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The present paper records Rosalia (Eurybatus) formosa (Saunders, 1839), a cerambycid or longhorn beetle for the first time from the state of Mizoram in northeastern India. The documentation was done on the basis of two specimens that were collected from the District of Champhai, Mizoram. In this communication, photographs, as well as notes on the morphological features of the species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds play various crucial roles in the ecosystem including pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. Assemblages of bird species in a particular landscape are useful predictors in various ecosystem services, this is evident from studies of forest bird assemblages, aquatic bodies and agro ecosystems. For developing conservation strategies, information on bird species assemblages in a particular geographical area is important. Diversity in aquatic ecosystem support a diversity of water bird species. In the present study, around 45 bird species were recorded in 21 aquatic bodies in Bankura, West Bengal, India, in which two species, namely, Leptoptilos javanicus and Aythya ferina declared 'Vulnerable' and three species such as Mareca falcata, Threskiornis melanocephalus, and Limosa limosa considered as 'Near Threatened' according to the IUCN Red list. Dendrocygna javanica and Nettapus coromandelianus were found to be the most abundant. In those 21 study areas, site6 has the highest species richness and site2 has the lowest. The dominance index was highest for site2 and lowest for site6. Pielou's index of evenness was highest for site20. The rarefaction curve showed species abundance was highest for site1. Classical cluster analysis for species abundance showsthat site20, site21, site3, site8, site4, site19, site5, site14, site12, site15, site7, site 10 site11, and site13 are closely related. This paper is aimed to generate interest among people to conserve aquatic birds and their habitats and to document baseline information for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the description of a new Anthaxia (subgenus Haplanthaxia Reitter, 1911) species from southern India, which belongs to the Anthaxia (H.) winkleri Obenberger, 1914 species-group: Anthaxia (H.) keralensis sp. nov. In addition to a morphological description, we also generated mt. COI DNA sequences and discuss the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the new species with previously deposited COI DNA sequences of Anthaxia spp. In a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis, the new species shared the same hypothetical ancestor node with A. melancholica Gory, 1841 and similar molecular characteristics (~48% similarity) with A. tenella Kiesenwetter, 1858 and A. corinthia Reiche & Saulcy, 1856. More systematic studies are required to understand the species diversity, distribution, biology, and evolutionary significance of the Anthaxia (H.) species groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Checklist of brachyuran mangrove crabs from Kerala, western coast of India is presented in this paper with re-validation of nomenclature since many of the crab species have been renamed so far, and no reports have been published from mangroves of Kerala. A total of 18 true mangrove crabs were identified from different mangroves associated with estuaries along the western coastline of Kerala State, of which four crab genera were renamed and revalidated and all species were photo-documented during the present study. The paper enlists the taxonomic account of the true mangrove crabs known so far from Kerala mangrove ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mizoram, a diminutive state in northeastern India forms a major segment of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots. The wetland grasses in the ecosystem are elements adapted in assorted habitat as one of the primary producers. This present assessment is principally focused to augment and evaluate information on the current status of the aquatic and semi-aquatic grasses from the taxonomic and ecological perspectives from this ecoregion. The paper encompasses the present taxonomic account of the wetland grasses with recent citations, protologue, type, basionym, phenology, growth forms, field status, worldwide distribution and specimens examined. The present investigation revealed the occurrence and distribution of 16 genera including 23 species of wetland grasses from this state. This kind of study always sets the ground for launching in-depth ecological projects for working out the present ecological characteristics and status of the wetlands and their restoration and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road network is spreading rapidly in human dominated as well as forested areas in India. Roads passing through forested areas are known to negatively impact wildlife populations by contributing to wildlife-road kills besides causing habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and disruption of gene flow. This paper documents encounters of wildlife road kills on the State Highway 26 (SH 26) passing through the forested area of Khandwa Territorial Forests in central India. Between October 2015 and June 2017 and from November 2021 to June 2022 we collected opportunistic data on wildlife mortalities on SH 26. We recorded 61 wildlife mortalities on a stretch of 34 km of SH 26. Of the road kills encountered, 71% were birds, 21% were mammals, and 8% were herpetofauna. Highest among bird kills were members of nightjars (Caprimulgidae) (26%) and owls (Strigidae) (23%). Among owls, we recorded two road kills of the endangered Forest Owlet Athene blewitti and individuals of five other owl species. Among other taxa, road-hits of Jungle Cat, Indian Palm Civet, Golden Jackal, Central Indian Langur, and a few snakes were recorded. Most bird kills on the road were recorded in February while the highest number of mammal and herpetofauna kills were recorded in the month of November. We report that the land use around the road and species trait contribute to vulnerability of a species to road-hit. Based on the frequency of road kills, we have identified seven hotspots of road kills on SH 26. Since road construction is one of the major mandates of the Government in India, it is suggested to carry out systematic environment impact assessment on existing and proposed roads to understand the patterns of spatio-temporal incidents of road kills. Planting of tall trees and installation of speed bumps and signboards to alert drivers should be planned at the initial stage of road construction. If appropriate mitigation measures to prevent wildlife mortalities are incorporated while the road is being constructed, it may be possible to bridge the gap between development and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the taxon Sauromatum horsfieldii Miq. reported for the first time from Manipur, India. The detailed morphological description and the photographs are provided along with the artificial key to the Indian species of Sauromatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the study of faunal diversity of Orthoptera of Gomerda Wildlife Sanctuary, Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh. Altogether 47 species pertaining to 44 genera under seven families are reported for the first time from the sanctuary. Two species, i.e., Phoriarellus (Phonarellus) erythrocephalus erythrocephalus (Serville, 1839) and Teleogryllus (Macroteleogryllus) mitratus (Burmeister, 1838) are new additions to the Chhattisgarh State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports occurrence of mason wasp Pison punctifrons Shuckard, 1838 from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is a new distribution record for the species. This paper examines the nest architecture and prey choices of the wasp and carries the photographic record of a live P. punctifrons Shuckard on her nest with prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper highlights a taxonomic account of genus Pteris L. (Pteridaceae E.D.M. Kirchn.) with newly reported species Pteris amoena Blume, which was collected from the Pange range of Tale Wildlife Sanctuary and Hapoli Primary Forest, Hapoli, Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. The present communication is based on plant exploration and in-depth surveys done by the first two authors and through scrutiny of herbaria and literature. All the species are enumerated in this list along with worldwide distribution (outside India), local distribution in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India as NEI included with other Indian states. Reported species shows some morphological closeness with P. terminalis Wall. ex. J.Agardh but differ in having bright pink axes and more rounded and crenately toothed segment-apices. All these characters differentiate to this species to its closely related species and testifying that P. amoena Blume as a new report to the Arunachal Pradesh. Detailed description, distributional range, ecology and specimen examined of newly reported taxa are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of herpetofauna of Telangana, India including accepted English name, scientific name along with authority, Telugu and vernacular name, IUCN, Indian Wildlife Protection Act and CITES status, and endemicity is presented in this paper. The herpetofauna diversity of Telangana is represented by 98 species including 16 species of amphibians belonging to four families, one species of crocodile, six species of testudines, 35 species of saurians and 40 species of snakes. Three species-Hemidactylus flavicaudus, H. xericolus, and H. aemulus-are endemic to Telangana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the diversity of the genus Gymnopilus collected from Kashmir Himalaya. Frequent fungal forage were undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn seasons as a result of which a systematic account of various taxa of the genus Gymnopilus was compiled. In the present paper six species of the genus are taxonomically described and identified as G. decipiens, G. aeruginosus, G. fuscosquamulosus, G. crocias, G. junonius, and G. liquiritiae. Out of all described species G. decipiens is reported for the first time from India while the other four are reported for the first time from northern India. In addition, only G. aeruginosus is reported for the first time from Bangiward, southern Kashmir. Detailed morpho-anatomical characters of these species with habitat photographs, line drawings of macro and microscopic features are given. An identification key to the described species are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with two new varieties of Russula species, R. camarophylla var. reticulospora var. nov. and R. aurea var. minuta var. nov. These were collected from the Shiwalik range of northwestern India, in association with Shorea robusta. Russula aurea var. minuta differs from R. aurea in having small sized sporophores, dentate to wavy gill edges with golden or yellow deposition instead of smooth and much smaller spores. Whereas, mushroom R. camarophylla var. reticulospora is close to Russula camarophylla except for the larger carpophores that have white cream pileus surface and larger spores. In basidiospores warts are connected to form mostly complete reticulum instead of mostly isolated warts reported in Russula camarophylla. In view of the presence of some unique varied features in the presently examined collections two new varieties of Russula has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is an important region of biodiversity in India. Situated in the foothills of the Himalaya, it is spread across India and Nepal. We describe the herpetofauna of the western part of TAL encompassing Ramnagar Forest Division, which falls in Uttarakhand state of India. We primarily used visual encounter survey method for sampling. A total of 47 species of herpetofauna belonging to three orders, 17 families and 36 genera were recorded from 10 habitat types (6 terrestrial and 4 aquatic). Highest species richness (n=32) was recorded from the human settlement and least (n=4) species richness was reported from pond habitat. In this paper, the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in each habitat type is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bivalvia family Placunidae Rafinesque, 1815 in India is reviewed in this paper based on previous literature and records. Additionally, the species Placuna quadrangula is described from the Indian sub-continent. Being an economically important family in this geographic region, this paper can be regarded as a baseline for further ecological, management and policy-related studies pertaining to Placunidae and other exploited species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is the outcome of an extensive floristic survey conducted in two phases by the authors in Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, East Sikkim, India. During the study 411 taxa (400 species, 04 subspecies and 07 varieties) belonging to 173 genera and 54 families were recorded. The most dominating family was Asteraceae with 44 species followed by Ericaceae 28 species, Ranunculaceae 26 species, Polygonaceae 24 species and Rosaceae 20 species. These five families represent 34.13% of the total taxa recorded from the sanctuary. About 12 families were represented by only one species each. The most dominating genus was Rhododendron (18 species) followed by Primula (16 species), Pedicularis (15 species), Gentiana (11 species), and Impatiens (10 species). Among the different growth forms, herbs contributed the maximum (86.61 %) followed by shrubs (7.79%), trees (4.87%), climbers 0.49%, and epiphyte (0.24%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pertains to the habitats of the Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus with specific reference to populations, habitat type, vegetation, foraging, impact of human dwellings, and probable threats to populations in 20 villages covering four northern districts of Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 252 individuals were enumerated. During the non-breeding season, birds move in small groups of 2–6. Of four habitats identified, the maximum number of 143 birds was observed foraging in grasslands, while 61 were seen in dry fallow agricultural lands, 37 in dry lakes/canals, and 11 in harvested fields. No significant association was observed between habitat type and bird behaviour. They feed on termites and spilled paddy grains. Males have repeated loud calls and fight with each other. Four species of tall grasses, six of stunted trees and two shrubs were identified to provide bird habitat. Birds preferred to live away from human dwellings, with 193 found 1,000 m away from settlements. The study area continues to be a suitable habitat for Grey Francolin populations, hence this habitat needs protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnozoological practices to cure various diseases have a long history. Communities that reside near the forest collect wild animals and their derivatives to prepare medicines and get relief from diseases. Northeastern India is home to many tribes with vast traditional ethnobiological knowledge, and there are many reports of zootherapeutic uses in the region. In an attempt to understand primate-based ethnozoologic use in the area a literature survey was carried out using different sources. The findings revealed that Hoolock hoolock was the most used species among the primates (48 %), followed by Macaca assamensis (20 %) and Macaca mulatta (10 %). Among the materials used, the flesh of primates was the most dominant (43 %), followed by the blood (20 %) and brain (14 %). This paper highlights the negative effects of ethno-medicinal uses of primates to draw the attention of conservationists and encourage conservation education to address the damage to primates in the name of health care. Government agencies are also requested to strengthen health care systems to discourage the killing of valuable primate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper is an account and analysis of English media reporting on wildlife conservation and protected areas (PAs) in Maharashtra, India, between 1994 and 2015. It is based on 269 articles that first appeared in the media and were then edited for publication in the 'Protected Area Update'. The analysis attempts to draw out significant themes that the media deems important in matters of wildlife conservation. Themes that emerge prominently are related to issues of land, displacement of people, development projects, and tourism. We also discovered that some PAs like the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve receive disproportionately large media space, while a third of the PAs were not reported on at all. This does not imply that these areas were not reported in the larger media that the newsletter draws upon, but points to the skewed coverage and (limited) importance these PAs get. We argue that media content analysis is a useful tool because the media is the first interface for the general public on issues of wildlife conservation and plays an important role in shaping public opinion. To our knowledge, this is the first such state-wide study of media reporting of wildlife conservation issues; it provides important insights into the wildlife conservation discourse in the country as well as the concerns, priorities, and challenges of the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccinium paucicrenatum Sleumer has been re-collected from three different districts of Arunachal Pradesh approximately after 91 years subsequent to I.H. Burkill’s collection (no. 36976, K) from Ripsing of outer Abor Hills (presently a part of East and West Siang districts nearby Pashighat area) of Arunachal Pradesh on 8 March, 1912. Due to poor description by the earlier workers, the present paper provides amplified description based on field and herbarium data including leaf anatomy (leaf stomata and vein-islets), detailed extended distribution, live and herbarium images and distribution map for easy identification in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of termites (Blattodea: Isoptera) of southern India with their distribution is presented in this paper. In total, 132 species from five families are listed, of which Termitidae Latreille, 1802 is the dominant family comprising 101 species from 27 genera and four subfamilies. The recent additions of species to the regional termite diversity are Krishnacapritermes dineshan Amina & Rajmohana, 2020, K. manikandan Amina & Rajmohana, 2020, and Pseudocapritermes kunjepu Mathew, 2020. Out of 132 species recorded from southern India, 60 species and five genera are endemic to the region, and the subfamily Termitinae Latreille, 1802 accounts for maximum endemism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper focuses on the herbaceous and woody climbers of Saharanpur District. A total of 66 species of herbaceous climbers, 33 species of woody climbers, 15 species of climbing shrubs, and two species of parasitic climbers belonging 27 different families have been recorded. Climbers belonging to the families such as Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Apocynaceae were found to be dominant in this region. This study also records the occurrence of 14 species of threatened climbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper depicts the result of two years study from 2014 to 2016 in non-protected areas on butterflies of Titabar (26.588 N & 94.187 E), Assam, India. During the study period, a total of 158 species of butterflies distributed in six families were recorded, out of which 29 belong to the family Hesperiidae, 17 to Pieridae, 11 to Papilionidae, 38 to Lycaenidae, two to Riodinidae, and 61 to Nymphalidae. Fourteen ‘rare’ species were recorded during the survey as per Evans (1932) such as Athyma ranga, Arhopala paraganesa, Caltoris cormasa, and Appias nero. This indicates the importance of the study and the need for conservation of butterflies of non-protected area of Titabar subdivision in upper Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports new records of six species of termites (Blattodea: Termitidae), viz., Angulitermes acutus Mathur & Sen-Sarma, Dicuspiditermes obtusus (Silvestri), Pericapritermes dunensis (Roonwal & Sen-Sarma), Pericapritermes topslipensis Thakur, Nasutitermes cherraensis Roonwal & Chhotani, and Nasutitermes kali Roonwal & Chhotani from Kerala. Three species P. dunensis, N. cherraensis and N. kali are reported for the first time from the Western Ghats. The details of materials collected, diagnostic characters and distribution data in India are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge on the floral and faunal composition of protected areas (PAs) is crucial for formulating suitable conservation plan. In this paper, inventory and species richness of non-marine molluscs of Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary has been made and is for the first time from any PA of West Bengal. A total of 276 specimens belonging to 22 species (10 species of land snails and 12 species of freshwater) of non-marine molluscs (land and freshwater) were collected and examined from this sanctuary. The malacofaunal inventory comprises of nine genera under seven families among land snails and 12 genera & seven families from both gastropods & bivalves under the freshwater forms. As far as species richness is concerned, the family Ariophantidae was found to be dominant among land forms whereas species of the families Thiaridae and Unionidae were dominant among freshwater forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we report the presence of 503 species of moths (343 identified to species, 160 identified to genus) that belong to 371 genera under 42 families. The study was conducted at Kavvai River basin, northern Kerala, India for three years from 2015 to 2017. Traditional light trapping method was employed to collect the moths during the night. Among the families reported, Erebidae was the most dominant family followed by Crambidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae, and Pyraliade. The study highlights the significance of the riverbasin in conserving rich diversity of invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the butterfly diversity of Guwahati, Assam, India which was the result of a survey conducted from April 2016 to July 2020. During the study period we recorded 249 species of butterflies belonging to six families namely Papilionidae (24 species), Pieridae (23 species), Lycaenidae (57 species), Riodinidae (two species), Nymphalidae (97 species), and Hesperiidae (46 species). Twenty-eight species were recorded from commercial areas, 74 species from residential areas, and 248 species from forested areas. Nineteen species were found to be very common, 39 species common, 50 species fairly common, 53 species uncommon, 57 species rare, and 31 species very rare. Twenty-four species and nine subspecies including Discophora sondiaca, Athyma selenophora, and Athyma kanwa phorkys are legally protected under different schedules as per the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the field survey in central Western Ghats of India, an interesting dryopteridoid fern species was collected from Nellikathrupodu Range of Billigiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve of Karnataka. After a critical study of literature, the specimen was identified as Cyrtomium micropterum (Kunze) Ching. In India, this species is known only from its type locality Nilgiri and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu. The present collection from the BRT Tiger Reserve shows its extended distribution and forms the first report for the state of Karnataka. The present paper deals with the assessment and conservation status of Cyrtomium micropterum (Kunze) Ching in India in accordance with IUCN guidelines for the application of Red List Criteria at regional and national Levels, 2012, Version 4.0. Detailed descriptions, photographs, microphotographs are provided for easy identification of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitigation measures of projects, however, even after 25 years of adoption, EIAs continue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentation and assessment of impacts and their mitigation measures. This questions the credibility of the exercise, as deficient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitive and irreplaceable regions. The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the National Highway-4A, doubling of the railwayline from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the state of Goa. Two of these projects were recently granted 'Wildlife Clearance' during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts. Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be deficient on multiple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project. This paper highlights the biodiversity significance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentation and inadequacy of mitigation measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects. The EIA process needs to improve substantially if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protection policies and regulations nationally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersed wetlands in the Darbhanga District of northern Bihar, India, provide a diversity of niches supporting substantial floral and faunal richness. The aquatic macrophytes of a representative range of perennial water bodies were surveyed fortnightly from June to September 2019, supported by a market survey undertaken with local stakeholders. A total of 61 species of vascular macrophytes was recorded, the majority of them Angiosperms (33 species of Dicotyledons from 21 families, and 26 Monocotyledons from 13 families) and two were Pteridophytes. This paper highlights the distribution pattern and potential commercial and medicinal values of aquatic macrophytes found in different wetland systems in northern Bihar. It further stresses their importance for subsistence, medicinal and economic purposes supporting the livelihoods of local people. Current trends and risks contributing to the degradation and loss of this diverse flora and its supporting habitats are considered. We recommend further assessment of the occurrence and values of this botanical resource, and extension of valuation to encompass the diverse additional ecosystem service benefits provided by the region's wetland systems, as a basis for wetland conservation strategies founded on sustainable management and wise use, with particular reference to the potential for enhancing livelihood security of indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an updated checklist of marine annelids from the Indian subcontinent. Records of annelid species were obtained from published and grey literatures and online databases. Our review of annelid publications was restricted to the Indian continental shelf region. This paper also discusses the taxonomic status of marine annelid species recorded from this region and problems that impede its research. The updated list comprises of 727 species belonging to 334 genera and 72 families. A total of 152 species have their type locality in India including 88 species that are endemic to the region. The current checklist indicates that 25% (183 species) of the records are questionable and require further examination. Our results highlight that marine annelid richness of the Indian sub-continent is underestimated with many of the native undescribed species being most likely concealed under 'erroneous' or 'cosmopolitan' records. With a combination of factors that include a lack of experts, funding, and failure to update regional literature has resulted in an incomplete state of knowledge for the marine annelid biodiversity from this region. Therefore, there is an urgent need for extensive and intensive sampling to discover new species, conduct detailed re-examinations of doubtful records and, collaborate within the local and international institutes and organizations to improve the regional biodiversity studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper records observation on the status and distribution of Gangetic Dolphin, Gharial, Mugger and other aquatic animals, and birds in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary in Rajasthan during the Chambal river expedition conducted with the Indian Army in May 1998. A total of five Gangetic Dolphins, nine Gharials, 14 Indian Mugger crocodiles and 118 species of birds were sighted during the survey of 350km-long stretch of the river Chambal from Keshoraipatan-Bundi to Dhaulpur. The current status of the riverine habitat in view of disturbance and other anthropogenic factors is discussed and suggestions made to safeguard the sanctuary from various threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper includes additional detailed characters and new distribution records of the male of Icius alboterminus (Caleb, 2014) from India. A detailed morphological description based on scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and illustrations of the reproductive organ are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asiatic Lion population has increased in the last three decades, which now occupies a large regional spread with six or more identified satellite populations in eight districts of Gujarat. An overlap of lion habitat with human-dominated landscape elements leads to an increase in lion-human interactions in these growing satellite populations. A high rate of lion mortality has been observed in the periphery of Gir in the last decade due to falls into open dug wells. These wells have been excavated for irrigation in the agricultural landscape of Gir. About 145 wild animals including lions have died due to accidental falls into open wells in past 10 years. It has been observed that construction of parapet walls around wells in some of the peripheral areas of Gir Sanctuary have prevented this accidental mortality at very low cost. To assess the efficiency of these measures we did a survey of 20 random villages in the Gir Lion Landscape to collect data on the types of wells that cause this uncalled-for mortality. The paper explores the reasons for the lions falling into wells in the agricultural areas outside the Gir Sanctuary. The survey has shown that the corridors used by lions and in the satellite population areas are high risk sites where more parapet walls should be built on a priority basis. From the year 2007 to 2018 more than 48,000 parapet walls have already been randomly built in the periphery of the Gir Sanctuary. Out of 130 identified wells, 90 were protected with parapet wall or iron net while, 32 were without parapet wall and rest eight were with unfinished parapet wall. Providing a scheme for building more parapet walls around prioritized open wells would be an effective step towards Asiatic Lion conservation in the Gir Lion Landscape. Our survey indicates that there has been no mortality of lions in those wells where parapet walls have been built. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present an updated checklist of mammals found in Meghalaya. Using online databases and search engines for available literature, we provide the scientific names, accepted English names, conservation status as per IUCN Red List, Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act schedules, appendices in CITES, local distribution status, endemism, last reported sighting, an account of previous studies carried out relative to mammals and a tentative bibliography of the mammalian species found in Meghalaya. A total of 162 species were found to be existing in the state with Chiropterans forming the largest group and 27 species found to be threatened, seven Near Threatened and seven Data Deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Octocorallia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) comprising over 3,600 nominal species within three orders, Alcyonacea, Helioporacea and Pennatulacea, is one of the most poorly known groups of marine invertebrates. Half of known octocoral species occur in the Indo- Pacific, but not much is understood about research efforts and outputs in this region, particularly in the Asian context. A review of the literature on Asian octocorals during a 40-year period from 1978 to 2018 revealed that most research was concentrated in particular regions/countries. An analysis of research originating from India indicated several issues, including low quality data and local taxonomic impediment. This paper examines the general trends and geographic disparity in Asian octocoral research over the past four decades, analyses the extent and source of such disparity by drawing parallels between India and the rest of Asia, and provides recommendations for improving octocoral studies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of mammals of Tamil Nadu State is presented in this paper. Accepted English names, scientific binomen, prevalent vernacular names in Tamil, IUCN conservation status, Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act schedules, the appendices in the CITES, endemism, the distribution of species in India, the Western Ghats & plains of Tamil Nadu, and the complete bibliography pertaining to the 132 species of mammals of Tamil Nadu are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India. The forest is classified as a tropical dry deciduous type, with teak Tectona grandis as the predominant species. Extensive field trips were carried out during 2018-2020 to document the medicinally important tree species. The medicinal importance of these plants was recorded through interviews, group discussions with local tribal communities and on the basis of the literature available. Enumeration of tree species in this area showed occurrence of 50 tree species belonging to 37 genera and 21 families. The study further observed that several species were being used as traditional medicine by the local tribal folks, traditional healers in the study area, and also by pharmaceutical industries. The study observed that some species in the sanctuary were rare due to several developmental projects, forest destruction, and over-exploitation. The study provides details about the botanical identity, family, local name, plant parts utilised and uses for treatment of diseases. The present paper identified the tree species for their conservation status and accordingly recommends the priority for their conservation in the study area. We recommend that tree species documentation might be helpful for drug formulation and the preservation of traditional knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The examination of a large number of herbarium specimens combined with field observations reveal that Ficus palmata Forssk. subsp. palmata does not occur in India. The Indian plants occurring in the wild from the north-west to the south belong to F. palmata Forssk. subsp. virgata (Roxb.) Browicz. The maximum concentration of the taxon lies in northernIndia extending up to about 2200m altitude in the Himalaya. In southern India, the taxon is reported only in Andhra Pradesh. F. palmata subsp. virgata is notoriously variable in its entire range of distribution in almost all morphological characters. The variations are continuous and its two extreme forms, with entire leaves and lobed leaves, are connected with numerous intermediate forms. The taxon is closely allied to F. carica L., which is distributed from the Mediterranean region to Afghanistan and occurs only in cultivation in some parts of India. The paper also explains the relationship of the taxon with its closely allied species and provides a key to discriminate among them. In this paper, the taxon is described, illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings and provided with a distribution map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarothrocera lowii White, 1846 is the only species belonging to the genus Sarothrocera (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). Both the sexes of S. lowii were collected from Medziphema, Nagaland, northeastern India, during surveys in 2016. Earlier, Ghate et al. (2012) and Kumawat et al. (2015) reported this species from Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively, based on female specimens. This paper describes detailed characters of male S. lowii with comments on the female, along with the genitalia descriptions of both sexes for the first time. The species is a new report from Nagaland, India, adding to the known distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watershed avifaunal inventories are useful in devising management strategies appropriate to the habitat, as well as species conservation. The Chenab River basin forms one of the largest and most important river basins in Jammu & Kashmir. The upper Chenab catchment offers a rich and diverse fauna, especially birds, owing to variety of habitats, different climatic regimes, and a wide range of altitude,. We present an avifaunal list of four watersheds--Bhot, Marusudar, Kalnai and Neeru of the Chenab River basin including Kishtwar Town and the surrounding area of the upper Chenab catchment over an elevation range of 820-4,500 m. The list includes 251 species belonging to 60 families and 150 genera of which six are globally threatened, 127 residents, 124 migrants and three new to the state. The paper also describes species-wise habitat occupancy, feeding behaviour, migratory status and abundance of the avifauna. The study reveals that mosaic habitats comprising forests, riverbeds, rangelands and rocky outcrops are crucial for the conservation of birds in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna in relation to the water chemistry of the Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 12 species were reported which belong to four families, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, and Bithyniidae from class Gastropoda, and two families, Cyrenidae and Pisidiidae from class Bivalvia. The family Planorbidae contributed 34% to the total annual molluscan population followed by Lymnaeidae (28%) and Bithyniidae (18%). During the collection, Gyraulus sp., Planorbis sp., and Bithynia tentaculata were prevalent at all sites, with predominance of Bithynia tentaculata. Species richness and abundance were observed maximum at site A3 (down-stream) and minimum at site Al (up-stream) while in the case of temporal variation, species richness and abundance were maximum in summer and minimum in winter. Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, Margalef index, and Pielou evenness index were used to calculate the diversity, dominance, richness, and evenness of molluscan species, respectively. Physico-chemical parameters revealed a non-significant spatial variation (P >0.05) except pH, total hardness, and alkalinity while a significant temporal variation (P <0.05) was observed in the physico-chemical parameters except dissolved oxygen. A significant positive correlation was seen between the molluscan species and total hardness. In the present study, the stone mining, channel morphology of stream, habitat heterogeneity, and physico-chemical parameters were also found to promote the spatial and temporal diversity of malacofauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification and mapping of the spatial distribution of species is an important aspect of zoogeographical enquiry. The habitats of many species are facing the threat of depletion in increasingly human-influenced environments. This has already led to the extinction of many species in different localities, making understanding the linkages between anthropogenic threats and species distribution of utmost importance. A GIS-based model was applied to gain an overall picture of the potential distribution of Ploceus philippinus (Baya Weaver) in and around Nagaon District in Assam. The used maxent model in the GIS environment gives a highly significant Area Under Curve (AUC) validation statistic of 0.99. Out of the total area of 3,975 km2, 596.86 km2 (15%) is demarcated as a high-potential area. Such predictions are highly useful in assisting in the conservation of threatened species under current and future climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication reports the repeated sighting records of the Amur Falcon Falco amurensis with photographic evidence in the D'Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (DEMWS) of Arunachal Pradesh during the summer. Though there are many sighting reports of the Amur Falcon from many places in India, all are onward journeys (October and November). Hence, not only the repeated sighting of the Amur Falcon but also its sighting during the month of May in DEMWS is the record of its kind. This is significant information for ornithologists, as the recent sighting in the sanctuary is the second record of this raptor during the summer in the state, which also demonstrated that DEMWS is a significant flyway and a preferred stopover or refuelling site during the return migration of this raptor towards their breeding grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following several surveys of aquatic Coleoptera during 2013-2018 in northern Western Ghats, India, we hereby provide an illustrated checklist with modified keys to the species of families Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Noteridae, and Hydrophilidae. To date, we have collected 69 species of true water beetles, adding new occurrence records for two species to the fauna of the state. Keys are modified from the works of various authors. Distribution records are provided with district specific records for Maharashtra. Keys, species lists, and distribution records are based on our survey results. Species were identified following the works of various authors, and affirmed by dissecting male genitalia. Provided with keys are habitus images, images of male genitalia for 59 species, and digital drawings & scanning electron micrographs of taxonomically important structures wherever necessary. These surveys were conducted to revive the work on aquatic beetles that have been neglected for about 40 years, and to prepare a revised checklist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of wildlife depends mostly on scientific data; ignoring this can lead to unintended consequences. We take the case study of the wild male Asian Elephant Rivaldo of the Sigur Region, who was translocated out of his range. Rivaldo returned to his home range within a few days, which could have been expected if scientific publications had been consulted. We suggest that a simple checklist of relevant publications can help park managers to decide on a proper management procedure. We also used a simple Bayesian framework to visually show how the probability of predicting a management outcome is increased by prior knowledge. The expensive and risky effort to relocate the elephant could have been avoided altogether if prior knowledge had been taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides information on butterfies sampled during random surveys from November 2014 to September2016 from eight reserve forest areas and Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, covering three districts (Tinsukhia, Dibrugarh & Sibasagar) in the eastern part of upper Assam which form part of the Indo-Burma hotspot. The survey revealed 237 species which included 33 species a listed as protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and 58 species that have distribution restricted to the eastern Himalaya and northeastern India in India. An anotated list of 375 species of butterflies so far recorded from eastern Assam that includes a large number of very rare species (Indian Yellow-vein Lancer Pyroneura margherita; Grey-lined Lascar Pantoporia dindinga assamica; Assamese/Conjoined Lascar Pantoporia assamica; Bi-coloured Hedgeblue Udara selma cerima; Vinous Oakblue Arhopala athada aphade; Magnificent Oakblue Arhopala anarte; White Punch Dodona henrici; Pale Striped Dawnfly Capilia zennara; Andaman Yellowbanded Flat Celaenorrhinus andamanicus hanna; Sikkim Ace Halpe sikkima; Baby Swift Polytremis minuta; Maculate Lancer Salanoemia sala; Veined Palmer Hidari bhawani; Pallid Forester Lethe satyavati; Peal's Palmfly Elymnias peali; Blue Baron Euthalia telchinia; Blue Nawab Polyura schreiber assamensis; Tytler's Dull Oakblue Arhopala ace arata; Orchid Tit Hypolycaena othona othona; Purple Brown Tailless Oakblue Arhopala arvina ardea; Malayan Bushblue Arhopala ammon ariel and Broad-branded Brilliant Simiskina phalena harterti) along with their site and month of record, endemicity and relative abundance status in India, is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper deals with the diversity of the scorpion fauna of Saswad-Jejuri region in western India, and highlights the conservation implications of quantitative studies. Eight species of scorpions from five genera and three families are recorded in 10 microhabitats. Some of these areas are categorized as 'wastelands' and hence are vulnerable for land use modifications. The interdependence of such microhabitats and their neglected inhabitants like scorpions is highlighted in this study. This information provides a baseline biological data for further demographic and ecological studies and stresses the need for impact assessment prior to undertaking developmental projects in 'wastelands', since arachnids exhibit restricted movements and are vulnerable to habitat modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophiorrhiza caudata is a creeping, perennial herb distributed along wet and shady areas. The species is distylous with two distinct floral morphs: pin and thrum. Flowering usually occurs during the monsoon season. No particular difference was noticed in the flowering phenology of the two morphs. Presently the species is self-incompatible, however, it shows a tendency towards intramorph compatibility. Fruit set is above 60% in open pollination and intermorph pollination. Bees and butterflies are the major pollinators. The pollen flow between the two floral morphs varies depending upon floral morphology and pollinators. Fruit is a bi-valved capsule which dehisces by a splashing drop mechanism. The seeds are very minute. The rate of seed germination and seedling establishment in the wild condition is very poor due to adverse climatic factors. Ophiorrhiza caudata is struggling for survival in its natural habitat, where habitat fragmentation, climatic factors and poor seedling establishment could account for its narrow distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometrid moths of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger reserve were studied during the years 2012 to 2016. Since collection of specimens was not permitted, only field notes, accompanied by photo documentation was undertaken. Two-hundred-and-sixty geometrid moths identified to various hierarchical levels of taxa and one new genus for southern India, are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]