Neelesh  Dahanukar

Key Research Areas

Molecular phylogenybiogeography and evolution: Elucidating evolutionaUnderstanding genetic networks and haplotype diverSelection pressure on coding regionsEvolution of morphological characters on phylogene

Dr Neelesh Dahanukar

Assistant Professor School of Natural Sciences

School of Natural Sciences

Molecular phylogeny, biogeography and evolution: Elucidating evolutionary relationships among vertebrate and invertebrate taxa based on multigene phylogenies. Understanding genetic networks and haplotype diversity. Selection pressure on coding regions. Evolution of morphological characters on phylog...

Research Overview

Molecular phylogeny, biogeography and evolution: Elucidating evolutionary relationships among vertebrate and invertebrate taxa based on multigene phylogenies. Understanding genetic networks and haplotype diversity. Selection pressure on coding regions. Evolution of morphological characters on phylogenetic trees. Phylogenetic and phylogeographical hypothesis testing. Molecular dating. Reconstruction of biogeographical history. Correlating geological history with speciation events. Molecular epidemiology of wildlife diseases: Molecular detection and quantitation of wildlife infectious diseases. Mathematical and statistical models of disease occurrence and spread and their implications in conservation of biological diversity. Evolutionary game theory and mathematical biology: Understanding and resolution of conflict at several hierarchical levels from genes to genomes to individuals and communities using evolutionary game theory framework. Evolutionary game theory and resolution of human wildlife conflict. Evolutionary dynamics of community protected areas.

Education

Ph.D, University of Pune M.Sc, University of Pune B.Sc, University of Pune

Experience

09/21 ? Present Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR 2020 ? 2021 Scientist, Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore 2019 ? 2020 Research Scientist, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 2017 ? 2018 Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 2012 ? 2017 INSPIRE Faculty Fellow, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 2010 ? 2012 IISER Fellow, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune

# Title Authors Source Year Cited
1 Article
Pristolepis pentacantha Plamoottil 2015, and Catopra tetracanthus Günther 1862: two junior synonyms of Pristolepis marginata Jerdon 1849
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Abstract not available.
Prakash, A.P.; Raghavan, R.; Dahanukar, N.; Anoop, V.K.; Thampy, D.R.; Britz, R.; Ali, A. Zootaxa, 5642(3), 245-259 2025 1
2 Article
A megafauna in distress: Unsustainable exploitation of tiger sharks in the Arabian Sea and implications for conservation
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Abstract not available.
Gurugubelli, M.; Abisha, C.; Arundhathy, T.A.; Ranjeet, K.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R. Biological Conservation, 304 2025 2
3 Article Open access
Oreichthys warjaintia, a new species of cyprinid fish from Meghalaya, India (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)
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Abstract not available.
Dann, L.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R. Journal of Fish Biology, 106(3), 797-804 2025 0
4 Article Open access
Phreatic mysteries: Diversity and distribution of fossorial and aquifer-dwelling synbranchid eels of southern peninsular India, and implications for conservation (Pisces: Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae)
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Abstract not available.
Raghavan, R.; Sundar, R.L.; Arjun, C.P.; Sidharthan, A.; Dharmarajan, N.P.; Kumar, A.B.; Philip, S.; Ali, A.; Paingankar, M.S.; Rodrigues, G.T.; Britz, R.; Dahanukar, N. Vertebrate Zoology(75), 245-258 2025 0
5 Article Open access
Koima, a new genus of nemacheilid loach from the Western Ghats, India (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae)
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Abstract not available.
Anoop, V.K.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R. Zootaxa, 5538(2), 101-126 2024 0
6 Article
'Data Deficient' but potentially threatened: first biological observations on the poorly known quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga)
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Abstract not available.
Abisha, C.; Dahanukar, N.; Ranjeet, K.; Raghavan, R. Marine and Freshwater Research, 75(12) 2024 0
7 Article
Bridging knowledge gaps for the conservation and management of a ‘Data Deficient’, diadromous fish: the Indo-Pacific tarpon, Megalops cyprinoides
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Abstract not available.
Das, J.; Shanmughan, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R.; Ranjeet, K. Marine and Freshwater Research, 75(10) 2024 0
8 Article
Complete mitogenome of Lepidopygopsis typus, an evolutionarily-distinct, endangered cyprinid fish from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot: Phylogenetic relationships and implications for conservation
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Abstract not available.
Chandra, S.; Abhilash, R.; Sidharthan, A.; Raghavan, R.; Dahanukar, N. Gene, 898 2024 2
9 Article
The loach genus Lepidocephalichthys (Teleostei: Cobitidae) in Sri Lanka and peninsular India: multiple colonizations and unexpected species diversity
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Abstract not available.
Sudasinghe, H.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R.; Ranasinghe, T.; Wijesooriya, K.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Rüber, L.; Meegaskumbura, M. Hydrobiologia, 851(5), 1113-1133 2024 8
10 Article Open access
Biogeography and evolutionary history of Puntius sensu lato (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Sri Lanka
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Abstract not available.
Sudasinghe, H.; Ranasinghe, T.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R.; Rüber, L.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Meegaskumbura, M. Scientific Reports, 13(1) 2023 7
11 Article Open access
The world's largest cave fish from Meghalaya, Northeast India, is a new species, Neolissochilus pnar (Cyprinidae, Torinae)
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Abstract not available.
Dahanukar, N.; Sundar, R.L.; Rangad, D.; Proudlove, G.; Raghavan, R. Vertebrate Zoology, 73, 141-152 2023 9
12 Article Open access
Evolution in the dark: Unexpected genetic diversity and morphological stasis in the blind, aquifer-dwelling catfish Horaglanis
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Abstract not available.
Raghavan, R.; Sundar, R.L.; Arjun, C.P.; Britz, R.; Dahanukar, N. Vertebrate Zoology, 73, 57-74 2023 11
13 Article
Contracaecum nematode parasites in hillstream loaches of the Western Ghats, India
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Abstract not available.
Verma, C.R.; Kumkar, P.; Khare, T.; Pise, M.; Kalous, L.; Dahanukar, N. Journal of Fish Diseases, 45(12), 1873-1882 2022 1
14 Review
Ornamental aquaculture significantly affected by the “Czech aquarium phenomenon”
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Abstract not available.
Novák, J.; Magalhães, A.L.B.; Faulkes, Z.; Yonvitner, Y.; Maceda-Veiga, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Kawai, T.; Kalous, L.; Patoka, J. Aquaculture, 555 2022 12
15 Article Open access
A new diminutive subterranean eel loach species of the genus Pangio (Teleostei: Cobitidae) from Southern India
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Abstract not available.
Sundar, R.L.; Arjun, C.P.; Sidharthan, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Raghavan, R. Zootaxa, 5138(1), 89-97 2022 5
16 Letter
Diversity and distribution of dragon snakeheads of the family Aenigmachannidae, and the identity of Aenigmachanna mahabali
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Abstract not available.
Raghavan, R.; Dahanukar, N.; Anoop, V.K.; Arjun, C.P.; Britz, R. Zootaxa, 5120(2), 295-300 2022 4
17 Article
Demographics and exploitation of two Near Threatened freshwater eels, Anguilla bengalensis and Anguilla bicolor, in small-scale subsistence fisheries and implications for conservation
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Abstract not available.
Shanmughan, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Harrison, A.; Pinder, A.C.; Ranjeet, K.; Raghavan, R. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 32(2), 269-281 2022 15
18 Article
Environmental determinants of aquatic vegetation in rock pools of northern Western Ghats, India
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Abstract not available.
Kulkarni, A.; Vijayan, S.; Shigwan, B.K.; Padhye, S.; Dahanukar, N.; Datar, M.N. Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 196(1), 15-26 2022 3
19 Article
Beyond waterfalls and dams: Riverscape genetics of two endemic mountain loaches in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot
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Abstract not available.
Sidharthan, A.; Dahanukar, N.; Sundar, R.L.; Ranjeet, K.; Raghavan, R. River Research and Applications, 38(1), 152-159 2022 2

Project details will be updated soon.

Research contributions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals:

14
Life Below Water
15
Life on Land
Type Title Status Filed Date Inventors
No patents available.

Awards & Honors

  • 2018 PUBLONS ? Top reviewers in Cross-Field (Sep 2018) 2016 IISER Pune ? Appreciation of service to the institute (Apr 2016) 2012 DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship (Aug 2012) 2009 Editorial board member of Journal of Threatened Taxa (Oct 2009 ? till date) 2006 CSIR JRF and NET Lecturer (Dec 2006) 2006 UGC JRF and NET Lecturer (Jun 2006)

Professional Memberships

  • No memberships listed.

Additional information will be updated soon.