Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India
Recent studies indicate that most species are best conserved in their natural community, which results in niche conservation. Depletion of any species is an irreversible change. In the present study the habitat ecology, threats and conservation strategies for the Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale hypnale...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2010-10-01
|
Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
Online Access: | http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/555 |
id |
doaj-bef2d76511134d108d5dcc323f84ab21 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-bef2d76511134d108d5dcc323f84ab212020-11-25T02:36:58ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072010-10-012111261126710.11609/JoTT.o2490.1261-7541Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, IndiaN.S. SawantT.D. JadhavS.K. ShyamaRecent studies indicate that most species are best conserved in their natural community, which results in niche conservation. Depletion of any species is an irreversible change. In the present study the habitat ecology, threats and conservation strategies for the Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale hypnale are suggested. The present study was undertaken in some protected areas (PAs) of Goa and the cashew plantations adjoining these PAs. H. hypnale prefers cool and moist places; most of the females of this species are found to spend the period from post monsoon to late summer in the cashew plantations adjoining and within the PAs, making them more susceptible to anthropogenic threats. We conclude that this pattern of seasonal changes in habitat use is mostly a consequence of niche conservation. However, this preference for a particular micro-habitat emphasizes the importance for the conservation of this snake population and although the most suitable habitat in the Western Ghats, for this species is included in the protected areas, specific guidelines are needed to assess conservation needs.http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/555 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
N.S. Sawant T.D. Jadhav S.K. Shyama |
spellingShingle |
N.S. Sawant T.D. Jadhav S.K. Shyama Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India Journal of Threatened Taxa |
author_facet |
N.S. Sawant T.D. Jadhav S.K. Shyama |
author_sort |
N.S. Sawant |
title |
Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India |
title_short |
Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India |
title_full |
Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India |
title_fullStr |
Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India |
title_full_unstemmed |
Habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of Hump-nosed Pit Viper <i>Hypnale hymnal</i> Merrem (Reptilia: Viperidae) found in Western Ghats, Goa, India |
title_sort |
habitat suitability, threats and conservation strategies of hump-nosed pit viper <i>hypnale hymnal</i> merrem (reptilia: viperidae) found in western ghats, goa, india |
publisher |
Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
series |
Journal of Threatened Taxa |
issn |
0974-7893 0974-7907 |
publishDate |
2010-10-01 |
description |
Recent studies indicate that most species are best conserved in their natural community, which results in niche conservation. Depletion of any species is an irreversible change. In the present study the habitat ecology, threats and conservation strategies for the Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale hypnale are suggested. The present study was undertaken in some protected areas (PAs) of Goa and the cashew plantations adjoining these PAs. H. hypnale prefers cool and moist places; most of the females of this species are found to spend the period from post monsoon to late summer in the cashew plantations adjoining and within the PAs, making them more susceptible to anthropogenic threats. We conclude that this pattern of seasonal changes in habitat use is mostly a consequence of niche conservation. However, this preference for a particular micro-habitat emphasizes the importance for the conservation of this snake population and although the most suitable habitat in the Western Ghats, for this species is included in the protected areas, specific guidelines are needed to assess conservation needs. |
url |
http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/555 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT nssawant habitatsuitabilitythreatsandconservationstrategiesofhumpnosedpitviperihypnalehymnalimerremreptiliaviperidaefoundinwesternghatsgoaindia AT tdjadhav habitatsuitabilitythreatsandconservationstrategiesofhumpnosedpitviperihypnalehymnalimerremreptiliaviperidaefoundinwesternghatsgoaindia AT skshyama habitatsuitabilitythreatsandconservationstrategiesofhumpnosedpitviperihypnalehymnalimerremreptiliaviperidaefoundinwesternghatsgoaindia |
_version_ |
1724797598123950080 |