Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in news?

• Researchers named the new species as ‘Cnemaspis ganeshaiahi’ Or Ganeshaiah’s dwarf gecko.
• Previously, a grass species (Centotheca ganeshaiahiana) at the Saddle Peak National Park, North Andaman, a small cryptic ant species (Parasyscia ganeshaiahi) in decaying log or under rocks and a cycas species (Cycas uma-ganeshaiahi) were named after KN Ganeshaih.

Key facts about Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

• The MM Hills wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of Karnataka.
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013.
• It is contiguous to BRT Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Flora: The forests of MM Hills wildlife sanctuary are principally of dry deciduous type degrading to scrub forest in the fringe areas, and are interspersed with patches of moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and shola forests occurring at varying altitudes.
• Fauna: Animals including tiger, elephant, leopard, wild dog, bison, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer,

Q1) What are Shola grasslands?

The Shola grasslands are tropical montane forests found in the high altitudes of the Western Ghats separated by rolling grasslands. These unique ecosystems act as the home for many of the floral and faunal endemic species and also serve as the water reservoir for the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Source: New gecko species from MM Hills named after scientist Ganeshaih