The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history
The description of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii is expanded herein based on recent field sightings and a voucher specimen. Three individuals comprising an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile were encountered in Kodaikanal, Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats. Morphological and ec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
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| Online Access: | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/3946 |
| _version_ | 1824033854296424448 |
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| author | Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh |
| author_facet | Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh |
| author_sort | Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The description of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii is expanded herein based on recent field sightings and a voucher specimen. Three individuals comprising an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile were encountered in Kodaikanal, Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats. Morphological and ecological notes on the voucher specimen and these live sightings are elaborated to enrich the current knowledge on this little-known species. This species is also illustrated in life herein for the first time. The current report forms the rediscovery of this species after nearly 90 years and after a lapse of 175 years since its original description. A review of its past distribution records is compiled and further surveys are recommended to revise the geographic range and conservation status of this Data Deficient species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:28:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab4b4126fc3845da908eb023abd89af5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:28:58Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab4b4126fc3845da908eb023abd89af52022-12-21T18:22:48ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072018-09-011010123761238110.11609/jott.3946.10.10.12376-123813946The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural historySumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh0Chennai Snake Park, Raj Bhavan Post, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600022, IndiaThe description of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii is expanded herein based on recent field sightings and a voucher specimen. Three individuals comprising an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile were encountered in Kodaikanal, Palni Hills of the southern Western Ghats. Morphological and ecological notes on the voucher specimen and these live sightings are elaborated to enrich the current knowledge on this little-known species. This species is also illustrated in life herein for the first time. The current report forms the rediscovery of this species after nearly 90 years and after a lapse of 175 years since its original description. A review of its past distribution records is compiled and further surveys are recommended to revise the geographic range and conservation status of this Data Deficient species.https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/3946distributionmorphologypalni hillsscientific obscurityskink |
| spellingShingle | Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history Journal of Threatened Taxa distribution morphology palni hills scientific obscurity skink |
| title | The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| title_full | The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| title_fullStr | The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| title_full_unstemmed | The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| title_short | The rediscovery of Rurk’s Cat Skink Ristella rurkii Gray, 1839 (Reptilia: Ristellidae) with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| title_sort | rediscovery of rurk s cat skink ristella rurkii gray 1839 reptilia ristellidae with remarks on distribution and natural history |
| topic | distribution morphology palni hills scientific obscurity skink |
| url | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/3946 |
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