S. Harikrishnan

Behavior of Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linn. 1758 During the Mating Period in a Natural Population~!2009-12-03~!2010-03-02~!2010-04-13~!

Behavioral observations on Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus in the Shivalik landscape of North India were carried out during their mating period, between 31 March and 21 May 2006. Behaviors of peafowl were recorded using scan samples. Overall, females, sub-adult males and adult males spent different proportions of time in different activities, and the proportion of time spent on different activities varied during the mating season. Visitation by females influenced the frequency of displays by adult male Indian peafowl during this period. The study reveals that peafowl behavior in its native habitat broadly conforms to that documented from captive and introduced populations. However, there were some differences between the wild and captive populations in vocalizations, maintenance behavior and spatial distribution of adult males. Since the time spent engaging in these behaviors may affect the cost of display, these results emphasize the need to assess the signaling cost in situ where the behavior evolved.

A new genus and species of arboreal toad with phytotelmonous larvae, from the Andaman Islands, India (Lissamphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)

Abstract A new bufonid amphibian, belonging to a new monotypic genus, is described from the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, Republic of India, based on unique external morphological and skeletal characters which are compared with those of known Oriental and other relevant bufonid genera. Blythophryne gen. n. is distinguished from other bufonid genera by its small adult size (mean SVL 24.02 mm), the presence of six presacral vertebrae, an absence of coccygeal expansions, presence of an elongated pair of parotoid glands, expanded discs at digit tips and phytotelmonous tadpoles that lack oral denticles. The taxonomic and phylogenetic position of the new taxon (that we named as Blythophryne beryet gen. et sp. n.) was ascertained by comparing its 12S and 16S partial genes with those of Oriental and other relevant bufonid lineages. Resulting molecular phylogeny supports the erection of a novel monotypic genus for this lineage from the Andaman Islands of India.

Impact of invasive spotted deer (Axis axis) on tropical island lizard communities in the Andaman archipelago

Abstract Introduced mammalian herbivores are known to be detrimental to native biodiversity and can alter ecosystem processes, by direct and indirect effects. Island systems, with inherently high rates of extinction are particularly susceptible to the impacts of such herbivores. The introduced spotted deer (Axis axis) is a potential threat to native forest floor and semi arboreal lizards in the Andaman Islands. We evaluated the nature and extent of this potential indirect effect on lizards from 2012 to 2014. We sampled for lizard abundance, arthropod abundance and understory vegetative cover on islands with varying intensity of spotted deer use. We inferred that, spotted deer depressed the abundance of forest floor and semi arboreal lizards approximately five fold, by reducing vegetative cover in the understory. The findings reveal a probable indirect effect of spotted deer on reptile abundance mediated by structural changes in the understory vegetation. The study provides evidence and the impetus for conservation of endemic reptiles in small tropical islands by mitigating the impacts of invasive spotted deer.