The Western Ghats is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) in a stretch of 1,600 km (990 mi) parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India. It contains a very large proportion of the country's flora and fauna, many of which are only found in India and nowhere else in the world. According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer. The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain called Konkan along the Arabian Sea. A total of 39 areas in the Western Ghats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, were designated as world heritage sites in 2012 – twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, six in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra.
Otocryptis is a genus of agamid lizards from the Indian subcontinent. It is the sister group for the clade formed by Sitana and Sarada. The divergence is estimated to have occurred about 12 million years ago.
Sitana is a genus of lizards, collectively known as the fan-throated lizards, from the family Agamidae. They are found in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The genus comprises fourteen species, including several recently discovered species, such as two new species from Sri Lanka. In 2016, a new genus named Sarada was erected, consisting of one former Sitana species and two newly described ones. Sarada is the sister genus of Sitana. Together they form a clade which sister group is Otocryptis.
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka as well as Telangana. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
The Pondichéry fan-throated lizard is a species of agamid lizard found in eastern peninsular India. It was earlier thought to be widespread but studies in 2016 resulted in the splitting of the group into several species placed in two genera. The genus Sitana has an enlarged projecting scale on the posterior side of the hind thigh which is absent in the sister genus Sarada.
The Draconinae are a subfamily of reptiles in the family Agamidae found in southern Asia and Oceania. Some taxonomists believe these genera belong to the subfamily Agaminae.
Sitana fusca, the dark sitana, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Nepal. Only known from Bardibas
Sitana schleichi, the Suklaphantah sitana, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Nepal.
Sitana sivalensis is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Nepal. Its common name is the Siwalik sitana
Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. Common names include flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw, agnishikha and fire lily.
Sitana devakai is an endemic species of agamid lizards recently found from Sri Lanka. The species was first found from Puttalama district. The lizard is also known to found in Tamil Nadu of India, but not given valid identification. The species was named in honor of Dr. Devaka K. Weerakoon, who is a conservation biologist. He is a Professor of Zoology in University of Colombo.
Sarada is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. Common name large fan-throated lizards has been coined for this genus. It is the sister genus of Sitana; together they form a group known as the fan-throated lizards. The genus, consisting of three species, was erected in 2016 on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies from across peninsular India.
Sitana gokakensis, the Gokak fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
Sitana laticeps, the broad-headed fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
Sitana marudhamneydhal is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
Sitana spinaecephalus, the spiny-headed fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
Sitana thondalu, the Nagarjuna Sagar fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
Sitana visiri, the palm leaf fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to the Tamil Nadu region of India.
Sitana sushili, Sushil's fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is endemic to India.
