Volume 1-8 (2009-16)
v6i1.122ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i1.122
Submitted date: 10 September 2013
Accepted date: 1 May 2014
Published date: 29 June 2014
Pp. 12–20, Pls. 3–7.
A NEW CRYPTIC SPECIES OF GECKO OF THE GENUS Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (REPTILIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN INDIA
Zeeshan A. Mirza & Rajesh V. Sanap
*Corresponding author. E-mail: zeeshanm@ncbs.res.in
Abstract
A new species of gecko superficially resembling Hemidactylus maculatus is described from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Hemidactylus acanthopholis sp. nov. is a large sized Hemidactylus, SVL at least 91.7mm. Dorsal scalation on trunk granular, intermixed with enlarged, fairly regularly arranged longitudinal rows of 18–20 trihedral, moderately keeled, striated tubercles of equal size on dorso-lateral aspect, 2–3 rows of tubercles on mid-dorsal smaller in size, approximately two dorsal granular scales wide. Two large rounded and one small internasal between nasals. Two pairs of postmentals, anterior pair is twice as long and wide as the posterior pair. Scales on ventral trunk arranged in 35–40 rows. Lamellae divided, 9, 11, 10, 10, 10 on manus, and 10, 12, 12, 12, 12 on pes respectively on digits I–V. Caudal pholidosis on dorsal aspect, consist of small, striated scales intermixed with large rounded un-keeled tubercles, scales sub-equal throughout and a series of large eight enlarged, moderately keeled and weakly striated and flattened tubercles in a whorl on each caudal segment. Femoral pores, 19–21 on each side separated medially by 13–14 pore-less scales.
Key words : biogeography, Hemidactylus maculatus, species-complex, taxonomy, Western Ghats
Section Editor: Stephen Mahony
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i1.122
Submitted date: 10 September 2013
Accepted date: 1 May 2014
Published date: 29 June 2014
Pp. 12–20, Pls. 3–7.
A NEW CRYPTIC SPECIES OF GECKO OF THE GENUS Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (REPTILIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN INDIA
Zeeshan A. Mirza & Rajesh V. Sanap
*Corresponding author. E-mail: zeeshanm@ncbs.res.in
Abstract
A new species of gecko superficially resembling Hemidactylus maculatus is described from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Hemidactylus acanthopholis sp. nov. is a large sized Hemidactylus, SVL at least 91.7mm. Dorsal scalation on trunk granular, intermixed with enlarged, fairly regularly arranged longitudinal rows of 18–20 trihedral, moderately keeled, striated tubercles of equal size on dorso-lateral aspect, 2–3 rows of tubercles on mid-dorsal smaller in size, approximately two dorsal granular scales wide. Two large rounded and one small internasal between nasals. Two pairs of postmentals, anterior pair is twice as long and wide as the posterior pair. Scales on ventral trunk arranged in 35–40 rows. Lamellae divided, 9, 11, 10, 10, 10 on manus, and 10, 12, 12, 12, 12 on pes respectively on digits I–V. Caudal pholidosis on dorsal aspect, consist of small, striated scales intermixed with large rounded un-keeled tubercles, scales sub-equal throughout and a series of large eight enlarged, moderately keeled and weakly striated and flattened tubercles in a whorl on each caudal segment. Femoral pores, 19–21 on each side separated medially by 13–14 pore-less scales.
Key words : biogeography, Hemidactylus maculatus, species-complex, taxonomy, Western Ghats
Section Editor: Stephen Mahony
v6i1.121ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i1.121
Submitted date: 30 November 2013
Accepted date: 15 March 2014
Published date: 29 June 2014
Pp. 7–11, Pl. 2.
ACTIVITY BUDGET AND PERCH CHARACTERISTICS OF Pseudophilautus popularis (MANAMENDRA-ARACHCHI & PETHIYAGODA, 2005) (AMPHIBIA: RHACOPHORIDAE) DURING THE BREEDING SEASON
Salindra K. Dayananda* & Deepthi D. Wickramsinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: kasunkent@gmail.com
Abstract
This study reports activity budget and perch characteristics of the Sri Lankan endemic shrub frog Pseudophilautus popularis in a wetland-home garden setting in an urban area. Thirty-two frogs were studied from 18:30–06:00h and 45% of the time they were found to be stationary without any activity. The highest percentage of time was utilised for calling and courtship (52%). This study reveals that the frogs occupy different heights during their nightly activity period, starting from the ground level and gradually moving up among the vegetation. They were reported to reach the maximum heights around 23:00h, remaining there for nearly two hours and then retreating downwards towards the dawn. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining diversity of vegetation especially in terms of stratification in ensuring habitat quality to conserve this species.
Key words : behavior, endemic, home gardens, shrub frog, Sri Lanka, urban ecosytems
Section Editor: Enrique La Marca
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i1.121
Submitted date: 30 November 2013
Accepted date: 15 March 2014
Published date: 29 June 2014
Pp. 7–11, Pl. 2.
ACTIVITY BUDGET AND PERCH CHARACTERISTICS OF Pseudophilautus popularis (MANAMENDRA-ARACHCHI & PETHIYAGODA, 2005) (AMPHIBIA: RHACOPHORIDAE) DURING THE BREEDING SEASON
Salindra K. Dayananda* & Deepthi D. Wickramsinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail: kasunkent@gmail.com
Abstract
This study reports activity budget and perch characteristics of the Sri Lankan endemic shrub frog Pseudophilautus popularis in a wetland-home garden setting in an urban area. Thirty-two frogs were studied from 18:30–06:00h and 45% of the time they were found to be stationary without any activity. The highest percentage of time was utilised for calling and courtship (52%). This study reveals that the frogs occupy different heights during their nightly activity period, starting from the ground level and gradually moving up among the vegetation. They were reported to reach the maximum heights around 23:00h, remaining there for nearly two hours and then retreating downwards towards the dawn. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining diversity of vegetation especially in terms of stratification in ensuring habitat quality to conserve this species.
Key words : behavior, endemic, home gardens, shrub frog, Sri Lanka, urban ecosytems
Section Editor: Enrique La Marca
v7i4.208ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.208
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 27 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 275–276.
THE MAN WHO LOVED ELEPHANTS AND STUDENTS: a tribute to Dr. Charles Santiapillai (1944–2014)
Sujan M. Henkanaththegedara & Upali S. Amarasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
He was a man who tirelessly worked to save elephants; He was a man who truly loved his profession, students and fellow colleagues; He was a man who has provided a great role model for budding scientists with continuous guidance and encouragement. More importantly, he was a kind and honest human being, who always tried to help and cheer fellow human beings. Dr. Charles Santiapillai, a world-renowned conservation biologist, passed away on the 29th October, 2014 peacefully amongst family at home in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He is a pioneering wildlife biologist who worked for the conservation of Asian elephants. His monumental work “The Asian Elephant: An Action Plan for its Conservation” captures his lifelong dedication for elephant conservation and sets the path not only for conservation of Asian elephants, but also for all large mammals in the brink of extinction.
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.208
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 27 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 275–276.
THE MAN WHO LOVED ELEPHANTS AND STUDENTS: a tribute to Dr. Charles Santiapillai (1944–2014)
Sujan M. Henkanaththegedara & Upali S. Amarasinghe
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
He was a man who tirelessly worked to save elephants; He was a man who truly loved his profession, students and fellow colleagues; He was a man who has provided a great role model for budding scientists with continuous guidance and encouragement. More importantly, he was a kind and honest human being, who always tried to help and cheer fellow human beings. Dr. Charles Santiapillai, a world-renowned conservation biologist, passed away on the 29th October, 2014 peacefully amongst family at home in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He is a pioneering wildlife biologist who worked for the conservation of Asian elephants. His monumental work “The Asian Elephant: An Action Plan for its Conservation” captures his lifelong dedication for elephant conservation and sets the path not only for conservation of Asian elephants, but also for all large mammals in the brink of extinction.
v7i4.207ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.207
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 27 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 272–274, Pls. 13–14.
On the distribution of the reticulated leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus reticulatus)
G.C. Kumar*, C. Srinivasulu & M. Seetharamaraju
*Corresponding author. E-mail: g.chethankumar@gmail.com
The genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817, is a large, widely distributed genus belonging to the most speciose gekkonid lizard family in the world. The reticulated leaf-toed gecko Hemidactylus reticulatus Beddome, 1870 was first reported based on specimens collected from under stones on rocky ground in Kollegal (12°9'N, 77°6'E), Karnataka, India. The distribution range of this Indian endemic gecko is Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In this note, we present an updated distribution of H. reticulatus in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India based on our sightings and collection records.
Section Editor: John Rudge
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.207
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 27 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 272–274, Pls. 13–14.
On the distribution of the reticulated leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus reticulatus)
G.C. Kumar*, C. Srinivasulu & M. Seetharamaraju
*Corresponding author. E-mail: g.chethankumar@gmail.com
The genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817, is a large, widely distributed genus belonging to the most speciose gekkonid lizard family in the world. The reticulated leaf-toed gecko Hemidactylus reticulatus Beddome, 1870 was first reported based on specimens collected from under stones on rocky ground in Kollegal (12°9'N, 77°6'E), Karnataka, India. The distribution range of this Indian endemic gecko is Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In this note, we present an updated distribution of H. reticulatus in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India based on our sightings and collection records.
Section Editor: John Rudge
v7i4.206ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.206
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 24 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 268–271.
Herpetofaunal richness in Lippakelle Tea Estate, Sri Lanka
J.D. Kottawa-Arachchi* & R.N. Gamage
*Corresponding author. E-mail: jeevank@tri.lk
Extensive studies on diversity and ecology of Sri Lankan herpetofauna have so far been conducted mostly in and around protected areas. Studies on fauna of economically important crop plantations such as tea, rubber, coconut, and some other commercial crops are limited and few studies have been conducted in tea plantations in up country, Sri Lanka. This study was undertaken to estimate herpetofaunal diversity and identify important habitats for herpetofauna in a tea plantation ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
Section Editor: John Rudge
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.206
Submitted date: 10 September 2014
Accepted date: 24 July 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 268–271.
Herpetofaunal richness in Lippakelle Tea Estate, Sri Lanka
J.D. Kottawa-Arachchi* & R.N. Gamage
*Corresponding author. E-mail: jeevank@tri.lk
Extensive studies on diversity and ecology of Sri Lankan herpetofauna have so far been conducted mostly in and around protected areas. Studies on fauna of economically important crop plantations such as tea, rubber, coconut, and some other commercial crops are limited and few studies have been conducted in tea plantations in up country, Sri Lanka. This study was undertaken to estimate herpetofaunal diversity and identify important habitats for herpetofauna in a tea plantation ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
Section Editor: John Rudge
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