by P. Karthik
Thesis Chapters by P. Karthik
12˚14’N, 79˚23’ E which is an average elevation of 100-500 m. In this range, forest habitat is composed of mixed dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub forest. A detailed Herpetofaunal survey was conducted from December 2015 to February 2016. Data collection were carried out by using a time based visual encounter survey method. Total is 15 species of amphibians belonging to four families and 10 genera were recorded and 41 species of reptiles belonging to 11 families and 30 genera were recorded, of which 21 species were of snakes (55%) and 20 species of lizards (45%). The ophidians belonged to six families, having maximum representation from the family Colubridae (13 species) followed by Boidae (3 species), Elapidae (2 species), Viperidae (3 species) and Typhlopidae (1 species). The lizards are belonging to five families with maximum species from the family Gekkonidae (9 species) followed by Scincidae (6 species), Agamidae (4 species) and Varanidae (1 species) were recorded. The report contributes to the community structure of the amphibians and reptiles and provides preliminary information about species diversity and microhabitat preference of different species. This report indicated that the area is containing a rich population of amphibians and reptile species in Gingee hills.
12˚14’N, 79˚23’ E which is an average elevation of 100-500 m. In this range, forest habitat is composed of mixed dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub forest. A detailed Herpetofaunal survey was conducted from December 2015 to February 2016. Data collection were carried out by using a time based visual encounter survey method. Total is 15 species of amphibians belonging to four families and 10 genera were recorded and 41 species of reptiles belonging to 11 families and 30 genera were recorded, of which 21 species were of snakes (55%) and 20 species of lizards (45%). The ophidians belonged to six families, having maximum representation from the family Colubridae (13 species) followed by Boidae (3 species), Elapidae (2 species), Viperidae (3 species) and Typhlopidae (1 species). The lizards are belonging to five families with maximum species from the family Gekkonidae (9 species) followed by Scincidae (6 species), Agamidae (4 species) and Varanidae (1 species) were recorded. The report contributes to the community structure of the amphibians and reptiles and provides preliminary information about species diversity and microhabitat preference of different species. This report indicated that the area is containing a rich population of amphibians and reptile species in Gingee hills.