Centre for Ecological Sciences · IISc Bangalore Now recruiting · Workshop 2025
Evolving Phylo-Lab Karanth Lab · CES · IISc
Publications

The record of our work.

Peer-reviewed research spanning systematics, biogeography, diversification and conservation genetics. Filter by theme, or search the full list.

88 / 88 publications
  1. 2025 Biogeography
  2. 2025

    Twin cradles of diversity: parallel in-situ radiations in India and Africa drive the evolution of Hemidactylus geckos

    Madhura Agashe, Jiri Smid, Vojtech Janak, Aritra Biswas & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Biogeography, e15165

    Diversification
  3. 2025

    Speciation in the peninsular Indian flying lizard (Draco dussumieri) follows climatic transitions and not physical barriers

    Ramamoorthy Chaitanya, Aranya Dhibar, Akshay Khandekar, Channakesava Murthy, Shai Meiri & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Ecology, e17800

    Biogeography
  4. 2024

    Thinking small: miniaturization might have facilitated adaptation to new niches in tarantulas

    Aritra Biswas & K. Praveen Karanth · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 203(2), zlae069

    Diversification
  5. 2024

    Molecular data reveals a new genus of blindsnakes within Asiatyphlopinae from India

    Chinta Sidharthan, Pragyadeep Roy & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Genetics, 103(1), 3

    Systematics
  6. 2023 Diversification
  7. 2023

    The tangled biogeographic history of tarantulas: an African centre of origin rules out the centrifugal model of speciation

    Aritra Biswas, Ramamoorthi Chaitanya & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Biogeography, 1–11

    Biogeography
  8. 2023 Conservation
  9. 2023

    Role of paleoclimatic and paleohydrological processes in lineage divergence in freshwater organisms: a snippet from lentic genus Pila

    Maitreya Sil, Abhisikta Roy, H. N. Poorna Bhat, Tenzin Palden, Praveen Karanth & N. A. Aravind · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 181

    Biogeography
  10. 2023

    A widespread commensal loses its identity: suggested taxonomic revision for Indotyphlops braminus (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) based on molecular data

    Chinta Sidharthan, Pragyadeep Roy, Surya Narayanan & Praveen Karanth · Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 23, 169–183

    Systematics
  11. 2023

    A need to integrate metagenomics and metabolomics in geosciences and develop the deep-time digital earth-biome database of India

    Pradeep Srivastava, Prasanta Sanyal, Sharmila Bhattacharya, Praveen K. Mishra, Suryendu Dutta, Rajarshi Chakravarti, Niraj Rai, Naveen Navani, Anoop Ambili, Praveen Karanth, Jahanavi Joshi, Sushmita Singh & Senthil Kumar Sadasivam · Current Science, 124(1)

  12. 2022

    Geography vs. past climate: the drivers of population genetic structure of the Himalayan langur

    Kunal Arekar, Neha Tiwari, Sambandam Sathyakumar, Mehreen Khaleel & Praveen Karanth · BMC Ecology and Evolution, 22, 100

    Conservation
  13. 2022

    Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution in Haplanthodes (Acanthaceae), an endemic genus from peninsular India

    Siddharthan Surveswaran, Neha Tiwari, Praveen Karanth, Pradeep V. Deshmukh & Manoj M. Lekhak · Nordic Journal of Botany

    Systematics
  14. 2022

    Endemicity and radiation in waterfalls of the Western Ghats: the genus Cremnoconchus (Gastropoda: Littorinidae)

    Anwesha Saha, Sudeshna Chakraborty, G. Ravikanth, K. Praveen Karanth & N. A. Aravind · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 174

    Diversification
  15. 2022

    Insight into the evolutionary history of Indoplanorbis exustus (Bulinidae: Gastropoda) at the scale of population and species

    Maitreya Sil, Juveriya Mahveen, Abhisikta Roy, K. Praveen Karanth & N. A. Aravind · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 137(1)

    Biogeography
  16. 2022 Systematics
  17. 2022

    Did Microhyla kodial (Anura: Microhylidae) disperse naturally or through humans?

    N. A. Aravind, Vineeth K. Kumar, K. V. Gururaja & Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 123(10), 1193–1194

    Biogeography
  18. 2021

    Understanding the convoluted evolutionary history of the capped-golden langur lineage (Cercopithecidae: Colobinae)

    Kunal Arekar, Abhijna Parigi & Praveen Karanth · Journal of Genetics, 100(79)

    Systematics
  19. 2021

    Role of geographical gaps in the Western Ghats in shaping intra- and interspecific genetic diversity

    Aritra Biswas & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of the Indian Institute of Science

    Biogeography
  20. 2021

    A new species of Pila (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) from Mizoram, India

    Maitreya Sil, Reshma Basak, K. Praveen Karanth & Neelavara Ananthram Aravind · Molluscan Research

    Systematics
  21. 2021

    Integrating a morphological description with DNA barcode data of a new species of the genus Pimeliaphilus (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) with the analysis of its host specificity and a key to the genus

    Monika Fajfer & Praveen Karanth · Systematic & Applied Acarology, 26(2), 438–454

    Systematics
  22. 2021

    Dispersal vs. vicariance: the origin of India's extant tetrapod fauna

    K. Praveen Karanth · Frontiers of Biogeography

    Biogeography
  23. 2021

    India's biogeographic history through the eyes of blindsnakes — filling the gaps in the global typhlopoid phylogeny

    Chinta Sidharthan & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

    Biogeography
  24. 2021

    Contrasting patterns of phylogenetic diversity across climatic zones of Western Ghats: a biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India

    Divya B., Ramesh B. R. & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 59(2), 240–250

    Biogeography
  25. 2020

    Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson, 1840

    Kunal Arekar, Sambandam Sathyakumar & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research

    Systematics
  26. 2020

    Origin and diversification of Indian Ceropegieae (Apocynaceae) and possible relation to the Indian monsoon

    Siddharthan Surveswaran, Sharad S. Kambale, Mansa Srivatsav, Sachin A. Punekar, S. R. Yadav & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Systematics and Evolution

    Biogeography
  27. 2020

    Into-India or out-of-India? Historical biogeography of the freshwater gastropod genus Pila (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae)

    Maitreya Sil, N. A. Aravind & K. Praveen Karanth · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 129(3), 752–764

    Biogeography
  28. 2019

    Diversification in the mountains: a generic reappraisal of the Western Ghats endemic gecko genus Dravidogecko Smith, 1933 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with descriptions of six new species

    R. Chaitanya, Varad B. Giri, V. Deepak, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, B. H. C. K. Murthy & Praveen Karanth · Zootaxa, 4688(1), 001–056

    Systematics
  29. 2019

    Phylogenetic diversity as a measure of biodiversity: pros and cons

    K. Praveen Karanth, Srishti Gautam, Kunal Arekar & B. Divya · Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 116, 53–61

    Diversification
  30. 2019

    Repeated evolution of terrestrial lineages in a continental lizard radiation

    Aparna Lajmi, Anjali Verma & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Evolutionary Biology

    Diversification
  31. 2019 Systematics
  32. 2019

    The out-of-India hypothesis: evidence from an ancient centipede genus, Rhysida (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) from the Oriental Region, and systematics of Indian species

    Jahnavi Joshi, Praveen Karanth & Gregory D. Edgecombe · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 189(3), 828–861

    Biogeography
  33. 2019

    Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in peninsular India

    Aparna Lajmi & Praveen K. Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

    Diversification
  34. 2019

    Role of geography and climatic oscillations in governing into-India dispersal of freshwater snails of the family Viviparidae

    Maitreya Sil, N. A. Aravind & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 138, 174–181

    Biogeography
  35. 2019

    On the systematic status of the genus Oriocalotes Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) with the description of a new species from Mizoram state, northeast India

    Varad B. Giri, R. Chaitanya, Stephen Mahony, Samuel Lalronunga, C. Lalrinchhana, Abhijit Das, Vivek Sarkar, Praveen Karanth & V. Deepak · Zootaxa

    Systematics
  36. 2019

    Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for African, Asian and Indian supple and writhing skinks (Scincidae: Lygosominae)

    Elyse S. Freitas, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Praveen Karanth, L. Lee Grismer & Cameron D. Siler · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 186(4), 1067–1096

    Systematics
  37. 2019

    The hills are alive with geckos! A radiation of a dozen species on sky islands across peninsular India (Squamata: Gekkonidae, Hemiphyllodactylus) with the description of three new species

    Ishan Agarwal, Akshay Khandekar, Varad B. Giri, Uma Ramakrishnan & Praveen Karanth · Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 19, 341–361

    Diversification
  38. 2019

    Phylogeny and biogeography of the endemic Hemidactylus geckos of the Indian subregion suggest multiple dispersals from peninsular India to Sri Lanka

    Aparna Lajmi, Rohini Bansal, Varad Giri & Praveen Karanth · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 186(1), 286–301

    Biogeography
  39. 2018

    Reinvestigating the status of malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp.) in Indian non-human primates

    Jyotirmoy Dixit, Arun Zachariah, Sajesh P. K., Balasubramaniam Chandramohan, Vasanthakumar Shanmuganatham & K. P. Karanth · PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(12), e0006801

    Systematics
  40. 2018

    Descriptions of two new endemic and cryptic species of Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from peninsular India

    V. Deepak, Akshay Khandekar, R. Chaitanya & Praveen Karanth · Zootaxa, 4434(2), 327–365

    Systematics
  41. 2018

    Capturing richness independent phylogenetic diversity and testing surrogates for PD in woody plant communities

    Divya B. & K. Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 115(5), 910–919

    Diversification
  42. 2018

    The curious case of Hemidactylus gujaratensis (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    Aparna Lajmi, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Raju Vyas, Ishan Agarwal & Praveen Karanth · Zootaxa, 4388(1), 137–142

    Systematics
  43. 2018

    Aridification driven diversification of fan-throated lizards from the Indian subcontinent

    V. Deepak & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 120, 53–62

    Diversification
  44. 2017

    On the taxonomic status of Eurylepis poonaensis (Squamata: Scincidae): resolving a long-standing conundrum

    Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Veerappan Deepak, R. Chaitanya, Channakeshva Murthy, Harshal Bhosale, Aparna Lajmi, Praveen Karanth, Krushnamegh Kunte & Varad Giri · Salamandra, 53(3), 389–397

    Systematics
  45. 2017

    Species complex, species concepts and characterization of cryptic diversity: vignettes from Indian systems

    K. Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 112(7), 1320–1324

    Systematics
  46. 2016

    Molecular data in conjunction with morphology help resolve the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    Aparna Lajmi, Varad B. Giri & K. Praveen Karanth · Organisms Diversity & Evolution

    Systematics
  47. 2016

    Systematics and phylogeny of Sitana (Reptilia: Agamidae) of peninsular India, with the description of one new genus and five new species

    V. Deepak, Varad B. Giri, Mohammad Asif, Sushil Kumar Dutta, Raju Vyas, Amod M. Zambre, Harshal Bhosale & K. Praveen Karanth · Contributions to Zoology, 85(1), 67–111

    Systematics
  48. 2016

    Molecular phylogeny of Glyphochloa (Poaceae, Panicoideae), an endemic grass genus from the Western Ghats, India

    Kumar Vinod Chottupuri Gosavi, Shrirang R. Yadav, K. Praveen Karanth & Siddharthan Surveswaran · Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54(2), 162–174

    Systematics
  49. 2016

    The role of wet-zone fragmentation in shaping biodiversity patterns in peninsular India: insights from the caecilian amphibian Gegeneophis

    David J. Gower, Ishan Agarwal, K. Praveen Karanth, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Varad B. Giri, Mark Wilkinson & Diego San Mauro · Journal of Biogeography

    Biogeography
  50. 2015

    A taxonomic mystery for more than 180 years: the identity and systematic position of Brachysaura minor (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827)

    V. Deepak, Raju Vyas, V. B. Giri & K. Praveen Karanth · Vertebrate Zoology, 65(3), 371–381

    Systematics
  51. 2015

    An island called India: phylogenetic patterns across multiple taxonomic groups reveal endemic radiations

    K. Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 108(10), 1847–1851

    Biogeography
  52. 2015

    Does size matter? Comparative population genetics of two butterflies with different wingspans

    Sandhya Sekar & K. Praveen Karanth · Organisms Diversity & Evolution

    Conservation
  53. 2015

    A phylogeny of the only ground-dwelling radiation of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae): diversification of Geckoella across peninsular India and Sri Lanka

    Ishan Agarwal & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 82, 193–199

    Diversification
  54. 2015

    Sun skink diversification across the Indian–Southeast Asian biogeographical interface

    Anthony J. Barley, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, K. Praveen Karanth & Rafe M. Brown · Journal of Biogeography, 42(2), 292–304

    Biogeography
  55. 2015

    Molecules support morphology: species status of South Indian populations of the widely distributed Hanuman langur

    Ashalakshmi C. N., Chetan Nag K. S. & K. Praveen Karanth · Conservation Genetics, 16(1), 43–58

    Systematics
  56. 2014

    Insights into Himalayan biogeography from geckos: a molecular phylogeny of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    Ishan Agarwal, Aaron M. Bauer, Todd R. Jackman & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 80, 144–155

    Biogeography
  57. 2014

    Cryptic species and Miocene diversification of Palaearctic naked-toed geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in the Indian dry zone

    Ishan Agarwal, Aaron M. Bauer, Todd R. Jackman & Praveen Karanth · Zoologica Scripta, 43(5), 455–471

    Diversification
  58. 2014

    Phylogeny of endemic skinks of the genus Lygosoma (Squamata: Scincidae) from India suggests an in situ radiation

    Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Mewa Singh & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Genetics, 93(1), 163–167

    Diversification
  59. 2014

    Delineating ecological boundaries of Hanuman langur species complex in peninsular India using MaxEnt modeling approach

    Chetan Nag, K. Praveen Karanth & Gururaja Kotambylu Vasudeva · PLoS ONE, 9(2)

    Biogeography
  60. 2013

    Flying between sky islands: the effect of naturally fragmented habitat on butterfly population structure

    Sandhya Sekar & K. Praveen Karanth · PLoS ONE, 8(8), e71573

    Conservation
  61. 2013

    Did southern Western Ghats of peninsular India serve as refugia for its endemic biota during the Cretaceous volcanism?

    Jahnavi Joshi & K. Praveen Karanth · Ecology and Evolution, 3(10), 3275–3282

    Biogeography
  62. 2013

    A long-lost relic from the Eastern Ghats: morphology, distribution and habitat of Sepsophis punctatus Beddome, 1870 (Squamata: Scincidae)

    Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Sushil K. Dutta, Varad B. Giri, V. Deepak, Simon T. Maddock, P. Raj, Ishan Agarwal & Praveen Karanth · Zootaxa, 3670(1), 55–62

    Systematics
  63. 2013 Systematics
  64. 2013

    Revision of the scolopendrid centipede Digitipes Attems, 1930, from India (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha): reconciling molecular and morphological estimates of species diversity

    Jahnavi Joshi & Gregory D. Edgecombe · Zootaxa, 3626(1), 099–145

    Systematics
  65. 2012 Systematics
  66. 2012

    Rediscovery of Geckoella jeyporensis (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with notes on morphology, coloration and habitat

    Ishan Agarwal, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Aaron M. Bauer & Varad B. Giri · Hamadryad, 36, 17–24

    Systematics
  67. 2012

    Phylogeny of the Asian Eutropis (Squamata: Scincidae) reveals an 'into India' endemic Indian radiation

    Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Mewa Singh, C. Srinivasulu & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 63, 817–824

    Biogeography
  68. 2011

    A meta-analysis of the traits affecting dispersal ability in butterflies: can wingspan be used as a proxy?

    Sandhya Sekar · Journal of Animal Ecology, 81(1), 174–184

    Diversification
  69. 2011

    Molecular identification and phylogeny of Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae)

    R. Asokan, K. B. Rebijith, Shakti K. Singh, A. S. Sidhu, S. Siddharthan, Praveen K. Karanth, R. Ellango & V. V. Ramamurthy · Florida Entomologist, 94(4), 1026–1035

    Systematics
  70. 2011

    Natural range extension, sampling artifact, or human mediated translocations? Range limits of Northern type Semnopithecus entellus (Dufresne, 1797) (Primates: Cercopithecidae: Colobinae) in peninsular India

    K. S. Chetan Nag, P. Pramod & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Threatened Taxa, 3(8), 2028–2032

    Biogeography
  71. 2011

    Cretaceous–Tertiary diversification among select scolopendrid centipedes of South India

    Jahnavi Joshi & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

    Diversification
  72. 2011 Systematics
  73. 2010

    Molecular systematics and conservation of the langurs and leaf monkeys of South Asia

    K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Genetics, 89(4), 393–399

    Systematics
  74. 2010

    Molecular phylogeny of Hemidactylus geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the Indian subcontinent reveals a unique Indian radiation and an Indian origin of Asian house geckos

    Rohini Bansal & K. Praveen Karanth · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 57, 459–465

    Biogeography
  75. 2010

    Phylogenetics and biogeography of a spectacular Old World radiation of butterflies: the subtribe Mycalesina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrini)

    Ullasa Kodandaramaiah, David C. Lees, Chris J. Müller, Elizabeth Torres, K. Praveen Karanth & Niklas Wahlberg · BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10, 172

    Biogeography
  76. 2010

    Mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggest Hanuman langur (Primates: Colobinae) polyphyly: implications for their species status

    K. Praveen Karanth, Lalji Singh & Caro-Beth Stewart · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 54, 627–663

    Systematics
  77. 2009

    The out-of-India hypothesis: what do molecules suggest?

    Aniruddha Datta-Roy & K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Biosciences, 34(5), 687–697

    Biogeography
  78. 2009

    Phylogeny and evolution of Malagasy plated lizards

    Achille P. Raselimanana, Brice Noonan, K. Praveen Karanth, Jacques Gauthier & Anne D. Yoder · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 50, 336–344

    Systematics
  79. 2008

    Primate Numts and reticulate evolution of capped and golden leaf monkeys (Primates: Colobinae)

    K. Praveen Karanth · Journal of Biosciences, 33(5), 761–770

    Systematics
  80. 2008

    Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of langurs and leaf monkeys of South Asia (Primates: Colobinae)

    K. Praveen Karanth, Lalji Singh, Randall V. Collura & Caro-Beth Stewart · Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 46, 683–694

    Biogeography
  81. 2006

    Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some Asian biota

    K. Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 90(6), 789–792

    Biogeography
  82. 2005

    A multidimensional approach for detecting species patterns in Malagasy vertebrates

    Anne D. Yoder, Carol Hanley, Kellie Heckman, Rodin Rasoloarison, Amy Russell, Julie Ranivo, Link E. Olson, Voahangy Soarimalala, K. Praveen Karanth, Achille P. Raselimanana & Steven M. Goodman · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 102(Suppl. 1), 6587–6594

    Systematics
  83. 2005

    Ancient DNA from giant extinct lemurs confirms single origin of Malagasy primates

    K. Praveen Karanth, Thomas Delefosse, Berthe Rakotosamimanana, Thomas J. Parson & Anne D. Yoder · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 102(14), 5090–5095

    Systematics
  84. 2005

    Native Seychelles tortoises or Aldabran imports? The importance of radiocarbon dating for ancient DNA studies

    K. Praveen Karanth, Eric Palkovacs, Justin Gerlach, Scott Glaberman, Julian Pender Hume, Gisella Caccone & Anne Yoder · Amphibia-Reptilia, 26(1), 116–121

    Systematics
  85. 2004

    Microsatellite diversity in subterranean mole rats (Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies) populations in Israel

    K. Praveen Karanth, Aaron Avivi & Eviatar Nevo · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 83, 229–241

    Conservation
  86. 2003

    Evolution of disjunct distribution among wet zone species of the Indian subcontinent: testing various hypotheses using a phylogenetic approach

    K. Praveen Karanth · Current Science, 85(9), 101–108

    Biogeography
  87. 1998

    Uniform discrimination of pattern orientation by honey bees

    B. C. Sathees Chandra, L. Geetha, V. A. Abraham, P. Karanth, K. Thomas, M. V. Srinivasan & R. Gadagkar · Animal Behaviour, 56, 1391–1398

  88. 1993

    Helpers in cooperatively breeding small green bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

    S. Sridhar & K. P. Karanth · Current Science, 65(6), 489–490