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- A study carried out by researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) undertook to understand where the rock agamaresidese in and around Bengaluru specifically.
About Peninsular Rock Agama (Psammophilus dorsalis)
- It is a type of garden lizard that has a strong presence in southern India.
- Description:
- It is a large animal, strikingly coloured in orange and black.
- They do not generate their own body heat, so they need to seek warmth from external sources like a warm rock or a sunny spot on the wall.
- They are important in ecology from different aspects — they can indicate which parts of the city are warming, and their numbers show how the food web is changing.
- Threats:
- Habitat loss and other such features of urbanisation have affected the presence of the animal in urban centres.
- The rock agama is dependent on rocky scrub habitats which are being converted into buildings and plantations.
- Conservations:
- They are found mainly in rocky places and warm spots.
- Thus, the inference is that conservation efforts must point towards retaining rocky patches even while reviving landscapes by planting trees.
Source:TH
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