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| May 7 2009, 10:46 PM EDT | snakeranglerr | 11 words added |
| May 7 2009, 10:44 PM EDT | snakeranglerr |
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BY S.R.GANESH & S.R.CHANDRAMOULI. 2008
A.V.C COLLEGE, TAMIL NADU.
(This page is best viewed with atleast 1024 X 768 resolution)
This is a mere 'attempt' to create an integrated database / website for the herpetofauna (i.e., amphibians & reptiles) of southern India. This database is a photographic e-guide. This page covers those taxa present in southern India covering four major states (8'N to 14'N lat. & 80'E to 74'E long.) . We, research students of Wildlife biology, from A.V.C College, Tamil Nadu, hereby present our 'little collection' of an endless list, with the hope that this database will be useful for students, faculties and herpetologists. To know more about each family, click the links arranged to the left. Each page will take you to informative contents and stunning photographs of the subject.
BIOGEOGRAPHY
Indian peninsula was a landmass locked between present South America and Africa. Over millenia, it came and got attached to present Asia, the then Gondwanaland, due to continental drift. Since then, the Indian peninsula has enjoyed and is still enjoying the much wanted 'tropical climate' and thus is blessed with tremendous species richness. Herpetofauna is no exception. With over 100 species of amphibians and 200 species of reptiles (as a rough figure!), southern India is a great place for herpetofaunal diversity. The myriad habitat types, from coastal plains, to arid savannahs, dry xerophytic scrub lands to dry and wet tropical forests and high hills reaching over 2600m, there are vast arenas to look for.
Due to the presence of tropical evergreen rain forests and montane forests (the most bio-diverse ecosystem on earth) the Western Ghats, a series of hill range situated along the Western coast is considered to be one of the ten greatest global bio-diversity hotspots. There are several peculiar forms of animals and plants which occur nowhere else in the world. Such species are called 'endemic species'. Several genera of herpetofauna are endemic to the region. Uropeltids / shieldtail snakes (Uropeltidae) and Wrinkled / night frogs (Nyctibatrachidae) are found only in south India & Sri Lanka. Numerous families like torrent frog (Micrixalidae) and genera like wrinkled frog (Nyctibatrachus), black microhylid (Melanobatrachus), cane turtle (Vijayachelys), spiny lizards (Salea), cat skinks (Ristella), ground skinks (Kaestlea), wood snakes (Xylophis) are endemic. Species level endemism is very high. Apart from Western Ghats, many other physiographic regions like Eastern Ghats, Deccan plateau, and coastal plains also harbour numerous species.
THREATS & CONSERVATION
Anthropogenic pressure is a great source of threat to the highly unique herpetofauna. Habitat destruction, in particular, the evergreen rain forests are destroying the homes of thousands of species, many of which still remain undiscovered. Wanton killing for various reasons is the second major cause. Virtually no statistics is available on the number of snakes getting killed out of fear! If worked out, no doubt, the figure will sore upto sevral thousands. To safeguard these animals legal protection of the craetures and their habitat is being strictly enforced. It is upto us to safely conserve these biological treasures and keep them alive for the posterity to cherish........
A.V.C COLLEGE, TAMIL NADU.
(This page is best viewed with atleast 1024 X 768 resolution)
This is a mere 'attempt' to create an integrated database / website for the herpetofauna (i.e., amphibians & reptiles) of southern India. This database is a photographic e-guide. This page covers those taxa present in southern India covering four major states (8'N to 14'N lat. & 80'E to 74'E long.) . We, research students of Wildlife biology, from A.V.C College, Tamil Nadu, hereby present our 'little collection' of an endless list, with the hope that this database will be useful for students, faculties and herpetologists. To know more about each family, click the links arranged to the left. Each page will take you to informative contents and stunning photographs of the subject.
BIOGEOGRAPHY
Due to the presence of tropical evergreen rain forests and montane forests (the most bio-diverse ecosystem on earth) the Western Ghats, a series of hill range situated along the Western coast is considered to be one of the ten greatest global bio-diversity hotspots. There are several peculiar forms of animals and plants which occur nowhere else in the world. Such species are called 'endemic species'. Several genera of herpetofauna are endemic to the region. Uropeltids / shieldtail snakes (Uropeltidae) and Wrinkled / night frogs (Nyctibatrachidae) are found only in south India & Sri Lanka. Numerous families like torrent frog (Micrixalidae) and genera like wrinkled frog (Nyctibatrachus), black microhylid (Melanobatrachus), cane turtle (Vijayachelys), spiny lizards (Salea), cat skinks (Ristella), ground skinks (Kaestlea), wood snakes (Xylophis) are endemic. Species level endemism is very high. Apart from Western Ghats, many other physiographic regions like Eastern Ghats, Deccan plateau, and coastal plains also harbour numerous species.
THREATS & CONSERVATION
Anthropogenic pressure is a great source of threat to the highly unique herpetofauna. Habitat destruction, in particular, the evergreen rain forests are destroying the homes of thousands of species, many of which still remain undiscovered. Wanton killing for various reasons is the second major cause. Virtually no statistics is available on the number of snakes getting killed out of fear! If worked out, no doubt, the figure will sore upto sevral thousands. To safeguard these animals legal protection of the craetures and their habitat is being strictly enforced. It is upto us to safely conserve these biological treasures and keep them alive for the posterity to cherish........
