The preliminary molecular study of four skink species in Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR), Uttarakhand, using 12S rRNA mitochondrial locus.

Skinks are present under the Scincidae family, widely distributed species in Indian subcontinent. Uttarakhand is one of the hotspot where number of identified and unidentified skink species reported. Herein, we first time provided the 12S rRNA genetic reference database of four skink species, i.e. Eutropis macularia, Eutropis carinata, Asymblepharus himalayanus and Lygosoma punctata, in Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR), Uttarakhand (India). The identified four species belong to three different genera, where Eutropis carinata and Asymblepharus himalayanus listed Least Concern and Vulnerable in IUCN, respectively. Here, we collected tissue samples of four different skink species from Rajaji Tiger Reserve during field survey. After successful laboratory procedure, we compared obtained sequences with publically available genetic database and we observed four sequences matched with respective species. Furthermore, the evolutionary sequence divergence result revealed that the Eutropis carinata and Eutropis macularia are close to each other with 0.11 genetic distance. The present study indicates that the exact number and population distribution of skink species are unidentified; therefore, herein we suggest the proper screening of Uttarakhand population around should be investigated, further genetic study in combination with a good sampling strategy to investigate species biology and status for conservation program.