Vidarbha researchers document fan-throated lizard Sarada deccanensis in Daryapur’s rocky grasslands

Nagpur: A 2025 research paper by three Vidarbha researchers documented the fan-throated lizard species Sarada Deccanensis in the rocky and dry grasslands of Daryapur in Amravati district, highlighting the ecological importance of a landscape that is routinely dismissed as wasteland. The paper was published by Rajmeher Nishane, Amey Thakare and biologist Darshan Dudhane. The researchers said the documentation added to the understanding of the distribution, ecology and conservation significance of the species, which is found in rocky and scrubland habitats in central India. Sarada deccanensis is one of three fan-throated lizard species documented in Vidarbha, alongside Sitana laticeps and Sitana spinaecephalus. Maharashtra has five documented species of the fan-throated lizard, the paper noted. The male of Sarada deccanensis displays a colourful, fan-like throat flap known as the dewlap during the breeding season to attract females and assert territorial dominance, the paper said. The Daryapur habitat is part of central India's rocky and arid grassland belt, which the researchers said was often overlooked in conservation planning and misclassified as wasteland despite supporting a range of specialised flora and fauna adapted to harsh environmental conditions. The researchers said pressure from land-use change, agriculture, infrastructure development and habitat degradation were rising in the region. They said the conservation of rocky grasslands needed to be prioritised to ensure the long-term survival of the fan-throated lizard and other species that depend on these habitats.