New distribution and rescue report of glossy-bellied racer snake Platyceps ventromaculatus (Gray, 1834) (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Monitoring of regional species diversity enables estimation of the health of an ecosystem and the functional role of each species. It can be a useful tool to frame recommendations to reduce human mediated environmental degradation. Recently we have been monitoring and recusing snake species from various urban-rural gradient ecosystems using citizen science programmes. The present paper reports a new distribution record and rescue of Glossy Belied Racer, Platyceps ventromaculatus (Gray, 1834) from a human habituation in Phalodi, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Such reports helps supplement the necessary information on conservation management of habitat and the biodiversity as a whole.