Peer-Reviewed Publications
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*indicates corresponding author; †indicates student mentee
Gower DJ*, Das S, Deepak V, Gerard JD† & Narayanan S. 2024. A new species of Uropeltis Cuvier, 1829 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from the eastern escarpment of the southern Western Ghats, India. Zootaxa 5477(3): 333–357. PDF
Gerard JD†, Deepak V, Ram K, Christopher P† & Fritz U. 2024. New records of Leith’s softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii, Gray 1872) after 30 years from Kaveri River delta in Tamil Nadu, India. Hamadryad 40 (1&2): 24–28. PDF
Gerard JD†, Boruah B, Deepak V & Das A*. 2024. First record of two species of venomous snakes Bungarus suzhenae and Ovophis zayuensis (Serpentes: Elapidae, Viperidae) for India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(6): 25385–25399. PDF
Wang K*, Deepak V, Das A, Grismer LL, Liu S, Che J. 2024. Systematic revision of the Calotes jerdoni complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in the Pan-Himalaya. Vertebrate Zoology 74: 169–192. PDF
Jain A†, Akshay VA, Deepak V, Das A, Barnes P, Tapley B, Cavada-Blanco, F*. 2024. Using local ecological knowledge to understand the status of Cantor's giant softshell turtle in Kerala, India. Oryx 58: 1–10. PDF
Das S, Narayanan S, Pal S, Subin K, Palot JM, Rajkumar KP, Deepak V*. 2024. A new species of Kangaroo lizard (Squamata: Agamidae: Agasthyagama) from the Western Ghats of India Vertebrate Zoology 74: 154–168. PDF
Boruah B, Deepak V, Das A*. 2023. Musicians in the marsh: a new species of music frog (Anura: Ranidae: Nidirana) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Zootaxa 5374(1): 51–73. PDF
Gower DJ*, Narayanan S, Deepak V, Anvar M, Das S. 2023. Rediscovery and systematics of Rhinophis fergusonianus Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from India’s Western Ghats Zootaxa 5374(1): 74–92. PDF
Boruah B, Gerard JD, Narayanan S, Das A* & Deepak V. 2023. Discovery of a new species of dwarf frog (Anura: Ceratobatrachidae: Alcalus) extends the northwestern distributional limits of the genus to Northeast India. Systematics and Biodiversity 21(1): 1–15. PDF
Boruah B, Deepak V, Naitik P, Vijayan J, Yomcha T & Das A*. 2023. A new species of green tree frog of the genus Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the evergreen forest of Northeast India. Vertebrate Zoology 73: 557–574. PDF
Narayanan S, Christopher P, Raman K, Mukherjee N, Prabhu P, Lenin M, Vimalraj S & Deepak V*. 2023. A new species of rock-dwelling Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the southern Eastern Ghats, India. Vertebrate Zoology 73: 499–512. PDF
Yang SJ, Savitzky AH, Gower DJ, Deepak V, Mori A, Khot R, Shi JS, Ding L, Hou M, Xu HY, Wang Q & Zhu GX*. 2023. Identity of the holotype and type locality of Rhabdophis leonardi (Wall, 1923) (Colubridae: Natricinae), with notes on the morphology and natural history of the species in southwestern China. Ecology & Evolution 13: e10032. PDF
Deepak V*, Gower DJ. & Cooper N. 2023. Diet and habit explain head-shape convergences in natricine snakes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 36(2): 399–411. PDF
Narayanan S, Das S, Anvar M, Tillack F, Mohapatra PP, Gower DJ, Rajkumar KP & V. Deepak*. 2023. On the taxonomic validity of Boiga whitakeri Ganesh et al., 2021 with new insights on Boiga dightoni (Boulenger, 1894) (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae). Vertebrate Zoology 73: 1– 21. PDF
Kehlmaier C, Graciá E, Ali JR, Campbell PD, Chapman SD, Deepak V, Ihlow F, Jalil NE, Huyet LP, Samonds KE, Vences M & Fritz U*. 2023. Ancient DNA elucidates the lost world of western Indian Ocean giant tortoises and reveals a new extinct species from Madagascar. Science Advances. 9(2): eabq2574. PDF
Boruah B, Deepak V, Narayanan S. & Das A*. 2022. Morphological and molecular differences in two closely related Calotes Cuvier, 1817, with first record of Calotes medogensis Zhao and Li, 1984 from India. Zootaxa 5219 (5): 433–455. PDF
Narayanan S, Das S, Balan A, Tom R, Divakar N, Rajkumar KP, Hopeland P & Deepak V*. 2022. A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from the southern Western Ghats of India. Vertebrate Zoology 72: 729–743. PDF
Das A, Gower DJ, Narayanan S, Pal S, Boruah B, Magar S, Das S, Moulick S & Deepak V*. 2022. Rediscovery and systematics of the rarely encountered Blue-bellied kukri snake (Oligodon melaneus Wall, 1909) from Assam, India. Zootaxa. 5138 (4): 417–430. PDF
Das S, Pal S, Siddharth S, Palot J, Deepak V & Narayanan S*. 2022. A new species of large-bodied Hemidactylus Goldfuss 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of India. Vertebrate Zoology. 72: 81–94. PDF
Deepak V*, Cooper N, Poyarkov NA, Kraus F, Burin G, Das A, Narayanan S, Smith S-J†, Streicher, JW & Gower DJ. 2022. Multilocus phylogeny, natural-history traits, and classification of natricine snakes (Serpentes: Natricinae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 195: 279–298. PDF Supplement
Deepak V*, Lalronunga S, Lalhmingliani E, Das A, Das I & Gower DJ. 2021. Phylogenetic relationships of xenodermid snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Xenodermidae), with the description of a new genus. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 747–763. PDF
Das A, Smith EN, Sidik I, Sarker GC, Boruah B, Patel N, Murthy BHCK & Deepak V*. 2021. Hidden in the plain sight: a new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the Rhabdophis himalayanus complex. Zootaxa. 5020 (3): 401–433. PDF
Lalronunga S, Lalhmangaiha K, Zosangliana I, Lalhmingliani E, Gower DJ, Das A, & Deepak V* 2021. A new species of Stoliczkia Jerdon, 1870 (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa. 4996(3): 569–580. PDF
Jain A†*, Cavada-Blanco F, Palot MJ, Das S, Deepak V & Das A. 2021. A review of distribution of Cantor’s giant softshell turtle in India along with multiple notable new records from Kerala State. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 20(1): 125–132. PDF
Tillack F*, Narayanan S & Deepak V. 2021. On the identity, nomenclatural status and authorship of Coluber monticolus Cantor, 1839 (Reptilia: Serpentes). Zootaxa 4990(1): 134–146. PDF
Pragatheesh A*, Deepak V, Girisha HV, & Tomar MS. 2021. Looming exotic reptile pet trade in India: patterns and knowledge gaps. Journal of Threatened Taxa. PDF.
Deepak V*, Narayanan S, Mohapatra PP, Dutta SK, Melvinselvan G, Khan A, Mahlow, K & Tillack F*. 2021. Revealing two centuries of confusion: new insights on nomenclature and systematic position of the Argyrogena fasciolata (Shaw, 1802) (auctt.), with description of a new species from India (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae). Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 253–316. PDF
Nawani S, Deepak V, Gautam KB, Gupta S, Boruah B & Das A*. 2021. Systematic status of the rare Himalayan wolf snake Lycodon mackinnoni Wall, 1906 (Sepentes: Colubridae). Zootaxa. 4966 (3): 305–320. PDF
Deepak V*, Maddock ST, Williams R, Nagy Z, Conradie W, Rocha S, Harris JD, Perera A, Gvoždík V, Doherty-Bone TM, Kamei RG, Menegon M, Labisko J, Morel C, Cooper N, Day JJ & Gower DJ. 2021. Molecular phylogenetics of sub-Saharan African natricine snakes, and the biogeographic origins of the Seychelles endemic Lycognathophis seychellensis. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. 161. PDF
Balan A, Jude D, Narayanan S, Varma S & Deepak V*. 2021. Morphological and genetic variation in populations of Sitana marudhamneydhal and the validity of Sitana attenboroughii. Zootaxa 4964 (3): 523–540. PDF
Deepak V, Tillack F, Kar, NB, Sarkar V & Mohapatra PP*. 2021. A new species of Sitana (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Deccan Peninsula Biogeographic Zone of India. Zootaxa 4948 (2): 261–274. PDF
Das A, Deepak V*, Wade E.O. Captain A & Gower DJ. 2020. Description of a new species of Smithophis Giri et al. 2019 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Zootaxa 4860 (2): 267–283. PDF
Conradie W*, Deepak V, Keates C & Gower DJ. 2020. Kissing cousins: a review of the African genus Limnophis Günther, 1865 (Colubridae: Natricinae), with the description of a new species from north-eastern Angola. African Journal of Herpetology: 1–29. PDF
Das A, Gower DJ & Deepak V*. 2020. Lost and found: rediscovery and systematics of the North East Indian snake Hebius pealii (Sclater, 1891). Vertebrate Zoology. 70 (3): 305–318. PDF
Vogel G*, Chen Z, Deepak V, Gower DJ, Shi J, Ding L & Hou M. 2020. A new species of the genus Smithophis Giri, Gower, Das, Lalremsanga, Lalronunga, Captain & Deepak, 2019 (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricidae) from southwestern China and northeastern Myanmar. Zootaxa 4803 (1): 051–074. PDF
Lalronunga S, Lalrinchhana C, Vanramlina, Das A, Gower DJ & Deepak V*. 2020. A multilocus molecular perspective on the systematics of the poorly known Northeast Indian colubrid snakes Blythia reticulata (Blyth, 1854), B. hmuifang Vogel, Lalremsanga & Vanlalhrima, 2017, and Hebius xenura (Wall, 1907). Zootaxa 4768 (2): 193–200. PDF
Deepak V*, Narayanan S, Das S, Rajkumar KP, Easa PS, Sreejith KA & Gower DJ. 2020. Description of a new species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae: Xylophiinae) from the Western Ghats, India Zootaxa 4755 (2): 231–250. PDF
Chaitanya R*, Giri VB, Deepak V, Datta-Roy A, Murthy BHCK, Karanth P. 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 Zootaxa 4688(1): 001–056. PDF
Giri VB*, Deepak V, Captain A, Pawar S & Tillack F. 2019. A new species of Boiga Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 116: 1–11. PDF
Giri VB, Gower DJ, Das A, Lalremsanga HT, Lalronunga S, Captain A & Deepak V*. 2019. A new genus and species of natricine snake from the northeast India. Zootaxa 4603 (2): 241–264. PDF
Giri VB, Chaitanya R, Mahony S, Lalronunga S, Lalrinchhana C, Das A, Sarkar V, Karanth P & Deepak V*. 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. Zootaxa 4638 (4): 451– 484. PDF
Deepak V, Narayanan S, Sarkar V, Dutta SK & Mohapatra PP*. 2019. A new species of Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Ahaetullinae) from India. Journal of Natural History 53: 497–516. PDF
Captain A, Deepak V, Pandit R, Bhatt B, Athreya R*. 2019. A new species of pitviper from West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Russian Journal of Herpetology 26(2): 111–122. PDF
Deepak V*, Ruane S & Gower DJ. 2018. A new subfamily of fossorial colubroid snakes from the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Journal of Natural History 52: 2919–2934. PDF
Deepak V* & Karanth P. 2018. Aridification driven diversification of fan-throated lizards from the Indian subcontinent. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 120: 53–62. PDF
Wang K*, Jiang K, Deepak V, Das A, Hou M, Che J & Siler CD. 2018. On the Occurrences of Japalura kumaonensis and J. tricarinata (Reptilia: Sauria: Draconinae) in China, with A Diagnostic Key to Japalura sensu lato from the Himalaya. Herpetologica 74: 181–190. PDF
Deepak V*, Khandekar A, Chaitanya R & Karanth P. 2018. Descriptions of two new endemic and cryptic species of Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from Peninsular India. Zootaxa 4434 (2): 327–365. PDF
Pal S, Vijayakumar SP, Shanker K, Jayarajan A & Deepak V*. 2018. A systematic revision of Calotes Cuvier, 1817 (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Western Ghats adds two genera and reveals two new species. Zootaxa 4482 (3): 401–450. PDF
Wang K*, Lin S, Deepak V, Datta-Roy A, Jiang K, Jin J, Yan F & Siler CD. 2018. Multilocus phylogeny and revised classification for mountain dragons of the genus Japalura sensu lato (Reptilia: Agamidae: Draconinae) from Asia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 185 (1), 246-267. PDF
Raveendran DK, Deepak V, Smith EN & Smart U*. 2017. A new colour morph of Calliophis bibroni (Squamata: Elapidae) and evidence for Müllerian mimicry in Tropical Indian Coral snakes. Herpetology Notes 10: 209–217. PDF
Mohapatra PP, Dutta SK, Kar NB, Das A, Murthy BHCK & Deepak V*. 2017. Ahaetulla nasuta anomala (Annandale, 1906) (Squamata: Colubridae), resurrected as a valid species with marked sexual dichromatism. Zootaxa 4263 (2): 318–332. PDF
Giri VB, Deepak V*, Captain A, Das A, Das S, Rajkumar KP, Rathish RL & Gower DJ. 2017. A new species of Rhabdops Boulenger, 1893 (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the northern Western Ghats region of India. Zootaxa 4319 (1): 027–052. PDF
Datta-Roy A, Deepak V, Chaitanya R, Murthy BHCK, Bhosale H, Lajmi A, Karanth PK, Kunte K & Giri VB*. 2017. On the taxonomic status of Eurylepis poonaensis (Sharma, 1970) (Squamata: Scincidae): Resolving a long standing conundrum. Salamandra 53 (3): 389–397. PDF
Chaitanya R, Giri VB & Deepak V*. 2017. On the recent designation of a neotype for the taxon Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) (Reptilia: Agamidae). Zootaxa 4317 (3): 585–587. PDF
Daniel CG†, Sreekar R & Deepak V*. 2017. An ontogenetically stable sexual character in a montane agamid, Salea horsfieldii Gray, 1845 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from Nilgiris, India. Journal of Natural History: 1–12. PDF
Deepak V*, Giri VB, Asif M†, Dutta SK, Vyas R, Zambre AM, Bhosale H & Karanth KP. 2016. Systematics and phylogeny of Sitana (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Peninsular India, with description of one new genus and five new species. Contributions to Zoology 85(1): 67–111. PDF
Deepak V*, Khandekar A, Varma S & Chaitanya R. 2016. Description of a new species of Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from southern India. Zootaxa 4139 (2): 167–182. PDF
Deepak V, Noon BR & Vasudevan K*. 2016. Fine scale habitat selection in Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Anamalai hills, Western Ghats. Journal of Herpetology 50(2): 278–283. PDF
Datta-Roy A*, Deepak V, Sidharthan C, Barley AJ & Karanth KP. 2015. An addition to the endemic Indian radiation of Eutropis: Phylogenetic position of Eutropis dissimilis (Squamata: Scincidae). Zootaxa 4027(1): 145–150. PDF
Umapathy G, Deepak V, Kumar V, Chandrasekhar M & Vasudevan K*. 2015. Endocrine profiling of endangered tropical chelonians using non-invasive faecal steroid analyses. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(1):108–115. PDF
Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2015. Factors influencing the occurrence and vulnerability of the Travancore tortoise Indotestudo travancorica in protected areas in south India. Oryx 48(3): 1–8. PDF
Somaweera R, Pantoja DL & Deepak V*. 2015. Forgotten records of Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 (Squamata: Colubridae) from India. Zootaxa 3947 (4): 597–600. PDF
Guptha, B., Prasad NVS, Maddock ST & Deepak V*. 2015. First record of Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 (Squamata: Colubridae) from India. Check List 11(1): 1–3. PDF
Deepak V*, Vyas R, Giri VB & Karanth KP. 2015. A taxonomic mystery for more than 180 years: on the identity and systematic position of Brachysaura minor (Hardwicke and Gray, 1827). Vertebrate Zoology 65(3): 371–381. PDF
Smart U, Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2014. Preliminary ethogram and in situ time-activity budget of the enigmatic cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica) from the Western Ghats, South India. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9(1): 116–122. PDF
Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2013. Aggressive interactions among male Cane Turtles Vijayachelys silvatica (Henderson, 1912). Herpetozoa 25(3/4): 159–163. PDF
Deepak V* & Harikrishnan S. 2013. On the identity of two Oligodon species in the collection at Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Hamadryad 36(2): 182–184. PDF
Datta-Roy A*, Mohapatra PP, Dutta SK, Giri VB, Veerappan D, Maddock ST, Raj P, Agarwal I & Karanth P. 2013. A long-lost relic from the Eastern Ghats: Morphology, distribution and habitat of Sepsophis punctatus Beddome, 1870 (Squamata: Scincidae). Zootaxa 3670(1): 55–62. PDF
Harikrishnan S, Vasudevan K, De Silva A, Deepak V, Kar NB, Naniwadekar R, Lalremruata A, Prasoona RK & Aggarwal RK*. 2012. Phylogeography of Dasia Gray, 1830 (Reptilia: Scincidae), with the descriptions of a new species from southern India. Zootaxa 3233: 37–51. PDF
Guptha B, Prasad NVS & Deepak V*. 2012. Rediscovery and range extension of Coluber bholanathi Sharma, 1976 from Seshachalam hills, Andhra Pradesh, India. Herpetology Notes 5: 447–448. PDF
Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2012. Feeding ecology of the Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) in the Anamalais, Western Ghats, India. Herpetology Notes 5: 203–209. PDF
Smith EN*, Ogale H, Deepak V & Giri VB. 2012. A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the West Coast of Peninsular India. Zootaxa 3437: 51–68. PDF
Raj P, Vasudevan K, Deepak V, Sharma R, Singh S, Aggarwal RK* & Dutta SK. 2012. Larval morphology and ontogeny of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Biju & Bossuyt, 2003 (Anura, Nasikabatrachidae) from Western Ghats, India. Zootaxa 3510: 65–76. PDF
Raj P, Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2011. Monitoring of breeding in Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (Anura: Nasikabatrachidae) in the southern Western Ghats, India. Herpetology Notes 4: 11–16. PDF
Naniwadekar R* & Deepak V. 2010. New distribution record for Hemidactylus prashadi Smith, 1935 (Family: Gekkonidae) from the Kudremukh forest complex, Karnataka, India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 107(3): 253–254. PDF
Deepak V, Harikrishnan S, Vasudevan K & Smith EN*. 2010. Redescription of Bibron’s coralsnake, Calliophis bibroni JAN 1858 with notes and new records from south of the palghat and Shencottah gaps of the Western Ghats, India. Hamadryad 35(1): 1–10. PDF
Deepak V, Vasudevan K* & Pandav B. 2009. Preliminary observations on the diet of cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica). Hamadryad 34(1):166–168. PDF
Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2008. Density and microhabitat association of Salea anamallayana in Eravikulam National Park, Western Ghats, India. Herpetological Journal 18: 165–170. PDF
Naniwadekar R* & Deepak V. 2008. New distribution record for Calotes nemoricola Jerdon, 1853 from the Kudremukh Hills, Karnataka, India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 105(1): 99. PDF
Harikrishnan S, Deepak V & Vasudevan K*. 2007. Report of painted bronze-back tree snake Dendrelaphis pictus Gmelin, 1789 from Anamalai’s, Western Ghats, India. Zoo’s Print Journal 22(2): 929. PDF
Books/booklets/chapters in books/monographs/bulletins
Deepak V, Narayanan S, Das S, Rajkumar KP, Pal S, Gerard JD† & David J Gower. 2022. Snakes and Lizards of the Sky Islands of the Western Ghats. ATREE, Bangalore, India 114pp. PDF
Deepak V*, Passos P, Nagy Z, Zaher H, Šmíd J, Nguyen T, Carranza S, Cisneros-Heredia DF, David P, Tamar K & Gower DJ. 2021. Contributions to ophiology in Zootaxa 2001–2020: patterns and trends. Zootaxa. PDF.
Deepak V, Praschag P & Vasudevan K. 2014. Vijayachelys silvatica (Henderson 1912) – Cochin Forest Cane turtle. In Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A compilation project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. (Eds) Rhodin AGJ, Pritchard PCH, van Dijk PP, Saumure RA, Buhlmann K & Iversion JB. Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 0.78.1–0.78.7. PDF
Deepak V, Ramesh M, Bhupathy S & Vasudevan K. 2011. Indotestudo travancorica (Boulenger 1907) – Travancore Tortoise. In Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A compilation project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. (Eds) Rhodin AGJ, Pritchard PCH, van Dijk PP, Saumure RA, Buhlmann K & Iversion JB. Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 0.54.1–0.54.6. PDF
Deepak V & Vasudevan K. 2009. Endemic turtles of India. Chapter 3 In Freshwater turtles and tortoises of India. Envis bulletin. (Ed) Vasudevan K. Vol 3. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India. PDF