Current Affairs
Daily Bits

New species of skink found from Western Ghats

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    17th May, 2021

A new species Asian gracile skink is discovered form the western ghats.

Context

A new species Asian gracile skink is discovered form the western ghats.

About the Asian gracile skink

  • It is named as Subdoluseps nilgiriensis,after the Nilgiris.
  • It is a reptile with slender body of just about 7 cm.
  • It is sandy brown in colour.
  • This species is only the third skink species discovered from mainland India in the last millennium.
  • The new species is closely related to Subdoluseps pruthi which is found in parts of the Eastern Ghats.
  • It was found in a dry deciduous area which shows the possibility of skink diversity in dry zones.
    • This emphasize on changing the notion that high biodiversity can be found only in the wet and evergreen forests.
    • Such discoveries give us an understanding of how underestimated our reptile species diversity.
  • Subdoluseps nilgiriensis is currently considered a vulnerable species.
  • It faces potential threats from seasonal forest fires, housing constructions and brick kiln industries in the area.

Some information of skinks

  • Most skinks are diurnal and are usually secretive in their habits.
  • Most of the species are placed under the data-deficient category under the IUCN South Asian reptile assessment.
  • Skinks are non-venomous, they resemble snakes because of the often-inconspicuous limbs and the way they move on land.
  • Skinks are known to feed insects such as termites, crickets and small spiders.

IUCN South Asian Reptile Assessments

Objectives:

  1. Compile information on South Asian reptiles other than the peninsular India endemics for risk assessments.

Plans:

  1. Create reptile species list for all South Asian countries.
  2. Compile information on species from literature.
  3. Compile new information for not assessed species.
  4. Update information for already assessed species.
  5. Compile a list of national and regional reptile experts.
  6. Compile distribution data and map localities and polygons.
  7. Compile distribution data and map localities and polygons.

Partners:

Conservation Planning Specialist Group - South Asia, IUCN, Conservation International's Biodiversity Assessment Unit

Verifying, please be patient.

X