Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Non-Native Chelonians In The National Zoological Collections Of Zoological Survey Of India


Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M - Bolck, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India
2 Western Ghat Regional Centre (WGRC), Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode – 673006, Kerala, India
 

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The native species is the biological assets of a nation, however the non-native species is the threat for indigenous taxa. Thus, before describing any native or non-native species, it is required to thoroughly check the collateral information. As of now, many non-native species from different faunal group were invaded into the native eco-system and reported from India. In this study, we represent the check-list of non-native turtles and tortoises stored in National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India to assure their taxonomic rank and distribution pattern. The list is enriched with the registration numbers, most recent species name, collection localities, conservation status, and other taxonomic information. This comparative data of 35 non-native turtles not only useful in taxonomic research, but also helpful to recognize the invasive species from India and quarantine regulation.

Keywords

Archival Specimens, Conservation, Ecosystem, Exotic Species, Taxonomy.
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Das I., Dattagupta B. and Gayen, N.C. 1998. History and catalogue of reptile types in the collection of the Zoological Survey of India. Journal of South Asian Natural History, 3: 121–172.
  • Fritz, U. and Havaš, P. 2007. Checklist of testudines of the world. Vertebrate Zoology, 57: 149–368.
  • Fritz, U., Guicking, D., Auer, M., Sommer, R.S., Wink, M. and Hundsdörfer, A.K. 2008. Diversity of the Southeast Asian leaf turtle genus Cyclemys: how many leaves on its tree of life? Zoologica Scripta. 37: 367–390.
  • IUCN. 2017. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Version 2017-2). Available from: http:// www.iucnredlist.org
  • Kundu, S., Das, K.C. and Ghosh, S.K. 2012. Taxonomic rank of Indian tortoise: Rrevisit with DNA barcoding perspectives. DNA Barcodes, 39–45. DOI: 10.2478/dna-2013-0003.
  • Kundu, S., Kumar, V., Laskar, B.A., Chandra, K. and Tyagi, K. 2016. Mitochondrial DNA effectively detects non-native Testudines: Invisible wildlife trade in northeast India. Gene Reports, 4: 10–15.
  • Lehn, C., Das, I., Forstner, M.R.J. and Brown, R.M. 2007. Responsible vouchering in turtle research: an introduction and recommendations. Chelonian Research Monographs, 4: 147–156.
  • Murthy, B.H.C.K. and Das I. 2009. The turtle collection of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India. Envis Bulletin: Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise of India and Protected Areas, WII, 12: 15–24.
  • Praschag, P., Hundsdörfer, A.K. and Fritz, U. 2009. Further specimens and phylogenetic position of the recently described leaf turtle species Cyclemys gemeli (Testudines: Geoemydidae). Zootaxa, 29–37.
  • Sharon, S.Y., Webb, C.O. and Salamin, N. 2006. Exotic taxa less related to native species are more invasive. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103: 5841–5845, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0508073103
  • Stuckas, H., Gemel, R. and Fritz, U. 2013. One extinct turtle species less: Pelusios seychellensis is not extinct, it never existed. PLoS ONE, 8: e57116. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057116

Abstract Views: 336

PDF Views: 167




  • Non-Native Chelonians In The National Zoological Collections Of Zoological Survey Of India

Abstract Views: 336  |  PDF Views: 167

Authors

Shantanu Kundu
Zoological Survey of India, M - Bolck, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India
Vikas Kumar
Zoological Survey of India, M - Bolck, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India
B. H. C. K. Murthy
Western Ghat Regional Centre (WGRC), Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode – 673006, Kerala, India
Kailash Chandra
Zoological Survey of India, M - Bolck, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India

Abstract


The native species is the biological assets of a nation, however the non-native species is the threat for indigenous taxa. Thus, before describing any native or non-native species, it is required to thoroughly check the collateral information. As of now, many non-native species from different faunal group were invaded into the native eco-system and reported from India. In this study, we represent the check-list of non-native turtles and tortoises stored in National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India to assure their taxonomic rank and distribution pattern. The list is enriched with the registration numbers, most recent species name, collection localities, conservation status, and other taxonomic information. This comparative data of 35 non-native turtles not only useful in taxonomic research, but also helpful to recognize the invasive species from India and quarantine regulation.

Keywords


Archival Specimens, Conservation, Ecosystem, Exotic Species, Taxonomy.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi%2Fv118%2Fi1%2F2018%2F123035