Dr. Praveen Karanth

Overview

Research

My research reconstructs evolutionary history and biodiversity patterns across the Indian subcontinent using molecular data.

Focus

Themes

Systematics & molecular phylogenetics

Reconstructing evolutionary relationships and delimiting species using molecular tools.

Historical biogeography & phylogeography

Tracing how lineages came to be distributed across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, including the “Out-of-India” hypothesis.

Diversification & character evolution

Understanding what drives diversification and how traits evolve across lineages.

Conservation genetics

Applying genetic data to questions in conservation and management.

Molecular evolution & genomics

Using comparative genomics and tests of natural selection to uncover the genes and pathways behind ecological adaptation.

Cover of Molecular Phylogenetics: Building Evolutionary Trees using DNA Sequence Data by K. Praveen Karanth, published by Springer, 2026.

New book

Molecular Phylogenetics

Building Evolutionary Trees using DNA Sequence Data

K. Praveen Karanth · Springer, 2026 · Hardcover

A textbook on the fundamentals of molecular phylogenetics — the approaches to constructing evolutionary trees, molecular markers, and statistical tests, and their applications. Written for students and researchers in taxonomy, biogeography and evolutionary biology.

View on Amazon

Selected work

Publications

Full list on Google Scholar

  1. Speciation in the Peninsular Indian Flying Lizard (Draco dussumieri) follows climatic transition and not physical barriers

    R Chaitanya, A Dhibar, A Khandekar, C Murthy, S Meiri, P Karanth Molecular Ecology 2025

  2. Thinking small: miniaturization might have facilitated adaptation to new niches in tarantulas

    A Biswas, KP Karanth Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2025

  3. Twin cradles of diversity: parallel in-situ radiations in India and Africa drive the evolution of Hemidactylus geckos

    M Agashe, J Šmíd, V Janák, A Biswas, KP Karanth Journal of Biogeography 2025

  4. Latitude matters: a global perspective on climate-driven demographic responses in tarantulas

    A Biswas, P Karanth Journal of Biogeography 2025

  5. Gut feeling: host and habitat as drivers of the microbiome in blackbuck Antilope cervicapra

    A Jana, S Roy, S Bagchi, K Isvaran, K Praveen Karanth Wildlife Biology 2025

  6. Linking eras and data: natural history collections as the foundation of India's biodiversity science

    J Joshi, P Dey, AV Mohan, V Barve, GVR Prasad, A Goswami, S Pulla, N Page, I Agarwal, K Shanker, KP Karanth, U Ramakrishnan, D Chattopadhyay Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2025

  7. The contemporary distribution of scincine lizards does not reflect their biogeographic origin

    A Datta-Roy, MC Brandley, CC Austin, AM Bauer, DJ Harris, S Carranza, KDB Ukuwela, A De Silva, KA Tolley, KP Karanth, M Sil Journal of Biogeography 2025

  8. All about being old and shooting hairs: clade age and urticating hair explain the patterns of diversification in tarantulas

    A Biswas, KP Karanth Evolution 2024

  9. Molecular data reveals a new genus of blindsnakes within Asiatyphlopinae from India

    C Sidharthan, P Roy, KP Karanth Journal of Genetics 2024

  10. A widespread commensal loses its identity: suggested taxonomic revision for Indotyphlops braminus (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) based on molecular data

    C Sidharthan, P Roy, S Narayanan, KP Karanth Organisms Diversity & Evolution 2023

  11. Not all is black and white: phylogeography and population genetics of the endemic blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

    A Jana, KP Karanth Conservation Genetics 2023

  12. The tangled biogeographic history of tarantulas: an African centre of origin rules out the centrifugal model of speciation

    A Biswas, R Chaitanya, KP Karanth Journal of Biogeography 2023

  13. Plumage assisted divergence in a vocally complex island endemic: the Dicrurus paradiseus species complex in Sri Lanka

    S Weerakkody, E Goodale, VR Gunasekara, Y Liu, P Karanth, et al. Avian Research 2023

  14. Role of paleoclimatic and paleohydrological processes in lineage divergence in freshwater organisms: a snippet from lentic genus Pila

    M Sil, A Roy, HNP Bhat, T Palden, KP Karanth, NA Aravind Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2023

  15. Endemicity and radiation in waterfalls of the Western Ghats: the genus Cremnoconchus (Gastropoda: Littorinidae)

    A Saha, S Chakraborty, G Ravikanth, KP Karanth, NA Aravind Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2022

  16. Insight into the evolutionary history of Indoplanorbis exustus (Bulinidae: Gastropoda) at the scale of population and species

    M Sil, J Mahveen, A Roy, KP Karanth, NA Aravind Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2022

  17. Geography vs. past climate: the drivers of population genetic structure of the Himalayan langur

    K Arekar, N Tiwari, S Sathyakumar, M Khaleel, P Karanth BMC Ecology and Evolution 2022

  18. New morphological and molecular data reveal an underestimation of species diversity of mites of the genus Geckobia (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) in India

    M Fajfer, P Karanth Diversity 2022

  19. Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution in Haplanthodes (Acanthaceae), an endemic genus from peninsular India

    S Surveswaran, N Tiwari, PK Karanth, PV Deshmukh, MM Lekhak Nordic Journal of Botany 2022

  20. Did Microhyla kodial (Anura: Microhylidae) disperse naturally or through humans?

    NA Aravind, VK Kumar, KV Gururaja, P Karanth Current Science 2022

  21. A new species of Pila (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) from Mizoram, India

    M Sil, R Basak, KP Karanth, NA Aravind Molluscan Research 2021

  22. Integrating a morphological description with DNA barcode data of a new species of the genus Pimeliaphilus (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) with the analysis of its host specificity and a key to the genus

    M Fajfer, P Karanth Systematic and Applied Acarology 2021

  23. Understanding the convoluted evolutionary history of the capped-golden langur lineage (Cercopithecidae: Colobinae)

    K Arekar, A Parigi, KP Karanth Journal of Genetics 2021

  24. Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson, 1840

    K Arekar, S Sathyakumar, KP Karanth Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 2021

  25. India's biogeographic history through the eyes of blindsnakes — filling the gaps in the global typhlopoid phylogeny

    C Sidharthan, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2021

  26. Dispersal vs. vicariance: the origin of India's extant tetrapod fauna

    KP Karanth Frontiers of Biogeography 2021

  27. Role of geographical gaps in the Western Ghats in shaping intra- and interspecific genetic diversity

    A Biswas, K Praveen Karanth Journal of the Indian Institute of Science 2021

  28. Contrasting patterns of phylogenetic diversity across climatic zones of Western Ghats: a biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India

    R BR, KP Karanth Journal of Systematics & Evolution 2021

  29. Origin and diversification of Indian Ceropegieae (Apocynaceae) and its possible relation to the Indian monsoon

    S Surveswaran, SS Kambale, M Srivastav, SA Punekar, SR Yadav, et al. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 2021

  30. Phyllanthus palakondensis sp. nov. (Phyllanthaceae) from Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India

    RK Kullayiswamy, SN Devi, KP Karanth Nordic Journal of Botany 2021

  31. Spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism in the Western Ghats, India: a case study using ancient predatory arthropods

    DK Bharti, GD Edgecombe, KP Karanth, J Joshi Ecology and Evolution 2021

  32. The out-of-India hypothesis: evidence from an ancient centipede genus, Rhysida (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) from the Oriental Region, and systematics of Indian species

    J Joshi, PK Karanth, GD Edgecombe Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2020

  33. Into-India or out-of-India? Historical biogeography of the freshwater gastropod genus Pila (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae)

    M Sil, NA Aravind, KP Karanth Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2020

  34. Eocene–Oligocene cooling and the diversification of Hemidactylus geckos in Peninsular India

    A Lajmi, PK Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2020

  35. Repeated evolution of terrestrial lineages in a continental lizard radiation

    A Lajmi, A Verma, KP Karanth Journal of Evolutionary Biology 2020

  36. Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for African, Asian and Indian supple and writhing skinks (Scincidae: Lygosominae)

    ES Freitas, A Datta-Roy, P Karanth, LL Grismer, CD Siler Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2019

  37. Phylogeny and biogeography of the endemic Hemidactylus geckos of the Indian subregion suggest multiple dispersals from Peninsular India to Sri Lanka

    A Lajmi, R Bansal, V Giri, P Karanth Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2019

  38. The hills are alive with geckos! A radiation of a dozen species on sky islands across peninsular India (Squamata: Gekkonidae, Hemiphyllodactylus) with the description of three new species

    I Agarwal, A Khandekar, VB Giri, U Ramakrishnan, KP Karanth Organisms Diversity & Evolution 2019

  39. Role of geography and climatic oscillations in governing into-India dispersal of freshwater snails of the family Viviparidae

    M Sil, NA Aravind, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2019

  40. Multilocus nuclear markers provide new insights into the origin and evolution of the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra, Bovidae)

    A Jana, P Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2019

  41. Phylogenetic diversity as a measure of biodiversity: pros and cons

    KP Karanth, S Gautam, K Arekar, B Divya Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 2019

  42. 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

    R Chaitanya, VB Giri, V Deepak, A Datta-Roy, B Murthy, P Karanth Zootaxa 2019

  43. On the systematic status of the genus Oriocalotes Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae) with the description of a new species from Mizoram, Northeast India

    VB Giri, R Chaitanya, S Mahony, S Lalrounga, C Lalrinchhana, A Das, et al. Zootaxa 2019

  44. Descriptions of two new endemic and cryptic species of Sitana Cuvier, 1829 from peninsular India

    V Deepak, A Khandekar, R Chaitanya, P Karanth Zootaxa 2018

  45. Reinvestigating the status of malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp.) in Indian non-human primates

    J Dixit, A Zachariah, S PK, B Chandramohan, V Shanmuganatham, et al. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2018

  46. The curious case of Hemidactylus gujaratensis (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    A Lajmi, A Datta-Roy, R Vyas, I Agarwal, P Karanth Zootaxa 2018

  47. Hybridisation or incomplete lineage sorting: the convoluted story about the origin of the capped-golden langur lineage (Cercopithecidae: Colobinae)

    K Arekar, A Parigi, KP Karanth bioRxiv (preprint) 2018

  48. The convoluted evolutionary history of the capped-golden langur lineage (Cercopithecidae: Colobinae) — concatenation versus coalescent analyses

    K Arekar, A Parigi, KP Karanth bioRxiv (preprint) 2018

  49. Aridification driven diversification of fan-throated lizards from the Indian subcontinent

    V Deepak, P Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2018

  50. On the taxonomic status of Eurylepis poonaensis (Squamata: Scincidae): resolving a long-standing conundrum

    A Datta-Roy, V Deepak, R Chaitanya, C Murthy, H Bhosale, A Lajmi, et al. Salamandra 2017

  51. Species complex, species concepts and characterization of cryptic diversity: vignettes from Indian systems

    KP Karanth Current Science 2017

  52. Molecular phylogeny of Glyphochloa (Poaceae, Panicoideae), an endemic grass genus from the Western Ghats, India

    KVC Gosavi, SR Yadav, K Praveen Karanth, S Surveswaran Journal of Systematics and Evolution 2016

  53. The role of wet-zone fragmentation in shaping biodiversity patterns in peninsular India: insights from the caecilian amphibian Gegeneophis

    DJ Gower, I Agarwal, KP Karanth, A Datta-Roy, VB Giri, M Wilkinson, et al. Journal of Biogeography 2016

  54. Molecular data in conjunction with morphology help resolve the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    A Lajmi, VB Giri, KP Karanth Organisms Diversity & Evolution 2016

  55. Systematics and phylogeny of Sitana (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Peninsular India, with the description of one new genus and five new species

    V Deepak, VB Giri, M Asif, SK Dutta, R Vyas, AM Zambre, H Bhosale, et al. Contributions to Zoology 2016

  56. An island called India: phylogenetic patterns across multiple taxonomic groups reveal endemic radiations

    KP Karanth Current Science 2015

  57. Molecules support morphology: species status of South Indian populations of the widely distributed Hanuman langur

    NC Ashalakshmi, KSC Nag, KP Karanth Conservation Genetics 2015

  58. A taxonomic mystery for more than 180 years: the identity and systematic position of Brachysaura minor (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827)

    D Veerappan, R Vyas, VB Giri, KP Karanth Vertebrate Zoology 2015

  59. Sun skink diversification across the Indian–Southeast Asian biogeographical interface

    AJ Barley, A Datta-Roy, KP Karanth, RM Brown Journal of Biogeography 2015

  60. An addition to the endemic Indian radiation of Eutropis: phylogenetic position of Eutropis dissimilis Hallowell (Squamata: Scincidae)

    A Datta-Roy, V Deepak, C Sidharthan, AJ Barley, KP Karanth Zootaxa 2015

  61. A phylogeny of the only ground-dwelling radiation of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae): diversification of Geckoella across peninsular India and Sri Lanka

    I Agarwal, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2015

  62. Phylogeny of endemic skinks of the genus Lygosoma (Squamata: Scincidae) from India suggests an in situ radiation

    A Datta-Roy, M Singh, KP Karanth Journal of Genetics 2014

  63. Cryptic species and Miocene diversification of Palaearctic naked-toed geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in the Indian dry zone

    I Agarwal, AM Bauer, TR Jackman, P Karanth Zoologica Scripta 2014

  64. Delineating ecological boundaries of Hanuman langur species complex in peninsular India using MaxEnt modeling approach

    N Chetan, KK Praveen, GK Vasudeva PLoS ONE 2014

  65. Insights into Himalayan biogeography from geckos: a molecular phylogeny of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

    I Agarwal, AM Bauer, TR Jackman, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2014

  66. Flying between sky islands: the effect of naturally fragmented habitat on butterfly population structure

    S Sekar, P Karanth PLoS ONE 2013

  67. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular dating suggest that Hemidactylus anamallensis is not a member of the Hemidactylus radiation and has an ancient Late Cretaceous origin

    R Bansal, KP Karanth PLoS ONE 2013

  68. A long-lost relic from the Eastern Ghats: morphology, distribution and habitat of Sepsophis punctatus Beddome, 1870 (Squamata: Scincidae)

    A Datta-Roy, PP Mohapatra, SK Dutta, VB Giri, D Veerappan, et al. Zootaxa 2013

  69. Lizard wears shades: a spectacled Sphenomorphus (Squamata: Scincidae) from the sacred forests of Mawphlang, Meghalaya, North-east India

    A Datta-Roy, I Das, AM Bauer, RKL Tron, P Karanth Zootaxa 2013

  70. Did southern Western Ghats of peninsular India serve as refugia for its endemic biota during the Cretaceous volcanism?

    J Joshi, P Karanth Ecology and Evolution 2013

  71. Species accounts of Cercopithecidae

    MV Anandam, EL Bennett, TRB Davenport, NJ Davies, KM Detwiler, et al. Handbook of the Mammals of the World (book chapter) 2013

  72. Family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)

    D Zinner, GH Fickenscher, C Roos, MV Anandam, EL Bennett, et al. Handbook of the Mammals of the World — Primates (book chapter) 2013

  73. Coalescent method in conjunction with niche modeling reveals cryptic diversity among centipedes in the Western Ghats of South India

    J Joshi, KP Karanth PLoS ONE 2012

  74. Phylogeny of the Asian Eutropis (Squamata: Scincidae) reveals an 'into India' endemic Indian radiation

    A Datta-Roy, M Singh, C Srinivasulu, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2012

  75. Cretaceous–Tertiary diversification among select scolopendrid centipedes of South India

    J Joshi, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2011

  76. Taxonomic implications of a field study of morphotypes of Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) in Peninsular India

    KSC Nag, P Pramod, KP Karanth International Journal of Primatology 2011

  77. Natural range extension, sampling artifact, or human mediated translocations? Range limits of Northern type Semnopithecus entellus (Dufresne, 1797) (Primates: Cercopithecidae: Colobinae) in peninsular India

    KSC Nag, P Padmanabhan, KP Karanth Journal of Threatened Taxa 2011

  78. Molecular identification and phylogeny of Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae)

    R Asokan, KB Rebijith, SK Singh, AS Sidhu, S Siddharthan, PK Karanth, et al. Florida Entomologist 2011

  79. Molecular systematics and conservation of the langurs and leaf monkeys of South Asia

    K Praveen Karanth Journal of Genetics 2010

  80. Mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggest Hanuman langur (Primates: Colobinae) polyphyly: implications for their species status

    KP Karanth, L Singh, CB Stewart Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2010

  81. Phylogenetics and biogeography of a spectacular Old World radiation of butterflies: the subtribe Mycalesina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrini)

    U Kodandaramaiah, DC Lees, CJ Müller, E Torres, KP Karanth, et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2010

  82. Molecular phylogeny of Hemidactylus geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) of the Indian subcontinent reveals a unique Indian radiation and an Indian origin of Asian house geckos

    R Bansal, KP Karanth Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2010

  83. The out-of-India hypothesis: what do molecules suggest?

    A Datta-Roy, K Praveen Karanth Journal of Biosciences 2009

  84. Phylogeny and evolution of Malagasy plated lizards

    AP Raselimanana, B Noonan, KP Karanth, J Gauthier, AD Yoder Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2009

  85. Primate numts and reticulate evolution of capped and golden leaf monkeys (Primates: Colobinae)

    KP Karanth Journal of Biosciences 2008

  86. Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of langurs and leaf monkeys of South Asia (Primates: Colobinae)

    KP Karanth, L Singh, RV Collura, CB Stewart Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2008

  87. Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some tropical Asian biota

    KP Karanth Current Science 2006

  88. Ancient DNA from giant extinct lemurs confirms single origin of Malagasy primates

    KP Karanth, T Delefosse, B Rakotosamimanana, TJ Parsons, AD Yoder Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2005

  89. Native Seychelles tortoises or Aldabran imports? The importance of radiocarbon dating for ancient DNA studies

    KP Karanth, E Palkovacs, J Gerlach, S Glaberman, JP Hume, A Caccone, et al. Amphibia-Reptilia 2005

  90. A multidimensional approach for detecting species patterns in Malagasy vertebrates

    AD Yoder, LE Olson, C Hanley, KL Heckman, R Rasoloarison, AL Russell, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2005

  91. Microsatellite diversity in populations of blind subterranean mole rats (Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies) in Israel: speciation and adaptation

    KP Karanth, A Avivi, A Beharav, E Nevo Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2004

  92. Evolution of disjunct distributions among wet-zone species of the Indian subcontinent: testing various hypotheses using a phylogenetic approach

    KP Karanth Current Science 2003

  93. Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the langurs of Asia (PhD thesis)

    PK Karanth State University of New York at Albany 2000

  94. Uniform discrimination of pattern orientation by honeybees

    BCS Chandra, L Geetha, VA Abraham, P Karanth, K Thomas, et al. Animal Behaviour 1998

  95. Helpers in cooperatively breeding small green bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

    S Sridhar, K Praveen Karanth Current Science 1993

Compiled from Google Scholar, which holds the authoritative, continuously updated record with full citations and DOIs.