DśƌğăƚğŷğěDăǆăͮǁǁǁ͘ƚśƌğăƚğŷğěƚăǆă͘žƌőͮϮϲEžǀğŵďğƌϮϭϭϯͮΡ;ϬϱͿ͗Κϵϯϵʹϰϵϰϰ

:ŽƵƌŶĂůŽĨdŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚdĂǆĂͮǁǁǁ͘ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚƚĂǆĂ͘ŽƌŐͮϮϲEŽǀĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϯͮϱ;ϭϱͿ͗ϰϵϯϵʹϰϵϰϰ

Western Ghats Zò®ó Special Series DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝƐƉĞĐŝĂůƐĞĐƟŽŶ

D¦«Ã½®½ÄÝÖ͗®Ê®òÙÝ®ãù«ÊãÝÖÊã /^^E KŶůŝŶĞϬϵϳϰʹϳϵϬϳ WƌŝŶƚϬϵϳϰʹϳϴϵϯ ^ƵďƌĂŵĂŶŝĂŶŚƵƉĂƚŚǇϭΘ^ĂŶƚŚĂŶĂŬƌŝƐŚŶĂŶĂďƵϮ KWE^^

1,2 ^ĄůŝŵůŝĞŶƚƌĞĨŽƌKƌŶŝƚŚŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚEĂƚƵƌĂů,ŝƐƚŽƌǇ͕ŶĂŝŬĂƫ;WKͿ͕ŽŝŵďĂƚŽƌĞ͕dĂŵŝůEĂĚƵϲϰϭϭϬϴ͕/ŶĚŝĂ 2 tŝůĚůŝĨĞ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ>ŝĂŝƐŽŶĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ^ŽĐŝĞƚǇ͕ϵϲ<ƵŵƵĚŚĂŵEĂŐĂƌ͕sŝůĂŶŬƵƌŝĐŚŝZŽĂĚ͕ŽŝŵďĂƚŽƌĞ͕dĂŵŝůEĂĚƵ ϲϰϭϬϯϱ͕/ŶĚŝĂ 1 ďŚƵƉĂƚŚǇ͘ƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ;ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚŝŶŐĂƵƚŚŽƌͿ͕2 ƐĂŶďĂďƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

ďƐƚƌĂĐƚ͗ dŚĞ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ͕ ĂůƐŽ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ,ŝŐŚ tĂǀǇ DŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐ͕ ŝƐ dŚĞ tĞƐƚĞƌŶ 'ŚĂƚƐ͕ Ă ĐŚĂŝŶ ŽĨ ŵŽƵŶƚĂŝŶ ƌĂŶŐĞƐ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞdŚĞŶŝ&ŽƌĞƐƚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶŽĨdĂŵŝůEĂĚƵ͕tĞƐƚĞƌŶ'ŚĂƚƐ͘dŚĞ ;ΕϭϲϬϬŬŵŝŶůĞŶŐƚŚͿƚŚĂƚƌƵŶƐƉĂƌĂůůĞůƚŽƚŚĞǁĞƐƚĐŽĂƐƚ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞŝƐĞŶĚŽǁĞĚǁŝƚŚĂŶĂƌƌĂǇŽĨǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶƚǇƉĞƐǀĂƌǇŝŶŐĨƌŽŵ ĚƌǇ;ƚŚŽƌŶĨŽƌĞƐƚƐͿŝŶƚŚĞĞĂƐƚĞƌŶƐŝĚĞƚŽǁĞƚ;ĞǀĞƌŐƌĞĞŶͿĨŽƌĞƐƚƐŽŶ ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƌŝǀĞƌdĂƉƟ;'ƵũĂƌĂƚͿŝŶƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚƚŽ<ĂŶǇĂŬƵŵĂƌŝ ƚŚĞǁĞƐƚĞƌŶƐŝĚĞĚƵĞƚŽǁŝĚĞĞůĞǀĂƟŽŶŐƌĂĚŝĞŶƚ;ϮϮϬʹϮϬϬϬŵĂďŽǀĞ ;dĂŵŝů EĂĚƵͿ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŽƵƚŚ͕ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϯϰ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ƐĞĂůĞǀĞůͿĂŶĚǀĂƌŝĞĚƌĂŝŶĨĂůůƉĂƩĞƌŶ;ǁŝŶĚǁĂƌĚĂŶĚůĞĞǁĂƌĚǌŽŶĞƐͿ͘ dŚĞĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŶĮŐƵƌĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚŝƐůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞƐĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ŚŽƚƐƉŽƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ;DŝƩĞƌŵĞŝĞƌ Ğƚ Ăů͘ ϮϬϬϱͿ͘ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨǀĞƌƚĞďƌĂƚĞƐ;ϭϴƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨĮƐŚĞƐ͕ϯϱĂŵƉŚŝďŝĂŶƐ͕ϵϬƌĞƉƟůĞƐ͕ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ͕ ŝƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă ůĂƌŐĞƌ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ ;ĐĂ͘ ϴϬϬŬŵ2Ϳ͕ ϮϱϰďŝƌĚƐ͕ϲϯŵĂŵŵĂůƐͿ͘/ŶƚŚĞƉĂƐƚ͕ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚŇŽƌĂůĂŶĚĨĂƵŶĂůŐƌŽƵƉƐŽĨ ĐĂƚĐŚŵĞŶƚĂƌĞĂŽĨsĂŝŐĂŝĂŶĚ^ƵƌƵůŝĂƌƌŝǀĞƌƐ͘WĞƌŝǇĂƌdŝŐĞƌ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶƐƉŽƌĂĚŝĐĂůůǇƐƵƌǀĞǇĞĚďǇƚŚĞƌŝƟƐŚĞǆƉůŽƌĞƌƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŝŶͲĚĞƉƚŚĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůƐƚƵĚŝĞƐŽŶǀĂƌŝŽƵƐďŝŽƚĂŚĂǀĞŽŶůǇďĞĞŶ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͕'ƌŝǌǌůĞĚ^ƋƵŝƌƌĞůtŝůĚůŝĨĞ^ĂŶĐƚƵĂƌǇĂŶĚƵŵďĂŵ ŝŶŝƟĂƚĞĚŝŶƌĞĐĞŶƚǇĞĂƌƐďǇ^KEĂŶĚt/>͕ǁŚŝĐŚŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚƚŚĞ sĂůůĞǇ ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ͘ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ ŝŶ ůŽĐĂů ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŚŽƉĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůǇ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ;dĂŵŝůͿ ĚĞŶŽƚĞƐ ĐůŽƵĚ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ŵŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐ ŝ͘Ğ͘ ĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚDĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝtŝůĚůŝĨĞ^ĂŶĐƚƵĂƌǇĞŶĐŽŵƉĂƐƐŝŶŐĂƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƐĂů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƌŝǀŝůůŝƉƵƩƵƌͲDĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ dŝŐĞƌ DĞŐŚĂсĐůŽƵĚ͕DĂůĂŝсŚŝůů͘ŵŽŶŐƚŚĞůŽĐĂůƐ͕ŝƚŝƐŬŶŽǁŶ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ͕ ŝĨ ƌĞĂůŝǌĞĚ͕ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĞůƉ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ďŝŽƚĂ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐ WĂƚĐŚĂŬƵŵĂĐŚŝ͕ ;WĂƚĐŚĂ с ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ <ƵŵĂĐŚŝ с ũƵŶŐůĞͿ͘ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞŝŶƚŚĞůŽŶŐƌƵŶ͘ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝŝƐĂůƐŽŬŶŽǁŶĂƐ,ŝŐŚtĂǀǇDŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐĚƵĞ <ĞǇǁŽƌĚƐ͗ ŶĚĞŵŝƐŵ͕ ,ŝŐŚ tĂǀǇ DŽƵŶƚĂŝŶƐ͕ DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝ tŝůĚůŝĨĞ ƚŽƚŚĞŐĞŶĞƌĂůĂƉƉĞĂƌĂŶĐĞ;ǁĂǀǇͿŽĨƚŚĞƐĞŚŝŐŚŚŝůůƐĨƌŽŵ ^ĂŶĐƚƵĂƌǇ͕dŚĞŶŝ&ŽƌĞƐƚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ͕tĞƐƚĞƌŶ'ŚĂƚƐ͘ ƚŚĞƵŵďĂŵsĂůůĞǇͬdŽǁŶ;/ŵĂŐĞϭͿ͘dŚĞƚĞƌŵ,ŝŐŚtĂǀǇ

DOI͗ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬĚǆ͘ĚŽŝ͘ŽƌŐͬϭϬ͘ϭϭϲϬϵͬ:Ždd͘ŽϯϱϵϮ͘ϰϵϯϵͲϰϰͮŽŽĂŶŬ͗ƵƌŶ͗ůƐŝĚ͗ǌŽŽďĂŶŬ͘ŽƌŐ͗ƉƵď͗ϬϮ&ϵ&ϱϳϱͲϯϭ&ͲϰϱϰͲϵϰͲϮϬϴϵϭϱ&&

ĚŝƚŽƌ͗W͘^͘ĂƐĂ͕<ĞƌĂůĂ&ŽƌĞƐƚZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ͕WĞĞĐŚŝ͕/ŶĚŝĂ͘ ĂƚĞŽĨƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ͗ϮϲEŽǀĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϯ;ŽŶůŝŶĞΘƉƌŝŶƚͿ

DĂŶƵƐĐƌŝƉƚĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͗DƐηŽϯϱϵϮͮZĞĐĞŝǀĞĚϮϲƉƌŝůϮϬϭϯͮ&ŝŶĂůƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚϯϬƵŐƵƐƚϮϬϭϯͮ&ŝŶĂůůǇĂĐĐĞƉƚĞĚϭϬKĐƚŽďĞƌϮϬϭϯ

ŝƚĂƟŽŶ͗ ŚƵƉĂƚŚǇ͕^͘Θ^͘ĂďƵ;ϮϬϭϯͿ͘DĞŐŚĂŵĂůĂŝůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ͗ĂďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇŚŽƚƐƉŽƚ͘Journal of Threatened Taxaϱ;ϭϱͿ͗ϰϵϯϵʹϰϵϰϰ; ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬĚǆ͘ĚŽŝ͘ŽƌŐͬϭϬ͘ϭϭϲϬϵͬ :Ždd͘ŽϯϱϵϮ͘ϰϵϯϵͲϰϰ

ŽƉǇƌŝŐŚƚ͗ ©ŚƵƉĂƚŚǇΘĂďƵϮϬϭϯ͘ƌĞĂƟǀĞŽŵŵŽŶƐƩƌŝďƵƟŽŶϯ͘ϬhŶƉŽƌƚĞĚ>ŝĐĞŶƐĞ͘:ŽddĂůůŽǁƐƵŶƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƚĞĚƵƐĞŽĨƚŚŝƐĂƌƟĐůĞŝŶĂŶǇŵĞĚŝƵŵ͕ƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶďǇƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞĐƌĞĚŝƚƚŽƚŚĞĂƵƚŚŽƌƐĂŶĚƚŚĞƐŽƵƌĐĞŽĨƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ͘

&ƵŶĚŝŶŐ͗ dŚĞDŝŶŝƐƚƌǇŽĨŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂŶĚ&ŽƌĞƐƚƐ;DŽ&Ϳ͕'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŽĨ/ŶĚŝĂĂŶĚdZͲW&ĂŶĚZƵīŽƌĚ^ŵĂůů'ƌĂŶƚ͘

ŽŵƉĞƟŶŐ/ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͗dŚĞĂƵƚŚŽƌƐĚĞĐůĂƌĞŶŽĐŽŵƉĞƟŶŐŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ͘&ƵŶĚŝŶŐƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŚĂĚŶŽƌŽůĞŝŶƐƚƵĚǇĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ĚĂƚĂĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ͕ƌĞƐƵůƚƐŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƚĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŵĂŶƵͲ ƐĐƌŝƉƚǁƌŝƟŶŐ͘

ĐŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ͗tĞĂƌĞŐƌĂƚĞĨƵůƚŽ'͘s͘^ƵďƌĂŵĂŶŝĂŶĂŶĚEĂƐĞĞŵŚŵĂĚ;DŽ&Ϳ͕ĂŶĚ:ĂĐŬdŽƌĚŽīĂŶĚŚĂƐŬĞƌĐŚĂƌǇĂ;dZͲW&ͿĂŶĚ:ĂŶĞZĞǇŵŽŶĚ ;ZƵīŽƌĚͿĨŽƌĮŶĂŶĐŝĂůƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘tĞƚŚĂŶŬƚŚĞW&ĂŶĚŚŝĞĨtŝůĚůŝĨĞtĂƌĚĞŶŽĨdĂŵŝůEĂĚƵĨŽƌƉĞƌŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƚŽǁŽƌŬŝŶƚŚĞĨŽƌĞƐƚĂƌĞĂ͕ĂŶĚƚŽƚŚĞƐƚĂīŽĨdŚĞŶŝ &ŽƌĞƐƚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶĨŽƌůŽŐŝƐƟĐƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘ƌƐ͘W͘͘ǌĞĞǌ;^KEͿĂŶĚ^ĂŶũĂǇDŽůƵƌ;t/>ͿŚĞůƉĞĚƵƐĂƚǀĂƌŝŽƵƐůĞǀĞůƐ͘

dŚŝƐĂƌƟĐůĞĨŽƌŵƐƉĂƌƚŽĨĂƐƉĞĐŝĂůƐĞƌŝĞƐŽŶƚŚĞtĞƐƚĞƌŶ'ŚĂƚƐŽĨ/ŶĚŝĂ͕ĚŝƐƐĞŵŝŶĂƟŶŐƚŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐŽĨǁŽƌŬƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚďǇƚŚĞƌŝƟĐĂůĐŽƐǇƐƚĞŵWĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ&ƵŶĚ ;W&Ϳ͕ĂũŽŝŶƚŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞŽĨů͛ŐĞŶĐĞ&ƌĂŶĕĂŝƐĞĚĞĠǀĞůŽƉƉĞŵĞŶƚ͕ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ/ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů͕ƚŚĞƵƌŽƉĞĂŶŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͕ƚŚĞ'ůŽďĂůŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ&ĂĐŝůŝƚǇ͕ƚŚĞ'ŽǀͲ ĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŽĨ:ĂƉĂŶ͕ƚŚĞDĂĐƌƚŚƵƌ&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƚŚĞtŽƌůĚĂŶŬ͘ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůŐŽĂůŽĨW&ŝƐƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞĐŝǀŝůƐŽĐŝĞƚǇŝƐĞŶŐĂŐĞĚŝŶďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘ /ŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞW&ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŝŶƚŚĞtĞƐƚĞƌŶ'ŚĂƚƐŝƐůĞĚĂŶĚĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞĚďǇƚŚĞƐŚŽŬĂdƌƵƐƚĨŽƌZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶĐŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚƚŚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ;dZͿ͘

4939 Meghamalai landscape: A biodiversity hotspot Bhupathy & Babu

Mountains was largely used by British Explorers. The landscape has been identified as an important wildlife area by Rodgers & Panwar (1988). Meghamalai is largely under the control of the Theni Forest Division (Theni District), which was a part of erstwhile Travancore Presidency prior to the Indian Independence. In 2009, 269.11km2 of the area was declared as Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu Government Gazette 2009). Considering its conservation importance, (the landscape forms a buffer to the existing protected areas such as Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve); the area, along with the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, has recently been proposed as a © S. Babu Tiger Reserve (Fig. 1). In the present paper, we provide Image 1. The Meghamalai Mountain: A view from Cumbam mettu a description of the Meghamalai area, especially with respect to conservation of biodiversity based on collation from published papers. helped conservation and management of forests in the area are as follows: History - 1857: Report by Colonel Beddome indicating rapid The Theni forests have a long and remarkable history. denudation of forests in High Wavy Mountains The tract, in which the forests of this division lie, is the - 1861: Formation of Madurai Forest Division heart of the legendary and famous Pandya kingdom - 1871: Establishment of Forest Ranges, viz., Madurai (ca. 1600 AD). Since the beginning of 1800, till the and Periakulam independence of India (1947), the area was managed - 1880: Committee formed with 21 Forest Blocks and extensively exploited for revenue generation from (738.15km2) forest produce by the British Empire. Notable actions that - 1882: Promulgation of Madras Forest Act

Figure 1. Location of Meghamalai and adjoining areas, Western Ghats

4940 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 November 2013 | 5(15): 4939–4944 Meghamalai landscape: A biodiversity hotspot Bhupathy & Babu

- 1882–1890: Demarcation of various Reserve Forests originates from High Wavy Mountains and both join Periyar - 1888: Formation of Forest Ranges, viz., Kanavaipatti, at different locations. The Public Works Department, Tamil Sholavandan, Palamedu, Palani and Cumbam ranges Nadu has constructed five dams—High Wavys, Manalar, - 1951: Bifurcation of Madurai Forest Division as Venniyar, Eravangalar and Shanmuganathi—for electricity Madurai West and East generation and for irrigation in and around Cumbam. - 1956: Prohibition of shifting cultivation - 1957: Madurai North and Madurai South divisions Tribes formed Paliyar and Muthuvar are the two tribal communities - 1982: Formation of Theni Forest Division spread across various parts of Theni District (Jeyaprakash - 2009: Declaration of Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary et al. 2011). -2013: Srivilliputtur-Meghamalai Tiger Reserve Bhupathy et al. (2009) and Sukhla (2013) have reported (proposal pending decision) the forest types from Meghamalai and its environs (Images 2–4). Besides these, teak plantations and cash Terrain and Climate crops (cardamom, and coffee (Image 5)) raised during The general area is rugged and mountainous with the mid 19th Century are still being maintained, though elevation ranging from 220–2000 m. Digital elevation a few of them have been abandoned. Ailanthus excelsa, model of landscape shows that the lower elevation Ceiba pentandra, Tamarindus indica, Eucalyptus grandis, (<800m) contributed to about 44% of the area followed Schleichera oleosa were the plantations under practice in by medium elevation (800–1400 m), which is about 38% Theni Forest Division. (Bhupathy et al. 2012). Rock formation of the area is The eastern fringe of the area (Varusanad) is covered largely composed of charnockites, granite gneiss and pink with tropical thorn forests. As per the working plan of the granites which have been deformed by folds and faults Tamil Nadu Forest Department (2005), the following forest (Palanivelu et al. 1988). types were identified (i) southern tropical west coast Fifty years of global climate data show variations in semi-evergreen forests, (ii) southern tropical moist mixed annual mean temperature across elevations, i.e., 24.10C deciduous forests, (iii) southern tropical secondary moist (in 500m) and 180C (in 1700m). Monthly mean minimum mixed deciduous forest, (iv) southern tropical dry mixed and maximum temperatures recorded in 500m were deciduous forests (v) southern tropical carnatic umbrella 21.80C and 30.60C respectively, whereas it was 16.10C thorn forests (vi) southern dry deciduous scrub forests. and 24.00C for 1700m (Bhupathy et al. 2009). Cumulative annual rainfall of lower and higher elevations of the area is Biodiversity 1500 and 2161 mm respectively. Both in higher and lower Flora: The flora and fauna of Meghamalai landscape elevations, the lowest rainfall was recorded during January attracted several researchers during the 19th and early and the maximum during July (Bhupathy et al. 2009). 20th centuries. The natural resources of this area were exploited by the British since 1801. The first status report Rivers and Dams on this forest was prepared by Colonel Beddome in 1857, Major rivers in the area are the Vaigai and the Suruliar. which indicated rapid denudation due to a large number The Vaigai originates from Varusanad Hills while Suruliar of commercial activities. Perhaps, this resulted in various © Harish © S. Bhupathy

Image 2. Scrub forests Image 3. Riparian forests

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Image 4. Evergreen forests Image 5. Plantations (Tea)

conservation and management initiatives in the region as the two known localities for the Malabar False Tree Frog well as in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus (Srinivas et al. 2009). The area was under dense montane rain forests Sporadic reptile collections were carried out in during early 1900 (Blatter & Hallberg 1918). The Botanical this landscape by the British explorers which resulted Survey of India surveyed the area under District Flora in descriptions of snake species such as Silybura liura Scheme 1984–1991. Seven new species have been Günther, 1875, now Uropeltis liura (fide, Smith 1943), reported by Ravikumar (1999). Syzygium zeylanicum var. Silybura madurensis Beddome, 1878, now Uropeltis megamalayanum is endemic to the landscape. Sasidharan arcticeps madurensis (fide, Whitaker & Captain 2008) and et al. (1997) provided a brief description on the orchids of Xylophis indicus Beddome, 1878, now a putative synonym this area. of Xylophis stenorynchus (fide, Günther 1875). Based on Fauna: Eighteen species of fishes belonging to 11 the collection of Harold S. Ferguson of the State Museum genera and four families have been reported from the at Trivandrum (1880–1904), Boulenger (1891b) described area (Table 1). Among them, 10 (55.5%) are endemic to Lygosoma subcaeruleum (Blue-bellied Tree Skink, now Western Ghats. Puntius ophicephalus, a rare barb has Dasia subcaeruleum). A second specimen was collected restricted distribution in the rivers originating/ flowing by Angus F. Hutton from High Wavy Mountains and the through this landscape (Silas 1951; Arunachalam et al. same was reported by Smith (1949a). This species was 2004). reportedly endemic to the area till recently (Harikrishnan Boulenger (1891a) described Ixalus (=Philautus) et al. 2012). Angus F. Hutton collected snakes from the travancoricus based on a specimen deposited at the British area during 1946–48. Most of these specimens are Museum (now Natural History Museum, London) by Mr. H.S. housed in the Museum of the Bombay Natural History Ferguson from Bodanaikanur (now Bodinayakanur). This Society and Natural History Museum, London (Hutton species (currently known as Raorchestes travancoricus), 1949a; Hutton & David 2009). Based on these collections, which is endemic to Theni Forests, is listed as ‘Extinct’ as Smith (1949b) described Hutton’s Pit Viper Trimeresurus the same was not recorded for over 100 years (IUCN 2011, (=Tropidolameous) huttoni. This species has not been IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2011. 2). recorded so far since its original description. In all, 90 taxa Bhupathy et al. (2012) reported 35 species of amphibians, belonging to 53 genera and 16 families were reported including 23 (65.7%) endemics from the landscape (Table from this landscape, including 30 (33.3%) endemic species 1) (Srinivas & Bhupathy 2013). Meghamalai is one of (Bhupathy & Sathishkumar 2013).

Table 1. Richness of selected taxa in Meghamalai, Western Ghats; percent in parenthesis.

Taxon/ Species in No. of species in the No. of species in Endemic to the Family Group Meghamalai Western Ghats India Western Ghats Fish 4 18 318 (05.7%) 930 (1.9%) 10 (55.5%) Amphibians 8 35 120 (29.2%) 314 (11.1%) 23 (65.7%) Reptiles 16 90 197 (45.7%) 518 (17.4%) 30 (33.3%) Birds 55 254 508 (50.0%) 1305 (19.5%) 14 (05.5%) Mammals 24 63 137 (46.0%) 434 (14.5%) 09 (14.3%)

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Nichols (1944a,b; 1945) surveyed the erstwhile (Kumara et al. 2011). Madura District including Meghamalai, for birds. Biddulph (1956) reported the occurrence of Red-faced Malkoha Conservation Issues Phoenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus from this mountain Conservation problems of this area are similar to that range. Due to non-availability of specimens in the of other landscapes of the Western Ghats. Major among museum and lack of records from the region for over 60 them are: years, distribution of this species within India is considered 1. Encroachment and developmental activities— spurious, and currently this species is reportedly endemic About 5911ha of area has been encroached in 2896 to Sri Lanka (Erritzoe & Fuller 1997; Hoffmann 1996; encroachments. This includes 2060ha in Varusanad and Bhupathy et al. 2012). A most recent compilation showed 1721ha in Meghamalai Forest Ranges (Srinivas et al. that the area harbors 254 species belonging to 18 orders 2013). Apart from these, leased forest land for tea and and 55 families of birds, and this includes 11% (18 of 159 coffee estates in the upper elevations also take a major species) of threatened bird species of India and 88% (14 of share of natural forests. The estate workers depend on 16 species) of endemic birds of the Western Ghats (Babu natural forests for their fire wood requirement and for & Bhupathy 2013). There were a few intensive studies cattle grazing. New proposals on roads in this landscape on Grey Jungle Fowl Gallus sonneratii that addressed should be carefully studied and mortality of fauna due habitat use, nesting seasonality and threats on the species to vehicular traffic needs to be assessed (Bhupathy et al. (Subramanian 2002; Ramesh 2007). 2012) Meghamalai was included in the Mammal Survey 2. Monoculture plantations such as Silk Cotton of India (1911–1923) organized by the Bombay Natural (Ceiba pentandra) have been extensively planted in the History Society (BNHS). Stanley Hendry Prater carried out Varusanad Valley and the southern slopes of Koranganai. surveys in Meghamalai during 1917 and the results were Preliminary surveys show that these plantations are reported by Wroughton (1917). Angus F. Hutton (1946–48) devoid of vertebrates as the lower stratum is removed collected mammals from this landscape (Hutton 1949b). periodically. A detailed study on vertebrate assemblages Thonglongya (1972) described a new species of bat, Sálim in the plantation would help in managing biodiversity in Ali’s Fruit Bat Latidens salimalii from Hutton’s collection. these man-modified landscapes. In recent years, a few researchers conducted surveys 3. Five hydro-electric projects are currently in in the High Wavy Mountains in search of the globally operation in this landscape. Apart from inundation of threatened Latidens salimalii. Muni (1991) has described natural forests, these dams might hinder the movement the experience of mist netting the bat in the High Wavy of smaller vertebrates such as fishes and amphibians Mountains. After a lapse of a decade, Singaravelan & (tadpoles). Investigations on the current capacities of Marimuthu (2003a,b) mist netted Sálim Ali’s Fruit Bat these hydro-electric projects and their utilization by and described habitat characteristics and morphometric wildlife are required. differences of the species with other closely related 4. Hunting was reported as an issue for the wildlife species. Including all records, 63 species of mammals in the landscape (Kumara et al. 2011). In addition, on- belonging to 24 families were reported to occur in the going studies on large mammals by WILD would provide landscape, which include 24 globally threatened and nine the baseline information about the hunting practices and Western Ghats endemics (Babu et al. 2013). preferred species by hunters in the area. Most of explorations and research on the biota of the The present review shows that the Meghamalai Meghamalai were carried out during pre-independence landscape harbors rich diversity of several groups of era (Silas 1951; Boulenger 1891a; Smith 1943; Hutton vertebrates including endemics (Table 1). Ecology of 1949a; Nichols 1944a,b, 1945; Hutton 1949b). In recent many of these species is poorly known. Only a portion years, the study of flora and fauna of this region is being (269.11km2) of the Meghamalai landscape has been carried out by several research institutions such as Sálim declared as Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS), and Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (Bhupathy efforts should be made to identify other important areas et al. 2012) and Wildlife Information Liaison Development holding rich biodiversity and proposals should be made Society, Coimbatore (Babu et al. 2013), and Madurai to include them in the existing protected area (MWS). Kamaraj University, Madurai (Singaravelan & Marimuthu Recognizing this landscape as a nationally important area 2003a,b). Several local NGOs such as VANAM, Wildlife such as a Tiger Reserve (Srivilliputtur-Meghamalai) and Association of Rajapalayam and Wildlife Association of Important Bird Area would help conserving the biota of Ramnad District are interested in conserving this landscape Western Ghats in a long run.

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