ABSTRACT
The status of all biogeographically distinct reptilian fauna in the Western Ghats (WG) of India has been assessed in the present chapter. A total of 305 species of reptiles occur in the WG biogeographic region of country, which include 9 species of chelonians, 152 species of lizards, and 143 species of snakes. Of these, nearly 50% (154) are endemic to the area and 48 species are endemic to Peninsular India. A considerable number of species are either included under least concern (156) or data deficient (33) thus requires immediate attention for their review based on the recent sightings. The lizards of the family Gekkonidae, Agamidae, and Scincidae (skinks) are very ancient and comprise of highly specialized lizards. The present-day distribution of this ancient genus of small geckos Cnemapsis from WG alone is 46 species of which 31 species are described new to science from WG between 2000 and 2020, signifying the enormous potentiality of cryptic species. Of the 46 species, 37 are endemic to WG (80%), 2 species are restricted to Deccan, and rest are Indian endemics. Recent introduction of invasive alien species includes Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792), from South America needs further monitoring of its invasiveness. Endemic snake species from the family Uropeltidae are from the genera Melanophidium, Platyplectrurs, Teretrurus, Plectrurus, Uropeltis, and Rhinophi, a large scope exists for further discovery of this group.
