Western Ghats Special Series

Freshwater fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai, northern Western Ghats, India

1 2 Sanjay S. Kharat 3 , Mandar Paingankar & Neelesh Dahanukar

1 Department of Zoology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India

Zoo Outreach Organization, 96 Kumutham Nagar, Villankurichi Road, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641035, India 3 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Sai Trinity, Garware Circle, Pune, Maharashtra 411021, India

Email: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected] (corresponding author)

Abstract: Freshwater fish fauna of the Krishna River at Wai,

Krishna River originates in Wai Taluka, Satara

and the Dhom reservoir upstream of Wai, was studied. Fifty one species belonging to 14 families and 33 genera were recorded;

District, Maharashtra, India. The river flows west-east

13 endemic to the Western Ghats and two to the Krishna River

and the first major dam along its course is Dhom Dam,

system. Moderate to rare populations were found for six globally threatened species: Gonoproktopterus curmuca, Labeo potail,

while the first major city is Wai. Some studies are

Schismatorhynchos nukta, Tor khudree, T. mussullah and

available on the fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai and

Parapsilorhynchus discophorus. Fish in this area are under threat due to two introduced species and five transplanted

Dhom reservoir. Silas (1953) recorded nine species of

species, and due to other anthropogenic activities such as

freshwater fish from the river at Wai. Jayaram (1995)

overfishing and organic and inorganic pollution of the river. Site

studied the entire Krishna River system and mentioned

based conservation action plans are needed for conservation of rare and threatened fish in this area.

that collections were made from both Dhom reservoir and Krishna River at Wai. However, he did not provide

Keywords: Freshwater fish fauna, Krishna River system, Threats.

a separate checklist of fish in this area. As an offshoot of the same work, Srithar & Jayaram (1990) described

a species, Salmophasia longicauda, and suggested that both S. longicauda and an allied species S. novacula are found in the fish catches of Dhom reservoir. Arunachalam et al. (2002) recorded 14 species of

freshwater fish from Dhom reservoir. Taken together,

Date of publication (online): 26 June 2012

Date of publication (print): 26 June 2012 ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)

these studies list 22 fish species in this area, which is an under representation compared to checklists from

Editor: W. Vishwanath

other tributaries of the Krishna River system (Kharat

Manuscript details:

et al. 2003; Jadhav et al. 2011; Dahanukar et al. 2012).

Ms # o2796

Received 05 May 2011

There is no documentation of threats to fish species in

Final revised received 08 April 2012 Finally accepted 21 May 2012

this area. In the present work we have studied the fish

fauna of both Dhom reservoir and Krishna River at

Citation: Kharat S.S., M. Paingankar & N. Dahanukar (2012). Freshwater

fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai, northern Western Ghats, India Journal

Wai in order to document both diversity and threats.

of Threatened Taxa 4(6): 2644–2652.

Fish were collected from Krishna River at Dhom

Copyright: © Sanjay S. Kharat, Mandar Paingankar & Neelesh Dahanukar 2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows

unrestricted use of this article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

This article forms part of a special series on the Western Ghats of India, Acknowledgements: We are thankful to Dr. R.M. Sharma, Officer-in-

disseminating the results of work supported by the Critical Ecosystem charge, and Shrikant Jadhav, Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional

Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Center, Akurdi, Pune, for encouragement and helpful discussion. The

Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment study was self funded. The CEPF-funded freshwater assessment of the

Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the Western Ghats encouraged us to publish this work. We duly acknowledge

World Bank. A fundamental goal of CEPF is to ensure civil society is the help from CEPF for publication of this article.

engaged in biodiversity conservation. Implementation of the CEPF investment program in the Western Ghats is led and coordinated by the

OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

Image 1. Satara District is shown in grey. Sky blue area is the hydrobasin. Red line highlights the area considered for present study.

reservoir (17.981 0 N & 73.800 0 E) and from an

chosen.

approximately 15km stretch between Dhom Dam and

A total of 51 fish species belonging to 14 families

and 35 genera were recorded (Table 1). Of these, 15 Study was carried out for two years from May 2009 to

downstream of Wai (17.930 0 N & 73.922 0 E) (Image 1).

fish species are endemic to the Western Ghats of India April 2011. Fish were collected from local fishermen

while five are endemic to the Krishna River system.

Out of a total 51 species, 49 fish species were recorded one or two specimens of each species were preserved

and local markets at Wai (17.952 0 N & 73.887 0 E). Only

from Krishna River at Wai while 42 fish species were while remaining specimens were identified in the field.

recorded from Dhom reservoir. Abundance-wise Large sized common fish species and introduced fish

distribution suggests that Krishna River at Wai hosts species were not collected. Collected specimens were

11 abundant, six common, 20 moderate and 12 rare preserved in 4% formaldehyde and their identification

fish species. Similarly, in Dhom reservoir, there are was confirmed using available literature (Jayaram 1991;

five abundant, 14 common, 16 moderate and seven 2010; Jayaram & Dhas 2000; Jayaram & Sanyal 2003;

rare fish species.

Menon 1987; Talwar & Jhingran 1991). Collected Of the nine species of freshwater fish recorded by fish specimens are deposited in the Zoological Survey

Silas (1953) from Krishna River at Wai (Table 2), we of India, Western Regional Centre, Akurdi, Pune,

could record all species. However, of the 14 species under the accession numbers from P/2628 to P/2665.

recorded by Arunachalam et al. (2002) from Dhom Assuming that the fishing effort for a given type of net

reservoir (Table 2), we could not record four species, (gill net or drag net) was constant, relative abundance

namely Puntius conchonius, Indoreonectes evezardi, of the fish (for each type of net separately) was grossly

Nemachilichthys ruppelli and Eugnathogobius categorized into four discrete categories, viz: abundant

oligactis . Even though Srithar & Jayaram (1990) (76–100 % of the total catch), common (51–75 % of the

recorded both Salmophasia longicauda and S. novacula total catch), moderate (26–50 % of the total catch) and

from the Dhom reservoir, we could not distinguish rare (1–25 % of the total catch). Category for different

two separate species in the fish catches. Therefore, species was determined for each catch separately and

following the synonymization of S. longicauda with S. the most consistent category for a given species was

novalula by Menon (1999) and Eschmeyer (2012), we

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

Table 1. List of freshwater fish from Krishna River.

Abundance b

Family/Species a Krishna River

Remarks c IUCN Redlist status d

at Wai

Dhom reservoir

Notopteridae

Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769) C C LC

Cyprinidae

Barilius barna (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton, 1807)

LC Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822)

Cirrhinus fulungee (Sykes, 1839)

LC Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Crossocheilus cf. latius (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758

Devario aequipinnatus (McClelland, 1839) A C LC Danio malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849)

LC Garra mullya (Sykes, 1839)

A A LC

EN Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Gonoproktopterus curmuca (Hamilton, 1807) d A A WGE

(Valenciennes, 1844)

Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

Labeo potail (Sykes, 1839)

EN Osteobrama vigorsii (Sykes, 1839)

WGE

LC Puntius cf. amphibius (Valenciennes, 1842)

LC Puntius sahyadriensis Silas, 1953

Puntius jerdoni (Day, 1870) e R

WGE

LC Puntius sarana subnasutus (Valenciennes, 1842)

A C WGE, KRE

NE Puntius ticto (Hamilton, 1822)

WGE

A A LC Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton, 1822)

A C LC Rohtee ogilbii (Sykes, 1839)

LC Salmophasia boopis (Day, 1874)

LC Schismatorhynchos nukta (Sykes, 1839)

Salmophasia novacula (Valenciennes, 1840) f A A WGE

EN Tor khudree (Sykes, 1839)

WGE

C EN Tor mussullah (Sykes, 1839)

Parapsilorhynchus discophorus Hora, 1921

VU Parapsilorhynchus tentaculatus (Annandale, 1919)

LC Noemacheilus anguilla Annandale, 1919

Acanthocobitis mooreh (Sykes, 1839) f M

LC Schistura denisoni Day, 1867

WGE, KRE

Cobitidae

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846)

Bagridae

LC Mystus seengtee (Sykes, 1839)

Mystus bleekeri (Day, 1877)

C C LC Mystus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1849)

NT Sperata seenghala (Sykes, 1839)

Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794)

C NT

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

Abundance

Family/Species a

Remarks c Krishna River IUCN Redlist d

status Claridae

at Wai

Dhom reservoir

Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Belonidae

Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton, 1822)

Ambassidae

Chanda nama Hamilton, 1822 A C LC Parambassis baculis (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Parambassis ranga (Hamilton, 1822)

Cichlidae

Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852)

Gobiidae

Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822)

Channidae

Channa gachua (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822)

LC Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793)

Mastecembalidae

Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepède, 1800) A A LC

b Taxonomic status as per Jayaram (2010) except where mentioned. c Abundance categories: A - abundant, C - common, M - moderate, R - rare, - - absent. d WGE - Western Ghats endemic; KRE - Krishna river system endemic; I - introduced; T - transplanted IUCN (2011). EN - Endangered, NT - Near Threatened, LC - Least Concern, NE - Not Evaluated, DD - Data Deficient. Statuses for introduced/

e transplanted species are not provided. Gonoproktopterus kolus is considered as synonym of G. curmuca (Jayaram 2010). However, if they are proved to be different, then our species should f be considered as G. kolus Jayaram (2010) has listed this species under both Gonoproktopterus and Puntius as per Jayaram (1991) and the threat status of the fish will be VU as per Raghavan & Ali (2011). . Because of the uncertainty, we have put the species under Puntius

following Jayaram (1991). g Species spellings as per Eschmeyer (2012).

have recorded only S. novacula from the study area. downstream Krishna River in the study area and the Thus, currently the total number of freshwater fish

species is facing similar stressors mentioned before. species known from Krishna River at Wai area is 55.

Raghavan (2011) assessed Tor khudree as EN owing Six species found in Krishna River at Wai and

to its high exploitation as a food fish, which might Dhom reservoir, viz., Gonoproktopterus curmuca,

have resulted in drastic declines in the population of Labeo potail, Parapsilorhynchus discophorus, this species by more than 60% in the last 10 years. Schismatorhynchos nukta, Tor khudree and T.

Raghavan et al. (2011) showed that the harvesting of mussullah, (Image 2) are considered as globally

this species from the wild populations is unsustainable threatened species, while two other species, Mystus

and suggested that if conservation actions directed malabaricus and Ompok bimaculatus, are considered

towards the species are not implemented the species as Near Threatened (IUCN 2011). Current study area

might face a drastic reduction in the recent future. This holds an abundant to moderate to rare populations of

species is found in moderate numbers in the Krishna these species.

River at Wai and is common in the Dhom reservoir. Labeo potail was assessed as Endangerd (EN) Nevertheless, the species is highly preferred as a based on a conservative estimate of global population

food fish and fetches a good value in the fish market. decline of this species by 50–60 % in the last 10 years

Therefore, it is likely that the species could be under caused by decline in the habitat quality owing to

fishing pressure. Another allied species Tor mussullah organic and inorganic pollution of rivers, harvesting

is assessed as EN since it exists in the Western Ghats of fish for consumption and competition created by

as severely fragmented populations and the population transplanted carps (Dahanukar 2011a). Labeo potail

of this species is declining severely in most parts of is found rarely in both the Dhom reservoir and the

its current distribution due to habitat modifications

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

Table 2. Species recorded in previous studies.

Silas (1953)*

Arunachalam et al. (2002)

Species

Krishna River at Wai

Dhom reservoir

Gonoproktopterus curmuca

Puntius conchonius

Gonoproktopterus jerdoni

Puntius ticto

Tor khudree

Tor mussullah

Salmophasia boopis

Barilius barna

Barilius bendelisis

Devario aequipinnatus

Rasbora daniconius

Garra mullya

Parapsilorhynchus tentaculatus

Indoreonectes evezardi

Nemachilichthys ruppelli

Schistura denisoni

Lepidocephalichthys thermalis

Glossogobius giuris

Eugnathogobius oligactis

Channa punctatus

Mastacembelus armatus

* Key: + = present, - = absent.

caused by pollution, heavy harvest of the species and along with other major carps. Competition created competition created by the introduced alien species

by other introduced carps like Catla catla, Cirrhinus (Dahanukar & Raghavan 2011). Tor mussullah is a

mrigala and Labeo rohita could also be a possible very rare species in the current study area.

threat to the species as it shares the same niche. Based Discussions with fishermen in this area indicate

on the same stressors and the fact that the population that populations of Schismatorhynchos nukta have

of this species is declining drastically, this species is declined drastically in the recent past. Similar concerns

assessed as EN (Dahanukar 2011c). were raised by Ghate et al. (2002) for this species from

An endemic species of northern Western Ghats other tributaries of the Krishna River system. Ghate

Parapsilorhynchus discophorus is assessed as et al. (2002), Kharat et al. (2003) and Dahanukar et

Vulnerable (VU) owing to the fact that breeding habitats al. (2012) suspected pollution of the rivers and heavy

of the species on the mountain tops are threatened harvest of the fish resources as possible causes for

by habitat modification due to recreational activities decline of this species from other rivers. On similar

(Dahanukar 2011b). The species is found in moderate lines, we think that heavy harvesting of all large carps

numbers in the small streams draining in the Krishna including S. nukta is a possible threat to fish fauna of

River at Wai. Increasing urbanization, tourism and Krishna River at Wai. Jayaram (1995) suggested that

recreational activities in the mountain tops near this S. nukta is not much preferred as food. This is also area, especially at Pachgani and Mahabaleshwar, are true in the current study area because this species had

likely to affect the breeding habitats of the species. relatively low demand as compared to other carps.

Commenting on the threat status of Therefore, we think that the heavy harvest of this

Gonoproktopterus curmuca is not as easy as other species could be attributed to unintentional catches

species in this area. Abraham (2011) assessed

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

Image 2. Globally threatened fish species found in Krishna River at Wai. a - Gonoproktopterus curmuca; b - Labeo potail; c - Schismatorhynchos nukta; d - Tor mussullah; e - Tor khudree; f - Parapsilorhynchus discophorus . Scale bar indicates 2cm.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al. a

Image 3. Major threats to the fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai. a - Heavy harvesting of threatened species such as Schismatorhynchos nukta, Tor khudree and Tor mussullah; b - introduced alien species such as Oreochromis mossambicus; c - culturing of transplanted fish species such as

Cyprinus carpio and Cirrhinus mrigala in Dhom reservoir; some of which have established populations even in the river below the dam; d - pollution of the river stretch.

Hypselobarbus curmuca as EN owing to the fact that on assigning the threat status bolsters the arguments the species is threatened throughout its range by habitat

raised by Molur et al. (2011) and Raghavan et al. destruction and targeted fishing, which might have

(2012) that resolving the taxonomic issues is essential lead to population decline by more than 50% in the

for assigning conservation status of a species. last 10 years whereas, Raghavan & Ali (2011) assessed

Nevertheless, G. curmuca is abundant in the study Hypselobarbus kolus as VU based on population

area although it is also subjected to heavy harvest. In decline of 30–40 % in the wild populations within

the absence of detailed studies regarding the fishing last ten years due to overexploitation, destructive

trends it is difficult to state whether the harvesting of fishing practices and decline in the quality of habitat.

this species in the study area is sustainable or not. In the book by Jayaram (2010), considered H. kolus

The fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai is threatened

a junior subjective synonym of H. curmuca and the due to several factors including heavy harvesting of fish genus is considered valid as Gonoproktopterus . If

resources, competition and predation by introduced both H. kolus and H. curmuca are indeed one and

species and habitat degradation due to organic and the same species then the species G. curmuca might

inorganic pollution (Image 3). In the Upstream, the have a different threat status or it might be assessed

river is also threatened by tourism and associated as Least Concern (LC) based on the wide distribution.

recreational activities. Most of the river stretch is This uncertainty in taxonomic status and its effects

affected by organic and inorganic pollution seeping

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2644–2652

Fishes of Krishna River S.S. Kharat et al.

from adjacent agricultural lands. Especially in Wai the (2012). Fish fauna of Indrayani River, northern Western river is polluted due to organic and inorganic pollutants

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JoTT n OTE 4(6): 2653–2655

Aizoaceae (Magnoliopsida:

areas and S. sesuvioides (Fenzl)

Caryophyllales) - a new family record to Verdc., distributed in Gujarat

the flora of Andaman Islands, India

and the Upper Gangetic Plains (Karthikeyan et al. 2009). During

L. Rasingam

the course of studies on the floristic diversity of Little

Andaman Island, the author collected a succulent

Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Plot

prostrate herb with pink flowers from the sandy coasts

No. 366/1, in Zoological Survey of India Campus, Attapur,

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500048, India Email: [email protected]

of South Bay area. On critical examination and study of the specimen, it was identified as Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. Survey of literature revealed

The Family Aizoaceae (Fig-marigold family or Ice that its occurrence has not been reported from these plant family) comprises 127 genera and about 1860 islands so far (Rao 1986; Lakshminarasimhan & Rao species (Mabberley 2008) distributed mostly in the 1996; Mathew 1998; Pandey & Diwakar 2008). It is arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and a few of them now reported here as a new addition to the flora of from Asia, Australia and the central Pacific regions.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The collection of Majority of the species (96%) are endemic to southern this species from Little Andaman Island also forms a

Africa (Chesselet et al. 2000). In India the family new addition of the family Aizoaceae to the flora of is represented by three genera, namely, Sesuvium, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A brief description, Trianthema and Zaleya with seven species distributed photographs and uses are given for easy identification in the coastal and lowland areas of peninsular India and further utilization of this economically important

and the Gangetic plains (Karthikeyan et al. 2009).

plant.

The genus Sesuvium L. comprises of about 22 species distributed in the warmer parts of the world,

Sesuvium portulacastrum (l.) l.

mostly confined to the tropics and sub-tropics Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 2: 1058. 1759; Roxb., Fl. Ind. [ed. worldwide (Mabberley 2008). In mainland India,

Carey] 2: 509. 1832; C. B. Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. the genus is represented by two species namely S. India 2: 659. 1879; Ridl., Fl. Malay. Penins. 1: 866. portulacastrum (L.) L. distributed in the coastal

1922; Backer in Steenis, Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat.

4: 272. 1951; Karthik. et al., Fl. Pl. India-Dicot. 66. 2009. Portulaca portulacastrum L., Sp. Pl. 446. 1753.

(Images 1 & 2).

Date of publication (online): 26 June 2012

Date of publication (print): 26 June 2012 ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)

Specimen examined: 27.xi.2005, South Bay, Little Andaman Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

Editor: N.P. Balakrishnan

India, coll. L. Rasingam #25973 (PBL - Herbarium of

Manuscript details:

the Botanical Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar

Ms # o3075 Received 20 January 2012

Regional Centre, Port Blair).

Final received 19 March 2012 Finally accepted 21 May 2012

Small prostrate herb; stems reddish, succulent, rooting at nodes, densely caespitose, glabrous. Leaves

Citation: Rasingam, L. (2012). Aizoaceae (Magnoliopsida: Caryophyllales) - a new family record to the flora of Andaman Islands. Journal of Threatened

simple, opposite, fleshy, lanceolate, linear–lanceolate,

Taxa 4(6): 2653–2655.

often oblong, 20–50 x 5–10 mm, attenuate at base,

Copyright: © L. Rasingam 2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium

entire along margins, obtuse at apex, flat above, convex

for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate

beneath. Petioles very short, ca 7mm long, dilated

credit to the authors and the source of publication.

at the base into a scarious, semi-amplexicaul sheath.

Acknowledgements: I am grateful to the Director, Botanical Survey of

Flowers solitary in the leaf axils; pedicels up to 1cm

India, Kolkata for facilities, and the Officer in Charge, Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad for encouragements and Dr. K.

long, thickened upwards, glabrous. Perianth segments

Karthigeyan, Central National Herbarium, Howrah, for suggestions. I also thank the officials of ANFPDCL for field support.

broadly lanceolate or oblong-ovate, ca 8x4 mm, central

thicker parts green, thin, imbricate, margins pink,

OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2653–2655

Aizoaceae - a new record L. Rasingam

Image 1. Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. (Aizoaceae)

a - Habit; b - Flowering twig; c - Flower

inner surface pink, apex with fleshy apiculus. Stamens in association with Wedelia biflora, Ipomoea pes- many, included; filaments free, coherent at base, pink;

caprae, Launaea sarmentosa, Ischaemum muticum, I. anthers dark coloured. Ovary 3–4-locular, glabrous.

rugosum and Crinum asiaticum . Styles as many as locules, white. Capsule included

Uses: The whole plant is sold in the markets of by the perianth, oblong, ca 10mm long; seeds many,

Asian countries as a green vegetable. It is also a good orbicular, long-funicled, shining black.

fodder for cattle and cultivated as a sand-binder in Flowering & fruiting: Throughout the year.

eroded sea shores.

Distribution: Cosmopolitan in the tropics, seashores of eastern and western coasts in India. Presently recorded from Andaman Islands.

reFerences

Habitat & ecology: Rare, in the sandy beaches and along the tidal creeks between 0 to 5 m above sea level

chesselet, P., G.F. smith, P.M. Burgoyne, c. Klak, s.a. 2654

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2653–2655

Aizoaceae - a new record L. Rasingam

hammer, h.e.K. hartmann, h. Kurzweil, e.J. van Jaarsveld, B.e. van Wyk & o.a. leistner (2000).

Mesembryanthemaceae. In: Leistner, O.A. (ed.). Seed Plants of Southern Africa. Strelitzia 10: 360–410.

Karthikeyan, s., M. sanjappa & s. Moorthy (2009).

Flowering Plants of India. Dicotyledons. Vol. 1 (Acanthaceae - Avicenniaceae). Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, 365pp.

lakshminarasimhan, P. & P.s.n. rao (1996). Supplementary list of angiosperms recorded (1983– 1993) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic

Botany

Mabberley, d.J. (2008). Mabberley’s Plant-Book; A Portable Dictionary of Plants, Their Classification and Uses. 3 rd

revised edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., XVIII+1021pp.

Mathew, s.P. (1998).

A supplementary report on the flora and vegetation of Bay Islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany

22: 249–272. Pandey, r.P. & P.G. diwakar (2008). An integrated checklist

of plants in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany

32: 403–500. rao, M.K.V. (1986). A preliminary report on the angiosperms

of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany

Image 2. Herbarium image of Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. (Aizoaceae)

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2653–2655

JoTT n OTE 4(6): 2656–2659

Xerophyte Caralluma stalagmifera var.

treated the genus Caralluma,

longipetala (Asclepiadaceae): a new

with five species and two

record to the flora of Karnataka, India

varieties, in flora of Karnataka analysis. Kushalappa (1996)

1 M. Ramachandra Naik 2 & Y.L. Krishnamurthy

recorded Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) Haw. along

with C. adscendens var. attenuata and C. umbellata

Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University,

from Tumkur District of Karnataka. Gravely &

Shankaraghatta, Karnataka 577451, India

Email: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected]

Mayuranathan, (1931) discussed the morphological

(corresponding author)

differences between C. adscendens var. attenuata &

C. adscendens var. fimbriata. Caralluma nilagiriana Caralluma R. Br is a xerophytic succulent genus

was a new species reported (Kumari & Rao 1976) of Asclepiadaceae (sometimes treated as subfamily from Nilgiri Hills and is considered endemic to Asclepiadoideae of family Apocynaceae) and include Tamil Nadu (Ramachandran et al. 2011). Bhaskar & about 120 taxa, with distribution in Africa, Asia, South Kushalappa, (1989) reported Caralluma nilagiriana Africa and southwestern Europe and Saudi Arabia as a new record from Karnataka and their specimens (Move & Liede 2002). Gilbert (1990) carried out are deposited in UAS Herbarium, GKVK, in comprehensive studies of Caralluma spp. wherein he Bangalore. Plowes (1995) transferred

C. nilagiriana categorized 57 species in several subgenera. Later, into Boucerosia nilagiriana (Kumari & Subba Rao) Plowes (1995) divided the genus Caralluma into 17 Plowes. Caralluma campanulata (Wight) N.E.Br. genera based on morphological studies. Among them, ( =Boucerosia campanulata, Wight) is now considered six were monotypic. Recently, Meve & Leide, (2004), as synonym of Boucerosia umbellata (Roxb.) Wight using molecular studies based on cladistic analysis & Arn. Similarly, C. umbellata (Roxb.) Haw. is a demonstrated that the smaller units of Caralluma spp., synonym of Boucerosia lasiantha Wight. Boucerosia compared well with that of morphologically divergent truncato-coronata Sedgewick is considered as endemic and geographically distributed races.

to Darwar District in Karnataka. In India, it is represented by 13 species and five

In this report, we surveyed the eastern part of north varieties (Jagtab & Singh 1999). Sharma et al. (1984) to southern interior areas of Karnataka, and collected specimens which are maintained at the herbarium in the Department of Botany, Kuvempu University. We

Date of publication (online): 26 June 2012

collected a few interesting specimens of Carallama

Date of publication (print): 26 June 2012 ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)

sp. from Chitradurga District of Karnataka. The

specimens were identified as C. stalagmifera but differed in certain floral characters. Caralluma

Editor: N.P. Balakrishnan

Manuscript details:

stalagmifera was described by Fischer in 1925

Ms # o2898

Received 31 July 2011 Final received 28 March 2012

from Vandalur near Madras (Chennai). Saldanha &

Finally accepted 21 May 2012

Nicolson (1976) recorded it in the flora of Hassan

and Seetharam et al. (2000) included it in the flora of

Citation: Naik, M.R. & Y.L. Krishnamurthy (2012). Xerophyte Caralluma

stalagmifera var. longipetala (Asclepiadaceae): a new record to the flora of Karnataka, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(6): 2656–2659.

Gulbarga in Karnataka.

Karuppusamy & Pullaiah (2007) first reported a

Copyright: © M. Ramachandra Naik & Y.L. Krishnamurthy 2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use

new variety of

C. stalagmifera var. longipetala from

of this article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of

near Madurai airport in Tamil Nadu. This species has

publication.

so far not been reported from Karnataka. The identity

Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Prof. T. Pullaiah,

of our specimen is revealed as

C. stalagmifera var.

Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur (A.P.), for encouragement and conformation of plant identification. Thanks are also

longipetala which is a new addition for the flora of

due to S. Karuppusamy, Department of Botany, Madura College, Madurai

Karnataka (Image 1).

(TN) for helping with identification of the specimens. OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2656–2659

New xerophyte to Karnataka M.R. Naik & Y.L. Krishnamurthy

Image 1. Close-up view of Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala

Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala Karup. &

glabrous (Fig. 2). Flowers axillary, solitary; bracts

large, triangular; pedicels up to 15mm long and 1mm in Karuppusamy & Pullaiah (27968) SKU; Tamil

Pull.

diameter, slender, glabrous; calyx five-lobed, divided Nadu, Madurai District, waste lands near airport,

up to base; corolla deeply divided, rotate, ca 12mm 28.vii.2005 (Holotype, SKU; Isotypes, MH).

long, 8mm across; lobes ovate-lanceolate, dark purple specimen examined: 20.ii.2010, Kuvempu

with purplish yellow tips, after 8–12 days flower colour University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga District,

changes to brownish-green, basal parts of some flowers Karnataka, India, KUABM 1004, KUABM 1005 and

light pale yellowish with dark markings at the petal; KUABH 1006, (Herbarium, Department of Applied

spindle shaped hairs present along the margins and Botany (KU), Bioscience complex).

apex (Image 1); corona staminal, biseriate; outer lobes distribution: India, Karnataka, Chitradurga

2, erect, linear-lanceolate; pollinia 5, pollen masses District, Holalkere Thaluk, Ramagiri hobli, Hosabeelu

solitary in each anther cell, pollinaria-D-shaped, (13 0 51’25”N & 76 0 07’45”E) and Muddapura Village

yellow, waxy, attached by dark brown caudicles; (13 0 53’111”N & 76 0 06’328”E) region (Fig. 1).

gynostegium ca 2.5mm long. Follicles paired, terete, Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala is found

purplish streaked, 10–13 x 0.5–1 cm, tapering towards on steep rock-faces on the lower parts of hilly areas

apex; old dehisced follicles glabrous (Image 2). near Ramagiri, a small town, where it is rare in

Flowering and fruiting: December - June distribution. Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala occur along with other plant species like, Euphorbia

reFerences

antiquorum, Ceropegia sp., Opuntia sp., Canthium parviflorum, Dodonea viscosa, Lantana camara and

Bhaskar,V. & c.G. Kushalappa (1989). Caralluma nilagiriana Barleria buxifolia, etc.

Kumari & Subba Rao (Asclepiadaceae) - a new record from Plant Description: Plants growing up to 25–40

Karnataka. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society cm tall, in dense clumps, with clear exudates; stems 86: 480. Fischer, c.e.c. (1925). Caralluma stalagmifera. Bulletin of

succulent, acute, quadrangular, 1–2 cm wide, greyish- miscellaneous information. Kew 1925: 430.

green with brown mottling and whitish ribs. Leaves Gilbert, M.G. (1990). A review of Caralluma R. Br. and its tooth-like, acute, sessile 4–5 x 0.5–1 mm, fleshy,

segregates. Bradleya 8: 1–32.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2656–2659

New xerophyte to Karnataka M.R. Naik & Y.L. Krishnamurthy

Figure 1. Location of C. stalagmifera var. longipetala in Chitradurga District.

Gravely, F.H. & P.V. Mayuranathan (1931). The Indian Meve, u. & s. liede (2002). A molecular phylogeny and species of the genus Caralluma (Fam. Asclepiadaceae).

generic rearrangement of the Stapelioid Ceropegieae Bulletin of Madras Government Museum 4: 1–28.

(Apocynaceace- Asclepiadoideae). Plant Systematics and Jagtab, a.P. & n.P. singh (1999). Fascicles of Flora of India.

Evolution 234: 171–209.

Fascicle 24. Botanical Survey of India. Calcutta. 190- Meve, u. & s. liede (2004). Subtribal division of Ceropegieae 211pp

(Apocynaceae- Asclepiadoideae). Taxon 53(1): 61–72. Karuppusamy, S. & T. Pullaiah (2007). Two new varieties

A reclassification of Caralluma R. of Caralluma stalagmifera C.E.C. Fisch. (Asclepiadaceae)

Plowes, d.c.h. (1995).

Brown (Stapelieae: Asclepiadaceae). Haseltonia 3: 49–70. from Peninsular India. Rheedea 17(1&2): 41–45.

Ramachandran, V.S., B. Thomas, C. Sofiya & R. Sasi (2011).

Kumari, G.r. & G.V.s. rao (1976). A new species of Rediscovery of an endemic plant Caralluma diffusa (Wight) Caralluma (Asclepiadaceae) from India. Journal of the

N.E. Br.(Asclepiadaceae) from Coimbatore District, Tamil Bombay Natural History Society 73: 194–196.

Nadu, India, after 160 years. Journal of Threatened Taxa Kushalappa, C.G. (1996). Germplasm exploration for plants

of horticultural and silvicultural importance from the forests

sharma, B.d., n.P. singh, r.s. raghavan & u.r. deshpande

in Tumkur District, Karnataka. University of Agricultural (1984). Flora of Karnataka - analysis. Botanical Survey of Sciences, Bangalore, Ph.D. Thesis, 55–56pp.

India, 164–165pp.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2656–2659

New xerophyte to Karnataka M.R. Naik & Y.L. Krishnamurthy

Figure 2. Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala Karupp. & Pull.

a - habitat; b - calyx; c - corolla; d - corona; e - pollinia;

f - fruiting twig; g - seed

Image 3. Herbarium of Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala

saldanha, c.J. & d.h. nicolson (eds.) (1976). Flora of Hassan District, Karnataka. New Delhi, 809pp.

seetharam, Y.n., K. Kotresha & s.B. uplaonkar (2000).

Flora of Gulbarga District. Publisher Registrar, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, 27–28pp.

Image 2. Seed dispersal of Caralluma stalagmifera var. longipetala

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2656–2659

2659

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | June 2012 | 4(6): 2660–2663

JoTT n OTE 4(6): 2660–2663

Belosynapsis vivipara (Dalzell) C.E.C. Fisch. (Commelinaceae), a vulnerable spiderwort, rediscovered after sixteen decades from Maharashtra, India

Shrinath Kavade 1 , Subhash Deokule 2 ,

Western Ghats Special Series