A5004586068- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Legal, Health, Environmental and COVID-19 Challenges
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Digital Imaging for Blood Diseases
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- South Asian Studies and Conflicts
Field Museum of Natural History
2023-2025
Natural History Museum
2016-2024
Nagaland University
2021-2022
University of Delhi
2009-2020
Animal translocations provide striking examples of the human footprint on biodiversity. Combining continental-wide genomic and DNA-barcoding analyses, we reconstructed historical biogeography Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), a toxic commensal amphibian that currently threatens two biodiversity hotspots through biological invasions (Wallacea Madagascar). The results emphasize complex diversification shaped by speciation mitochondrial introgression comprises distinct...
The Megophrys major species group (MMSG) is composed of typically medium to large sized frogs. Within the genus, it most geographically widespread clade ranging from western Himalayas southern Indochina. In this study, we examined in detail extent cryptic diversity within MMSG-Indian populations based on molecular data (up ten genes) using multigene concatenation and coalescent-based phylogenetic techniques, delimitation analyses extensive morphological data.Molecular evidence suggests a...
The limbless, primarily soil-dwelling and tropical caecilian amphibians (Gymnophiona) comprise the least known order of tetrapods. On basis unprecedented extensive fieldwork, we report discovery a previously overlooked, ancient lineage radiation caecilians from threatened habitats in underexplored states northeast India. Molecular phylogenetic analyses mitogenomic nuclear DNA sequences, comparative cranial anatomy indicate an unexpected sister-group relationship with exclusively African...
A new frog species of the genus Microhyla (Anura, Microhylidae) is described from riparian mid-elevation (860 m asl) evergreen forest in Namdapha National Park, located eastern Himalayan state Arunachal Pradesh, India. The can be morphologically distinguished other congeners by a suite characters such as adult size, dorsal and lateral colouration markings, snout shape, foot webbing, digit tip morphology. Phylogenetically, more closely related to some smallest known members genus. It forms...
Abstract Although the differentiation of clades at species level is usually based on a justifiable and testable conceptual framework, demarcation supraspecific boundaries less objective often subject to differences opinion. The increased availability large-scale phylogenies has in part promulgated practice what we consider excessively splitting “genus” level. Many these new genus-level splits are predicated untenable supporting evidence (e.g., weakly supported purportedly “diagnostic” but...
Despite renewed interest in the biogeography and evolutionary history of Old World tree frogs (Rhacophoridae), this family still includes enigmatic with ambiguous phylogenetic placement. During fieldwork four northeastern states India, we discovered several populations hole breeding oophagous tadpoles. We used molecular data, consisting two nuclear three mitochondrial gene fragments for all known rhacophorid genera, to investigate position these new frogs. Our analyses identify a previously...
Predatory innovations impose reciprocal selection pressures upon prey. The evolution of snake venom alpha-neurotoxins has triggered the corresponding resistance in post-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors prey a complex chemical arms race. All other things being equal, animals like caecilians (an Order legless amphibians) are quite vulnerable to predation by fossorial elapid snakes and their powerful alpha-neurotoxic venoms; thus, they under strong selective pressure. Here, we...
Three new ichthyophiid species, Ichthyophis khumhzi sp. nov., moustakius nov. and sendenyu from the northeast Indian states of Manipur Nagaland, are described on basis morphological analysis material. The material (16 specimens) more than doubles number caecilian specimens reported in previous literature, increases fauna region to seven species. Two species have very distinctive, moustache-like stripes between their tentacles nares, a feature not other ichthyophiids. Diagnoses, type...
Northeast Indian amphibian systematics and taxonomy is receiving increasing interest from herpetologists in recent years as remote, previously unexplored areas become more accessible for surveying. Even locations nearby cosmopolitan cities have the potential to produce taxonomic novelties. Herein we describe a new species of Megophrys foot-hills East Khasi Hills, northern Meghalaya, adjacent forest Garbhanga Reserve Forest, Mayeng Hill Forest city Guwahati, southern Assam. megacephala sp....
Megophrys parva is currently considered to be among the most widely dispersed species within genus, however, recent studies have provided compelling evidence that this represents a complex of morphologically similar, deeply divergent taxa. The focus paper take closer look at from Northeast India (NEI) and Bangladesh are currently, or were until recently, represent M. parva, now comprising (Xenophrys) megacephala group. We investigate their troublesome taxonomic histories, identify hidden...
A known haven of amphibian diversity, South Asia is also a hotspot taxonomic confusions. Vastly distributed from Saudi Arabia to Myanmar, the dicroglossid genus Euphlyctis ("skittering" or "skipper" frogs) representative example. Combining phylogenetic analyses with 16S barcoding and genome size variation 403 frogs 136 localities, we examined genetic diversity distributions across whole range Euphlyctis, particular focus on nomenclatural issues. We recovered two deeply divergent...
Abstract Northeast Indian biodiversity has long been considered to have a stronger affinity Southeast Asian rather than Peninsular fauna, however, few molecular phylogenetic studies explored this hypothesis. In Asia, the polyphyletic gekkonid genus Cnemaspis sensu lato is comprised of two distantly related groups; one primarily from South Asia with some members in and other exclusively Asia. assamensis systematically obscure geographically isolated species (>1400 km its nearest congeners)...
Two distinctive new species of torrent frogs, Amolops nidorbellus sp. nov. and kohimaensis are described from the state Nagaland in northeast India. Both compared with all known congeners. morphologically belongs to a group frogs including A. caelumnoctis, splendissimus, kaulbacki viridimaculatus is unarguably most spectacularly coloured genus. appears similar granulosus, each extensive dorsal spinulation. The two sympatrically occurring currently only type locality, about 5 kilometers west...
Microhyla ornata, a species originally described from the southwest coast of India in 1841, was long reported to be wide-ranging throughout South, Southeast, and East Asia. Although name M. ornata is restricted populations South Asia, still considered occur widely its neighboring regions. To clarify identity geographical distribution 'ornata', we performed DNA barcoding using fragment mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene 62 newly obtained samples. Our results show that this taxon Peninsular Sri...
A taxonomic review of the monogeneric northeast Indian caecilian family Chikilidae is presented based on 64 specimens. Chikila fuilleri (Alcock, 1904), known previously only from a single specimen collected more than 100 years ago, rediagnosed and characterised recent collections. We describe three additional species new to science, alcocki sp. nov., darlong gaiduwani nov. This species-level taxonomy consistent with mitochondrial DNA sequence data. key presented.
A taxonomic revision of the Western Ghats species from genus Rhacophorus is presented. Based on museum studies and new collections localities spanning known range Rhacophorus, we review four this genus, their type specimens, current status geographic distribution basis mor-phological molecular data. The holotypes calcadensis, R. lateralis malabaricus are rede-scribed. previously unidentified holotype herein fixed. Descriptions ontogenetic colour change (OCC) in provided conjecture utility...
Recent taxonomic and systematic research on Cyrtodactylus khasiensis has found that this nomen comprises a large number of superficially similar but deeply divergent species-level taxa from throughout north-east India surrounding countries. In study we focus the status recently surveyed populations East Garo Hills West districts single specimen collected Ri Bhoi District in Meghalaya State, India. Based combination morphological molecular data is conspecific with described C. urbanus,...
Extensive surveys at and around the type locality of Ichthyophis husaini Pillai & Ravichandran, 1999 (an ‘unstriped’ Ichthyophis) in North East India between 2008 2014 yielded tens striped but no unstriped specimens Ichthyophis. Contrary to original description, we observed a lateral stripe on holotype I. husaini. The is very similar species garoensis 1999, which was collected from only 20 km away holotypes these two are also 12 newly this area. We conclude that represent single species,...