JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai 400 001.

ExecuTIveE Epitor

Deepak A. Apte, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai

Copy Epitor

Ranjit Manakadan, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society

Copy AND PropucTION EDIToR

Vibhuti Dedhia, M. Sc.

Bombay Natural History Society

Ajith Kumar, Ph. D.

National Centre for Biological Sciences,

GKVK Campus, Hebbal, Bengaluru,

Karnataka

C.R. Babu, Ph. D.

Professor, Centre for Environmental Management

of Degraded Ecosystems,

University of Delhi,

New Delhi

Anwaruddin Choudhury, Ph. D., D. Sc.

The Rhino Foundation for Nature,

Guwahati, Assam

Indraneil Das, D. Phil.

Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation,

Universiti Malaysia, Sarawak,

Malaysia

Y.V. Jhala, Ph. D.

Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

K. Ullas Karanth, Ph. D.

Wildlife Conservation Society — India Program,

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Raghunandan Chundawat, Ph. D.

Wildlife Conservation Society, Bengaluru

Nigel Collar, Ph. D.

BirdLife International, UK

Rhys Green, Ph. D.

Royal Society for Protection of Birds, UK

Editorial Board

Aasheesh Pittie, B. Com.

Bird Watchers Society of Andhra Pradesh,

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

G.S. Rawat, Ph. D.

Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

J.D. Marcus Knight, Ph. D.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

J.S. Singh, Ph. D.

Professor, Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

S. Subramanya, Ph. D.

University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK,

Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka

R. Sukumar, Ph. D.

Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences,

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Romulus Whitaker, B. Sc.

Madras Reptile Park and Crocodile Bank Trust,

Tamil Nadu

S.R. Yadav, Ph. D.

Shivaji University, Kolhapur,

Maharashtra

Consultant Editors

Qamar Qureshi, M. Phil.

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

Asad R. Rahmani, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society

Gayatri W. Ugra, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society

Editorial Assistant: Sonali V. Vadhavkar, M. Sc.

Layout and Typesetting: V. Gopi Naidu and Sanchita S. Kadge

recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Enquiries concerning

reproduction outside the scope of the above should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, BNHS at the address given above.

CONTENTS

VOLUME 112(3): DECEMBER 2015 | PUBLISHED: MAY 2017

DITORIAL .. 20.2: Sans eect cee eee dee sueeenssngeddeenntnamitnnnasingensveaieiGessderdetateradnecgnasneseaQenrsnevssbdnth eawevgedssanarngtaesanecsreaddescuseatiiuradvarcerstiensen 125

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA (MOLLUSCA: HETEROBRANCHIA) FROM ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS,

INDIA

Deepak Apte, Sumer Verma-ainicd*Digant De salle sscec. Sen, ccc, ees a ee ee netest a nat oa agi tian Rawasiede meee etna NA ath ana ee 127

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY (LEPIDOPTERA) RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

ALUn-P. SINGH ois. hes Bgaaanatenentuc be. arpatbe sce. Pecans Beare tai caw tase th witch ents Sra date dleas nt hah YAR San Nn aimee dh cs owe nent 138

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

LIBRARIES

MAMMALS FISH

1. Indian Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros lankadiva: first record 11. Rabbit Fish Siganus canaliculatus: a new host record for

for Bangladesh isopod parasite Nerocila arres Bowman and Tareen,

Anik Saha, Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz and 1983

nich Kannan asa. :..2eeie 5 ec deraecaulee etter sate ios acta ands 165 Malay Kanti Dev Roy, Shibananda Rath,

AVES Santanu Mitra and Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra.............. 177

2. Note on the Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica in INSECTS

Kerala, southwest India: museum records

12. Buchanania cochinchinensis (Lour.) M.R. Almeida:

V.J. Zacharias and Kristof ZySKOWSKI.............::::ceeeeeees 166

3. First sighting of Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

in Kargil district of Ladakh, Indian trans-Himalaya

Tanveer Ahmed, Afifullah Khan and Pankaj Chandan... 168

4. Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth in the

High Wavy mountains, Tamil Nadu, southern India

V.J. Zacharias and B.M. Beehler...........2.::::ceecceeeeeeneees 169

5. White-capped River-Chat Phoenicurus leucocephalus

a new host plant for Scutellera perplexa (Westwood)

(Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Akshay A. Onkar and Ashish N. Nerlekar...............:004 179

13. Tiger butterflies attracted to light near Sir Syed College

campus, Taliparamba, Kannur, northern Kerala, India

Ue NC TGL LD eles anaes Siar a Ror no 2 180

14. Additions to larval host plants of Indian butterflies

in Odisha: first record from peninsular India (Pepiapntena)

Asif N. Khan and Rahul Khot......sccccssssssesecssssssseseseeeeee 170 Becpalc Nal anciMonaninecy suse Kaas otto ae ia

6. Range exensien oF BoRen cee ey Myna AMpSIERRS OTHER INVERTEBRATES

coronatusand its finst,reeorel TDA: Mie 15. Three new records of Opisthobranchs (Mollusca) from

Harshakumar Chikkanaragund and A.K. Gupta........... A714

oS a ap mianee Pert ae tee oy Lakshadweep Islands, India

> Oo iat “ SE Oe Deepak Apte, Idrees Babu and V.K. Salahuddin........... 183

ee ee | | 16. First record of Titiscania limacina Bergh, 1890

Monalisa Bhujabal, Nanda Kishore Bhujabal and

(Mollusca: Gastropoda) from India

Chinmaya:Bhiuja ballin: 3) sa, o0 eee Pou an eee ore eee 172

' Deepak Apte and Sayali Nerurkar................ccccceeeeeeeeeees 185

8. The Monsoon Feast: Congregation of birds feeding

on a termite swarm at Walayar, Kerala, India BOTANY

Selvaraj. Ramesh: NUM ieee eee eke ce a ets 173 17. Portulaca granulato-stellulata (Poelin.) Ricceri & Arrigoni:

9. Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia (Family Columbidae)

preying on winged termites (Insecta: Isoptera)

a new record for flora of Gujarat, India

Rupesh Maurya, Umerfarug M. Qureshimatva,

ASist Sia ccc sclk tert pheno ee nese nen Meee us: Aa R IGA ET PHISOINERIAING nce ecco eet orc ce 188

REPTILES 18. Additions to the flowering plants of Goa, India

10. Report of Rock Agama Psammophilus sp. preying on Sharad S. Kambale, Anup S. Deshpande and

Fan-throated Lizard Sitana sp. in Gomardah Wildlife PRU STRO es nO eg mca coo cc cuvaecguand oade suave aveeaiouvanay 189

Sanctuary, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, India 19. Viral diseases of four tree species in forest nurseries of

A.M.K. Bharos, Akhilesh Bharos, N.D. Agrawal Indore, India

aid: SHISHA DAG os cat gins ean uneaeaaentar ee eeueunecireuea Eee 176 Hemant Pathak and S.C. Silawat...............ccccceeeeeeeeeee es 191

Cover Photograph: Limaria fragalis (Gmelin, 1791) by Deepak Apte

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,

GOVT. OF INDIA,

FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE JOURNAL.

- Editorial

The threat of dams to Northeast India

Northeast India, comprising the seven sister states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, and the Himalayan state of Sikkim, is known for its biodiversity, culture,

and the unique Brahmaputra river system.

The region is rich in biodiversity and home to wildlife species such as the Rhino, Elephant, Tiger,

Asiatic Buffalo, Hoolock Gibbon, Pygmy Hog, Gangetic River Dolphin and several other endangered

species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and plants. Two of three global biodiversity hotspots in India — the

Himalaya and Indo-Myanmar — traverse the Northeast. The river system in this area is intricately linked

with the floodplain ecology of wetlands (bee/s) and grasslands of the Brahmaputra valley. The region is

home to more than a hundred tribal communities, and they are heavily dependent on natural resources for

their livelihood (Vagholikar and Das 2010).

The physical link between the Northeast and the rest of the Indian mainland is a slender 21 km stretch

through north Bengal. Besides its geographical isolation, the requirement of an Inner Line Permit to enter

some areas of the region has kept some parts of it protected from the environmental disturbances that afflict

the other parts, such as conversion of massive stretches of land into privately owned tea gardens in Assam.

At the same time, this isolation has also led to the economic and political marginalization of Northeast

India (Menon and Kohli 2005).

To address these issues, a plan was laid out for the development of Northeast India which incorporated

large hydel projects as vital components of the development plan. A July 2002 press release of the Ministry

of Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER), presented the region’s “potential to be India’s

future powerhouse”. In October 2011, Central Electricity Authority (CEA)’s Preliminary Ranking Study

of the potential of hydroelectric schemes for all river basins in the country ranked the Brahmaputra river

system to be the best. A total of 149 hydel project schemes were proposed, to be implemented by National

Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), the Brahmaputra

Board, and State Electricity Boards, among others. Over the last decade, Arunachal Pradesh signed more

than 150 memorandums of understanding with various agencies for hydel power projects, which if effective,

would make Arunachal home to one of the greatest concentrations of dams 1n the world (Rajshekhar 2016).

‘Hydroelectric projects in the Northeast are being promoted by portraying dams as the solution for

all the problems of the region. Are these claims valid? Human displacement due to submergence may be

relatively small as compared to other parts of India. However, since the terrain of states like Arunachal

Pradesh is hilly, there is already little land where permanent cultivation is possible, and this arable land will

be submerged by some of the proposed projects, thus affecting the livelihood of locals (Menon ef a/. 2003).

Large hydroelectric projects coming up in our country need to pass through the mandatory environmental

clearances from the MoEFCC to evaluate their viability on environmental and social grounds. Based on their

specific locations, hydroelectric projects could also require other clearances such as “forest clearance’ from

the MoEFCC and approval from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), if

located inside wildlife Protected Areas (PAs). EIA reports are a key feature of the environmental clearance

process. A cursory look at many of the EIA reports, particularly on the ecology and biodiversity aspects,

speaks volumes about their standards. Granting of clearances based on frivolous and below par studies

unfortunately decides the fate of some of our country’s most important wildlife habitats. EIA reports of at

least five large hydroelectric projects - Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Middle Siang, Tipaimukh, and Dibang

— were found to be shoddy in their reporting on wildlife by Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury, a well-known

naturalist of the region (Vagholikar 2008).

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114419

For example, Zemithang valley, identified as an Important Bird Area, is the site where the Nyamjang

Chu Dam will be constructed. In India, the Black-necked Crane winters in only two places: Sangti valley and

Zemithang. The Zemithang wintering site of the Black-necked Crane will be fully impacted by the dam; in

fact, the barrage/dam is located at the very site where the Black-necked Crane winters! This area is already

extremely small, just 3 sq. km. The barrage/dam will change the flow patterns, significantly submerge the

area, and create a new Structure in the wintering site of Black-necked Crane. Other than these, the tunnel

is also likely to impact ecology significantly, changing the riparian habitat that the cranes require. The EIA

report of the project does not even mention the existence of the Black-necked Crane in the area. This is

misrepresentation of facts, and against Section 8(vi) of the EIA notification 2006.

Shifting agriculture (jhum) is a dominant traditional land use in the hills of Northeast India and plays a

critical role in the livelihoods of people, maintaining agricultural biodiversity and providing food security.

Increasing pressures on land have resulted in the shortening of jhum cycles (the length of the fallow

period between two cropping phases), thus impacting the ecological viability of this farming system. The -

submergence of land by hydel projects will further shorten the jhum cycle and enhance the pressure on the

surrounding areas, thus affecting the environment and the livelihoods of Jhum-dependent communities over

a much larger landscape (Vagholikar and Das 2010).

It is known that existing projects like the Gumti (Tripura) and the Loktak (Manipur) have had pies term

negative impacts on the people of the region. Loktak hydroelectric project, commissioned in the 1980s, has

impacted the wetland ecology of the Loktak Lake in Manipur, seriously affecting the habitat of the endangered

Sangai or Brow-antlered Deer. The Kaptai Dam, built in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of East Pakistan (now

Bangladesh) had submerged the traditional homelands of the Hajong and Chakma communities, and forced

them to migrate into Northeast India, leading to conflicts between the refugees and local communities. The

imminent loss of home, land, and livelihood led to the opposition to many other dams such as the Pagladiya

in Assam and Tipaimukh in Manipur (Menon and Kohli 2005).

Several recent media reports claim that India is a power surplus nation with possible intent to export

electricity to neighbouring countries! But does producing more power for profit at the cost of loss of some

of the pristine forests and wildlife make sense? We probably fail to understand or are not willing to accept

that these are the very forests that are catchment for the Brahmaputra, Teesta, and other rivers of northeast

India. Degradation of the catchment forests will not just affect the rainfall pattern; but will also result in

greater silt flow into the reservoir, thereby reducing the life of the dam. Though some dams may be necessary

as a water resource and for power generation, but certainly damming all rivers is not a wise move.

It is also a known fact that high productivity of near shore oceans and marine fishery largely depend on

freshwater inputs through rivers. In fact, the large scale near shore fisheries of West Bengal and Bangladesh are

hugely influenced by organic sediments that the Brahmaputra brings in. Damming its tributaries and destroying

the catchment forests will create another set of ecological refugees, in the form of coastal fishing communities.

To conclude, Northeast India has been identified as India’s ‘future powerhouse’, and will have at least

168 large hydroelectric projects. These are envisioned to aid in the ‘development’ of the region, but from the

conservation point of view, these are set to majorly alter the riverscape, and large dams are emerging as a

major issue of conflict in the region. India has enough of examples to learn of the lessons of ecological and

social costs of large dams, but whether we will learn from our past mistakes is a question to ponder upon.

Deepak Apte & Parveen Shaikh

References

Menon, M. & K. Koutt (2005): Large dams for hydropower in northeast India: A dossier. Published by Kalpavriksh.

Menon, M., N. VAGHOLIKAR, K. Koni & A. FERNANDES (2003): Large dams in the Northeast — a bright future? The Ecologist Asia

11(1) January—March.

RAJSHEKHAR, M. (2016): The mess in Arunachal Pradesh that no one is talking about. News Analysis. https://scroll.in/article/802708/

why-private-companies-want-to-give-their-hydel-projects-in-arunachal-to-nhpc. Accessed in May 2017.

VAGHOLIKAR, N. (2008): Lies... Dammed Lies Untruth Compromise India’s Ecology Security. Sanctuary Asia August 2008.

VAGHOLIKAR, N. & P.J. Das (2010): Damming the Northeast. Kalpavriksh, Aaranyak and ActionAid India. Pune/Guwahati/New Delhi.

126 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015 127-137

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA (MOLLUSCA: HETEROBRANCHIA)

FROM ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA

DeEpPAK ApTe’*, SUMER VERMA” AND DIGANT DESAP

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

?Reef Watch Marine Conservation, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

33901 Chandelier Court, 9th floor, Manjrekar lane (Gandhi Nagar), Dr. E Moses Road, Worli Naka, Mumbai 400 018, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114420

The present study was carried out over two years between 2013 and 2015 along the Andaman & Nicobar Islands,

and yielded 128 species, of which 30 species are new records to Indian waters. Aglajidae, Actinocyclidae, and

Dendrodorididae is represented by 1 species each; Chromodorididae — 17 species, Discodorididae and Polyceridae — 3

species each, and Facelinidae — 4 species. Deeper waters between 25 and 40 m still remain relatively unexplored over

vast territory in India in general and Andaman & Nicobar Islands in particular. Thus, more focused studies from these

depths may reveal many more undocumented opisthobranch fauna.

Key words: India, Andaman, Nicobar, Nudibranchia, Opisthobranch, Sea slugs

INTRODUCTION

A recent study by Bhave and Apte (2013) revealed that 311

species of Opisthobranchs are known from India distributed over

7 orders, 53 families and 141 genera. There are a few new

additions by various authors subsequent to this study (Apte

and Bhave 2014; Carmona et al. 2014; Carmona et al. 2016;

Poria et al. 2015; Prasade et al. 2015) taking the total count of

Indian Opisthobranchia to over 350 species. Exact enumeration

of opisthobranch diversity in India remains a challenge due to

several non peer-reviewed publications and reports.

Among important coastal and marine biodiversity

areas of India, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands represent

one of the important coral reef, mangrove and seagrass

ecosystems. They comprise 572 islands, islets and rocks in

the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.

The opisthobranch fauna of the Andaman & Nicobar

Islands received focused attention in the recent past through

the works of Subba Rao and Dey (2000), Ramakrishna

et al- (2010), Sreerai-ef al. (201020124, by. 2013) and

Venkataraman et al. (2015). Other recent works on

opisthobranchs of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands include

Baskaran et al. (2013), Dhivya et al. (2012), Narayana and

Mohanraju (2013), Sachithananadam ef al. (2011), and

Shakthivel et al. (2014).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Diving expeditions were made during the study period at

various sites (Fig. 1) and high resolution images were taken

of all the opisthobranch species encountered. No specimens

were collected due to the lack of collection permission. The

identification of species was done purely based on external

characters. Since for most of the species the morphological

characters are distinct, high resolution images were taken

to study rhinophores, gills, mantle, and colour. All species

described in the text were photographed at subtidal depth

between 15—40 m, except Hallaxa elongata and Mexichromis

lemniscata, which were found in the intertidal area where a

few surveys were conducted.

Fig 1: Study sites for opisthobranch fauna in the

Andaman & Nicobar islands

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

DESCRIPTION

Phylum: Mollusca Linnaeus, 1758

Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass: Heterobranchia Burmeister, 1837

Infraclass: Opisthobranchia Milne-Edwards, 1848

Order: Cephalaspidea P. Fischer, 1883

Superfamily: Philinoidea Gray, 1850 (1815)

Family: Aglajidae Pilsbry, 1895 (1847)

Genus: Chelidonura A. Adams, 1850

Chelidonura amoena Bergh, 1905

Average Size: 30 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Willan and Cattaneo-Vietti (1995) provided

comprehensive details of the species and stated that it

shows considerable variation in colour with the possibility

of the presence of hybrid of Chelidonura amoena and

C. electra.

Colour of present specimen dark reddish-brown

anteriorly, fading progressively towards posterior end. Caudal

lobes creamy white with fine brown reticulation. Left caudal

lobe about 2.5 times the size of right lobe. Entire mantle

covered with fine white specks (Fig. 2).

Distribution: Tropical western Pacific, eastern Indian

Ocean—Indonesia, Australia. Palau, Okinawa (Japan),

Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan.

New Distribution: Great Nicobar.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Actinocyclidae O’ Donoghue, 1929

Genus: Hallaxa Eliot, 1909

Hallaxa elongata Gosliner & S. Johnson, 1994

Average Size: 20 mm (2 specimens laying eggs).

Diagnosis: Body colour light to deep brown. Tips of gills

and rhinophores opaque white as described by Gosliner et

al. (2008). Egg case light green to yellowish green. Found

in shallow reef areas under coral rubble (Fig. 3).

Distribution: Known only from Aldabra Atoll in

Seychelles.

New Distribution: Burmanallah, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Ardeadoris Rudman, 1984

Ardeadoris egretta Rudman, 1984

Average Size: 40 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Large white chromodorid with distinct deep

yellowish orange marginal band. Rhinophores and gills have

distinct translucent white band from tip to bottom (Fig. 4).

128

Distribution: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua

New Guinea, Japan.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu and Cinque Island,

South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Chromodoris Alder and Hancock, 1855

Chromodoris annae Bergh, 1877

Average Size: 35 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Large chromodorid with deep blue mantle

having black specks, and encircled by three distinct bands:

black, white, and yellow. Rhinophores and gills deep orange

(Fig. 5).

Distribution: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, New

Guinea, Japan, Guam, Marshall Islands, Christmas Island,

Vanuatu.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman.

Chromodoris dianae Gosliner & Behrens, 1998

Average Size: 45 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Large blue chromodorid, punctated white.

Mantle has distinct white margin and discontinuous black

band encircling medial area. Distinct black spot present

between rhinophores, which are yellow with white base. Gills

yellow on upper half, white on basal half (Fig. 6).

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Guam, Malaysia,

Japan. |

New Distribution: Neil and Cinque Island, South

Andaman.

Chromodoris hamiltoni Rudman, 1977

Average Size: 50 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Large chromodorid with central blue

coloration, having a distinct black band which is broken

near head region. Mantle with three distinct black bands; one

central and two originating from base of rhinophores which

terminate at base of gills. Margin with deep orange band.

Gills and rhinophores orange (Fig. 7).

Distribution: South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar.

New Distribution: Neil Island, South Andaman.

Chromodoris joshi Gosliner & Behrens, 1998

Average Size: 50 mm (3 specimens).

Diagnosis: Specimens match the description of Gosliner

and Behrens (1998). Large golden yellow chromodorid with

white flecks. Black band encircles dorsal surface, starting

from anterior end of notum and ending just behind gills.

Central longitudinal line runs between rhinophores to the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

base of gill pocket. Rhinophores dark golden yellow, gills

light yellow-white (Fig. 8).

Distribution: Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu and Neil Island, South

Andaman. :

Chromodoris lochi Rudman, 1982

Average Size: 10—25 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: Pale bluish white with dark black submarginal

band encircled with deep blue band. Central longitudinal

line starts at base of rhinophores, which is broken centrally

and ends at the base of gill pocket. Rhinophores and gills

pink (Fig. 9).

Distribution: Australia, Philippines, Fiji, New Caledonia,

Singapore, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Guinea.

New Distribution: Outram Island, South Andaman.

Chromodoris magnifica (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832)

Synonym: Doris magnifica Quoy and Gaimard, 1832

Average Size: 50-60 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: The species shows highly variable colour but

is usually bluish white. The specimens found in Andaman are

white on the outer edge while central part has bluish tinge.

On the mantle, bluish area is outlined by three continuous

black lines. Margin of mantle bordered with a large white

band having a central orange band. Rhinophores and gills

deep red orange (Fig. 10).

Distribution: Australia, Philippines, New Guinea,

Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan.

New Distribution: Outram Island, South Andaman.

Chromodoris willani Rudman, 1982

Average Size: 30 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: The species can range in colour from dark blue

to a translucent white. The specimens found in Andaman are

bluish white. Dorsum has black stripes with centremost one

discontinuous. Opaque white spots on rhinophores and gills

diagnostic (Fig. 11).

Distribution: Vanuatu, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia,

Guam, Japan (Okinawa).

New Distribution: Outram Island, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Goniobranchus Pease, 1866

Goniobranchus coi (Risbec, 1956)

Synonym: Chromodoris coi (Risbec, 1956); Glossodoris

coi Risbec, 1956.

Average Size: 30-35 mm (several specimens).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Diagnosis: Outer part of dorsum light brown to yellow,

separated from inner light chestnut brown part by a wavy

white and cherry red or black line. Mantle brown, edged

with a dark purple line. Gills and rhinophores vary from

translucent white, pale-yellow to light-brown (Fig. 12).

Distribution: Vietnam to Australia, Fiji, New Guinea,

Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Marshall

Islands. |

New Distribution: Great Nicobar and Chidiya Tapu,

Cinque, Neil, Havelock Islands, South Andaman.

Goniobranchus collingwoodi (Rudman, 1987)

Synonym: Chromodoris collingwoodi Rudman, 1987.

Average Size: 35 mm (single specimen).

Diagnosis: Dorsum reddish-brown with white spots.

Mantle skirt has yellow and purple spots. Discontinuous

purple marginal band visible. Rhinophores dark brown and

lamellate, with white specks. Rhinophoral base transparent to

opaque white. Gills light brown with a white band on outer

margin. Rim of gill pocket lined by bluish-white spots. Tail

bears yellow and purple spots (Fig. 13).

Distribution: Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New

Guinea, Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia.

New Distribution: Outram Island, South Andaman.

Goniobranchus kuniei (Pruvot-Fol, 1930)

Synonym: Chromodoris kuniei Pruvot-Fol, 1930;

Glossodoris kuniei (Provot-Fol, 1930); Glossodoris ransoni

Pruvot-Fol, 1954.

Average Size: 55 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: Body dark yellow with purple and blue

marginal bands. Mantle bears numerous black spots which

are surrounded by fluorescent blue coloration. Basal half

of rhinophores non-lamellate and translucent with white

specks, upper half lamellate and light brown. Gills light

brown (Fig. 14).

Distribution: Christmas Islands, Australia, Tonga, New

Caledonia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Guam,

Marshall Islands.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, Neil and Outram

Islands (South Andaman), and Great Nicobar.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Hypselodoris Stimpson, 1855

HAypselodoris iacula Gosliner and R.F. Johnson, 1999

Average Size: 35 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: The specimen found matched perfectly the

description by Gosliner et al. (2008). Body translucent

129

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

Fig. 5: Chromodoris annae Bergh, 1877

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Fig. 6: Chromodoris dianae Gosliner & Behrens, 1998 _ Fig. 7: Chromodoris hamiltoni Rudman, 1977

Fig. 8: Chromodoris joshi Gosliner & Behrens, 1998 Fig. 9: Chromodoris lochi Rudman, 1982

130 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

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131

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

Fig. 18: Diversidoris crocea (Rudman, 1986 Fig. 19: Mexichromis trilineata (A. Adams and Reeve, 1850

Fig. 23) Jorunna parva Baba, 1938

Fig. 24: Dendrodoris guttata (Odhner, 1917 Fig. 25: Favorinus tsuruganus Baba & Abe, 1964

132 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

pinkish-white with scalloped dark orange mantle margin

and interrupted by opaque white spots. Purple spot present at

apex of each scallop. Network of white lines covers dorsum.

Rhinophores and gills orange (Fig. 15).

Distribution: Known only from eastern Indian Ocean and

western Pacific (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines).

New Distribution: Neil and Havelock Island, South

Andaman.

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa Hamatani, 1995

Average Size: 25 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Body white with scattered white and deep

. a ~— sl

Fig. 31: Nembrotha cristata Bergh, 1877

reddish purple spots. Orange marginal band distinct. Margins

of rhinophoral sheath and gill pocket deep purple. Gills and

rhinophores deep orange (Fig. 16).

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Solomon

Islands.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, Neil Island, South

Andaman

Hypselodoris tryoni (Garrett, 1873)

Synonyms: Chromodoris odhneri (Risbec, 1953);

Chromodoris tryoni (Garrett, 1873); Glossodoris (Chromodoris)

odhneri Risbec, 1953; Glossodoris odhneri Risbec, 1953;

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

$33

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

Goniodoris tryoni Garrett, 1873; Jeanrisbecia francoisi

(Odhner, 1934), Risbecia francoisi Odhner, 1934; Risbecia

odhneri Risbec, 1953; Risbecia tryoni (Garrett, 1873).

Average Size: 25 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: The colour is dark tan with black spots. Each

black spot is encircled with white. Blue marginal band is

clearly visible. Rhinophores are lamellate with light purple

stalk. Gills are light brown with outer margin of gill lamellae

possessing dark brown band (Fig. 17).

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Australia,

Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Palau, and Marshall Islands.

The species was photographed from Pondicherry (now

Puducherry), east coast of India (unpublished record).

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, Neil Island, Cinque,

Passage Island (South Andaman), Great Nicobar.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Diversidoris Rudman, 1987

Diversidoris crocea (Rudman, 1986)

Synonym: Noumea crocea Rudman, 1986

Size: 25 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Previously known as Noumea crocea Rudman,

1986, recently redesignated as Diversidoris crocea (Rudman,

1986) by Johnson and Gosliner (2012).

Body uniformly light yellowish-green with undulating

mantle margin having white marginal band. Colour of gills

and rhinophores same as body colour. Rhinophores lamellate.

Tail long, almost equals size of body (Fig. 18).

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Australia,

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands.

New Distribution: Outram Island, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1 815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Mexichromis Bertsch, 1977

Mexichromis trilineata (A. Adams and Reeve, 1850)

Synonym: Chromodoris virgata Bergh, 1905; Goniodoris

trilineata A. Adams & Reeve, 1850; Pectenodoris trilineata

(A. Adams & Reeve, 1850).

Average Size: 25 mm (1 specimen).

Diagnosis: Previously known as Pectenodoris trilineata

(A. Adams & Reeve, 1850), it was recently redesignated as

Mexichromis trilineata (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850) by Johnson

and Gosliner (2012).

Uniformly purple with white mantle margin. Dorsum bears

three longitudinal lines. Each line deep yellow, edged white.

Foot also bears white edge. Gills and rhinophores deep orange

134

red. Egg case a single circular ribbon, white in colour (Fig. 19).

Distribution: Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Papua

New Guinea, Palau.

New Distribution: Passage Island, South Andaman.

Mexichromis lemniscata (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832)

Synonym: Chromodoris clitonota Bergh, 1905;

Chromodoris luxuriosa Bergh, 1875; Chromodoris scurra

Bergh, 1874; Chromodoris variegata Pease, 1871; Doris

dorsalis Gould, 1852; Doris lemniscata Quoy and Gaimard,

1832; Durvilledoris lemniscata (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832);

Glossodoris clitonota (Bergh, 1905); Glossodoris lemniscata

(Quoy and Gaimard, 1832).

Average Size: 12—15 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: Previously known as Durvilledoris lemniscata

(Quoy and Gaimard, 1832), it was recently redesignated as

Mexichromis lemniscata (A. Adams and Reeve, 1850) by

Johnson and Gosliner (2012).

Purple mantle bordered by white band. Central part of

mantle has broad white band running from rhinophores to

gill pocket. On each side of this white band a thin wine red

line followed by yellowish band that runs from rhinophores

back to gills. Basal half of rhinophore red, followed by purple

and blue bands (Fig. 20).

Distribution: Fiji, Reunion Islands, Australia, French

Polynesia, Saudi Arabia (Sea Slug Forum), South Africa,

Madagascar, Red Sea, Thailand, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands.

New Distribution: Burmanallah, Kodiaghat, South

Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Discodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Halgerda Bergh, 1880

Halgerda carlsoni Rudman, 1978

Average Size: 35 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Light cream to white in colour with highly

tuberculate surface. Each tubercle has orange tips, and these

tubercles form interrupted ridges. Minute orange spots

scattered on the body. Gills and rhinophores possess brown

mottling (Fig. 21).

Distribution: Vanuatu, Fiji, New Guinea, Tonga, Japan,

Solomon Islands.

New Distribution: Cinque and Tarmungli Island, South

Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Discodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Jaringa Er. Marcus, 1955

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

Taringa halgerda Gosliner and Behrens, 1998

Average Size: 35 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: White with low flat yellow tubercles

scattered over central region of mantle. Translucent white —

gills large and lined with black. Rhinophores deep purple

to black. Rhinophoral sheath also bears yellow tubercles

(Fig. 22).

Distribution: Australia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea,

Malaysia.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Discodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Jorunna Bergh, 1876

Jorunna parva (Baba, 1938)

Average Size: 20 mm (1 specimen).

Diagnosis: Bright yellow with scattered black papillae.

Black caryophyllidia clustered to form large black spots.

Gills have black branchial veins. Rhinophores black with

translucent base. A large black spot on posterior tip of foot

distinctly visible (Fig. 23).

Distribution: Mariana Islands (Sea Slugs Forum), Korea

(Daewui et al. 2013), Tanzania, Okinawa (Japan), Seychelles,

Philippines, Papua New Guinea (Yolanda et al. 2008).

New Distribution: Cinque Island, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Phyllidioidea Rafinesque, 1814

Family: Dendrodorididae O’ Donoghue, 1924 (1864)

Genus: Dendrodoris Ehrenberg, 1831

Dendrodoris guttata (Odhner, 1917)

Average Size: 30 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Deep orange body/mantle with deep red spots.

Gills bushy. Rhinophores translucent at base with white tips

(Fig. 24).

Distribution: Japan (Hirose et al. 2015), Hong Kong

(Jensen 1998), Korea, Indonesia, and across the Indo-West

Pacific (Rudman 2000).

New Distribution: Cinque Island (South Andaman),

Great Nicobar.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Aeolidioidea J.E. Gray, 1827

Family: Facelinidae Bergh, 1889

Genus: Favorinus M.E. Gray, 1850

Favorinus tsuruganus Baba & Abe, 1964

Average Size: 20 mm (1 specimen).

Diagnosis: Translucent white body. Cerata short with

deep orange digestive glands. Tip of each cerata bluish

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

black. Antennae smooth and white. Rhinophores dark brown,

bearing three lamellae (Fig. 25).

Distribution: Reunion Island, Red Sea, New Zealand,

Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia,

Philippines, Japan.

New Distribution: Cinque Island, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Aeolidioidea J.E. Gray, 1827

Family: Facelinidae Bergh, 1889

Genus: Godiva Macnae, 1954

Godiva rachelae Rudman, 1980

Average Size: 25 mm (several specimens).

Diagnosis: Translucent white body. Head region has

opaque white marking and orange line. Oral tentacle also

bears faint orange line. Cerata with orange, blue, and white

bands: orange at base and white at apex. Usually found on

coral sand. (Fig. 26).

Distribution: Tanzania, Australia.

New Distribution: Havelock Island, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Aeolidioidea J.E. Gray, 1827

Family: Facelinidae Bergh, 1889

Genus: Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831

Phyllodesmium briareum (Bergh, 1896)

Synonym: Ennoia briareus Bergh, 1896.

Average Size: 35 mm (1 specimen).

Diagnosis: Light brown body. Cerata long, curly and

cylindrical with yellow tips. Oral tentacles also with yellow

tip (Fig. 27).

Distribution: Singapore, Australia, Vanuatu, Papua New

Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan.

New Distribution: Great Nicobar.

Phyllodesmium macphersonae (Burn, 1962)

Synonym: Cratena macphersonae Burn, 1962.

Average Size: 35 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Body white with numerous fine brown

spots. Cerata long, curved, having opaque white and brown

mottling, blue band and white apex. Oral tentacles have white

tips and brown spots (Fig. 28).

Distribution: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia.

New Distribution: Havelock Island (South Andaman),

Great Nicobar.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Polyceroidea Alder and Hancock, 1845

Family: Polyceridae Alder and Hancock, 1845

Genus: Polycera Cuvier, 1817

135

NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA FROM A&N ISLANDS

Polycera abei (Baba, 1960)

Synonym: Greilada abei Baba, 1960.

Average Size: 15 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Deep orange body with distinct black spots.

Rhinophore base deep orange with dark blackish brown upper

half. Gills black (Fig. 29).

Distribution: Japan, UAE, Philippines, Indonesia,

Hawaii Islands.

New Distribution: Chidiya Tapu, South Andaman.

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Polyceroidea Alder and Hancock, 1845

Family: Polyceridae Alder and Hancock, 1845

Genus: Nembrotha Bergh, 1877

Nembrotha chamberlaini Gosliner and Behrens, 1997

Average Size: 55 mm (3 specimens).

Diagnosis: White with dark brown markings. Rhinophores

dark red, gills dull red to purple brown. Oral veil deep blue

(Fig. 30).

Distribution: Philippines, Indonesia, Japan.

New Distribution: Outram Island (South Andaman),

Great Nicobar.

Nembrotha cristata Bergh, 1877

Average Size: 90 mm (2 specimens).

Diagnosis: Large opisthobranch with black body,

large green rounded tubercles. Rhinophores are lamellate

with green rhinophoral sheath. Gills also green (Fig. 31).

Distribution: Maldives, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia,

Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Palau,

Marshall Islands, Japan.

New Distribution: Great Nicobar.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, we observed 128 species of

opisthobranchs, of which 30 are new records to the Andaman

& Nicobar Islands as well as to Indian waters (Figs 2—31).

Only new records are described here in detail. Unless

otherwise specified, the worldwide distribution is reproduced

from Gosliner et al. (2008, 2015). Also, various online portals

such as Sea Slug Forum, WoRMS and Nudipixel were referred

to list distributional records. Despite several studies in the

recent past, new finds of opisthobranchs from the Andaman-

Nicobar Archipelago are not uncommon. There may still be

several unrecorded cryptic species from this region requiring

further habitat-specific and host-specific studies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This paper is the result of fieldwork conducted during

Project Giant Clam of the BNHS. The authors take this

opportunity to thank MoEFCC, Government of India (under

All India Co-ordinated Project on Taxonomy — Mollusca)

and Whitley Fund for Nature. The authors thank the Forest

Department of Andaman & Nicobar division for their

continued support; Ron Silver, Hsini Lin, Lindz Warren, and

Vishal Bhave for assistance in identification of some species;

and Vardhan Patankar who recorded and provided image of

Dendrodoris guttata.

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137

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

138-164

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY (LEPIDOPTERA) RECORDS

FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

ARUN P. Stncu!

'Forest Entomology Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 248 006, Uttarakhand, India.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114421

The paper presents rare records of 109 taxa including species and subspecies out of 417 taxa of butterflies sampled

during a three-year study (December 2011—December 2014), June 03-05, 2015, and March 18, 2016) in 14 districts of

Arunachal Pradesh. Information is presented on their altitudinal distribution, seasonality, Indian Wildlife (Protection)

Act 1972 status, and their regional distribution based on past records.

Key words: Eastern Himalaya, semi-evergreen forest, Lepidoptera, rare, endemic, north-east India

INTRODUCTION

Arunachal Pradesh is the easternmost state of India

bordering Bhutan, Tibet (China) and Myanmar. The Indian

states of Assam and Nagaland connect Arunachal with the

Indian mainland. Covering an area of about 83,743 sq. km,

it forms the major part of the Eastern Himalaya lying between

26.4' — 29.30' N and 90.36' — 97.30' E, approximately

67,905 sq. km of which is under forest cover (FSI 2013).

Three broad climatic zones are recognizable in the state.

The climate is hot and humid subtropical in the foothills, and

cooler in the Lesser Himalaya and alpine zone of the Great

Himalaya, beyond which are the upper reaches adjoining

Tibet (China) which are under perpetual snow. The average

91° 30'0"E 92°0'0"E 92°30'0"E 93°0'0"E 93°30'0"E 94°0'0"E

94°30'0"E 95°0'0"E

mean maximum and minimum temperature varies from

29.5 to 17.7 °C in the subtropical humid region and 21.4

to 2.4°C in the cold region, respectively. In lower valleys,

temperatures during June to August are between 30 and

40°C, annual rainfall in the state averages 3,300 mm, falling

mostly between April and September.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Random sampling surveys for butterflies were carried

out in the state by the author, covering 14 districts (Tirap,

Changlang, Lohit, Anjaw, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang

Valley, West Siang, Upper Siang, Lower Subansiri, Upper

Subansiri, Papumpare, East Kameng, West Kameng, and

95°30'0"E 96°0'0"E 96°30'0"E 97°0'0"E 97°30'0"E

29°30'0"N

29°0'0"N

28°30'0"N

28°0'0"N

27°30'0"N

YVAN VAI

27°0'0"N

95°30'0"E 96°0'0"E 96°30'0"E 97°0'0"E 97°30'0"E

29°30'0"N

Legend

A Important Sites

Season wise Species distribution:

29°0'0"N ©) Spring (8) @ Post Monsoon (POM)

28°30'0"N Ce

28°0'0"N Kurung Kumey Siang East

Tawang _ . i 0: .

27°30'0"N La . < ao eon |

~~" Mangang East e Ae

Ses — 2 | = a o Papum Pare

BHUTAN ¢ , efia@ >

27°0'0"N —

ott & & Lonoding |

Kilometers om we

30 60 we

91°30'0"E 92°0'0"E 92°30'0"E 93°0'0"E 93°30'0"E 94°0'0"E 94°30'0"E 95°0'0"E

Fig. 1: Seasonal surveys for Butterflies carried out in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Sampling locations marked with different colours according to the seasons when they were surveyed by the author

138

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Tawang) covering all the seasons — January—February:

Winter; March—April: Spring; May—June: Summer; July—

August: Monsoon; September—October: Post Monsoon;

and November—December: Autumn. Sampling surveys were

carried out from December 2011 to December 2014; June

03-05, 2015; and March 18, 2016.

A total of 190 transect walks were undertaken, including

2,916 GPS locations on these transects. Survey routes

on the road were identified and mapped for butterflies

(Fig. 1). The altitudinal gradient covered was from 135 m

at Deomali in Tirap district up to 4,000 m at Sela Pass on

the border between Tawang and West Kameng districts.

Data on abundance of butterflies was recorded. Most of

the species were photographed, while specimens of only

a few species were taken. In all, 47 specimens (dead and

live) were collected from the field that have been placed

in Museum, Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam

[Display Box (RFRI species no.1—32) and Insect Cabinet

(RFRI no.33—36)], while specimens of three species (sp.no.

45, 46 and 50 of Table 1) labelled as RFRI no. 8, 39, and 40,

respectively are kept in National Forest Insect Collection at

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.

Identification of butterflies was carried out mainly by

comparing images captured in the field with field guides

(D’Abrera 1982, 1985, 1986; Evans 1932; Gogoi 2012,

2013a, b; Haribal 1992; Kehimkar 2008; Singh 2011;

Smetacek 2015; Smith 1989, 2006; Sondhi and Kunte 2014;

Sondhi et al. 2013; Wynter-Blyth 1957). Websites http://

www.ifoundbutterflies.org/ and http://flutters.org/ and a few

specimens at the National Forest Insect Collection (NFIC)

at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India,

were also used for identification.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 417 taxa were identified during the three-

year sampling period from Arunachal Pradesh. Of these,

107 species (+2 subspecies) were found to be either ‘rare’

or ‘uncommon’ or ‘restricted to north-east India’, with

39 species among these listed under various schedules of

the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972. Notes

on these 109 taxa along with a summarized presentation in

Table 1 are provided in this paper.

Papilionidae

1. Ludiow’s Bhutan Glory Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded between Lama

Camp and Sunder View in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

West Kameng district at 2,205 m and 2,231 m altitude on

30.vi1.2013.

Notes: A rare species originally known from a series of

five specimens collected in Bhutan during 1933-1934 by

the botanists Frank Ludlow and George Sheriff at 2,000-

2,200 m in the forest. In August 2009, a Bhutanese forestry

officer collected one Bhutanitis ludlowi in the Bumdeling

Wildlife Sanctuary, in Bhutan’s remote Trashiyangtse valley,

which provided the first unambiguous evidence in about

75 years that the species was extant. In August 2011, some

mating pairs of B. /udlowi were sighted and captured at

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary by a research team from

Bhutan in collaboration with the Butterfly Society of Japan

(BSJ) and NHK Japan, where it is sparsely seen in Tarphel

in Trashiyangtse Valley, eastern Bhutan between 2,300 and

2,500 m (Wangdi et al. 2012).

2. Brown Gorgon Meandrusa lachinus lachinus Fruhstorfer,

1902

Status: Schedule II, Part II (WPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: Two individuals.

Locality & Date of sighting: Two individuals recorded, one in

flight and another mud-puddling, both at c. 1,300 m between

Hunli and Mayodia Pass in Dibang vailey on 31.viii.2013.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (9: 06.x.1910)

and Naga hills (¢: 05.ix.1924 at 1,800 m) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in the NFIC at Forest Research

Institute, Dehradun. Distributed from Sikkim to Assam in

India (Evans 1932), common in Khasi Hills and also found in

Myanmar (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Single record of a male from

Namdapha on 21.iv.1981 (Bhattacharya 1985). Recorded

between 1,200 and 2,600 m from Kathmandu valley and Kashi

district in Nepal during April-May and September—October

(Smith 1989), and also from Central Nepal at 1,820 m (Khanal

et al. 2013). Recorded as far west as Kedarnath Musk Deer

Reserve, Chamoli district in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, between

1,800 and 2,150 m, in May, July, and September (Singh 2006).

Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near

Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley district, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m. One male recorded from Trashiyangtse

valley, eastern Bhutan at Tarphel at c. 2,500 m in August

(Wangdi et al. 2012). Recently recorded in March from Barail

WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

3. Yellow Gorgon Meandrusa payeni evan Doubleday, 1845

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimen sighted: Two individuals recorded.

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual sighted on the

roadside at 201 m above ‘Elephant Flat’ near Tippi in West

Kameng district on 01.x.2012. The second one recorded at

139

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

271 malong a stream adjoining Namdapha river in Namdapha

Tiger Reserve in Changlang district on 20.11.2013. Uncommon.

Notes: Specimens of this subspecies (6: 20.vii.1910,

Q: 11.vi.1912) were collected from Khasi Hills by

O.C. Ollenbach and are kept in NFIC. It is ‘not rare’ from

Sikkim to Assam (Evans 1932), including Khasi Hills

(January and September) up to N. Myanmar (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed

near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded from Garo Hills in

September (Sondhi et a/. 2013) and during May—June in

Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India (Sengupta

et al. 2014).

4. Great Mormon Papilio memnon agenor Linnaeus, 1758

(female form alcanor)

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Two females of form alcanor

were recorded in flight in Deomali forest, Tirap district on

04.vi.2015 at 161 m.

Notes: Specimens collected from Upper Siang and Tirap

districts (Arora and Mondal 1981). Although the other female

forms of this species are recorded as ‘common’, the female

form alcanor is ‘not rare’, and the species is distributed from

Sikkim to Myanmar (Evans 1932) and Nepal (Smith 1989).

5. Great Blue Mime Papilio paradoxa telearchus Hewitson,

1852

Status: Schedule I, Part I] (WPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: 20+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One record on 04.11.2013 in

Pakke Tiger Reserve at 181 m. Seven individuals recorded

between 137 and 163 m, 11—14.x.2014, and many (15+)

individuals, 03—04.v1.2015, in and around Deomali forest

in Tirap district.

Notes: Specimens of this subspecies from Myanmar-

Pagaiye, Tavoy (¢: 18.vi.1914); Kalianaung Forest, Tavoy

(2: 24.vi.1914); Moulmein (9: 10.i11.1925); and Kamounghla

Forest, Tavoy (d': 08.xi.1920) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. ‘Rare’ from Assam to Myanmar (Evans

1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957). One male collected at 229 m on

05.v.1966 in Denling Forest, Kameng district and another

male from Bhalukpong at 213 m, 06.v.1966, by A.N.T.

Joseph (Arora and Mondal 1981). Single record of a male

from Hornbill in Namdapha on 15.iv.1981 (Bhattacharya

1985). Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern

Assam (Gogoi 2013a) and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near

Jorhat, Assam in July—August (Singh et a/. 2015). Recorded

from Garo Hills in March—May (Sondhi et al. 2013) and

140

from Pakke Tiger Reserve in April (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

Recently recorded at 28 m in March from Barail WLS, Cachar

hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

Pieridae

6. Orange Albatross Appias nero galba Wallace, 1867

Status: Schedule [TV (WPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: A single record on 02.v.2012

between Tippi and Sessa, West Kameng at 176 m.

Notes: Specimens of this subspecies (¢: 10.vi.1925,

Q: 17.iv.1925 at 1,650 m) from Jakhama, Naga hills collected

by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. It 1s ‘rare’ from Sikkim

to Myanmar (Evans 1932) including Assam (Wynter-Blyth

1957), also occurs in Naga Hills between April and October

and Manipur between August and September. Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing

in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh

below 1,000 m. Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve

in May (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded at

100 m in December by Gogoi in Barail WLS, Cachar hills

in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

7. Red-Spot Sawtooth Prioneris philonome clemanthe

Doubleday, 1846

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Female mud-puddling on wet

path on 11.vi.2014 at 550 m in Parshuram Kund, Lohit district.

Notes: One specimen from Tavoy, Myanmar (9: 15.1.1920)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC at Forest Research

Institute, Dehradun. ‘Rare’ from Sikkim to Myanmar (Evans

1932) including Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Recorded by

Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower

Mishmi hills, Dibang valley below 1,000 m.

8. Dark Blackvein Aporia harrietae de Nicéville, 1893

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: 3+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded below Mayodia

pass, Lower Dibang valley between 2,059 and 2,429 m on

06.vi.2014.

Notes: This species was thought to be ‘very rare’ and

restricted to Bhutan (Evans 1932), where the subspecies

A. h. harrietae de Niceville, 1893 is found. Aporia

harrietae has now also been recorded in June by Tarun

Karmakar and Arjan Basu Roy, from Eaglenest Wildlife

Sanctuary adjoining Bhutan (Anon 2017) and subspecies

A. h. baileyi South, 1914 is known from Mishmi hills (Dichu,

2,743 m) and NE India in Nagaland (Jhakama) (Gasse 2013).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

9, Plain Sulphur Dercas lycorias lycorias Doubleday, 1842

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Observed on 15.11.2013

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Table 1:

SI. No. Common Name

PAPILIONIDAE

1 Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory

2 Brown Gorgon

3 Yellow Gorgon

4 Great Mormon

& Great Blue Mime

PIERIDAE

6 Orange Albatross

v4 Red-Spoit Sawtooth

8 Dark Blackvein

9 Plain Sulphur

10 Pale Jezebel

LYCAENIDAE

11 Hooked Oakblue

12 Green Oakblue

13 Sylhet Oakblue

14 Glazed Oakblue

15 Pale Spark

16 Shot Flash

17 Brilliant Flash

18 Blue Imperial

19 Straight Pierrot

20 Forest Pierrot

21 Dark Pierrot

22 Branded Yamfly

Zo Blue Quaker

24 Burmese Sunbeam

25 Great Spotted Blue

26 Moore’s Cupid

27 Straightwing Blue

28 Pointed Lineblue

29 Banded Lineblue

30 White-banded Hedge

Blue

af Glistening Cerulean

List of Rare and uncommon butterflies recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, India

(Dec’ 2011—-Dec’ 2014, 3-5 Jun’ 2015 and 18 Mar’ 2016)

Scientific Name

Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942

Meandrusa lachinus lachinus Fruhstorfer, 1902

Meandrusa payeni evan Doubleday, 1845

Papilio memnon agenor Linnaeus, 1758 female form

alcanor

Papilio paradoxa telearchus Hewitson, 1852

Appias nero galba Wallace, 1867

Prioneris philonome clemanthe Doubleday, 1846

Aporia harrietae de Nicéville, 1893

Derca lycorias lycorias Doubleday, 1842

Delias sanaca bhutya Talbot, 1937

Arhopala paramuta paramuta de Niceville, 1883

Arhopala eumolphus eumolphus Cramer, 1780

Arhopala silhetensis silhetensis Hewitson, 1862

Arhopala paralea Evans, 1925

Sinthusa virgo Elwes, 1887

Rapala rectivitta Moore, 1879

Rapala sphinx sphinx Fabricius, 1775

Ticherra acte acte Moore, 1889

Caleta roxus roxana de Nicéville, 1897

Taraka hamada mendesia Fruhstorfer, 1918

Tarucus ananda de Nicéville, 1883

Yasoda tripunctata tripunctata Hewitson, 1863

Pithecops fulgens fulgens Doherty, 1889

Curetis saronis gloriosa Moore, 1883

Phengaris atroguttata Oberthtr, 1876

Shijimia moorei moorei Leech, 1889

Orthomiella pontis pontis Elwes 1887

Lonolyce helicon merguiana Moore, 1884

Prosotus aluta coelestis Wood-Mason &

de Nicéville, 1886

Lestranicus transpectus Moore, 1879

Jamides elpis pseudelpis Butler, 1879

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Flight Period

(Month/s)

July

August

March, October

June

Feb., June, Oct.

May

June

March

Jul.—Sepit.

September

Feb., Mar., Dec.

December

November

June

December

April, December

Aug.—Sept.

November

August

Feb., Aug., Dec.

November

March

September

August

March

July

Aug.—Sept.

Nov.—Dec.

August

at 1,298 m below Mayodia pass, moving towards Hunli in

Dibang valley district.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: 26.iv.1907) and Naga

Hills (2: 01.ix.1924 at 1,650 m) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

N f

Recorded UBIPeE P

individuals

altitude(m)

recorded

2,200—2,250 2

1,300 2

200-300 2

100—200 2

100-200 20+

100-200 1

500-600 1

2,000—2,500 oF

1,298 v4

1,200—2,300 o+

75 1

100-200 11

100-200 10+

401 1

2,057 1

580 1

201 1

100—200 11

100-500

479

480

100-800

428

147

1,440

358-413

1,298

231

100-500

Or NON A | | O —|- =| W

300—1,300 2

358 1

141

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Table 1: List of Rare and uncommon butterflies recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, India

(Dec’ 2011—Dec’ 2014, 3-5 June 2015 and 18 March 2016) (Contd.)

Number of

SI. No. Common Name Scientific Name right ened iiteainaaa individuals

(Month/s) altitude(m) caer

NYMPHALIDAE

32 Jewelled Nawab Charaxes deiphis delphis Doubleday, 1843 September 5 eG 1

33 Malayan Nawab Charaxes moori sandakanus Fruhstorfer, 1883 August 700 1

34 Tailed Red Forester Lethe sinorix sinorix Hewitson, 1863 March, Nov-Dec. 100-650 9

35 Scarce Red Forester Lethe distans Butler, 1870 March 381 1

36 Blue Forester Lethe scanda Moore, 1857 June 2,000—2,500 4

37 Dull Forester Lethe gulnihal gulnihal Nicéville, 1887 November ote 1

38 Pallid Forester Lethe satyavati de Niceville, 1880 March 165 1

39 Salmon-branded Mycalesis misenus misenus de Nicéville, 1889 June 1,600—2,100 S

Bushbrown

40 Watson’s Bushbrown Mycalesis adamsoni Watson, 1897 June, December 100-—1,700 2

41 Chinese Bushbrown Mycalesis gotama charaka Moore, 1874 August 473 1

42 Plain Bushbrown Mycalesis malsarida Butler,1868 March 400-600 4

43 Scarce Evening Brown __ Cyllogenes janetae loba S.Y. Lang & H. Huang, 2012 August 1,400—1,500 3

4a Dark Catseye Zipaetis scylax scylax Hewitson, 1863 March, Aug.-Sept. 200—1,000 3

45 Pallid Argus Callerebia scanda opima Watkins, 1927 August 1,800—2,200 10+

46 Bright-eyed Argus Callerebia dibangensis Roy, 2013 August 1,900—2,300 99

47 Doherty’s Satyr Aulocera loha Doherty, 1886 August 2,325 1

48 Chumbi Wall Chonala masoni Elwes, 1882 August 2,300—2,400 10+

49 Tiger Brown Orinoma damaris damaris Gray, 1846 May 1,389 1

50 Small Goldenfork Lethe atkinsonia Hewitson, 1876 August 2,325 1

54 Striped Ringlet Ragadia crisilda crisilda Hewitson, 1862 Nov.—Dec. 300-500 3+

52 Dusky Diadem Ethope himachala Moore, 1857 May, Sept. 200—1,700 2

53 Newar Three-ring Yothima newara newara Moore, 1874 May, June, August 200-—2,500 ot

54 Yellow Owl Neorina hilda Westwood, 1850 August 1,800—2,000 t

55 Peal’s Palmfly Elymnias peali Wood-Mason, 1883 March, November 200-500 yi

56 Biue Striped Palmfly Elymnias patna patna Westwood, 1851 March, August 200-700 8

57 Spotted Palmfly Elymnias malelas malelas Hewitson, 1863 November 400-500 2

58 Tiger Palmfly Elymnias nesaea Linnaeus, 1764 February 230 1

59 Scarce Blue Oakleaf Kallima knyvettii de Niceville, 1886 August 2,039 1

60 Wizard Rhinopalpa polynice birmana Fruhstorfer, 1897 Sept., Nov.—Dec. 100-500 20+

61 Dot-dash Sergeant Athyma kanwa phorkys Fruhstorfer, 1912 March, June, Dec. 200-350 15+

62 Studded Sergeant Athyma asura asura Moore, 1857 February 1,564 1

63 Unbroken Sergeant Athyma pravara acutipennis Fruhstorfer, 1906 March, Dec. 250-350 19

64 Bhutan Sergeant Athyma jina jina Moore, 1857 July 786 1

65 Tytler’s Sergeant Athyma whitei Tytler, 1940 August 648 1

66 Perak Lascar Pantoporia paraka paraka Butler, 1877 September 1ST 1

67 Yellow Sailer Neptis ananta ochracea Evans, 1924 March, Aug., Nov. 300—900 4

68 Great Yellow Sailer Neptis radha radha Moore, 1857 June, Aug., Dec 100-1 ,800 3

69 Spotted Sailer Neptis magadha khasiana Moore, 1872 March, Aug., 100-600 10+

Sept., Dec.

70 Great Hockeystick Sailer Phaedyma aspasia aspasia Leech, 1890 June 759 2

74 Bronze Duke Euthalia nara nara Moore, 1859 July-August 1,000—1,800 2

t2Z Green Duke Euthalia sahadeva sahadeva Moore, 1859 August 1,500—1,800 2

142 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Tabie 1: List of Rare and uncommon butterflies recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, India

(Dec’ 2011—Dec’ 2014, 3-5 June 2015 and 18 March 2016) (Contd.)

' Number of

SI. No. Common Name Scientific Name lg Fete Reon individuais

(Month/s) altitude(m) aeeicoee

73(a) French Duke Euthalia franciae franciae Gray, 1846 March, August 400-800 S

73(b) French Duke Euthalia franciae raja Felder & Felder, 1859 August 1,400—2,300 -

74 Grey Baron Euthalia anosia anosia Moore, 1857 September 137 1

75 Dark Archduke Lexias dirtea khasiana Swinhoe, 1893 March, Sept., Dec. 300-450 20+

76 Sordid Emperor Chitoria sordida sordida Moore, 1865 August 344 1

iF Brown Prince Rohana parvata parvata Moore, 1857 July 325 1

78 Eastern Courtier Sephisa chandra chandra Moore, 1857 August 1,400—1,600 4

79 White Commodore Parasarpa dudu dudu Westwood, 1850 March, Jul—Aug. 400—1,800 3

80 Commodore Auzakia danava danava Moore, 1857 February, August 600-800 Z

81 Grey Commodore Bhagadatta austenia austenia Moore, 1872 June, August 600-2,300 5+

82 Empress Sasakia funebris funebris Leech, 1891 August 1,706 1

83 Panther Neurosigma Siva siva Westwood, 1850 September 1,520 1

84 Constable Dichorragia nesimachus nesimachus Doyere, 1840 Aug.—Sept. 100—1,800 5

85 Yellow Kaiser Penthema lisarda lisarda Doubleday, 1845 August 300-800 >

86 Red Caliph Enispe euthymius euthymius Doubleday, 1845 March, Nov. 300-500 2

87 Jungle Glory Thaumantis diores diores Doubleday, 1845 November 300-450 7

88 Manipur Jungle Queen Stichophthalma sparta tytleri Rothchild, 1918 August 1,600—1,800 8

89 Northern Jungle Queen Stichophthalma camadeva nicevillei Rober, 1900 August 1,600—1 ,800 <

90 Great Duffer Discophora timora timora Westwood, 1850 September 100-200 1

91 Tiger-mimic Admiral Limenitis rileyi Tytler, 1940 August 1,660 1

HESPERIIDAE

92(a) Slate Awl Hasora anura anura de Nicéville, 1889 June 1,270 1

92(b) Slate Awl Hasora anura china Evans, 1949 August 2,000-—2,100 3

93 Pale Green Awlet Burara gomata gomata Moore, 1865 June 1,267 1

94 Small Green Awlet Burara amara Moore, 1865 Aug.—Sept. 200—1,650 4

95 Hooked Awlking Choaspes furcata Evans, 1932 June 1,267 1

96 Wax Dart Cupitha purreea purreea Moore, 1877 December 186 1

97 Greenish Palm Dart Telicota ancilla horisha Evans, 1934 August 1,554 1

98 Himalayan Yellow- Celaenorrhinus dhanada Moore, 1865 March, Nov. 300-550 2

banded Flat

99 Dark Yellow-banded Flat Celaenorrhinus aurivittata aurivittata Moore, 1878 May, August 200—1,600 2

100 Tytler’s Multi-spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ratna tytleri Evans, 1926 August 1,554

101 DuskyYellow-breasted Gerosis phisara phisara Moore, 1884 May, Aug., Sept., | 200—1,300

Flat Dec.

102 Yellow Flat Mooreana trichoneura pralaya Moore, 1865 August 550 1

103 Northern Spotted Ace Thoressa cerata Hewitson, 1876 June 168 1

104 Luca’s Ace Sovia lucasii (Mabille, 1876) July, August 1,500—1 ,600 2

105 Long Banded Ace Halpe zola Evans, 1937 September 137 1

106 Light Straw Ace Pithauria stramineipennis Wood-Mason & de Nicéville, Aug.—Sept. 100-900 2

1886

107 Forest Bob Scobura isota Swinhoe, 1893 March, Dec. 300—400 2

108 Spotted Red-eye Pudicitia pholus de Nicéville, 1889 June 2,097 1

109 Yellow-fringed Swift Caltoris aurociliata Elwes & Edwards, 1897 November 136 1

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015 143

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

are kept in NFIC. ‘Rare’ from Sikkim to Assam (Evans 1932).

Active flier in June, July, and October in Naga hills and at

low elevations in the Sikkim Darjeeling area (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Single record from Tholung valley in Sikkim feeding

on flowers of Fragaria sp. (Haribal 1992). Recorded during

May—June in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India

(Sengupta et al. 2014).

10. Pale Jezebel Delias sanaca bhutya Talbot, 1937

Status: Schedule I, Part ['V (IWPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: 5+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual recorded on

03.1x.2012 at 1,228 m at Tato, Upper Subansiri and a small

congregation (4+) recorded on wet sand on 30.vii.2013 at

2,284 m near Lama Camp in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary,

West Kameng district.

Notes: The subspecies bhutya is known from Bhutan (1,800—

2,800 m) (Mani 1986) and recorded from Trashiyangtse

valley, eastern Bhutan in Tarpel at 2,230 m, and Trashiyangste

town at 1,600 m in August and October (Wangdi et al. 2012).

The species Delias sanaca is distributed from Jammu &

Kashmir to Myanmar (Kehimkar 2008).

Lycaenidae

11. Hooked Oakblue Arhopala paramuta paramuta de

Nicéville, 1883

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded in semi-evergreen

forest in Deomali, Tirap district at 175 m on 04.1x.2011.

Notes: Specimens from Cachar hills (@: 17.x.1907,

@: 12.x.1907) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as a ‘rare’ subspecies at low elevations in

Manipur from February to April, one collected from Imphal

in July (Tytler 1915). Distributed from Sikkim to Myanmar

and recorded as ‘not rare’ (Evans 1932); also recorded from

Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Common across Nepal (Kashi

district) from the Terai up to 1,500 m during January—June,

September—December (Smith 1989). Also recorded from

Jeypore—Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013 a) and

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary near Jorhat, Assam in March—

April (Singh et al. 2015). Recently recorded at 28-110 m

in February—March in Barail WLS, Cachar hills, southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

12. Green Oak Blue Arhopala eumolphus eumolphus Cramer,

1780

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: 11 individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally common in Pakke

144

Tiger Reserve between 126—186 m, recorded on 04.11.2013

(8 nos; both sexes), 07.111.2013 (2 nos) and 18.x11.2013 (1 no.).

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (4: 10.x.1922, 9: 12.x.1922)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded from

Imphal, Sebong, and Cachar road in Manipur from November

to April (Tytler 1915). Distributed in Nepal, Sikkim, and

Assam and recorded as ‘not rare’ (Evans 1932). Uncommon

in East-Central Nepal (Kashi district) from the Terai to 1,700 m

during January, April, May, October, and December (Smith

1989). Recorded at low altitudes in Sikkim in October—

November (Haribal 1992). Also recorded from Jeypore-

Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Singh and

Chib (2014) recorded it from Mendrelgang, Tsirang district,

Bhutan. Found in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary near Jorhat,

Assam in March—April (Singh et al. 2015). Recently recorded

between 28 and 110 m from December—March in Barail WLS,

Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

13. Sylhet Oakblue Arhopala sithetensis silhetensis

Hewitson, 1862

Status: Schedule H, Part II (WPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: 10+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: A few individuals recorded in

Pakke Tiger Reserve, West Kameng at 186 m, 18—19.xi1.2013.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (4: 23.viii.1909,

Q: 24.1x.1919) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

Recorded in October-November in Naga Hills, and March—

April in Sebong, Manipur Hills (Tytler 1915). Distributed

from Sikkim to N. Myanmar and considered ‘rare’ (Evans

1932), and in Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Also recorded

from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a) and

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary near Jorhat, Assam from January to

May (Singh et a/. 2015). Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in

April, May, and September (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently

recorded at 28 m from February—May in Barail WLS, Cachar

Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

14. Glazed Oakblue Arhopala paralea Evans, 1925

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record near Mpen in

Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district at 401 m on

28.x1.2013.

Notes: ‘Rare’ from Manipur to Shan States in Myanmar

(Evans 1932).

15. Pale Spark Sinthusa virgo Elwes, 1887

Status: Schedule I, Part [V (WPA 1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record at 2,057 m in

Dibang valley on 06.vi.2014, on way to Mayodia pass from

Roing.

Notes: Recorded from Kirbari, Naga Hills in June (Tytler

1915). ‘Very Rare’ from Sikkim to Manipur, and Bernardmayo

in central Myanmar (Evans 1932). Recorded in Darjeeling

hills between 1,950 and 2,400 m in June (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

16. Shot Flash Rapala rectivitta Moore, 1879

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens sighted: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Hunli in

Upper Dibang valley at 580 m on 07.vi1.2014.

Notes: Specimen collected from Jakhama, Naga Hills

(4: 21.viii.1924) by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. A rare

species found from Sikkim to Assam (Evans 1932; Wynter-

Blyth 1957). ‘Not Rare’ across Nepal from Terai to 2,000 m

from February—June (Smith 1989).

17. Brilliant Flash Rapala sphinx sphinx Fabricius, 1775

Status: Schedule II, Part I] (WPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual photographed.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 201 m on

18.xi1.2013 in Pakke Tiger Reserve, West Kameng.

Notes: Specimen from Khasi Hills collected in June 1916

by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. Recorded in March,

April, and October in Nichuguard, Naga Hills (Tytler 1915).

Distributed from Assam to Rangoon, Myanmar and recorded

as rare (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957).

18. Blue Imperial Ticherra acte acte Moore, 1889

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Eleven individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded in Pakke Tiger

Reserve between 126 and 186 m on 03.iv.2013 (20, 19)

and 08.xii.2013 (12).

Notes: Recorded from Irangamara in Cachar hills in July

(Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). Specimens from

Cachar Hills (4: 04.v.1907) and Pagaye, Tavoy, Myanmar

(2: 21.ix.1914) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Kumaon to Myanmar

(Evans 1932) including Assam, recorded from spring to

autumn (Wynter-Blyth 1957). ‘Rare’ in east-central Nepal

(Kashi district) from 240 m to 930 m during February, April,

July, September, and December (Smith 1989). A specimen

collected in rainy season from Tumin in Sikkim (Haribal

1992). Recorded by Borang et a/. (2008) in Dihang-Dibang

Biosphere Reserve and by Gogoi (2012) along Deopani

riverbed below 1,000 m near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills,

Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Recorded from Jeypore-

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded

from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi et a/. 2013). Singh and

Chib (2014) recorded it from Mendrelgang, Tsirang district,

Bhutan. Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in April, June,

and September (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded

between 28 and 300 m from January—December in Barail

WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

19. Straight Pierrot Caleta roxus roxana de Nicéville, 1897

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972)

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Sightings from Deomali

(127 m; 14.1x.2014) in Tirap district, Kamlang Wildlife

Sanctuary (320 m; 05.vi11.2014), and Wakro (458 m;

06.viii.2014) near Parshuram Kund in Lohit district.

Notes: A specimen from Cachar Hills (4: 27.iv.1910)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. Recorded

from eastern and western Manipur hills and Nichuguard in

Naga Hills in February—April and November—December

(Tytler 1915). ‘Not rare’ from Assam to N. Myanmar (Evans

1932). A forest butterfly common in Naga Hills and Manipur

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve

in May (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

20. Forest Pierrot Taraka hamada mendesia Frihstorfer,

1918

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972)

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record from Jairampur

in Changlang district at 479 m on 06.xi.2014.

Notes: Recorded from eastern Terai in Jhapa district of

Nepal (Smith 1989). ‘Not rare’ from Sikkim to Myanmar

(Evans 1932). Recorded during October in Orang Wildlife

Sanctuary, Assam (Basistha et al. 1999). Recorded from Garo

Hills in April (Sondhi et a/. 2013). Recorded from Pakke

Tiger Reserve in April, May, and September (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014). Recently recorded between 28 and 110 m in

December—February in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

21. Dark Pierrot Zarucus ananda de Nicéville, 1883

Status: Schedule [IV (IWPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record at 480 m near

Daporijo, Upper Subansiri on 12.vi1i1.2012 mud-puddling on

wet road amongst other lycaenids inside the forest.

Notes: “Not rare’ across southern India up to Maharashtra,

Sikkim to Dawnas, Myanmar (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth

1957). Local in lower midlands of east and central Nepal

(Nawalparasi district) from Terai up to 660 m in March,

145

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

April, July, October, and November (Smith 1989). Recorded

from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi et al. 2013) and Pakke

Tiger Reserve in March, May, and October (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014). Recently recorded between 28 and 110 m in

December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam

(Gogoi et al. 2016).

22. Branded Yamfly Yasoda tripunctata tripunctata Hewitson,

1863

Status: Schedule I, Part If (WPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: Eight individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded in Pakke on 18-19.

xii.2013 at 141 m, Namdapha on 06.11.2013 and 14.x11.2012,

and near Etalin, Upper Dibang valley on 30.vii.2013 at

770 m.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (@: 14.v.1919) and

(2: September 1919) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept

in NFIC. Recorded from Silcuri and surrounding forests in

Cachar hills in May—July (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville

1886). Not common in Manipur (Tytler 1915). Rare, found

from Sikkim to Myanmar (Evans 1932) including Assam,

while it is ‘not rare’ in Manipur and Naga Hills at low

elevations (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Recorded by Gogoi (2012)

along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi

Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m.

Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam

(Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi

et al. 2013) and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in May (Sondhi

and Kunte 2014) and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near Jorhat,

Assam in October (Singh et al. 2015).

23. Blue Quaker Pithecops fulgens fulgens Doherty, 1889

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record at 28.x1.2013

in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district in evergreen

forest at 428 m.

Notes: Recorded from Irang and Lengba rivers in Western

Manipur hills in March, April, October, and November and

from Margherita in Upper Assam (Tytler 1915). Rare, in

Assam (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records

from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded

by Borang et al. (2008) in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve.

Also, recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam

(Gogoi 2013a).

24. Burmese Sunbeam Curetis saronis gloriosa Moore, 1883

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record of a female (with

146

orange discal areas) at 147 m from Namdapha Tiger Reserve,

Changlang district on 20.111.2013, basking low on shrubs.

Notes: A similar specimen from Tenasserim, Myanmar

(2: 12.iv.1920) collected by O.C. Ollenbach kept in NFIC.

Commonly recorded from Silcuri and surrounding forests

in Cachar Hills in May—August (Wood-Mason and de

Nicéville 1886). Recorded from Sylhet (Bangladesh) to

Myanmar (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957). Recently

recorded at 46 m in January in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in

southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

25. Great Spotted Blue Phengaris atroguttata Oberthur,

1876

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Five individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally common. Recorded

at 1,440 m on the forest edge near Dambuine in upper Dibang

valley (12.1x.2013).

Notes: Specimens from Naga Hills (¢: 19.x.1913 at

2,100 m, 9: 11.x.1924) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are

kept in NFIC. Rare species found in Naga and Chin Hills

(Myanmar) at 2,100 m in September (Evans 1932; Tytler

1915; Wynter-Blyth 1957).

26. Moore’s Cupid Shijimia moorei moorei Leech, 1889

Status: Schedule I, Part I, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: First record from Daporijo

in Upper Subansiri (413 m) on 28.vi1.2012 and the second

adjoining Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary-Wakro (358 m) in

Lohit district on 05.vii1.2014.

Notes: ‘Very rare’, found in Assam (Evans 1932; Wynter-

Blyth 1957). Recorded from Ultapani block in Ripu-Chirang

Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (Choudhury 2010).

27. Straightwing Blue Orthomiella pontis pontis Elwes,

1887

Status: Schedule H, Part If (WPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Three individuals were

recorded on wet mud on the roadside on 15.111.2014 at

1,298 m below Mayodia Pass towards Hunli in Dibang valley.

Notes: Specimens from Jakhama, Naga Hills (4: 06.iv.1924

and 2: 07.v.1924 at 1,620 m) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. Recorded from March to June in Manipur

Hills between 1,200 and 2,800 m (Tytler 1915). Rare

from Sikkim to Northeast and Myanmar (Evans 1932),

including Assam. Found in dense forest between 900 m and

1,800 m during March—June, very local and rare in Sikkim

and Naga Hills and mostly located on moist patches on

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

wooden bridges beside mountain torrents in Teesta valley

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). ‘Rare’ in Eastern Midlands of Nepal

(lam and Panchthar districts) from 1,950—2,000 m during

April (Smith 1989). Also recorded by the author on the road

on wet sand in Bunakha, western Bhutan on the way to

Thimphu from Phuntsholing during April 2010 (Singh 2016).

28. Pointed Lineblue Lonolyce helicon merguiana Moore,

1884

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Tippi

(231 m), West Kameng on 15.vii.2012 on wet sand on the

road.

Notes: Distributed from Sikkim to Myanmar, recorded as

‘not rare’ (Evans 1932). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded from

Pakke Tiger Reserve in May, June, and September (Sondhi

and Kunte 2014) and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near Jorhat,

Assam in July—August (Singh et a/. 2015). Recently recorded

at 28 m from January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills

in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

29. Banded Lineblue Prosotus aluta coelestis Wood-Mason

& de Nicéville, 1886

Status: Schedule II, Part I] (WPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from entrance gate

of Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary, Lohit district on 05.vi1i.2014

at 458 m on wet ground (2 nos) and at Deomali, Tirap district

on 14.1x.2014 at 137 m.

Notes: Rare from Kumaon to Myanmar (Evans 1932). In ZSI

records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988).

Flies up to 300 m in July, September, and October (Kehimkar

2008). Recorded along the Sankosh river in lowland forests

of Bhutan adjoining Buxa Tiger Reserve in winter (Singh

2012). Gogoi (2012) found it along the Deopani riverbed

near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m and from Jeypore-Dehing Forest,

eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills in

March—May and October-December (Sondhi et al. 2013), from

Pakke Tiger Reserve in March—June, and October (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014), and from Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near Jorhat,

Assam in September—October (Singh et a/. 2015).

30. White-banded Hedge Blue Lestranicus transpectus

Moore, 1879

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve, Changlang district at 357 m on 27.x1.2013 and

near Seppa, East Kameng district on 13.x1i1.2014 at 1,251 m.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (6: 25.vi.1919,

©: 06.x1.1922) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

‘Not rare’ and distributed from Sikkim to Myanmar (Evans

1932) including Assam; “common” in Sikkim at 1,200 m from

March to May and then again from September to November.

‘Rare’ in Naga Hills in May and again from August to

October, Khasi Hills in September, and Manipur in November

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh

(Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded from Jeypore-Dehing

Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo

Hills in May (Sondhi et a/. 2013). Recorded from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in March—May and September—October (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014). Recently recorded between 28 and 110 m from

January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

31. Glistening Cerulean Jamides elpis pseudelpis Butler,

1879

Status: Schedule II, Part II, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: One record from Wakroo in

Kamlang WLS (358 m) on 05.viu1.2014.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (@: 17.v.1916) and

Tenasserim, Myanmar (Q: 12.x1ii.1919) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded as not rare

and distributed from Sikkim to Myanmar and Andamans

(Evans 1932) including Assam, and fairly common at low

elevations in Sikkim-Darjeeling area (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

Was observed as common during October in Orang Wildlife

Sanctuary, Assam (Basistha et al. 1999). Recorded by Gogoi

(2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower

Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Recorded from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi ef al.

2013) and Pakke Tiger Reserve in March—June (Sondhi

and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded at 28 m from January—

December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam

(Gogoi et al. 2016).

Nymphalidae

32. Jewelled Nawab Charaxes delphis delphis Doubleday,

1843

Status: Schedule II, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record of one

individual on wet ground among mud-puddling congregation

of butterflies in an evergreen forest near Deomali, Tirap

district on 14.1x.2014 at 137 m.

147

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Notes: Recorded from Silcuri in Cachar Hills, Assam in

August (Wood-Mason 1886). A specimen from Pagaye,

Tavoy, Myanmar (6: 17.xi.1923) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

is kept in NFIC. The species Charaxes delphis was recorded

as ‘not rare’ from Assam to Myanmar (Evans 1932). Recorded

from Naga Hills and Cachar in August and November and

most abundant in Myanmar (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI

records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988).

Recorded from Garo Hills in April (Sondhi e¢ a/. 2013).

Specimen collected in May from Debbari in Gomti district,

Tripura at 48 m in semi-evergreen forest (Lodh and Agarwala

2015).

33. Malayan Nawab Charaxes moori sandakanus

Fruhstorfer, 1883

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record along a stream

between Haylung and Chaguin on way to Walong, Anjaw

district on 07.vi1.2014 at c. 700 m.

Notes: Recorded as ‘very rare’ from Sikkim-Myanmar (Evans

1932) through Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Subspecies

sandakanus is considered ‘very rare’ and occurs from Sikkim

to Arunachal Pradesh (Dafla Hills), N.E. India (Garo and

Khasi Hills, and Nagaland), and Myanmar (Gasse 2013).

Recorded at Gongrot in Garo Hills in May—June (Sondhi ez

al, 2013).

34. Tailed Red Forester Lethe sinorix sinorix Hewitson,

1863

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Nine individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve (12—14.xu1.2012; 20.11.2013; 27—28.x1.2013;

06.x1.2014) Tippi, West Kameng (11.x1i1.2014 at 195 m) and

Seppa, East Kameng (12.x11.2014 at 644 m).

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 16.iv.1907)

and Tenasserim, Myanmar (9: 03.iv.1904) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. One male specimen

collected from Arunachal Pradesh (Evans 1914). The

species Lethe sinorix occurs from Sikkim to Dawnas

(S. Myanmar) and was recorded as rare (Evans 1932),

including Assam from July to September and recorded above

900 m in June in Sikkim (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts (1950)

recorded it during August at Pite in Subansiri area at 600 m

in a bamboo forest. In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh

(Gupta and Shukla 1988). Collected from Lachen-Lachung

valley in Sikkim and Darjeeling area (Haribal 1992). The

species Lethe sinorix has been recorded as ‘uncommon’ in

forest clearings, on flowers and hill tops between 1,500 and

148

2,000 m in Bhutan (van der Poel and Wangchuk 2007). ‘Rare’

in central Nepal (Kaski and Kathmandu) between 1,500 and

2,160 m in April, July, September to November. Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in

lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern

Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

35. Scarce Red Forester Lethe distans Butler, 1870

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: One record from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve at 381 m on wet sand, on 20.11.2013.

Notes: One dry season male specimen collected from

Arunachal Pradesh (Evans 1914). Recorded as ‘very

rare’ from Sikkim to Karen in Myanmar (Evans 1932). In

ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla

1988).

36. Blue Forester Lethe scanda Moore, 1857

Status: Schedule IJ, Part II, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Observed on 06.vi.2014 and

10.vi.2014 below Mayodia pass in Dibang valley at 2,059 m

and 2,424 m on roadside rocks along bamboo brakes.

Notes: One specimen collected from Arunachal Pradesh

(Evans 1914). A specimen from Tendong, Sikkim

(4: September 1921) collected by O.C. Ollenbach is kept

in NFIC. Recorded as ‘rare’ from Sikkim to Assam (Evans

1932). Betts (1950) recorded it in Subansiri area during

October at Tasser Puttu at 1,350 m and in August at Pite at

600 m in a bamboo forest. Recorded during May and June

in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal (Sengupta ef al.

2014). Flies between 900 and 2,700 m in June, August, and

September (Wynter-Blyth 1957). ‘Rare’ in forested areas

between 1,500 and 2,500 m in Bhutan (van der Poel and

Wangchuk 2007).

37. Dull Forester Lethe gulnihal gulnihal de Nicéville, 1887

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve on 27.xi.2013 at 517 m, on a road along the

forest with bamboo brakes and canes.

Notes: One male specimen collected from Arunachal Pradesh

(Evans 1914). Specimens from Karen Hills (4: 07.xi.1920) and

Kachin (d': May 1894), Myanmar collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. Recorded as ‘very rare’ from Bhutan to

N. Myanmar (Evans 1932) including Assam (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m.

38. Pallid Forester Lethe satyavati de Nicéville, 1880

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record from bamboo

thickets at Jairampur (165 m), Changlang district (Arunachal

Pradesh) bordering Lekhpani (Assam) on 18.11.2016.

Notes: Recorded as ‘very rare’ in Assam (Evans 1932).

Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam

(Gogoi 2013a).

39. Salmon-branded Bushbrown Mycalesis misenus

misenus de Nicéville, 1889

Status: Schedule II, Part II, 1WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: First recorded from a grassy

patch between Anini and Mippi, in Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh, where two individuals were photographed on

08.v1.2014 at 1,674 m, while second sighting was below

Mayodia Pass on 10.vi.2014 at 2,024 m, also in Dibang valley.

Notes: One male specimen collected from Lower Tsan Po,

Dibang valley in June at 900 m (Evans 1914). ‘Rare’ from

Sikkim to Assam at low elevations (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In

ZSI\ records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988).

Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near

Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, below 1,000 m.

40. Watson’s Bushbrown Mycalesis adamsoni Watson,

1897

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Dibang valley

at 1,648 m on 10.vi.2014 and in Pakke Tiger Reserve at

183 m on 18.x11.2013.

Notes: Specimens from Manipur (@: 19.vi.1912) and Shan

states, Myanmar (9: 16.iv.1914) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. Recorded as ‘rare’ and distributed in

Manipur and Northern Myanmar (Evans 1932). Flies during

March, April, June, and November in Manipur (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed

near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing

Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

41. Chinese Bushbrown Mycalesis gotama charaka Moore,

1874

Status: Schedule II, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual recorded at

473 m between Roing and Tiwari Gaon in Dibang valley

district on 14.viui.2012.

Notes: Specimens from Jakhama, Naga Hills (@': 03.vi.1926,

Q: 24.iv.1924) between 1,600 and 1,650 m collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded as ‘rare’ from

Assam to Myanmar (Evans 1932) and N.E. Himalaya (Wynter-

Blyth 1957). Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest,

eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in April (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recorded during

May—June in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India

(Sengupta et al. 2014) and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near

Jorhat, Assam in January—April (Singh et al. 2015).

42. Plain Bushbrown Mycalesis malsarida Butler, 1868

Status: Schedule II, Part I, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Three individuals recorded

between 473-510 m in Namdapha Tiger Reserve on

19.11.2013. Fourth individual recorded in Jairampur Reserve

Forest (165 m), Changlang district bordering Assam on

18.11.2016.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (one @: June 1915, one

Q: 27.v1ii.1910) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as ‘rare’ and found in Assam (Evans 1932;

Wynter-Blyth 1957). Reported as ‘not rare’ and ‘seems

rare’ from the Khasi Hills (Parsons and Cantlie 1948). Betts

(1950) recorded it in July at Dejoo (90 m), Lichi (900 m) in

the interior of evergreen forest, and once at Duta (600 m) in

open cultivation, all in Subansiri area. Recorded by Gogoi

(2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower

Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Recorded from Garo Hills at low elevations up

to 1,200 m from March—May, November and December

(Sondhi et al. 2013), and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in May,

September, and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recorded

during May—June in Neora Valley National Park, West

Bengal, India (Sengupta et al. 2014) and Gibbon Wildlife

Sanctuary, near Jorhat, Assam in January—April (Singh et al.

2015). Seven specimens collected in November 2009 from

evergreen forests in Taidang and Jidung streams near Gongrot

and at Karwani stream in Baghmara RF, South district,

Tripura by Lodh and Agarwala (2015). Recently recorded

between 28—1,000 m from January—December in Barail

WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

43. Scarce Evening Brown Cyllogenes janetae loba

S. Y. Lang & H. Haung, 2012

Status: Not yet given, since this is the only record of this

subspecies from India.

149

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: On 11.viii.2012 at Awapani

mill area between Anini and Dambunie in Upper Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh at 1,440 m.

Notes: Rare. A recently described subspecies by Lang and

Huang (2012) from Medog area, S.E. Tibet in China bordering

the Upper Dibang valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, India.

The holotype was collected by Lang on 12.viti.2012 at 2,000 m.

Coincidentally, the present author also found and photographed

C. j. loba on 11.viti.2012, a day before Lang at Awapani, near

Dambunie, not far from the holotype locality across the border

in China. This is the first record of the subspecies from India.

44. Dark Catseye Zipaetis scylax scylax Hewitson, 1863

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded in Namdapha on

20.111.2013 at 398 m; second record between Hapoli and

Daporijo, Subansiri district on 28.viii.2013 at 940 m; third

record from Borduria range near Deomali in Tirap district

on 11.1x.2014 at 290 m.

Notes: Two males recorded in lower Tsang Po, Dibang

valley at 900 m in June (Evans 1914). Specimens from

Tendong, Sikkim (6: 14.vi.1919) and Chhindwin, Myanmar

(2: 15.iv.1896) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Sikkim to Shan states

in Myanmar (Evans 1932) including Assam. Recorded

during April-May but present throughout the year at low

and moderate elevations (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts (1950)

recorded it during May and September at Tasser Pttu

(1,050 m) and Pite (600 m) in Subansiri area in undergrowth

of evergreen and bamboo forest. A skulking butterfly of lower

elevations, recorded in March and June from Darjeeling and

the Teesta valley, Sikkim (Haribal 1992). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded by

Borang et al. (2008) between 900 and 1,600 m as rare, during

October-November in Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve,

and by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing

in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh

below 1,000 m. Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in

March—October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded

at 100 m in March in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

45. Pallid Argus Callerebia scanda opima Watkins, 1927

Status: Schedule IH, Part I], IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 10+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Many individuals were

recorded at Mayodia pass (~2,200 m) in lower Dibang valley

and two inside Eaglesnest Wildlife Sanctuary (~2,000 m) and

150

one in Shergaon (1,800 m) in West Kameng district during

the monsoon season (29-3 1.vi1i.2013).

Notes: This subspecies opima was previously known as ‘rare’

in Lachung, upper Sikkim (Evans 1932). Common across

Nepal from 1,830—2,800 m from July-September (Smith

1989). Recorded as ‘fairly common’ along roadsides and

forest trails between 1,900 and 2,800 m in Bhutan (van der

Poel and Wangchuk 2007).

46. Bright-eyed Argus Callerebia dibangensis Roy, 2013

Status: Not yet given.

Specimens recorded: 99 individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally common. Many

individuals recorded near Mayodia Pass, Dibang valley on

09.viii.2012 (6 nos) and 29-31.viii.2013 (93 individuals of

both sexes) between c. 1,900 and 2,300 m. Courtship and

mating, wing morphology of female specimens, ecology, and

male genitalia of this species were described by Singh (2015).

Notes: Previously known from only one male specimen

collected from Mithun valley in upper Dibang valley district

(exact location unknown) at 1,830 m on 14.vu1.1987, but

altitudinal distribution range given is 1,600—1,800 m (Roy

2013).

47. Doherty’s Satyr Aulocera loha Doherty, 1886

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual recorded on

09.viii.2012 at 2,325 m in Mayodia Pass in Dibang valley

on a rocky patch with grass.

Notes: Thirteen males at 1,800—2,400 m in October—

November between Tawang and Kyeri near Bhutan border

(Evans 1914). Specimens from Naga Hills (4: 07.viii.1926)

and Chhindwin, Myanmar (Q: 30.ix.1924), between 1,800

and 2,000 m, collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept at NFIC.

Distributed from Kumaon to Assam up to 2,400 m and

recorded as not rare (Evans 1932). Betts (1950) recorded

it during September in Momba country between 1,800 and

3,000 m. In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). ‘Rare’ in East and Central Nepal (Kathmandu

and Rasuwa districts) from 2,700—3,900 m from July—

September (Smith 1989).

48. Chumbi Wall Chonala masoni Elwes, 1882

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 10+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: All observed in flight. One

caught and released after identification on 09.vili.2012 at

2,325 m near Mayodia Pass in an open rocky patch with grass.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (@: 07.ix.1922,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

@:21.vi.1919) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

Recorded as ‘not rare’and distributed from Sikkim to Assam

(Evans 1932). Common in Upper Teesta valley in Sikkim

(Haribal 1992). Recorded below Dochula pass (~2,000 m)

near Thimpu in Bhutan by the author.

49. Tiger Brown Orinoma damaris damaris Gray, 1846

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record at 1,389 m near

Mengio towards Yazuli, in lower Subansiri on 16.v.2012.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 25.v.1904)

and Naga Hills at 1,650 m (Q: 20.x.1925) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Distributed from Kangra

(Himachal Pradesh) to Karen (Myanmar) and recorded as

‘not rare’ (Evans 1932). Recorded as local and rare between

1,300 and 2,000 m including Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla

1988). ‘Not rare’ in central upper Midlands of Nepal (Kashki

and Kathmandu), from 900—1,850 m, in May, June, and

September to November (Smith 1989).

50. Small Goldenfork Lethe atkinsonia Hewitson, 1876

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record below Mayodia

Pass on 14.vi1.2012 in bamboo brakes at 2,325 m.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (¢: 27.ix.1917) collected

by O.C. Ollenbach kept in NFIC. Recorded as rare from

Sikkim to Bhutan (Evans 1932). One specimen collected

from Lachen in Sikkim (Haribal 1992). ‘Very rare’ with

only one record from Nepal (recorded at 2,732 m) in August

(Smith 1989). Two individuals recorded between 3,000 and

4,300 m at Mongar and Thimphu in Bhutan (Sbordoni et

al. 2015).

51. Striped Ringlet Ragadia crisilda crisilda Hewitson, 1862

Status: Schedule II, Part II, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 3+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve on 12.xu1.2012 and 27—29.xi.2013 between

334 and 487 m.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: 01.11.1905,

Q: 12.vii.1908) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Cachar in Assam (Evans

1932), distributed from Bhutan to Manipur up to Myanmar,

found in forested areas at lower elevations-(Wynter-Blyth

1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). Recorded by Borang et al. (2008) in Dihang-

Dibang Biosphere Reserve and by Gogoi (2012) along the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded

from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in September (Sondhi

and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded at 30-700 m from

March—December in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

52. Dusky Diadem Ethope himachala Moore, 1857

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One record from Kamlang

Wildlife Sanctuary at 286 m on 04.v.2012 and one between

Sanlium and Lazu at 1,635 m in Tirap district on 12.ix.2014.

Prefers edges in low elevation semi-evergreen forest.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 17.xi.1903,

@: 22.v.1903) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

Five specimens collected from Arunachal Pradesh (Evans

1914). ‘Not rare’ from Sikkim, Assam, and N. Myanmar

where it was found along streams in autumn between 900

and 2,100 m (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts (1950)

recorded it during April and October at Lichi (900 m) and

Pite (600 m) in Subansiri area in undergrowth of bamboo

forest. In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). Prefers thickly forested areas and is common

in Arunachal Pradesh where it basks in the morning and

after heavy showers with wings open (Haribal 1992). Also

recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogol

2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills in March—May and

November—December (Sondhi et a/. 2013) and from Pakke

Tiger Reserve in May, June, and October (Sondhi and Kunte

2014). Recently recorded at 30 m from January—December

in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et

al. 2016).

53. Newar Three-ring Ypthima newara newara Moore, 1874

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 5+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded near Roing in

Dibang valley on 08.v.2012 at 202 m; Menchuka in upper

Subansiri at 2,465 m on 02.v1.2012; Menjio in lower

Subansiri at 1,389 m on 15.v.2012, and in Dambunine, Upper

Dibang valley at 1,554 m on 13.viu1.2012.

Notes: Recorded from Silcuri in Cachar Hills in May and

July (Wood-Mason 1886). Not rare from Sikkim to Assam

(Evans 1932). Betts (1950) recorded it in September at ‘Lih’

(2,100 m) in grassland in Momba country in western Arunachal

Pradesh. In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). Common in forest and scrub below 2,000 m

in Bhutan (van der Poel and Wangchuk 2007). Singh and

+51

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Chib (2014) recorded it from Mendrelgang, Tsirang district,

Bhutan. Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in September

and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

54. Yellow Owl Neorina hilda Westwood, 1850

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Seven individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Six individuals were observed

at Mayodia pass in Lower Dibang valley on 09.vii1.2012,

all sucking minerals from animal dung in the evening at

c. 2,000 m. Recorded again on 31.viii.2013 near the same

place.

Notes: One male specimen collected near Drang at

2,100 m in October (Evans 1914). Specimens from Phasama,

Naga Hills (3: 29.viii.1924, 9: 23.vii.1927) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded as

‘rare’ and distributed in Sikkim and Assam, Nagaland (Evans

1932; Haribal 1992; Wynter-Blyth 1957). Recorded between

2,500 and 2,800 m in forested areas in Sikkim. One individual

recorded from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan in August

(Wanegdi et al. 2013).

55. Peal’s Palmfly Elymnias peali Wood-Mason, 1883

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Seven individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally uncommon in

Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district. A few

individuals recorded on 20—21.111.2013 (5 nos) and 27-28.

x1.2013 (2 nos) between 271-487 m on Mipen-Deban-

Haldibari route in and around Namdapha.

Notes: Distributed in Assam and recorded as ‘very rare’

(Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957). Also recorded from

Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

Recorded from Garo Hills in May, November, and December

(Sondhi et al. 2013).

56. Blue Striped Palmfly Elymnias patna patna Westwood,

1851

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Eight individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Six sightings from Namdapha

TR, Changlang district (20—21.111.2013 between 289 and

336 m); Anini and Etalin in Dibang valley on 14—15.vii.2012

at 781—1,706 m; Udyak Pass and Hyulung, Lohit district on

09.vi1i.2014 between 548 and 670 m.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 16.vi.1913,

Q: 13.vii.1908) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to

N. Myanmar (Evans 1932). Found during autumn in lower

152

valleys of Sikkim (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded from

Garo Hills in March—April (Sondhi et al 2013). Specimens

collected in October in Tripura by Lodh and Agarwala (2015).

Recently recorded at 900 m in December in Barail WLS,

Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

57. Spotted Palmfly Elymnias malelas malelas Hewitson,

1863

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 27.xi.2013 at

487 m in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, inside

evergreen forest.

Notes: Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Sikkim to Dawnas

(Myanmar) (Evans 1932). Common during monsoon and

autumn up to 900 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records

from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Common

in east to central Nepal (Nawalparasi and Kaski districts) from

the Terai to 1,500 m from March—May and July—November

(Smith 1989). Recorded in July, August, and November in

Tashiding, Legship, Yoksum, and Naya Bazaar in Sikkim,

seen courting in banana plantation (Haribal 1992). Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing

in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh

below 1,000 m. Singh and Chib (2014) recorded it from

Mendrelgang, Tsirang district, Bhutan. Recorded from Garo

Hills in May (Sondhi et al. 2013) and from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in March and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

Two specimens collected in October-November from Killa at

70 m in Gomati district and Baisnabpur in South district,

Tripura at 29 m altitude by Lodh and Agarwala (2015).

Recently recorded between 28 and 100 m from January—

December in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam

(Gogoi et al. 2016).

58. Tiger Palmfly Elymnias nesaea Linnaeus, 1764

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in West Kameng district at 230 m on 06.11.2013.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: 12.ix.1907,

@: 11.ix.1907) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Sikkim to North Myanmar (Evans

1932) including Assam at low elevations (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern

Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills during

March—May, November—December (Sondhi et al. 2013),

from Pakke Tiger Reserve in October (Sondhi and Kunte

2014), and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near Jorhat, Assam

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

in May—June (Singh et al. 2015). Specimens collected in

October in Tripura by Lodh and Agarwala (2015). Recently

recorded at 28 m from January—December in Barail WLS,

Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

59. Scarce Blue Oakleaf Kallima knyvettii de Nicéville, 1886

Status: Schedule II, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single sighting below

Mayodia Pass, Dibang valley at 2,039 m on 08.viii.2012

amongst debris under moist rocks.

Notes: Specimens from Naga Hills (@: 12.ix.1924,

Q: 10.xi.1924) collected between 1,800 and 2,100 m by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded as rare from

Sikkim to Dawnas in Southern Myanmar (Evans 1932).

Recorded in Sikkim-Darjeeling area between 1,500 and

2,100 m and Naga Hills from July—November (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Betts (1950) recorded it during July—August at Apa

Tani (1,800 m) in Subansiri area in evergreen forest on carrion

or rotten fruit. In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta

and Shukla 1988). Recorded during May—June in Neora

Valley National Park, West Bengal, India (Sengupta et al.

2014). Recorded from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan

from Bumdeling to Tarphel at 1,900—2,100 m in August

(Wangdi et al. 2013).

60. Wizard Rhinopalpa polynice birmana Frihstorfer, 1897

Status: Schedule II, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 20+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally common between

257-487 m in Namdapha on 12.x11.2012 and 27.x1.2013; also

in Deomali, Tirap district at 128-137 m from 11—14.ix.2014.

Notes: Specimens of birmana from Manipur (3: 07.iii. 1905)

and Taungpila, Tavoy, Tenasserim, Myanmar (9: 10.ix.1925)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. The species

Rhinopalpa polynice is ‘rare’ from Assam to Myanmar

(Evans 1932). Recorded in Naga Hills and Digboi, Assam

in September (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Also recorded

from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in March—April and

September—October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

61. Dot-dash Sergeant Athyma kanwa phorkys Frihstorfer,

1912

Status: Schedule II, Part I, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 15+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Local and fairly common

in semi-evergreen forests. Recorded at 271 m in Namdapha

Tiger Reserve on 21.xii.2011 and 20.11.2013, and in Deomali,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Tirap district at 338 m in 03—05.vi.2015.

Notes: Recorded as ‘rare’ from Assam to Myanmar (Evans

1932). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). Also, recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest,

eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in April and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014), and

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near Jorhat, Assam in January—

April (Singh et al. 2015). Recently recorded between 250

and 1,100 m from January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar

Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

62. Studded Sergeant Athyma asura asura Moore, 1857

Status: Schedule II, Part HW, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 08.11.2013 at

1,564 m in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, West Kameng.

Notes: One male specimen collected from Lower Tsang Po

river in Dibang valley at 900 m in June (Evans 1914). A

specimen from Tavoy, Myanmar (9: 17.1.1920) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. Recorded from Irangmara in

Cachar Hills in July (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886).

Recorded as rare from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh to Tavoy

in Myanmar (Evans 1932). Betts (1950) recorded it during

August and October at Pite (600 m) and Apa Tani (1,800 m),

in Subansiri area in Arunachal on river rocks. In ZSI records

from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing

in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh

below 1,000 m. Recorded from Garo Hills in March-May

(Sondhi et al. 2013), from Pakke Tiger Reserve in September

(Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Specimen collected in May from

Debbari in Gomti district, Tripura at 48 m in semi-evergreen

forest (Lodh and Agarwala 2015). Recently recorded at 30 m

from March in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam

(Gogoi et al. 2016).

63. Unbroken Sergeant Athyma pravara acutipennis

Fruhstorfer, 1906

Status: Schedule II, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 19 individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Two individuals recorded

from Namdapha TR between 271—338 m on 21.x11.2011 and

20.111.2013, 17 individuals recorded from different parts of

the state mainly at lower elevations.

Notes: Recorded from Irangmara in Cachar Hills in July

(Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). Recorded as rare

from Assam to Myanmar (Evans 1932). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Also, recorded

from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a).

Recorded from Garo Hills in November (Sondhi et a/. 2013),

153

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

from Pakke Tiger Reserve in September and October (Sondhi

and Kunte 2014), and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near

Jorhat, Assam in March—April (Singh et al. 2015). Recently

recorded between 28 and 800 m from January—December

in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et

al. 2016).

64. Bhutan Sergeant Athyma jina jina Moore, 1857

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record on 12.vii.2014

at 786 m near Hayuliang in Anjaw district, sucking minerals

from wet sand. This is the easternmost record of this taxa

in India.

Notes: Two males collected from Lower Tsang Po river in

Dibang valley at 1,650 m in June and one male in Dhirang

at 1,950 m in October (Evans 1914). Recorded as ‘very rare’

from Nepal to Sikkim and Bhutan (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth

1957). Fairly common in forested areas between 800 and

1,850 m in Bhutan (van der Poel and Wangchuk 2007), and

in Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan from Bumdeling in

August (Wangdi et a/. 2013).

65. Tytler’s Sergeant Athyma whitei Tytler, 1940

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 08.vi1.2014,

20 km ahead of Hayuliang towards Walong in Anjaw district,

sucking minerals from wet sand. This is the only record of

this species from Arunachal Pradesh.

Notes: Found in Chin Hills in N. Myanmar, South Vietnam,

Hainan, and China (Inayoshi 2012) and recently recorded

from Cachar Hills in south Mizoram and south Assam in

2012 and 2013 (Gogoi 2014). Recently recorded at 28 m

altitude from December—March in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills

in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

66. Perak Lascar Pantoporia paraka paraka Butler, 1877

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 137 m on

14.1x.2014 in Deomali, Tirap district.

Notes: ‘Not rare’ from Assam to Myanmar (Evans 1932).

Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam

(Gogoi 2013a) and from Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary near

Jorhat, Assam (Singh et al. 2015). Recorded from Garo Hills

in November—December (Sondhi et a/. 2013), and Pakke

Tiger Reserve in June (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently

recorded at 28 m in March from Barail WLS, Cachar Hills

in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

154

67. Yellow Sailer Neptis ananta ochracea Evans, 1924

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 327 m and

331 m on 20.111.2013 and 29.x1.2013, respectively in

Namdapha TR. Again on 06.viii.2014 at 528 m in Lohit

district and on 09.viii.2014 at 834 m in Anjaw district.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (3: 20.1.1921, 9: 13.iv.1916)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded

as ‘rare’ from Sikkim to Dawnas (Evans 1932). Recorded

in Naga hills from March to October (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla

1988). Common in Central Nepal (Parbat and Kathmandu) at

960—2,342 m, from April to June and September to December

(Smith 1989). Prefers well-wooded nullahs and forest edges

between 400 and 2,000 m, collected near Pashok in Sikkim

(Haribal 1992). Recorded along the Sankosh river in lowland

forests of Bhutan adjoining Buxa Tiger Reserve in winter

(Singh 2012). Also, recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest,

eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills in

March (Sondhi et al. 2013). |

68. Great Yellow Sailer Neptis radha radha Moore, 1857

Status: Schedule II, Part IT, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Pakke Tiger

Reserve at 132 m on 18.x11.2013; from Upper Dibang valley

on Anini-Mippi road on 14.viii.2012 and 07.vi.2014, at

759 m and 1,706 m, respectively.

Notes: Specimens from Naga Hills at 2,100 m (3: 07.vi.1926)

and Bhutan (9: 12.ix.1926) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are

kept in NFIC. Recorded from Nemotha in Cachar Hills in

September (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). Recorded

as rare from Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to Assam (Evans 1932).

Betts (1950) recorded it during November at Pite (600 m)

in Subansiri area on river rocks. Recorded in spring and

autumn between 1,350 and 2,250 m in Sikkim-Darjeeling area

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh

(Gupta and Shukla 1988). Rare in Central Nepal (Kashi

and Kathmandu) between 1,100 and 2,200 m during May,

September, and November (Smith 1989). Recorded by Gogoi

(2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi

Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m.

69. Spotted Sailer Neptis magadha khasiana Moore, 1872

Status: Schedule IJ, Part II, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 10+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Local. Fairly common along

the forest edge near Namdapha TR, Changlang district, entry

gate towards Deban on 12.xii.2012 and 20.i11.2013 between

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

256 m and 366 m. Recorded around Hayuliang, Anjaw

district at 531 m on 07.viii.2014 and on 14.1x.2014 at 137m

in Deomali, Tirap.

Notes: A specimen from Maymyo, Shan States, Myanmar

(4: 23.x.1926) collected by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in

NFIC. Recorded as rare from Bhutan to N. Myanmar (Evans

1932). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and

Shukla 1988). “Not common’ at lower altitudes in east and

central Nepal (Kashi district) from the Terai to 870 m during

March, April, July, September, and November (Smith 1989).

Recorded from Garo Hills in March—April (Sondhi et al.

2013), and Pakke Tiger Reserve in October (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014). Recently recorded between 28 and 110 m from

January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

70. Great Hockeystick Sailer Phaedyma aspasia aspasia

Leech, 1890

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual was

recorded near Etalin at 759 m altitude on 07.v1.2014 and

another on 08.vi.2014 on Anini-Mippi road, in Upper

Dibang Valley. Probably the first record from Arunachal

Pradesh.

Notes: Recorded as rare and known to occur in south-west

China, Nagaland in India and N. Myanmar (Evans 1932), and

now Arunachal Pradesh in the present study.

71. Bronze Duke Euthalia nara nara Moore, 1859

Status: Schedule II, Part H, [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Two records, one from

Sessa along the highway at c. 1,000 m on 29.vi1.2013, West

Kameng and another near Anini at 1,706 m, Dibang valley

on 14.viii.2012.

Notes: Specimens from Phesama, Naga Hills at 2,100 m

(S: 18.viii.1924 and Q: 29.viii.1924) between 1,800

and 2,100 m collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept

in NFIC. Recorded as ‘rare’ from Sikkim to Shan

states in N. Myanmar (Evans 1932), including Assam

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). ‘Not Common’ in central Nepal

(Kathmandu and Rasuwa district), between 1,500 and

1,900 m in June—July (Smith 1989). A few individuals

recorded from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan from

1,900—2,200 m in August (Wangdi et al. 2013).

72. Green Duke Euthalia sahadeva sahadeva Moore, 1859

Status: Schedule II, Part I], IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Locality and Date of sighting: One female from Dambuine,

near Anini at 1,706 m on 14.vii1.2012 and one male on

26.vili.2013 at 1,554 m from Dambuine, in Upper Dibang

Valley.

Notes: Specimens from Phesama, Naga Hills at 2,100 m

(4: 22.viii.1924, 2: 14.viii.1925) at 2,100 m collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded as not rare

from Sikkim to Bhutan (Evans 1932), including Assam and

Myanmar and common in Naga Hills and Sikkim-Darjeeling

area between 1,200 and 1,500 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts

(1950) recorded it during July-August in Apa Tani (Zero)

at 1,800 m in dense evergreen forest. In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Rare in Central

Nepal (Kashi and Kathmandu district), between 1,200 and

2,000 m in June—September (Smith 1989). Fairly common

in forested areas between 800 and 2,000 m in Bhutan (van

der Poel and Wangchuk 2007) from Trashiyangtse valley,

eastern Bhutan from Trashi Yangtse to Bumdeling in August

(Wangdi et al. 2013). Found up to 1,800 m in Sikkim, and

one record from Orchid Sanctuary in Gangtok (Haribal 1992).

Recorded during May—June in Neora Valley National Park,

West Bengal, India (Sengupta et al. 2014).

73. French Duke Euthalia franciae Gray, 1846

a. Euthalia franciae franciae Gray, 1846

Status: Schedule II, Part II, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Subspecies franciae was

recorded in Namdapha Tiger Reserve at 460 m on 28.11.2012,

where it prefers lower elevation forest. Also recorded in

Dibang valley district at 680 m on 14.viii.2012 and in Anjaw

district near Hayuliang at 786 m on 12.vii.2015.

Notes: Specimens of franciae from Khasi Hills (Q: June

1905) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. One

male collected from Lower Tsang Po, Dibang valley at

900 m (Evans 1914). This subspecies is found in Sikkim,

Nepal, and Bhutan and is rare (Evans 1932), including

Assam (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts (1950) recorded it

during October at Lichi (1,050 m) in evergreen forest.

Recorded in Sikkim in May at 1,500 m, in Naga Hills from

April to August and during August in Assam (Wynter-Blyth

1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta

and Shukla 1988). In Nepal, this subspecies is found

only in Kathmandu valley where it is rare between 1,360

and 1,900 m from April to June and September (Smith

1989). Later, Khanal et al. (2013b) collected 3 specimens

of E. f franciae from Central Nepal between 1,363 and

1,940 m. In Sikkim it was recorded in dense forests in summer

up to 1,500 m, one specimen collected from Tholung valley

(Haribal 1992).

155

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

b. Euthalia franciae rajah Felder & Felder, 1859

Specimens recorded: Seven individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: The second subspecies rajah

was recorded at a relatively higher elevation than subspecies

franciae (1,467—2,290 m) near Mayodia Pass, while moving

towards Hunli in Upper Dibang valley district. Six individuals

were recorded on 14—15.viii.2012 on the forest road. Also

recorded between Anini and Mippi on 10.vi11.2012.

Notes: Subspecies rajah is rare and ranges from Assam

to Karen in Myanmar (Evans 1932). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing

in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh

below 1,000 m. Specimens of rajah from Jakama, Naga Hills

(4: 20.viii.1924, 9: 08.ix.1926) at 1,800 m, collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

74. Grey Baron Euthalia anosia anosia Moore, 1857

Status: Schedule II, Part IJ, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 14.1x.2014 at

137 m altitude in Deomali, Tirap district in semi-evergreen

forest.

Notes: Specimens from Pagaye, Tavoy, Tenasserim,

Myanmar (4: 03.xii.1909), Khasi Hills (4: 11-vii.1905),

and Darjeeling-Sikkim (9: 19.x.1917) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded from Irangmara,

Lalla Mookh, and Nemotha in Cachar Hills in June, July,

and September (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). A

‘rare’ species distributed from Assam to Myanmar (Evans

1932), recorded at lower elevations in Assam (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern

Assam (Gogoi 2013a) and from Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

near Jorhat, Assam in March and April (Singh et al. 2015).

Recorded from Garo Hills in December (Sondhi et a/. 2013),

and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in May—June and September—

October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded in

March at 28 m from Barail WLS, Cachar hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

75. Dark Archduke Lexias dirtea khasiana Swinhoe, 1893

Status: Schedule I, Part IIT (WPA 1972).

Specimens recorded: 20+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Locally common at lower

elevation semi-evergreen forest in and around Deomali,

Tirap district (14—15.1x.2014) at 336 m, and Namdapha in

Changlang district (14.x11.2012; 211.111.2013; 28—29.x1.2013),

between 331 and 428 m.

Notes: Specimens from Pagaye, Tavoy, Myanmar

(4: 23.iv.1907), Kandan, Tavoy, Myanmar (9: 10.vi.1915)

156

and Khasi Hills (2: 11.vi.1906 and 23.iv.1907) collected

by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded as rare and

restricted to Assam (Evans 1932), Sikkim, Bhutan, and hills

of north-east India (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from

Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded by

Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in

lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Recorded from Garo Hills in April-May (Sondhi et

al. 2013) and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in March—October

(Sondhi and Kunte 2014), and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary,

near Jorhat, Assam where it is seen throughout the year (Singh

et al. 2015). Specimens collected in May from Debbari in

Gomti district, Tripura at 48 m in semi-evergreen forest

(Lodh and Agarwala 2015). Recently recorded at 28 m from

January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

76. Sordid Emperor Chitoria sordida sordida Moore, 1865

Status: Schedule I, Part II, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Rare. Recorded sapsucking

on a bridge near Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, at 344 m on

07.vi11.2014. Probably first record from Arunachal Pradesh.

Notes: Specimens from Darjeeling hills (06.1x.1914 and

07.x.1914) collected by O.C. Ollenbach and another one

(4: June 1955) collected by G.D. Bhasin from as far west

as Dwarkanath in Chakrata Hills in Uttarakhand (western

Himalaya), are kept in NFIC. The species Chitoria sordida

is reported from Manipur throughout the summer and

autumn. A single specimen was also collected on Silchar road

in October and was extremely local (Tytler 1915). This ‘rare’

subspecies C. s. sordida is known to occur in Sikkim, Bhutan,

Naga Hills, N. Myanmar (Evans 1932), and was recorded at

1,800 m in Naga Hills (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Collected from

West Sikkim in November (Haribal 1992). Recently, Singh and

Chib (2014) recorded it from Mendrelgang, Tsirang district,

Bhutan at 1,179 m during October 2012 where several

individuals were seen sipping on exudate of orange tree in

orchards. The species C. sordida is seen on the wing from

April to November and flies at low elevation around 2,000 m

in Naga Hills (Kehimkar 2008). Recorded during May—June

in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India (Sengupta

et al. 2014).

77. Brown Prince Rohana parvata parvata Moore, 1857

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record between Tippi

and Sessa, West Kameng district, licking salt from roadside

rocks at 325 m on 10.vui.2012.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Notes: A rare species Rohana parvata distributed from

Sikkim to Assam (Evans 1932), Sikkim-Darjeeling area

between 1,200 and 1,500 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI

records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988).

Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near

Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m.

78. Eastern Courtier Sephisa chandra chandra Moore,

1857

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded between Anini and

Dambuine in Upper Dibang valley on 13.viii.2012, between

1,400 and 1,554 m.

Notes: Specimens from Sikkim (@: 10.ix.1919) and

Phesama, Naga Hills at 1,800 m (@: 29.ix.1925) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. A ‘very rare’ species

Sephisa chandra distributed from Sikkim to Karen in

Myanmar (Evans 1932), including Assam and ‘fairly

common’ at lower elevations in Sikkim (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

Betts (1950) recorded it during August and October at Pite

(600 m) in Subansiri area on the riverbed. In ZSI records

from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Found

in nullahs bordering forested areas and along streams up to

1,500 m in north and west Sikkim (Haribal 1992). ‘Not rare’

from east to central midlands (Kaski and Syanja districts),

Nepal in April-June and August to November. Recorded

by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in

lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Recorded from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan

from Trashiyangtse town in August (Wangdi et al. 2013).

79. White Commodore Parasarpa dudu dudu Westwood,

1850

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: First recorded from Namdapha

at 470 m on 28.111.2012, second between Bomdila-Dirang,

West Kameng district at 1,746 m on the road on 31.vu1.2013,

and the third recorded between Hayulung-Khesung, Anjaw

district at 786 m on 08.vi11.2014.

Notes: One male specimen collected from the state (Evans

1914). Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 04.vii.1906,

Q: 28.vi.1925) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

A ‘rare’ species Parasarpa dudu distributed from Sikkim to

Shan states in Myanmar (Evans 1932). Common in Naga

Hills in April and from August-November between 1,350

and 1,800 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Specimen collected from

west Sikkim, recorded between 1,200 and 1,500 m where it

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

flies around tree tops and highest point on the ridges (Haribal

1992). ‘Not Rare’ and recorded only in Central Nepal (Kaski

and Kathmandu districts) from 1,500—2,600 m during April—

October (Smith 1989). Fairly common in grassland and sandy

river banks between 1,400 and 2,500 m in Bhutan (van der

Poel and Wangchuk 2007), from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern

Bhutan from Trashi Yangtse town to Bumdeling in August

(Wangdi et al. 2013). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Khanal et al. (2013)

collected two specimens from Central Nepal between 1,850

and 1,880 m. Recorded during May—June in Neora Valley

National Park, West Bengal, India (Sengupta et al. 2014).

80. Commodore Auzakia danava danava Moore, 1857

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One individual recorded

at Etalin (673 m) in Dibang valley on 10.viii.2012, near

Eaglenest Sanctuary at 1,564 m on 08.11.2013 and between

Hayulung-Khesung towards Walong, Anjaw district at

786 m on 08.viii.2014.

Notes: One male specimen collected from Arunachal

Pradesh (Evans 1914). Specimens from Naga Hills

(oS: 03.x.1924, Q: 05.ix.1926) and Kirbari, Naga Hills

(4: 11.x.1918) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

A rare species Auzakia danava distributed from Shimla in

Himachal Pradesh to Dawnas in Myanmar (Evans 1932),

recorded as common in Naga Hills from August-November

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal Pradesh

(Gupta and Shukla 1988). ‘Not Rare’ in Kathmandu valley

but rare in Kashi and Doti districts from 870—1,800 m during

April—September (Smith 1989). Recorded by Borang ef al.

(2008) in Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve and by Gogoi

(2012) along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower

Mishmi hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below

1,000 m. Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve in April

(Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

81. Grey Commodore Bhagadatta austenia austenia Moore,

1872

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: 5+ individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Several records from Dibang

valley between 680 and 2,290 m during June and August

(14.viii.2012; 30—31.viii.2013; 07.vi.2014; 07.viii.2014).

Notes: Three male specimens collected from Lower Tsang

Po river in Dibang valley between 800 and 1,800 m in

June (Evans 1914). A specimen of subspecies austenia

from Mokochong, Naga Hills (4: 12.vi.1926) collected by

157

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. A ‘rare’ subspecies

distributed from Assam to N. Myanmar (Evans 1932), in

Naga hills and Manipur in April-May and July-September

(Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI records from Arunachal

Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). Recorded in Garo Hills

from March—May (Sondhi e¢ a/. 2013). Borang et al. (2008)

recorded another subspecies B. a. purpurascens between 600

and 1,000 m as ‘very rare’ in October-November in Dihang-

Dibang Biosphere Reserve.

82. Empress Sasakia funebris funebris Leech, 1891

Status: Schedule I, Part IV, IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record on Anini-Mippi

road, Dibang Valley on 13.vii1.2012 at 1,706 m. Details of this

record have been published earlier by the author (Singh 2013).

Notes: Four specimens of this species were collected at

Yakama (=Jakhama), Naga Hills (Nagaland) at 1,520 m

in July in 1911 and 1912 (Tytler 1915). A specimen

(3: 25.vi.1924) from Jakhama, Naga Hills at 1,800 m,

collected by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. ‘Very rare’,

earlier recorded only from Naga Hills in India (Evans 1932).

83. Panther Neurosigma siva siva Westwood, 1850

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: A male near Tato, Upper

Subansiri at 1,520 m on 01.1x.2012.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (@: 07.iii.1906,

@: 14.v11.1908) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC.

Recorded as rare from Sikkim to Chittagong in Bangladesh

(Evans 1932); Sylhet, Cachar, hills of Assam and Myanmar,

and Sikkim in spring, and from Assam in spring and autumn

between 1,200 and 1,500 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts

(1950) recorded it in October at Tasser Pttu (1,050 m) in dense

evergreen forest in Subansiri area. A rare subspecies that flies

during spring and October between 1,300 and 1,500 m in

Sikkim (Haribal 1992). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. One individual

recorded from Trashiyangtse valley, eastern Bhutan from

Duksum to Trashiyangtse town in August (Wangdi et al. 2013).

84. Constable Dichorragia nesimachus nesimachus Doyere,

1840

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Five individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at higher elevations

from 1,706 m on Mippi-Anini road on 14.viii.2012, and four

individuals at lower elevation in semi-evergreen forest at

158

Deomali, Tirap district on 14.1x.2014 between 125—154 m.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: 16.vii.1908) and at

Pump Station in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand (Q: 20.vi.1915)

collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. The species

Dichorragia nesimachus is ‘not rare’ from Kullu (Himachal

Pradesh) to Myanmar (Evans 1932) including Assam and in

Sikkim flies up to 750 m (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Betts (1950)

recorded it during February and May at Lichi (750 m) and Pite

(600 m) in Subansiri area, as common at 1,200 m where it was

seen settling on tree trunks. In ZSI records from Arunachal

Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988). ‘Rare’ in Nepal between

300 m and 2,072 m during March, April, June, September,

and November (Smith 1989). Flies up to 900 m and has two

broods, one before and one after the rains when it visits damp

patches, waste, and refuse in Sikkim (Haribal 1992). Recorded

by Borang et al. (2008) between 900 and 1,100 m as a rare

subspecies D.n. nesimachus in October-November in Dihang-

Dibang Biosphere Reserve and by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded

from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a)

and from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi et a/. 2013). Recorded

at Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary near Jorhat, Assam in March,

April, and December (Singh et a/. 2015), and from Pakke Tiger

Reserve in September—October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

85. Yellow Kaiser Penthema lisarda lisarda Doubleday,

1845 |

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Five individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: All individuals recorded

between 358 and 732 m near Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary

and Wakro-Kamlang road, Lohit district on 05— 06.vi1i.2014.

Notes: Specimens from Katha, Myanmar (<: 10.v.1907)

and Darjeeling (9: 19.xi.1912) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. ‘Rare’ from Sikkim to Manipur (Evans

1932). Recorded in Sikkim-Darjeeling area at Dikchu and

Singhik at 600-650 m in May (Wynter-Blyth 1957). In ZSI

records from Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta and Shukla 1988).

Collected by Bailey and Dudgeon from Daling and Singal

areas in Sikkim and from Arunachal Pradesh in May (Haribal

1992). Recorded by Borang et al. (2008) between 400 and

900 m as acommon subspecies Penthema lisarda lisarda in

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, and by Gogoi (2012)

along the Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills,

Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded

from Garo Hills in March—April (Sondhi et al. 2013) and

from Pakke Tiger Reserve in April (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

Recently recorded at 110 m in March from Barail WLS,

Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

86. Red Caliph Enispe euthymius euthymius Doubleday,

1845

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record from Haldibari

forest at 398 m on 21.111.2013 and another near ‘Camera

Point’ on Mipen-Gandhigram route on 27.xi.2013, both in

Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district.

Notes: One male collected from Arunachal Pradesh (Evans

1914). Specimens from Sikkim (4: 16.ix.1914) and Khasi

Hills (Q: 18.1x.1925) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. Recorded from Nemotha in Cachar Hills in September

(Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). Occurs from

September to March at lower elevations in Sikkim (Haribal

1992). Also recorded from Garo Hills in May (Sondhi

et al. 2013) and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in September

(Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded in January

_ from Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi

et al. 2016).

87. Jungle Glory Thaumantis diores diores Doubleday, 1845

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Seven individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at several locations

on 28.x1.2013 in evergreen forest on Deban to Haldibari

trek route in Namdapha Tiger Reserve between 357 and

428 m.

Notes: Recorded from Nemotha in Cachar Hills in September

and November (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville 1886). One

male collected from Arunachal Pradesh (Evans 1914).

Specimens of species Thaumantis diores from Khasi Hills

(4: 17.v.1904, 2: 14.vi.1926) collected by O.C. Ollenbach

are kept in NFIC. The subspecies 7: d. diores was recorded

as not rare from Sikkim to N. Myanmar (Evans 1932), and

as rare in Sikkim-Darjeeling area at 750 m (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern

Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Garo Hills in March,

May, November, and December (Sondhi et a/. 2013) and from

Pakke Tiger Reserve in October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

Recently recorded at 30 m in March from Barail WLS, Cachar

Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

88. Manipur Jungle Queen Sticopthalma sparta tytleri

Rothchild, 1918

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Eight individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from 10-13.

viil.2012, in Upper Dibang valley on Anini-Mippi Road

and also near Etalin, Dibang valley district between 1,659

and 1,706 m.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Notes: Specimens from Mokokchoung, Naga Hills

(4: 07.vii.1926) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in

NFIC. This subspecies was ‘not rare’ in Manipur, Abhor,

Naga Hills, Kindat, Katha, and N. Myanmar (Evans 1932).

Flies in Manipur in April and June and in Naga Hills in

September (Wynter-Blyth 1957).

89. Northern Jungle Queen Stichophthalma camadeva

nicevillei Rober, 1900

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Three individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 13—14.vii1.2012

on Anini-Mippi road, Dibang Valley between 1,659—1,706 m.

Notes: Specimens of this subspecies from Singe, Sikkim

(oS: 26.v.1919, 9: September 1912) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded from Silcuri

in Cachar Hills in May (Wood-Mason and de Nicéville

1886). Known to be not rare and restricted to Sikkim

(Evans 1932). Very common in Cachar (Assam) and between

600 and 900 m during June—July in Sikkim-Darjeeling

area (Wynter-Blyth 1957). Was observed as rare during

October in Orang Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (Basistha et

al. 1999).

90. Great Duffer Discophora timora timora Westwood,

1850

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record from Deomali,

Tirap at 135 m on 11.1x.2014.

Notes: Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Sikkim to Myanmar

(Evans 1932), including Bengal and Assam (Wynter-Blyth

1957). Recently recorded from Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary,

near Jorhat, Assam in September (Singh et al. 2015).

Specimen collected in August from Chauribari, in North

district, Tripura at 53 m in semi-evergreen mixed deciduous

forest (Lodh and Agarwala 2015). Recently recorded at 28 m

from January—March in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

91. Tiger-mimic Admiral Limenitis rileyi Tytler, 1940

Status: Not yet given.

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Photographed licking salt

on a rock on the road between Anini and Mippi, 10 km from

Anini in Upper Dibang valley, at c. 1,660 m on 13.vii1.2012.

Notes: Known to occur in south-eastern Tibet, Myanmar,

and North Vietnam with flight period from June to August

between 1,600—2,400 m (Monastyrskii and Huang 2003;

Devyatkin 2000; Shizuya etal. 2011).

159

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Hesperiidae

92. Slate Awl Hasora anura de Nicéville, 1889

a. Hasora anura anura de Nicéville, 1889

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Single record on 07.vi.2012

at 1,270 m, sucking minerals from wet sand on the road near

Etalin in Upper Dibang valley.

Notes: A large number Hasora anura anura were obtained

by Tytler (1915) in Jakama and Kirbari, Naga Hills between

188 and 2,100 m and Suroifui, Manipur from July to October

and at Imphal (900 m) during June. Rare distributed from

Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) to Shan States in Myanmar,

Thailand, S.W. and S. China (Evans 1932). Only one record

from central Nepal (Kaski district) at 900 m in December

(Smith 1989). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani

riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley,

Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m.

b. Hasora anura china Evans, 1949

Status: Not yet assessed.

Specimens recorded: Three individuals photographed.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded around Mayodia Pass

between 2,039 and 2,079 m, in Dibang valley on 09.vi1.2012.

Notes: First record from India.

93. Pale Green Awlet Burara gomata gomata Moore, 1865

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 07.vi.2014 at

1,267 m near Etalin in Dibang valley.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: June 1916) and

Sikkim (2: 16.viii.1920) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are

kept in NFIC. Distributed from Sikkim to Assam, recorded as

‘not rare’ (Evans 1932). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded from

Panbari Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi

Anglong in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b). Recorded from

Pakke Tiger Reserve in May and September (Sondhi and

Kunte 2014). Recently recorded between 28 and 90 m from

March—December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern

Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

94. Small Green Awlet Burara amara Moore, 1865

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 212 m at ‘Sally

lake’ close to Roing in Dibang valley on 05.viii.2012, at

Tezu, Lohit district on 06.vi1i.2012, and also at 1,635 m on

160

13.1x.2014 at Thinsa in Tirap district.

Notes: A specimen from Khasi Hills (<': 18.x.1921) collected

by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. A rare species distributed

from Sikkim to Shan states in Myanmar and Andamans (Evans

1932). ‘Rare’ from east to central Nepal (Kaski district) from

the Terai to 950 m in May, June, and August (Smith 1989).

Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed near

Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded along the Sankosh river

in lowland forests of Bhutan adjoining Buxa Tiger Reserve

in winter (Singh 2012). Also recorded from Panbari Forest

and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in upper

Assam (Gogoi 2013b) and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in May

and September (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

95. Hooked Awlking Choaspes furcata Evans, 1932

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 1,267 m near

Etalin in Dibang valley on 07.vi.2014, sucking sap from refuse.

Notes: A ‘rare’ species distributed from Sikkim to Manipur

(Evans 1932), while Smith (1989) gives distribution from

Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to Sikkim and Assam, and west China.

Also recorded from Panbari Forest and adjoining areas near

Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b).

96. Wax Dart Cupitha purreea purreea Moore, 1877

Status: Not listed in [WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 186 m on

18.x1i1.2013 at Pakke Tiger Reserve, West Kameng district.

Notes: Specimens from Pagaye, Tavoy (d: 05.i.1920) and

Sabataung, Tavoy, Myanmar (9: 26.xi1.1919) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded from Sebong,

Manipur in March—April and October-November (Tytler

1915). Cupitha purreea purreea was recorded as ‘not rare’

and distributed from S. India, Sikkim to Myanmar, Andamans

and Malayana (Evans 1932). ‘Rare’ in east and central Terai

(Nawalparasi district) in Nepal at 510 m from March—June

and August. Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing Forest,

eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a) and is seasonally common in

Panbari Reserve Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-

Karbi Anglong district in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b).

Recorded from Garo Hills in May, November, and December

(Sondhi et al. 2013) and Pakke Tiger Reserve, West Kameng

district in March and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014).

Two records in April from ‘Atharamura North Circle’ in

Dhalai district, Tripura at 183 m (Lodh and Agarwala 2015).

Recently recorded at 28 m from January—December in Barail

WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

97. Greenish Palm Dart Telicota ancilla horisha Evans, 1934

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded near Dambuine

in upper Dibang valley, at 1,554 m, nectar feeding on

Umbelliferae flowers, on 13.viu1.2012.

Notes: Recorded by Evans (1934) as distributed from southern

China to northern Vietnam, Taiwan. Also well-distributed

from W. Himalaya to NE India (Evans 1949). Recorded from

Panbari Reserve Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-

Karbi Anglong in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b).

98. Himalayan Yellow-banded Flat Celaenorrhinus

dhanada Moore, 1865

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

‘Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Namdapha,

Changlang district at 357 m and 398 m on 21.111.2013 and

28.x1.2013 respectively, and in Hayuliang, Anjaw district on

07.vili.2014 at 531 m.

Notes: Specimens from Karen Hills, Myanmar (¢: 15.iv.1920)

and Mussoorie, Uttarakhand (4: 30.v.1919) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Subspecies affinis recorded

from April to May and November in Manipur and Naga Hills

in November at 1,800 m (Tytler 1915). Distributed from

Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) to Sikkim and recorded as rare

(Evans 1932). Rare across Nepal in May, June, and September

from 840—1,560 m (Smith 1989). Uncommon in open country

and rocks below 1,800 m (van der Poel and Wangchuk 2007).

99. Dark Yellow-banded Flat Celaenorrhinus aurivittata

aurivittata Moore, 1878

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 09.vi1i1.2014

at 1,570 m at Udayak Pass and near Wakro at 286 m on

04.v.2012, Lohit district.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: May 1916) and Tavoy,

Myanmar (@: 20.xii.1920) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are

kept in NFIC. Common at lower elevations in Manipur but

‘not common’ in Naga Hills (Tytler 1915). Distributed from

Assam to South Myanmar and recorded as ‘not rare’ (Evans

1932). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani riverbed

near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang valley, Arunachal

Pradesh below 1,000 m. Also recorded from Jeypore-Dehing

Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a) and from Panbari Forest

and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in upper

Assam (Gogoi 2013b). Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve

in March and October (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recorded

during August from Central Catchment Reserve Forest in

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Dhalai district, Tripura at 180 m (Lodh and Agarwala 2015).

Recently recorded at 28 m from January—December in Barail

WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

100. Tytler’s Multi-spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ratna

tytleri Evans, 1926

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: One record from Menchuka

valley in Upper Subansiri at 1,554 m on 12.vi1.2012, and

another from Udayak Pass in Lohit district on 09.vi11.2014.

Notes: Dstributed from Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) to Manipur

and was recorded as ‘rare’ (Evans 1932). Not common in central

Nepal (Kashi and Kathmandu) at 1,650—2,600 m from June

to September (Smith 1989). Four records from Trashiyangtse

valley, eastern Bhutan where it is sparsely seen in forested tracts

between 1,800 and 2,300 m (Wangdi et al. 2012).

101. Dusky Yellow-breasted Flat Gerosis phisara phisara

Moore, 1884

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Four individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded in Arunachal

between 235 and 1,203 m on 19.x11.2013 at Pakke Tiger

Reserve, West Kameng district; 29.vii1.2012 at Daporio,

Upper Subansiri; 01.v.2012 near Walong, Anjaw district; and

11.ix.2014 near Borduria, Tirap district.

Notes: Specimens from Moulmein (Mawlamyine), Myanmar

(4: 18.1.1923) and Cachar, Assam (9: 07.iv.1908) collected

by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Distributed from Sikkim

to Myanmar, Malaysia and recorded as ‘not rare’ (Evans

1932). Recorded from Garo Hills in April, May, and October

(Sondhi et al. 2013) and from Pakke Tiger Reserve in October

(Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Also recorded from Panbari Forest

and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in upper

Assam (Gogoi 2013b) and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, near

Jorhat, Assam in September—October (Singh et al. 2015).

Recently recorded at 28 m from January—December in Barail

WLS, Cachar hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et a/. 2016).

102. Yellow Flat Mooreana trichoneura pralaya Moore, 1865

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded at 550 m from

Parshuram Kund area near Wakro, Lohit district on

06.vi11.2014.

Notes: Specimens from Khasi Hills (4: 22.xi.1921, 2: June

1916) collected by O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Not

rare from Sikkim to N. Myanmar (Evans 1932). Recorded

in April, October-November at low elevations in Manipur,

161

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

and Gaspani, Nichuguard in Naga Hills in June and October

(Tytler 1915). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the Deopani

riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi hills, Dibang valley,

Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded from Garo >

Hills in March, April, October (Sondhi e¢ al. 2013). Recorded

during August from ‘Central Catchment Reserve Forest’ in

Dhalai district, Tripura at 180 m (Lodh and Agarwala 2015).

Recently recorded at 28 m from January to December in

Barail WLS, Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi ef al.

2016).

103. Northern Spotted Ace Thoressa cerata Hewitson, 1876

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded near Deomali,

Tirap district on 10.vi.2015 at 168 m in semi-evergreen forest.

Notes: A specimen from Sikkim (@: 04.x.1918) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. ‘Not rare’ from Sikkim to

Karen (Evans 1932). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded from

Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a), and

from Panbari Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-

Karbi Anglong in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b). Recorded

from Pakke Tiger Reserve, West Kameng district in April—

May and September (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently

recorded at 28 m in December from Barail WLS, Cachar

Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

104. Luca’s Ace Sovia lucasii (Mabille, 1876)

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 11.vii.2012 at

1,564 m near Anini, upper Dibang valley and on 12.vii.2013

at 1,554 m near Lama Camp in Eaglenest Sanctuary, West

Kameng.

Notes: ‘Rare’ from Sikkim to northern Myanmar (Evans

1932). Race separata recorded from Trashiyangtse valley,

eastern Bhutan where it is sparsely seen in forested tracts

between 1,700 and 1,900 m (Wangdi et al. 2012).

105. Long Banded Ace Halpe zola Evans, 1937

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded on 14.1x.2014 at

137 m in Deomali, Tirap on the road.

Notes: Reported from southern bank of Brahmaputra river

in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya (Evans 1949). Recently

recorded in Panbari Reserve Forest, Dollamara, near

Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, Upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b).

162

106. Light Straw Ace Pithauria stramineipennis Wood-

Mason & de Nicéville, 1886

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Dapario,

Upper Subansiri on 26.viii.2012 at 876 m and from Deomali,

Tirap district on 14.1x.2014 at 127 m.

Notes: A specimen from Sikkim (@: 22.v.1919) collected

by O.C. Ollenbach is kept in NFIC. Previously recorded

from western Manipur and Sebong in March—April (Tytler

1915). Recorded as ‘not rare’ from Sikkim eastwards

towards Myanmar, W. China, Malay Peninsula, Borneo,

Sumatra (Evans 1932). Recorded by Gogoi (2012) along the

Deopani riverbed near Roing in lower Mishmi Hills, Dibang

valley, Arunachal Pradesh below 1,000 m. Recorded along

the Sankosh river in lowland forests of Bhutan adjoining

Buxa Tiger Reserve in Winter (Singh 2012). Recorded from

Jeypore-Dehing Forest, eastern Assam (Gogoi 2013a), and

from Panbari Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi

Anglong in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b). Recorded from

Garo Hills in May, June (Sondhi et al. 2013) and Pakke Tiger

Reserve in September (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently

recorded at 28 m from January to December in Barail WLS,

Cachar Hills in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

107. Forest Bob Scobura isota Swinhoe, 1893

Status: Not listed in WPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: Two individuals.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Namdapha

Tiger Reserve, Changlang district at 317 and 331 m on

14.x11.2012 and 20.11.2013, respectively.

Notes: Recorded as distributed from Sikkim to Myanmar,

Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo (Evans 1932). Only

one record from far east Nepal (Ilan district) at 600 m in

October (Smith 1989). Also recorded from Panbari Forest

and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong in upper

Assam (Gogoi 2013a). Recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve

in April (Sondhi and Kunte 2014). Recently recorded at

28 m from January—December in Barail WLS, Cachar Hills

in southern Assam (Gogoi et al. 2016).

108. Spotted Red-eye Pudicitia pholus de Nicéville, 1889

Status: Not listed in TWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded nectaring on

herbaceous flowers near Mayodia Pass in Dibang valley at

2,097 m on 08.v1.2014.

Notes: Specimens from Bhutan (¢: 09.ix.1926) collected by

O.C. Ollenbach are kept in NFIC. Recorded from Kirbari,

Naga Hills at 1,800 m in August-September, 1913 (Tytler

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

RARE AND INTERESTING BUTTERFLY RECORDS FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

1915). Distributed from Bhutan to Naga Hills and recorded

as ‘very rare’ (Evans 1932).

109. Yellow-fringed Swift Caltoris aurociliata Elwes &

Edwards, 1897

Status: Not listed in IWPA (1972).

Specimens recorded: One individual.

Locality and Date of sighting: Recorded from Changlang

district adjoining Margerita at 136 m, Assam on 06.x1.2014.

Notes: Recorded from Kirbari and Kohima in Naga Hills

from July—September and in Kabru Peak, Manipur Hills

from June to September between 1,800 and 2,400 m (Tytler

1915). Distributed from Sikkim to Manipur and recorded as

‘rare’ (Evans 1932). Also recorded from Panbari Reserve

Forest and adjoining areas near Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong

in upper Assam (Gogoi 2013b).

CONCLUSION

The present study is the first attempt to assess the butterfly

diversity of the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh. The total

number of species in the state is likely to be more than 750, if

we take papilionid diversity to be 50+ species for Arunachal,

based on the Singh and Pandey (2004) model.

The records of Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail Bhutanitis

ludlowi, Dark Black Vein Aporia harrietae, Glazed Oakblue

Arhopala paralea, Great Spotted Blue Phengaris atroguttata,

Moore’s Cupid Shijimia moorei moorei, Jewelled Nawab

Charaxes delphis delphis, Pallid Forester Lethe satyavati,

Scarce Evening Brown Callogenes janetae loba, Bright-

eyed Argus Callerebia dibangensis, Scarce Blue Oakleaf

Kallima knyvettii, Bhutan Sergeant Athyma jina jina,

Tytler’s Sergeant Athyma whitei, Great Hockeystick Sailer

Phaedyma aspasia aspasia, French Duke Euthalia franciae

rajah, Sordid Emperor Chitoria sordida, Empress Sasakia

funebris funebris, Tiger-mimic Admiral Limenitis rileyi, and

Slate Awl Hasora anura china from Arunachal Pradesh,

are worth mentioning as they are either new to India or the

State and/or are very rare. The study suggests the need to

carry out more surveys in this vast state to unravel its rich

butterfly diversity, ecology, to add butterfly range extensions

and new taxa.

REFERENCES

Anonymous (2017): Aporia harrietae de Nicéville, 1893 — Dark

Blackvein. Jn: Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (eds). Butterflies

of India. v. 2.28. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.

ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/2968/A poria-harrietae.

Arora, G.S. & D.K. MonpDAL (1981): On the Papilioninae (Papilionidae:

Lepidoptera) from Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas of Assam

in North-east India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India.

Misc Pub., Occasional Paper no. 29. ZSI, Calcutta, pp. 65 + 7pls.

BASISTHA, S.K., F. AHMED & P. Deka (1999): Butterflies of Orang Wildlife

Sanctuary, Assam. Zoos Print XIV (4): 9.

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164

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

165-193

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

1. INDIAN ROUNDLEAF BAT HIPPOSIDEROS LANKADIVA:

FIRST RECORD FOR BANGLADESH

ANIK SAHA!2, MOHAMMED MostTaFA FEEROZ!? AND Mp KamruL Hasan!***

'Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.

7Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114422

Bangladesh is a transitional zone for the flora and fauna

of the Indian Subcontinent and of Southeast Asia (Stanford

1991). It supports diverse species of wild animals in different

types of habitats ranging across mixed-evergreen hill forests,

mangroves, homestead vegetations, wetlands, and floodplains

(Ahmed et al. 2009; Khan 2008; Khan 2015). 128 species of

mammals including 34 species of bats are recorded to occur

in Bangladesh, though many of the bat species are of doubtful

occurrence in the country (Ahmed ef al. 2009; Khan 2008,

2014; Khan 2001, 2015). Recently, the Indian Roundleaf

Bat Hipposideros lankadiva was recorded from northern

Bangladesh. Previous reports of its existence in Bangladesh

are not confirmed (Ahmed et al. 2009; Khan 2008; Khan

1982, 2001, 2010, 2015; Srinivasulu et al. 2010). This note

with photographic evidence confirms the occurrence of

Hipposideros lankadiva in Bangladesh.

A roost of Hipposideros lankadiva was recorded for the

first time in an old abandoned temple at Netrokona (24°

57' 21.42" N; 90° 31' 43.43" E) on September 27, 2015.

Netrokona is situated in the northern part of Bangladesh, very

close to the Meghalaya hill range of India. The temple is about

400 years old and has been abandoned for at least 100 years.

Most of the temple complex has been destroyed but a single

room where the bats are residing still exists. The locals have

some beliefs and myths about the temple and they usually

avoid entering the temple premises. The temple complex is

covered with bushes and lianas, making it an undisturbed

roosting site for a large number of bats.

The roosting colony comprised 450-500 individuals of

H. lankadiva and no other species of bats were found along |

with this colony (Figs 1 and 2). Two individuals (one male

and one female) were captured using mist net and released

at the same site after taking morphometric measurements.

H. lankadiva is a large leaf-nosed bat having four

supplementary leaflets on the nose-leaf with the 4th leaflet

reduced, which is a key character of the species (Fig. 1).

The upper margin of the posterior nose-leaf is thick and

crown-shaped, having two lateral convexities (Fig. 1). The

pelage of this bat is yellowish brown and darker on the head

and shoulders, while it is comparatively paler on the belly

(Fig. 1). The head body length and forearm were measured

as 98.1+4.24 mm and 87.64+3.62 mm respectively. The ear

measured 27.06+2.05 mm, hind feet 19.35+1.0 mm, tibia

length 35.55+2.48 mm, tail 51.45+2.34 mm, third metacarpal

67.71+0.79 mm, Ist phalanx of third metacarpal 31.63

+1.17 mm, 2nd phalanx of third metacarpal 34.34 +1.23 mm,

and nose-leaf measured 11.17+0.09 mm.

Hipposideros lankadiva is differentiated from other

leaf-nosed bat species such as H. armiger which have a

fleshy elevation behind the posterior nose-leaf (Bates and

Fig. 1: Indian Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros lankadiva photographed

on September 27, 2015, in Netrakona, northern Bangladesh

(Photo: Anik Saha)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 2: Colony of Indian Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros lankadiva

photographed on September 27, 2015, in the temple in Netrakona,

northern Bangladesh (Photo: Anik Saha)

Harrison 1997). While the similar species H. diadema has

white patches on the shoulder, such patches are absent in

H. lankadiva, and H. larvatus is comparatively smaller in size,

with three supplementary leaflets (Francis 2008).

H. lankadiva is endemic to South Asia and known

from most parts of India including Meghalaya Hill Range,

Sri Lanka and from Myanmar (Bates et al. 2015; Molur et

al. 2008). The occurrence of this species in Bangladesh was

doubtful, as Khan (2001) included it in the checklist of bats

of Bangladesh, but later excluded it (Khan 2015).

The nearest reported population of H. lankadiva is in

Meghalaya, India (Kurup 1968), which is only 15 km from

the present site (Netrokona). Apparently no threats to the roost

of this species were observed. Future study can be focused

on the status and ecology of this species.

REFERENCES

AHMED, A.T.A., S.M.H. Kapir, M. AndmMap, Z.U. AHMED, Z.N.T. BEGUM,

M.A. Hassan & M. KHONDKER (Eps) (2009): Encyclopedia of Flora

and Fauna of Bangladesh. Vol. 27: Mammals. Asiatic Society of

Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 264 pp.

Bates, P., O. Tun, M.M. Auna, A. Lu, M.R. Lum & M.M. Sern (2015):

A review of Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850 (Chiroptera:

Hipposideridae) with a description of a new subspecies from

Myanmar. Tropical Natural History 15(2): 191-204.

Bates, P.J.J. & D.L. HArrRIson (1997): Bats of the Indian Subcontinent.

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Asia. New Holland Publishers Ltd., London, UK. 392 pp.

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Basel, Switzerland.

2. NOTE ON THE JUNGLE BUSH-QUAIL PERDICULA ASIATICA IN KERALA,

SOUTHWEST INDIA: MUSEUM RECORDS

V.J. ZACHARIAS!* AND KRISTOF ZYSKOWSKI’

'24657 Byrne Meadow Sq., Aldie, VA 20105, USA. Email: [email protected]

*Division of Vertebrate Zoology, Yale University, Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT 06511,

USA. Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114423

Introduction

The Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica and the

Rock Bush-Quail P. argoondah are endemic to the Indian

subcontinent, the former having a wide distribution south

of the Himalaya, and the latter, a restricted distribution

in the peninsula (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012). In all

166

publications on the birds of Kerala, the two species are put

together (Ali 1999; Ali and Whistler 1937; Baker and Inglis

1930; Sasikumar et al. 2011). Whistler and Kinnear (1936)

mention the challenge in identifying the Jungle Bush-Quail.

Though Ali and Whistler (1937) observed the species at

Wadakkancherry and Chalakudy during their Travancore-

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Cochin Ornithological survey, Ali (1999) believed it

impossible to distinguish P. argoondah with certainty in the

field. This note reports the occurrence of Perdicula asiatica

in Thrissur, Kerala, based on museum records.

Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica

Occurs in grass and scrub jungle or in dry open forests.

In southern India, this type of habitat is found mostly in the

rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, in south-eastern

Wayanad, Palakkad, Chinnar, and Aryankavu Pass. The low

elevation areas of Kerala, including Palakkad district, have

open scrub type jungles. The Jungle Bush-Quail was reported

from south-eastern Wayanad by Fletcher (1911). Whistler and

Kinnear (1936) did not believe that the species occurred in

Travancore (southern Kerala), except possibly in the dry area

around Kanyakumari |[=Cape Comorin]. According to Whistler

and Kinnear (1936) the Jungle Bush-Quail occurred mostly in

the rain shadow regions of the Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu

and Karnataka in the more open dry scrub areas, and in smaller

numbers in northern and southern Kerala in suitable habitats.

Whistler and Kinnear (1936) and Abdulali and Reuben (1964)

reported the presence of a specimen from Malappuram in the

Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK).

Yale Peabody Museum (YPM) has four specimens of

Jungle Bush-Quail (Ripley collection) from Ollukkara,

Thrissur, Kerala at 10.52° N and 76.27°E collected by

N.G. Pillai (Table 1).

This proves that the current population (e-Bird [2016])

around Thrissur has been in existence for at least half

a century. The Malappuram specimen in the NHMUK

mentioned by Whistler and Kinnear (1936) and Abdulali

and Reuben (1964) could not be located (Hein Van Grouw,

in email August 01, 2016).

Rock Bush-Quail Perdicula argoondah

Occurs in dry, stony, thorn scrub, mostly below 600 m.

This type of habitat occurs at Chinnar in Kerala, but mostly

in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, in southern India, in the

Table 1: Perdicula asiatica specimens collected from Ollukkara,

Thrissur, Kerala

S.No. Museum Reg. No. Sex Date of collection Collector

1 YPM 24630 Male April 22, 1952 N.G. Pillai

2 YPM 24631 Male October 16,1951 N.G. Pillai

2 YPM 24632 Male October 13,1951 N.G. Pillai

4 YPM 24633 Female October 13,1951 N.G. Pillai

rain shadow region of the Western Ghats or in the Deccan

plateau. There is a single specimen in the BNHS Collection,

collected by J.P. Cook, which reads ‘Wynaad, Travancore’,

labelled as subspecies salimalii. The locality of collection

here appears quite doubtful and the specimen could be of

extra-regional origin. Whistler and Kinnear (1936) stated

that the Rock Bush-Quail has a restricted distribution and

quoted Hume and Marshall (Game Birds u, p.117), saying

“the species occurs on the eastern side of the peninsula

down to the extreme south and in all other eastern Madras

districts and even near Coimbatore”. Whistler and Kinnear

(1936) mentioned a specimen collected from Coimbatore in

the NHMUK, and believed that the species has a restricted

distribution in the peninsula. The Rock Bush-Quail seems to

be specific to dry thorn scrub country, a type of habitat not

found much 1n Kerala.

Conclusion

Our findings confirm the extension of the known range

of subspecies vidali of Jungle Bush-Quail in Kerala up to

Thrissur. This species has a restricted distribution in open

scrub country in the state. The four specimens collected from

Ollukkara, Thrissur in YPM show that a fairly good population

of Perdicula asiatica existed in the area even in 1950s.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank Hein Van Grouw of the NHMUK for

information on the Malappuram specimen of Perdicula

asiatica in the museum.

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167

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

3. FIRST SIGHTING OF LAUGHING DOVE STREPTOPELIA SENEGALENSIS IN KARGIL

~ DISTRICT OF LADAKH, INDIAN TRANS-HIMALAYA

TANVEER AHMED!:* AFIFULLAH KHAN!“4 AND PANKAJ CHANDAN?

‘Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, Uttar Pradesh, India.

*WWF-India, 172-B, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India. Email: [email protected]

*Email: [email protected]

*Email: afifullah [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114424

The family Columbidae, represented by doves and

pigeons, is distributed in almost all biogeographic regions

of the world (Gibbs et al. 2001). The distributional range

of Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis includes

Arabia, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, India, and

Bangladesh. Five subspecies of Laughing Dove are known

to occur, 1.e., S. s. phoenicophila (Hartert 1916) in Morocco,

Algeria, and Tunisia; S. s. aegyptiaca (Latham 1790) in

the Nile valley; S. s. sokotrae (Grant 1914) in Socotra;

S. s. senegalensis (Linnaeus 1766) in Sub-Saharan Africa and

west Arabia; and S. s. cambayensis (Gmelin 1789) in Arabia,

Iran, and some south Asian countries (del Hoyo et al. 1997).

The subspecies Streptopelia senegalensis cambayensis

(Gmelin 1789) occurs throughout the Indian subcontinent

except parts of the Himalaya, north-east India, and

Sri Lanka (Grimmett et al. 1999). In Himalaya, the presence

of the species was reported up to a height of 1,000 m only

(Ali and Ripley 1981). However, Pfister (2001) recorded its

occurrence at an elevation of 4,350 m, which is the highest

till date. The species is categorized as a Schedule IV species

under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as well as

the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978, and

is listed as Least Concern according to [UCN Red Data list

(IUCN 2014).

During an avifaunal survey in Rangdum valley, we sighted

this species on July 05, 2012 between 14:30 and 15:00 hrs

on the fence of Zuildo Guest House (34° 03’ 21” N; 76° 19’

26" E), Zuildo, Kargil, at an elevation of 4,016 m. The bird

was immediately recognized as Laughing Dove Streptopelia

senegalensis, by its pinkish brown colour with dull brownish

purple head and neck. The upper back and upper wings of

the bird were mottled reddish brown and grey. The lower

portion of the wings and the lower back were bluish grey.

The purplish brown colour on the breast was merging into

white on the belly. The region just below the throat was

reddish brown, speckled black. The bird had dark brown

iris and purplish pink legs.

It was sighted again on July 12, 2012 at Zuildo Gompa,

feeding outside the gompa. Zuildo Gompa is situated in a

168

valley about four km long and two km wide surrounded by

rugged, barren mountains with ice-covered peaks and slopes.

Numerous small streams crisscrossing the valley join the main

stream flowing north-south along the western periphery of the

valley. This gives rise to marshy vegetation along the main

stream. Except for a few patches of herbaceous meadows, the

valley floor is dry and barren. There are permanent human

settlements at some distance from the gompa. The bird was

observed in barren land near human settlements during both

the sightings. |

Although several avifaunal surveys have been conducted

in Kargil district, no one had documented the presence of this

species from Kargil district, to the best of our knowledge.

For instance, Holmes (1986) reported 128 species from

Suru valley but did not report the presence of this species.

More importantly, it was not reported from Wakkha Nallah,

Suru valley and Zanskar region of Kargil district (Singh and

Jayapal 2000). However, the rare presence of Laughing Dove

has been reported from Leh district (Mallon 1987; Pfister

2001). Pfister (2004) describes it as a “rare passage migrant

during late autumn in the lower valleys and plains mainly

of central Ladakh”. Hence, the present communication is

important, being the first record of Laughing Dove from

Kargil district in Jammu & Kashmir. The nearest earlier

record of the species (Pfister 2004) happens to be from Nimu

village in Leh district, which is about 200 km south-east of

the present recorded site.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Weare grateful to WWF-India for providing infrastructural

support which facilitated our field work. Our special thanks to

Mr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India and

Dr. Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF-India for their

support and encouragement to work in Ladakh. Thanks are

due to Mr. Jigmet Takpa, CCF & Regional Wildlife Warden,

Ladakh and Mr. Abdul Rauf, Wildlife Warden, Department

of Wildlife Protection, Leh for granting permission to work

in the area.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

REFERENCES

Au, S. & S.D. RipLey (1981): Handbook of the Birds of India and

Pakistan. Vol. 3, Stone Curlew to Owls. Oxford University Press,

Delhi Pps 155;

DEL Hoyo, J., A, ELLiotr & J. SARGATAL (Eds) (1997): Handbook of the

Birds of the World. Vol. 4, Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. 679 pp. Lynx

Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Gipss, D., E. Barnes & J. Cox (2001): Pigeons and Doves: A Guide

to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. Pica Press, Sussex.

615 pp.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INskipp & T. INskipp (1999): Birds of the Indian

Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, Mumbai. 528 pp.

Ho mes, P.R. (1986): Avifauna of the Suru river valley, Ladakh. Forktail

2: 21-41.

IUCN (2014): IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1.

<www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on February 01, 2014.

Matton, D.P. (1987): Winter birds of Ladakh. Forktail 3: 27-41.

PFISTER, O. (2001): Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India from

1994 to 1997. Forktail 17: 81-90.

PrisTER, O. (2004): Birds & Mammals of Ladakh. Oxford University

Press, New Delhi. Pp. 39-40.

SincH, P. & R. JAyAPAL (2000): A Survey of Breeding Birds

of Ladakh. Pp. 74-107. Jn: Conserving Biodiversity in the

Trans-Himalaya: New Initiatives of Field Conservation in Ladakh.

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

4. CEYLON FROGMOUTH BATRACHOSTOMUS MONILIGER BLYTH IN THE

HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, TAMIL NADU, SOUTHERN INDIA

V.J. ZACHARIAS!* AND B.M. BEEHLER?

124657 Byrne Meadow Sq., Aldie, VA 20105, USA. Email: [email protected]

*National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114425

The Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger is

endemic to the southern Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. It

occurs in dense humid primary and secondary forests and

thick bamboo jungles (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005).

The species has received much attention in southern India

in recent years because of its appearance and habits, and

is a tourist attraction in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary,

Kerala. It is common in the Western Ghats from North

Kanara through the south, including Wayanad (Whistler and

Kinnear 1935). This frogmouth, though once considered rare,

probably because of its nocturnal habits, is now believed to

be common, having a wide distribution in Kerala, mostly in

protected areas.

There are sight records of the species from the Kerala

part of the Ghats in Wayanad, Parambikulam, Thattekkad,

and Periyar (Gaston and Zacharias 1996; Sugathan 1981)

and specimens collected from southern Kerala are available

in the British Museum and Bombay Natural History

Society (Abdulali 1972; Ali and Whistler 1936). On the

drier eastern side of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, it has

been reported only from the Anamalais (Kannan 1994), and

none from further south. Joshua and Johnsingh (1988), who

studied the bird fauna of Kalakkad-Mundanthurai, southern

Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, did not report the Ceylon

Frogmouth.

There are two specimens of the Ceylon Frogmouth in

the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

(USNM 585464 - male, USNM 585465 - female) collected by

the second author on February 24, 1986, from Vannathiparai,

at 9°35’N and 77° 15'E in the foothills of the High Wavy

Mountains. The male specimen weighed 46.5 gm and the

female 59.0 gm. Measurements show that the male is smaller

than the female (Abdulali 1972; Ali and Whistler 1936).

The single field observation of the species made by the

second author was of a rufous morph individual perched

2.5 m up in a small mango tree at the edge of a clearing.

Attention was drawn to the frogmouth because it was being

mobbed by songbirds. It is also notable that the vegetation

at Vannathiparai is dry deciduous, and all other records of

the species come from evergreen or moist deciduous forest.

The female specimen had one developed egg and was hence

breeding (notes from Beehler). Whistler and Kinnear (1935)

believed that the species breeds from January to April, though

odd eggs were found from June to September. A female

specimen collected from Thattekkad in the beginning of

February was breeding (Ali and Whistler 1936). Zacharias

and Gaston (1993) found a nest of the species with one chick

at Thirunelly in Wayanad at about 1,200 m, in March 1986.

Thus, this constitutes the first record of the Ceylon

Frogmouth at the southernmost end of the eastern side of the

Western Ghats, in the dry deciduous forests in the foothills

of the High Wavy Mountains, Tamil Nadu. In addition,

the substantial difference in weights of the male and

female indicate there may be sexual dimorphism in the species,

169

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

which has not been reported so far. The Ceylon Frogmouth

seems to complete its breeding activity before the arrival

of the southwest monsoon, like other insectivorous birds in

southern India (Gaston et al. 1986; Zacharias and Gaston

1983).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The first author thanks James Dean and Gary Graves for

their help in the NMNH, Smithsonian Institution, and Martha

Rosen for her help in the Natural History Library.

REFERENCES

ABDULALI, H. (1972): A catalogue of the birds in the collection of the

Bombay Natural History Society. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 69(1):

102-129.

Aut, S. & H. Wuistter (1936): The ornithology of Travancore and

Cochin. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 39(1): 3-35.

Gaston, A.J. & V.J. ZACHARIAS (1996): The recent distribution of

endemic and disjunct birds in Kerala state: Preliminary results

of an ongoing survey. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 93(3): 389-400.

Gaston, A.J., S. CHATTOPADHYAY, V.S. VIJAYAN & V.J. ZACHARIAS (1986):

Seasonal cycle of Indian insectivorous birds. Proc. XLX Congressus

Internationalis Ornithologicus, Ottawa, Canada. June 22—29, 1986.

JosHua, J. & A.J.T. JoHNsINGH (1988): Observations on birds on

Mundanthurai Plateau, Tamil Nadu. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

85(3): 565-577.

KANNAN, R. (1994): Notes on the status and ecology of the Ceylon

Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth) from the

Anaimalai hills of Tamil Nadu. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 91(3):

454-455.

Rasmussen, P.C. & J.C. ANDERTON (2005): Birds of South Asia. The

Ripley Guide. 2 vols. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

SUGATHAN, R. (1981): Asurvey of the Ceylon Frogmouth Batrachostomus

moniliger Blyth habitats in the Western Ghats of India. J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 78(3): 309-315.

WHISTLER, H. & N.B. KINNEAR (1935): The Vernay Scientific Survey of

the Eastern Ghats. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 38(1): 26-40.

ZACHARIAS, V.J. & A.J. GASTON (1983): Breeding seasons of birds at

Calicut, Southwest India. /bis 124: 407-412.

ZACHARIAS, V.J. & A.J. GASTON (1993): Birds of Wynaad, southern India.

Forktail 8: 11-23.

5. WHITE-CAPPED RIVER-CHAT PHOENICURUS LEUCOCEPHALUS IN ODISHA:

FIRST RECORD FROM PENINSULAR INDIA

AsiF N. KHAN!”* AND RAHUL KuHotT!?

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001,

Maharashtra, India.

*Email: [email protected], [email protected]

>Email: [email protected], [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114426

The White-capped River-Chat or White-capped Water-

Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus has an extensive global

range, from Uzbekistan through the Tibetan Plateau to China

(BirdLife International 2016). Within the Indian subcontinent,

it is a common altitudinal migrant in the Himalaya. In

summer, it occurs in the entire Himalaya, the hills of the

Northeast, and Chittagong, Bangladesh (Manakadan et al.

2011) between 1,200 and 4,300 m (Rasmussen and Anderton

2012), and winters (September to April) mostly below

1,500 m but up to 2,500 m (Ali and Ripley 1998; Rasmussen

and Anderton 2012). It breeds along large rapid mountain

streams, and winters along clear rivers and canals from

lowlands to foothills (del Hoyo et al. 2005).

In January 2016, while birding at Khandadhar Falls (21°

46' 27.02" N; 85° 19' 20.44" E; 700 m above msl), Keonjhar

(Kendujhar) district in northern Odisha, the first author

spotted a black bird with a white cap flitting on the rocks

170

along the waterfall. It later settled for some time on a rock

beside a pool, during which he observed it clearly with 10x42

binoculars and also filmed it with a mobile phone. The bird

was identified as a White-capped River-Chat with the help

of Rasmussen and Anderton (2012).

The only species with which it can be confused is the male

of the White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus

which is again distributed in the Himalaya and the hills of

the north-east region. However, the bird sighted lacked the

white patch on the wing seen in the White-winged, and also

had a broad black terminal band on the tail, which is absent

in the White-winged. This is the first record of the species

from the Indian Peninsula and from Odisha. The site is about

800 km south-west of the known southernmost distribution

range (Chin Hills, Mizoram) in India and about 600 km south

of the Himalaya (Nepal) in the north (BirdLife International

2016).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

REFERENCES

Au, 8S. & S.D. Rietey (1998): Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan

together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Robins to Wagtails. Vol. 9. Oxford University Press, Delhi. Pp. 58-60.

BirDLire INTERNATIONAL (2016): Species factsheet: Chaimarrornis

leucocephalus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on

February 04, 2016.

DEL Hoyo, J., A. ELtiotr & D.A. CuristiE (Eds) (2005): Handbook of

the Birds of the World. Vol. 10. Cuckoo-shrike to Thrushes. Lynx

Edicions, Barcelona. Pp. 769.

MANAKADAN, R., J.C. DANTEL & NIKHIL BHOPALE (2011): Birds of the

Indian Subcontinent — a Field Guide. Bombay Natural History

Society, Mumbai and Oxford University Press, New Delhi. 262 pp.

RasMussEN, P.C. & J.C. ANDERTON (2012): Birds of South Asia. The

Ripley Guide. Vols 1 and 2. 2nd edn. National Museum of National

History — Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, Michigan State

University, Michigan, and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

6. RANGE EXTENSION OF GOLDEN-CRESTED MYNA AMPELICEPS CORONATUS

AND ITS FIRST RECORD IN TRIPURA, INDIA

HARSHAKUMAR CHIKKANARAGUND!* AND A.K. Gupta?

'O/o The SDFO, Kanchanpur Forest Subdivision, North Tripura 799 270, Tripura, India. Email: [email protected]

*PCCF & CWLW, O/o The PCCF, Tripura, Aranya Bhavan, Nehru Complex, Agartala 799 006, Tripura, India.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114427

The Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus is poorly

known in India. Rare and uncommon in India, it is distributed

in Manipur and Assam (Grimmett et al. 2010). Elsewhere it

occurs from Central and South Myanmar east to South China

(SW Yunnan), Laos and Vietnam, south to southern Thailand

and Cambodia (Craig and Feare 2009) and is listed as Least

Concern by IUCN (2016). The bird is described as “uncommon”

and “‘little known or documented” (Srinivasan 2015). It was not

listed by Choudhury (2010) in his checklist of birds of Tripura.

Information about the Golden-crested Myna was not found in

the Working Plan of Kanchanpur Forest Division.

Tripura is a landlocked state of India, bordering Mizoram

to the east and Bangladesh at its north and south. About

15—20 birds were sighted during August to mid September

2015 in open forests on the outskirts of Kanchanpur, North

Tripura district, Tripura (24° 01’ 59.6” N; 92° 12' 02.3” E;

52 m above msl), and thereafter two individuals were sighted

on September 26, 2015 in the same area. Surveys were also

done in the adjoining and other areas of the sub-division

during August and September, but no adult and/or juvenile

was sighted. The birds were seen in flocks of 15 to 20 along

with Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa, feeding on the

fruits of tall Champa Michelia champaca trees.

They were identified as Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps

coronatus on the basis of the following characters: a small,

stout-billed myna. Male largely glossy black, with bushy,

golden-yellow forehead and crown, yellow throat, naked

orange-yellow orbital patch, and yellow patch at the base

of primaries. Female with less extensive yellow crown and

smaller yellow throat patch. Juvenile dark brown, slightly

paler below, with pale yellow throat and pale yellow patch

on wing. Voice a higher pitched, more metallic whistle than

of Common Hill Myna, and bell-like note.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank Sneha Harshakumar for her support and

encouragement, Sanjib Das IFS, Tsewang G. IFS, and

A. Choudhury IAS for their valuable inputs, contributions,

and suggestions.

REFERENCES

CuoupuHury, A. (2010): Recent Ornithological records from Tripura,

north-eastern India, with an annotated checklist. Indian BIRDS

6(3): 66-74.

Craic, A. & C. FEARE (2009): Golden-crested Myna (Ampeliceps

coronatus). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D.A. Christie

& E. de Juana (Eds) (2014): Handbook of the Birds of the World.

Online. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. <http://www.hbw.com/>.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INskrpp & T. INskipe (2010): Helm Field Guides: Birds

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press,

New Delhi. Pp. 400.

IUCN (2016): IUCN Redlist of Threatened Birds. Downloaded on

January 20, 2016. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/>.

SRINIVASAN, U. (2015): Rare bird — Gold-crested Myna. Retrieved from

Conservation India website. <http://www.conservationindia.org/

gallery/rare-bird-gold-crested-myna>. Downloaded on January

20, 2016.

171

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

7. FIRST RECORD OF BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE RISSA TRIDACTYLA IN ODISHA, INDIA

MOoNALISA BHUJABAL!”*, NANDA KISHORE BHUJABAL'* AND CHINMAYA BHUJABAL!?

1Wild Orissa, BJ-29, BJB Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751 014, Odisha, India.

*Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114428

The Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla is a

small, graceful, cliff-nesting gull, named for its loud, nasal

‘kitti-wake’ call. As its common name suggests, its short

legs are black, which distinguish it from the Red-legged

Kitttwake Rissa brevirostris. R. tridactyla nests on coastlines

and islands across much of the North Pacific and North

Atlantic oceans (Varty and Tanner 2009), as well as on islands

off the northern coasts of Russia and Norway, from northern

Canada and northern United States, through Greenland,

western and northern Europe, and east as far as the northern

Taymyr Peninsula and Severnaya Zemlya in Russia. Outside

of the breeding season, the Black-legged Kittiwake moves

from the coast to the open ocean. It winters across most of the

northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as far south as Mexico,

West Africa, and the East China Sea. Unlike most other gulls,

the Black-legged Kittiwake spends most of the year far out

at sea, usually out of sight of land. The hind toe of each foot

is reduced to a mere bump, so there are only three functional

toes instead of four, giving the Black-legged Kittiwake its

specific name tridactyla (Harrison 1988).

Sighting of Black-legged Kittiwake

Wild Orissa has been engaged in monitoring the presence

of various bird species in Odisha since 1999 as part of the

Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) initiative (Wild

Orissa 2015), of which it is an organizational partner. During

a coastal bird survey in Balasore (Odisha), on January 21,

2015, a team from Wild Orissa comprising Nanda Kishore

Bhujabal and Chinmaya Bhujabal came across a lone bird,

similar in physical appearance to a gull, in a water tank near

Chandipur. The bird was sitting on a mud heap in the water

and afforded an approach up to 7.6 m. The team observed the

bird closely and took photographs. It had a white head and

body, grey back, grey wings tipped solid black, with black

legs and a dull greenish yellow bill. It had darker grey marks

around the crown and the back of the neck, and a dark mark

behind the eye. A black collar around the back of the neck,

dark patches on the neck and behind the eyes, and black tip

to the tail, were the other features noted. The distinct black

legs and dull greenish yellow bill drew attention. During the

course of observation, the bird took off from its perch, flew

around for some time and once again came back to its original

172

perch. In flight, its distinctive black line pattern across the

wings, forming a partial ‘M’ shape was seen. The bird was

inactive while on its perch.

From the features described above, it did not match

any of the gull species found in Odisha (Ali and Ripley

1987; Grimmett et al. 2011; Rasmussen and Anderton

2012; Ripley 1982). The physical appearance and some

behavioural attributes observed, on comparison with the

available literature, confirmed its identity to be Black-

legged Kitttwake Rissa tridactyla (Audubon Society 2015;

del Hoyo et al. 1996).

Discussion

Black-legged Kittiwake has been sighted only on six

occasions in the country (Praveen et al. 2014). The first

record of Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla in India

was during 2001 in Sangam, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

(Uliman 2014). The first photo-documented sighting was

at Morjim, Goa, on January 16, 2005. The second sighting

was at Kadalundi, Kerala on February 8, 2008. The later

records of Rissa tridactyla were at Alibaug, Maharashtra

(November 25, 2012) (Rahane and Bramhankar 2013); Majuli

Island, Assam (November 30, 2012); and Chavakkad, Kerala

(January 24, 2013). The confirmation of the spotting of a pair

of Black-legged Kittiwake in the Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu

Community Reserve (Das et a/. 2013) has drawn the attention

of ornithologists to Kadalundi, a significant stopover in the

Indian subcontinent for migrant birds of Europe and the

Atlantic region.

The last report was by a researcher from the Wildlife

Division of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi,

who reported sighting a pair of Black-legged Kittiwake at

Chavakkad in Kerala on January 24, 2013 (Naha 2013).

According to Balachandran et al. (2009) and Envis Centre

on Avian Ecology (2015), Odisha had never reported the

presence of Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, so this

report adds one more species to the birdlist for this state.

This finding assumes much significance for bird migration

and bird ecology, as a species which inhabits the northern

top portion of the hemisphere chose to come down to coastal

Odisha, separated by many thousands of kilometres from its

known breeding and wintering areas.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015 |

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Rissa tridactyla nests on coastlines and islands across

much of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, as

well as on islands off the northern coasts of Russia and

Norway. The nominate race R. ¢t. tridactyla breeds in the

North Atlantic, from northern Canada and northern United

States, through Greenland, western and northern Europe, and

east as far as the northern Taymyr Peninsula and Severnaya

Zemlya in Russia. R. t. pollicaris breeds in the North Pacific,

from north-eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, the Sea of Okhotsk

and Kuril Island, through the Bering Sea and east to Alaska.

Outside of the breeding season, the Black-legged Kittiwake

moves from the coast to the open ocean. It winters across

most of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as far south

as Mexico, West Africa, and the East China Sea.

Conclusion

Since Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla nests on

coastlines and islands across much of the North Pacific and

North Atlantic oceans, as well as on islands off the northern

coasts of Russia and Norway, Europe, and east as far as the

northern Taymyr Peninsula and Severnaya Zemlya in Russia,

its presence in the state of Odisha could be significant,

considering the changes in climatic patterns being observed

as well as possible impacts from developmental activities

being undertaken in habitats. Further, since it is known

to winter across most of the northern Atlantic and Pacific

Oceans, as far south as Mexico, West Africa, and the East

China Sea, a sight record during January in Odisha calls for

further investigation.

REFERENCES

Aut, S. & S.D. RipLey (1987): Compact Handbook of the Birds of India

and Pakistan, together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Sikkim,

Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Delhi.

AUDUBON Society (2015): Guide to North American Birds. Retrieved

from http://birds.audubon.org/birds/black-legged-kittiwake.

January 2015.

BALACHANDRAN, S., P. SATHIYASELVAM & S. PANDA (2009): Bird Atlas of

Chilika. Bombay Natural History Society and Chilika Development

Authority. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai.

Das, S., S. KECHERY, P.P. SREENIVASAN & C. SREERANJ (2013): Black-

legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from Puthankadapuram,

Kerala. Indian BIRDS 8(3): 73.

DEL Hoyo, J., A. ELLiott & J. SARGATAL (1996): Handbook of the Birds

of the World. Vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona,

Spain.

Envis CENTRE ON AVIAN EcoLocy (2015): Bird Checklist of Odisha.

www.bnhsenvis.nic.in. Retrieved on January 21, 2015.

GRIMMETT, R., C. Inskipp & T. INskipp (2011): Birds of the Indian

Subcontinent. Christopher Helm, London.

HARRISON, PETER (1988): Seabirds: An Identification Guide. Christopher

Helm, London.

Nana, A.L. (2013): Confusion over sighting of rare bird species. The

Hindu. February 25 2013, Malappuram.

PRAVEEN, J., R. JAYAPAL & A. Pittig (2014): Notes on Indian Rarities - 2:

Waterfowl, Diving Waterbirds, and Gulls and Terns. Indian BIRDS

9(5 & 6): 113-136.

RAHANE, C. & S. BRAMHANKAR (2013): First record of Black-legged

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla from Maharashtra, India. Indian BIRDS

8&(3): 69.

RASMUSSEN, P.C. & J.C. ANDERTON (2012): Birds of South Asia. The

Ripley Guide. Vols | and 2. 2nd edn. National Museum of National

History — Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, Michigan

State University, Michigan, and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

RipLey, 8.D. (1982): A Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan.

2nd edn. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay.

ULtMan, M. (2014): Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla recorded in Rajasthan,

India in 2001. Indian BIRDS 9(3): 67-68.

Varty, N. & K. TANNER (2009): Background document for Black-legged

kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla tridactvla. Biodiversity Series. OSPAR

Commission, London.

WiLp Orissa (2015): Indian Bird Conservation Network Program.

Programs. www.wildorissa.org. Retrieved on January 28, 2015.

8. THE MONSOON FEAST: CONGREGATION OF BIRDS FEEDING

ON A TERMITE SWARM AT WALAYAR, KERALA, INDIA

SELVARAJ RAMESH KUMAR!

'Division of EIA, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, P.O. Anaikatti, Coimbatore 641 108, Tamil Nadu, India.

Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114429

Winged termites (alates or swarmers) are reproductive

termites which emerge from a nest to create new colonies.

These termites are poor fliers; they fly a few metres then

shed their wings and look for new nesting sites. The alate

swarms are an unanticipated food source for many animals.

The congregation of birds on these swarms is an interesting

phenomenon as shortage of food often makes some birds

explore new territories for foraging (Sazima 1989; Vasava

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

2011). Studies on bird assemblages on termite swarms are

reported from North America (Blake 1941; Cowan 1942;

Lamore 1959; Manolis 2010), Brazil (Olson and Alvarenga

2006; Sazima 2008; Vasconcelos et al. 2015), and Africa

(Bussiére and Wijers 2013; Dial and Vaughan 1987).

Although a widespread and common phenomenon, there is

little published information from India (Ali and Ripley 2001;

Vasava 2011).

173

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Table 1: Birds seen feeding on flying termites (Nomenclature as in Grimmett et a/. (2011))

a Family Common Name Scientific Name Me oi fe Location Type

No. Individuals Height (m)

1 Corvidae Indian Jungle Crow Corvus (macrorhynchos) culminatus 2 0 to1 Open space

2 Corvidae House Crow Corvus splendens 3 0 to 1 Open space

3 Timaliidae Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis 10 Oto2 #Openspace

4 Chloropseidae Golden-fronted Leafbird | Chioropsis aurifrons 6 1to3 Open space

5 Pycnonotidae Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 8 3t05 Open space

7 Ramphastidae Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica 1 4to5 Open and dense vegetation

8 Alcedinidae White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 1 1to3 Open space

9 Corvidae Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 5 Oto4 Dense vegetation

10 Cuculidae Southern Coucal Centropus (sinensis) parroti 1 0 to 1 Dense vegetation

11 Nectariniidae Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 6 2to4 Dense vegetation

12 Phasianidae Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus a 0 to 1 Dense vegetation

13 Pycnonotidae Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 4 3to4 Dense vegetation

14 Pycnonotidae White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus 2 3 to 4 Dense vegetation

15 Sturnidae Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 6 Oto5 Open space

16 Apodidae Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis yas 4to10 Sky

Here I report a gathering of at least 16 bird species feeding

on alates emerging from two earthen holes in my backyard

in a small village named Poolamparai. The village is close

to the foothills of Western Ghats near Walayar in the state

of Kerala (10° 48' 57.44" N; 76° 49' 26.73" E; 168 m above

msl). The site is located in the Palghat Gap (a 40 km break in

the otherwise continuous chain of mountains of the Western

Ghats) and receives heavy rainfall during the south-west

monsoon period from June to September, with an annual

rainfall of about 2,000 mm. This region has a tropical wet

and dry climate, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 37 °C.

It is generally rocky and surrounded by human habitations,

agricultural fields, and a river which flows 200 m from the

observation site. The entire area of observation was about

0.3 sq. km (0.121 hectares). Major plants in the site include

Azadirachta indica, Tectona grandis, Wrightia tinctoria,

Mangifera indica, Santalum album, Manihot glaziovii,

Leucaena leucocephala, Psidium guajava, Vitex negundo,

and Sida acuta.

On July 28, 2015, the morning was pleasant and partially

cloudy; the last rain in the area had fallen in the previous

week. At about 09:00 hours, my six-month old puppy was

the first to notice the emerging alate termites and started

feeding on them. Soon a pair of Indian Jungle Crows Corvus

(macrorhynchos) culminatus and a House Crow Corvus

splendens, which were feeding on scraps of food from our

home, came near the hole in the earth where the alate termites

(hereafter termites) emerged and started feeding on them. Till

174

this time I had not found it unusual, as I have noticed reptiles

and birds feeding on flying termites on many occasions (a

couple of times in the same place), but when I noticed a pair

of Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons flying in

the open sky and catching termites, I began observing the

phenomenon. At that time, I neither had a camera to shoot the

scene nor did I have binoculars for a close look. So I settled

about four metres away from the hole, with a notebook and

pen, and for the next one and a half hours, jotted down my

observations. All the bird species I observed foraging on

winged termites are given in Table | in the order of arrival

at the site.

Apart from the 16 species which were noticed feeding on

termites, a female Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus sitting

on a Teak tree was also seen around the thickly vegetated

area, but I did not see it catching termites, may be due to

thick vegetation. Likewise, a pair of Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum erythrorhynchos and a Purple-rumped Sunbird

Leptocoma zeylonica were spotted for a few seconds, but

not seen catching termites. But I strongly suspect these two

species were also feeding on termites as they were actively

flying and hovering (sunbird) in the middle of the vegetation.

Other than birds, four Indian Palm Squirrels Funambulus

palmarum were also feeding on the termites on the ground.

Among reptiles, at least six Calotes versicolor were feeding

on the ground and often running up trees and a fence to catch

the termites. 12 species of Odonates, namely Lathrecista

asiatica, Tramea limbata, Orthetrum sabina, Bradinopyga

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

geminata, Potamarcha congener, Diplacodes trivialis,

Pantala flavescens, Trithemis pallidinervis, Orthetrum

chrysis, Rhyothemis variegata, Aethriamanta brevipennis,

and Ceriagrion coromandelianum (nomenclature from

Subramaniam 2009) were seen around the site, but only

Pantala flavescens were seen catching the termites in the air.

About 15 individuals of Pantala flavescens were catching the

termites in flight and sometimes they missed and dropped the

termites after catching them. No birds attempted to catch the

dragonflies during my observation.

Bird species such as Golden-fronted Leafbird, Asian Palm

Swift, and Common Tailorbird were completely focused on

feeding on the termites near me. Such focused behaviour

may put the predator in danger (at least in human-dominated

area), for instance, on the morning of August 22, 2014, along

with my colleagues Mohamed Samsoor Ali and G. Srinivas, I

counted 23 road kills of reptiles Calotes versicolor (14 nos),

Mabuya sp. (8 nos) and Calotes calotes (1 no.) after a termite

swarm. The carcasses were found within a 4 km stretch

of mountain road near Mangarai (11° 04' 43.27" N; 76°

49' 22.53" E) which is 30 km away from the present

observation.

My observations are similar in many respects to those of

Olson and Alvarenga (2006) and Sazima (2008) in Brazil.

There was no interspecific competition for foraging, as

different species maintained different strata, and there was

an enormous abundance of termites. The feeding guild of

birds observed includes omnivores, frugivores, granivores,

and insectivores, similar to the observations of Olson and

Alvarenga (2006). No raptors were recorded as in the case

of Olson and Alvarenga (2006) and Sazima (2008). Similar

to observations from Brazil (Vasconcelos et al. 2015), the

present observation was made at the commencement of the

rainy season and the breeding season of most of the birds. This

makes alate termites an unexpected supplement of protein

and energy for breeding birds, therefore it is important to

document this sporadic and short-lived phenomenon.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Tam grateful to Mr. P. Manikandan, Mr. Prakash, Ms. Suhirtha

Muhil, and Dr. S. Babu of SACON, for their contribution in

various ways. I also thank Director, SACON and Dr. P.R. Arun

of SACON for their support and encouragement.

REFERENCES

Aul, S. & S.D. Riptey (2001): Handbook of the Birds of India and

Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Delhi. Vol. 4. 164 pp.

Bake, C.H. (1941): Termites taken by birds. Auk 58: 104.

BussigrE, E. & M. Wuers (2013): Foraging frenzy: more than 50 raptors

at a termite swarm. Ornithological Observations 4: 11-18.

Cowan, I.M. (1942): Termite-eating by birds in British Columbia. Auk

59: 451.

DiAL, K.P. & T. VAUGHAN (1987): Opportunistic predation on alate

termites in Kenya. Biotropica 19: 185-187.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INskipp & T. INskipp (2011): Birds of the Indian

Subcontinent. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press. 528 pp.

Lamorg, D.H. (1959): Blue Jay feeding on termites. Wilson Bulletin

Tie 18:

Mano is, T. (2010): Yellow-rumped Warbler and other bird species

foraging on winged termites in Sacramento, California. CVBC

Bulletin 13: 62-64.

Otson, S.L. & H.M.F. ALVARENGA (2006): An extraordinary feeding

assemblage of birds at a termite swarm in the Serra de Mantiqueira,

Sao Paulo, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 14: 297-299.

SAZIMA, I. (1989): Peach-fronted parakeet feeding on winged termites.

Wilson Bulletin 101: 656-657.

SazimA, I. (2008): Dancing in the rain: swarms of winged termites

congregate at a varied bird assemblage at an urban backyard

in southeastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 16:

402-405.

SUBRAMANIAM, K.A. (2009): Dragonflies of India — A field guide,

Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of

India. 168 pp.

Vasava, A. (2011): Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela preying

on termites (Termitidae) in Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary,

Gujarat, India. Indian BIRDS 7(2): 56.

VASCONCELOS, M.F., D. HOFFMANN, M.C. Arau’ J. & P.N. VASCONCELOS

(2015): Bird-termite interactions in Brazil: A review with

perspectives for future studies. Biota Neotropica 15: 1—22.

9. BLUE ROCK PIGEON COLUMBA LIVIA (FAMILY COLUMBIDAE) PREYING ON

WINGED TERMITES (INSECTA: ISOPTERA)

ASHISH SHUKLA!

'Behind Town School, Mangal Bazar, PO/Dist. Jharsuguda 768 201, Odisha, India. Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114430

Swarms of winged termites provide a rich source of food

to myriad species of animals, birds, and reptiles. Owing to

their flying abilities, some birds can hawk this prey in the air,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

whereas others have to wait till the termites fall to the ground.

Birds of different species assemble to make the most of the

situation and catch as many of these protein-rich insects as

175

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

possible. Such swarm sites provide a magnificent opportunity

to watch birds of different kinds on one stage.

On June 25, 2016, at about 6:45 hours while watching

one such feeding frenzy over some fallow land in front of

my residence in Jharsuguda (Odisha), I noticed a party of

nine Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia moving rapidly from

place to place and pecking at the ground intermittently. Their

behaviour prompted me to take a closer look at their unusual

activity. I noted that the pigeons were feeding on the winged

termites, albeit in an awkward manner. While they were

unable to hawk the termites in the air, they grabbed them as

soon as they fell to the ground.

The Blue Rock Pigeon is known to be a granivorous

bird which feeds on various cereals, pulses, groundnut,

weeds, small tubers, and green shoots of crops, and usually

consumes a quantity of grit [Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley

(1987): Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and

Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal,

Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 2nd edn. Oxford University

Press, Delhi]. To the best of my knowledge, feeding on

insects is unheard of within the pigeons and doves family

(Columbidae) and this incident may be the first report of

its kind when winged termites were included in the diet of

the bird.

10. REPORT OF ROCK AGAMA PSAMMOPHILUS SP. PREYING ON FAN-THROATED LIZARD

SITANA SP. INGOMARDAH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY,

RAIGARH DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

A.M.K.Buaros!**, AKHILESH BHAROS!*, N.D. AGRAWAL? AND SHISHIR Das?

9 %)

'B-101, Gayatri nagar, P.O. Shankar nagar, Raipur 492 007, Chhattisgarh, India.

*I-C, Anupum nagar, Raipur 492 007, Chhattisgarh, India. Email: [email protected]

*Vicharpur Kothi, Station Road, Raipur 492 001, Chhattisgarh, India. Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114431

During our visit to the Gomardah Wildlife Sanctuary,

district Raigarh, Chhattisgarh (21.58° N; 83.08° E), on June

06, 2015, at Compartment 912, we observed an adult male

Rock Agama Psammophilus sp. holding an adult female Fan-

throated Lizard, Sitana sp. in its jaw on a large boulder on the

side of a road at 10:40 hrs. As this was unusual behaviour,

we took a few photographs, with minimal disturbance to

the animals. The Psammophilus sp. was holding Sitana sp.

by its neck; the latter was motionless and we assumed it

was not alive. We observed this event for about 15 minutes

as the Psammophilus moved from one boulder to another,

eventually disappearing into a large crevice, still holding

the prey.

The agamid genus Psammophilus, commonly called Rock

Agama, is endemic to India and is represented by two species

Psammophilus dorsalis and P. blanfordanus (Smith 1935;

Uetz and HoSek 2015). The old and new records of P. dorsalis

are from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,

South Arcot, Nallamalai Hills, Malabar, Mysore, Nilgiris,

Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh (Uetz and HoSek 2015).

The other species P. blanfordanus is known from Gujarat,

Bihar, Odisha, Central Provinces, Madhya Pradesh, Eastern

Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, Travancore south to

Trivandrum, and Tamil Nadu (Uetz and HoSek 2015).

176

Sitana, a widely distributed agamid genus, commonly

called Fan-throated Lizard, is presently represented by

two species, Sitana deccanensis and S. ponticeriana in

India (Amarsinghe ef a/. 2015; Smith 1935). Recently, the

taxonomy of this genus was revised, with descriptions of

additional new species (Varad Giri pers. comm. ).

The reptile diversity of Chhattisgarh is poorly documented

except for a few anecdotal studies in Bastar district (Chandra

and Gajbe 2005; Sanyal and Dasgupta 1990). Both these

studies reported occurrence of Psammophilus blanfordanus,

P. dorsalis, and Sitana ponticeriana from Chhattisgarh. Due

to lack of close observations of taxonomic characters, we only

mention the genus of the lizards in this study.

Psammophilus is a rock-dwelling agamid frequenting

rocky outcrops (Balkrishna 2014), also seen on ground,

small bushes, and at the base of trees in some places in

Central India (Varad Giri pers. comm.). Studies on the diet

of P. dorsalis in urban-rural landscapes suggests that it is

mainly myrmecophagous, with the female’s diet constituted

of Lepidoptera larvae (25%) and Coleoptera (62.5%)

(Balakrishna 2014). The only known study on the dietary

composition of P. blanfordanus reports that it mostly feeds

on ants (28.51%) and termites (12.47%) (Aruna et al. 1993).

The vertebrates reported in the diet of Psammophilus are

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

skink Mabuya sp. (Aruna et al. 1993), Black Rat Rattus

rattus (Balkrishna 2014), and Truetler’s Gecko Hemidactylus

treutleri (Sreekar et al. 2010). This is the third confirmed

report (Aruna et al. 1993; Sreekar et al. 2010) of predation by

Psammophilus on another lizard, Sitana sp. The Fan-throated

Lizard Sitana sp. is predominantly a ground-dwelling agamid

(Smith 1935) though the males climb small bushes or rocks

for display during breeding season.

The agamid genera Psammophilus and Sitana are

sympatric in their distribution in many places, but they

prefer different habitats and thus rarely occur together.

Thus this observation of Psammophilus feeding on Sitana

is noteworthy. Although most of the references mentioned

above were incidental reports, it appears that Psammophilus

is generalist in its feeding behaviour and further detailed

studies are needed to fully understand the dietary composition

of these lizards in their range.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Varad Giri of National Centre for Biological

Sciences, Bengaluru, for identification of the lizards,

comments, and encouragement to prepare this note. Thanks

to the State forest department for permission to do this study.

REFERENCES

AMARSINGHE, A.A.T., I. INEICH, D.M.S. KARUNARATHNA, W.M.S. BOTEJUE

& P.D. CAMPBELL (2015): Two new species of agamid lizard of the

genus Sitana Cuvier from Sri Lanka, with a taxonomic revision of

Indian species. Zootaxa 3915: 67-98.

Aruna, C.H., T.B. Reppy & M.V.S. RAo (1993): Feeding ecology of

Psammophilus blanfordanus (Stoliczka). J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 90(2): 295-296.

BALAKRISHNA, S. (2014): Predation of Black rat Rattus rattus (Rodentia:

Muridae) by the Rock lizard Psammophilus dorsalis (Squamata:

Agamidae) from sub-urban Bangalore, Karnataka. Herpetology

Notes 7: 519-520.

CHANDRA, K. & P.U. GasBe (2005): An inventory of herpetofauna

of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Zoos’ Print Journal 20:

1812-1819.

SANYAL, D.P. & G. DasGupta (1990): On a collection of reptiles from

Bastar district, Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Hamdryad 15: 18-20.

SmiTH, M.A. (1935): The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and

Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II— Sauria. Taylor and Francis,

London. xiii + 440 pp., 2 maps, | pl.

SREEKAR, R., S. DEODHAR & Y. KULKARNI (2010): Predation on

Hemidactylus treutleri (Squamata: Gekkonidae) by the Peninsular

Rock Agama Psammophilus dorsalis (Squamata: Agamidae)

in Rishi Valley, Andhra Pradesh, India. Herpetology Notes 3:

033-035.

Uetz, P. & J. Hosek (2015): The Reptile Database. http://www.reptile-

database.org. Accessed on December 14, 2015.

11. RABBIT FISH SIGANUS CANALICULATUS: A NEW HOST RECORD FOR

ISOPOD PARASITE NEROCILA ARRES BOWMAN AND TAREEN, 1983

Ma tay Kanti Dev Roy!, SHIBANANDA RATH”*, SANTANU MITRA? AND SUBHRENDU SEKHAR MISHRA‘

oy) )

'Social Environmental and Biological Association, 33C, Madhab Halder Road, Behala, Kolkata 700 034, West Bengal,

India. Email: malay [email protected]

2Cytotaxonomy Research Laboratory, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, ‘M’ Block, New Alipore,

Kolkata 700 053, West Bengal, India. Email: [email protected]

3Crustacea Section, Zoological Survey of India, 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700 016, West Bengal, India.

Email: [email protected]

‘Marine Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700 016, West Bengal, India.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114432

During a faunistic survey along the Odisha coast, some

cymothoid isopod parasites were collected from fishes, of

which a single specimen (ZSI Reg. No. C 6758/2) obtained

from Rabbit Fish Siganus canaliculatus was identified as

Nerocila arres Bowman and Tareen, 1983 (Fig. 1). The

specimen measured 20.5 mm in length and 12.0 mm in

width. The species is characterized by the following features:

Rounded anterior margin of the cephalon and well-separated

proximal segment of antennae; Pereopods 6 and 7 with

marginal spines; Postero-ventral corner of all pereonites

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

produced, 1—S subequal and 6—7 progressively longer; Telson

with distinct caudomedial lobe; Exopod of uropod sublinear,

a little longer than endopod; Endopod with deep notch on

lateral margin and serrate median margin, serrations deep;

Uropodal endopod less than three times as long as broad

(Bowman and Tareen 1983). Pereopod 6 beset with one

spine on merus, 4 on carpus, and 5 on propodus; Pereopod

3 lacking spine on propodus.

Nerocila arres closely resembles Nerocila trivittata

and Nerocila sigani. However, in N. trivittata the uropodal

177

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Table 1: Recorded fish hosts of Nerocila arres Bowman and Tareen, 1983

Host fish species Family Site of infection References

Epinephalus tauvina (Forskal, 1775) Serranidae Caudal fin Bowman and Tareen, 1983

~ Acanthopagurus latus (Houttuyn, 1782) Sparidae — Bowman and Tareen, 1983*

Siganus canaliculatus (Park,1797) Siganidae Caudal fin Present paper

Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) Nemipteridae Caudal fin Bowman and Tareen, 1983; Trilles ef a/. 2013

Nemipterus peronii (Valenciennes, 1830) Nemipteridae Caudal fin Bowman and Tareen, 1983.

= Nemipterus tolu (Valenciennes, 1830)

*Bowman and Tareen (1983) does not mention the site of infection for the species Acanthopagurus /atus (Houttuyn, 1782)

endopod is distinctly 3.5 times longer than broad and

serrations on its lateral margins are shallow, whereas in

N. arres the uropodal endopod is less than three times as

long as broad and serrations on its lateral margins are deep

(Bowman and Tareen 1983). In N. sigani, telson is evenly

rounded posteriorly without a caudomedial lobe which is very

prominent in N. arres. In N. sigani pereopod 6 has 2 spines

on merus, 3 on carpus, and 5 on propodus whereas it bears

1 spine on merus, 4 on carpus, and 5 on propodus in N. arres.

Pereopod 3 has 2 spines in N. sigani but no spines in WN. arres.

A perusal of literature reveals that the occurrence of

this isopod parasite on Siganus canaliculatus is a new host

record for this parasite (Bowman and Tareen 1983; Trilles

et al. 2013). Bowman and Tareen (1983) described Nerocila

arres from four different species of fishes of Arabian Gulf

in Kuwait (Table 1).

Trilles et al. (2013) recorded this species from

Nagapattinam on the Bay of Bengal coast in Tamil Nadu, -

from the fish Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791). The

present communication thus constitutes the second record

of this parasite from India, and first report from the state

of Odisha. Incidentally, Barnard (1936) recorded an isopod

parasite belonging to the genus Nerocila, namely N. trivittata

Bleeker, 1857 from the fish Hexanematichthys sagor from

Devi river in Odisha, while Dev Roy and Mitra (2013)

Fig. 1: a. Nerocila arres on its host Siganus canaliculatus,

b. Enlarged view of N. arres attached to caudal fin of

S. canaliculatus, c. Dorsal view of N. arres.

recorded Nerocila sigani from Terapon theraps at Paradeep,

Odisha. As such, the present parasite N. arres represents the

third species of this genus from the State.

REFERENCES

BARNARD, K.H. (1936): Isopoda collected by R.I.M.S. Investigator.

Records of the Indian Museum 38: 147-191.

Bowman, T.E. & I.U. TAREEN (1983): Cymothoidae from Fishes of Kuwait

(Arabian Gulf) (Crustacea: Isopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to

Zoology, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC. pp. 1—30.

Dev Roy, M.K. & S. Mitra (2013): New host record for Nerocila sigani

178

(Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from Odisha coast, India. Current Science

104(9): 1134-1135.

TRILLES, J.P., G. RAMESHKUMAR & S. RAVICHANDRAN (2013): Nerocila

species (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from Indian marine

fishes. Parasitol Res. 112(3): 1273-1286. doi: 10.1007/s00436

012-3263-5.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

12. BUCHANANIA COCHINCHINENSIS (LOUR.) M.R. ALMEIDA: A NEW HOST PLANT

FOR SCUTELLERA PERPLEXA (WESTWOOD) (HEMIPTERA: SCUTELLERIDAE)

AKSHAY A. ONKAR! AND ASHISH N. NERLEKAR”*

'Department of Botany, Fergusson College, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

*Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114434

The family Scutelleridae under superfamily Pentatomoidea

(Insecta: Heteroptera) consists of bugs (popularly called

jewel bugs) that are distinguished by the presence of an

enlarged scutellum (Cassis and Vanags 2006). Scutellerid

bugs are known to feed on an array of plants including those

from primitive families such as Magnoliaceae to the more

evolved ones such as Asteraceae and Poaceae (Tsai et al.

2011). Scutellera perplexa (Westwood) (=S. nobilis Distant)

is one such pest of considerable economic importance that

affects several crops belonging to the families Euphorbiaceae

(Schaefer and Panizzi 2000) and Rhamnaceae (Singh et al.

2014). From India, S. perplexa has been reported as a pest on

Jatropha curcas L. (Shanker and Dhyani 2006), J. nana Dalz

& Gibs. (Kulkarni et al. 2010), Murraya koenigii (L.) (Tara

and Sharma 2010), Emblica officinalis Gaertn (Meshram

and Garg 1999), Vitis vinifera L. (Singh and Kaur 2015), and

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Singh et al. 2014). Yet, there has

been no report of this species affecting the Anacardiaceae,

including Buchanania cochinchinensis (Lour.) M.R. Almeida

- (common name: Chironji), an economically valuable tree

species.

We report an opportunistic observation from the

Padmabhooshan Vasantdada Patil Institute of Technology

(PVPIT) hil ( iS? 2ONS1,74" Ny 73") 46°19;60" .E) near

Pune city, Maharashtra, where Scutellera perplexa was

seen feeding on Buchanania cochinchinensis. The area 1s

well-connected to the National Defence Academy (NDA)

hills and still bears a fair percentage of southern dry

mixed deciduous forest (according to the types described

by Champion and Seth 1968) with dominant trees such

as Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia (Roxb.) A. Chev.,

Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., Tectona grandis L.f., Dalbergia

latifolia Roxb., and Buchanania cochinchinensis (Lout.)

M.R. Almeida.

On April 20, 2015, we observed nymphs of a scutellerid

bug on a Chironji tree about 1.5 m above ground (Fig. 1).

About 25 nymphs were seen aggregated on the abaxial side of

the leaf, one of which was collected, reared till maturity, and

later identified as Scutellera perplexa based on the description

in Distant (1977) and validation by expert, Dr. H.V. Ghate.

Two adult S. perplexa were found on further visits to the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Fig. 1: Scutellera perplexa nymphs seen aggregating on the

underside of Buchanania cochinchinensis \eaf

same tree on May 01, 2015. Freshly hatched instars were

also observed aggregating on fruits of another Chironji tree

in a nearby area on March 25, 2016.

Buchanania cochinchinensis 1s an economically important

tree species, known for its much valued fruit as well as several

other ethnomedicinal uses (Malik et al. 2012). It yields one

of the most important Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP)

in India and plays a significant role in tribal life, especially in

the Central Indian landscape (Chopra 1997). Hence, there is a

need to confirm the occurrence of the pest Scutellera perplexa

on other populations of the Chironji tree in India. Further

studies focusing on the damage potential and management

of this pest on Chironji are necessary.

Endnote: While the manuscript was under review, the

first author also observed first instars of S. perplexa emerging

from eggs laid on Kydia calycina Roxb. (Malvaceae) at

Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra on November 06, 2015

(Eds: photographic evidence provided). Similarly, the second

author observed first instars emerging from eggs on Gliricidia

sepium (Jacq.) Kunth (Fabaceae) on April 24, 2016, at the

Vetal hill, Pune.

179

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We extend our gratitude towards Dr. H.V. Ghate for

identification of the specimens and for providing selected

references. We would also like to thank Rohan Phatak, Anand

Nawathe, Ninad Diwanji, and Salil Hangekar for support in

the field. Thanks are due to Dr. D.K. Kulkarni for providing

some references and encouragement.

REFERENCES

Cassis, G. & L. Vanacs (2006): Jewel Bugs of Australia (Insecta,

Heteroptera, Scutelleridae). 398 pp.

CHAMPION, H.G. & S.K. SETH (1968): A Revised Survey of the Forest

Types of India. Government of India publication, Delhi. 404 pp.

CuHopra, K. (1997): The valuation and pricing of non-timber forest

products: conceptual issues and a case study from India.

In: Fraser, S. (Ed.): Environmental sustainability: Practical global

implications. CRC Press. 304 pp.

DisTANT, W.L. (1977): The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and

Burma — Rhynchota — Vol. 1 (Heteroptera). Indian Reprint. Today

and Tomorrow Printers and Publishers, New Delhi.

KULKARNI, D.K., R. BHAGAT & H.V. GuaTe (2010): Occurrence of

pentatomid bug on Jatropha nana Dalz. Indian Journal of Tropical

Biodiversity 17(1): 125-126.

Ma tik, S.K., R. CHAuDHURY, N.S. PANwAR, O.P. DHARIWAL,

R. CHOUDHARY & S. KuMAR (2012): Genetic resources of Chironji

(Buchanania lanzan Spreng.): a socio-economically important tree

species of central Indian tribal population. Genetic Resources and

Crop Evolution 59(4): 615-623.

MeEsnHRAM, P.B. & V.K. GarG (1999): A report on the occurrence of

Scutellera nobilis Fab. on Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Indian

Forester 125(5): 536.

SCHAEFER, C.W. & A.R. Panizzi (Eds) (2000): Heteroptera of Economic

Importance. CRC Press. 856 pp.

SHANKER, C. & S.K. DHYANI (2006): Insect pests of Jatropha curcas L. and

the potential for their management. Current Science 91 (2): 162-163.

SINGH, S. & G. Kaur (2015): Incidence of metallic shield bug, Scutellera

perplexa (Westwood) (= S. nobilis Fabricius) on grape in Punjab.

Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 21(1): 90-94.

SincH, J.P., A.K. JaiswaL & M. MonosruLLau (2014): First record

of some insect pests on commercial lac host plant, Ziziphus

mauritiana from India. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences. Pp. 1-8.

Tsal, J.F., D. RepEI, G.F. YEH & M.M. Yana (2011): Jewel Bugs of

Taiwan (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae). National Chung Hsing

University, Taichung, 309 pp.

TarA, J.S. & M. SHARMA (2010): Record of hemipteran insect pest

diversity on Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel (curry leaf), a

medicinally important plant from Jammu region of J&K state.

The Bioscan 5(1): 71-74.

13. TIGER BUTTERFLIES ATTRACTED TO LIGHT NEAR SIR SYED COLLEGE CAMPUS,

TALIPARAMBA, KANNUR, NORTHERN KERALA, INDIA

VINAYAN Nair!

'XV/442 Al, Nethaji Housing Colony, Trichambaram, Taliparamba P.O., Kannur 670 141, Kerala, India.

Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114435

Butterflies (Rhopalocera) based on their activity pattern in

relation to light are of two types, 1) diurnal butterflies, which

are active during the day and rest at dusk, and 11) crepuscular

forms which are active at dusk. During the night, butterflies

generally rest under trees and bushes.

Occasionally, butterflies display positive phototaxis, being

attracted to artificial light sources. This has been reported in

literature in India. The first report was by J.I. Alfrey in notes to

a paper by Best (1951), followed by Usman (1956), Donahue

(1962), Shull (1964), Shull and Nadkerny (1967), Nadkerny

and Shull (1968), Sharma and Chaturvedi (1999, 2005), and

Nair (2001, 2004). Chowdhury and Soren (2011) provided a

detailed review of butterflies attracted to light in the Indian

subregion, with an inventory from West Bengal.

So far, 33 species of butterflies have been reported as

positively phototactic (Chowdhury and Soren 2011; Nair

2004). Among them, Nymphalids (39.39%) outnumber the

rest, followed by Pierids (21.12%), Lycaenids (18.18%),

180

Hesperiids (12.12%), and Papilionids (9.09%) (Chowdhury

and Soren 2011; Nair 2004). The maximum number of

incidents were recorded in the monsoon months (June to

October) in the Indian subregion, revealing a seasonal

inclination (Chowdhury and Soren 2011).

The present report is based on incidental observations

in September 2015. The site was my home, ‘Papilio’, near

the Sir Syed College campus, Taliparamba, Kannur, North

Kerala, 25 km from Kannur city and 3 km east of Taliparamba

(12° 04'N; 75° 39' E).

From June 2015 onwards, large congregations of tigers

and crows were observed on Crotalaria retusa in my butterfly

garden. Congregation began by 06:00 hrs and ended by

18:00 hrs and all butterflies moved away. No tigers or crows

were found resting on trees or shrubs during the night. On

September 05, 2015, between 19:30 hrs and 20:30 hrs it was

observed that a male Dark Blue Tiger, Tirumala septentrionis

(Butler) was attracted to a 15W CFL lamp in the bathroom

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

of my house. In the verandah and work area of the house

there were 15W CFL and 23W CFL lamps respectively, but

the butterfly directly moved to the 15W CFL lamp in the

bathroom. On September 11, 2015, between 19:30 hrs and

20:30 hrs, a male Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea (Stoll) was

found to be attracted to the 15W CFL lamp in the verandah.

On September 29, 2015, at about 18:00 hrs another male

Dark Blue Tiger was seen to be attracted to 23W CFL lamp

in the work area. There was no rain during these hours, except

for some incidental late night showers. These were unusual

visitors to light. Among ‘tiger’ butterflies, only Striped

Tiger Danaus genutia (Cramer), has so far been reported as

attracted to light (Donahue 1962). These observations raise

the number of positively phototactic butterflies to a total of

35 in the Indian subregion in which Nymphalids dominate

with a percentage of 42.85%.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to the Bombay Natural History Society for

bringing out the DVD on 100 volumes of the Journal, making

it easy to access the necessary articles related to this note.

REFERENCES

Best, A.E.G. (1951): The butterflies of Bombay and Salsette. J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 50(2): 331-339.

CHOWDHURY, S. & R. SoREN (2011): Light attracted butterflies: a review

from the Indian subregion with an inventory from West Bengal,

India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(6): 1868-1871.

DONAHUE, J.P. (1962): Observations and records of butterflies attracted

to light in India. J. Lepidop. Soc. 16(12): 131-135.

Napkerny, N.T. & E.M. SHULL (1968): Insects attracted to light in the

Dangs, South Gujarat. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 65(3): 800.

Nair, VINAYAN P. (2001): Butterflies attracted to light at Aralam Wildlife

Sanctuary, Kerala. Zoos’ Print Journal 16(12): 670.

Narr, VINAYAN P. (2004): Butterflies attracted to light near Government

College Campus, Vatakara, Kerala. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

101(3): 472.

SHARMA, R.M. & N. CHaturveEpI (1999): Black Rajah Charaxes fabius

attracted to light at Tadoba National Park. J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 96(1): 168-169.

SHARMA, R.M. & N. CHATURVEDI (2005): Additions to the light attracted

butterflies. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 102(1): 129.

SHULL, E.M. (1964): Butterflies attracted to light in Gujarat state, India.

J. Lepidop. Soc. 18(30): 159-163.

SHULL, E.M. & N.T. NADKERNY (1967): Insects attracted to mercury

vapour lamp in the Surat Dangs, Gujarat State. J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 64(2): 256-266.

Usman, S. (1956): Some insects attracted to light — Part III. J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 53(3): 482-484.

14. ADDITIONS TO LARVAL HOST PLANTS OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA)

DEEPAK NaIk!? AND MOHAMMED S. Mustak!?:*

‘Department of Applied Zoology, Mangalagangothri, Mangalore University 574 199, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

"Email: [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114436

Introduction

Butterflies are good biological indicators, hence they are

suitable for biodiversity studies (Kocher and Williams 2000;

Larson 1988; Sawchik et al. 2005). Diversity of butterflies

indirectly reflects overall plant diversity in a given area,

hence they are indicators to study the ecological balance

in an ecosystem. Documentation of larval host plants is

as important as inventorying and monitoring butterfly

populations in specific sites, for the conservation of both

plants and butterflies.

Kunte (2000) documented the larval host plants of

butterflies in the Western Ghats region. Later he added 26 new

host plants to the 420 known larval host plants from different

regions of the Western Ghats (Kunte 2006). From the Kerala

part of Western Ghats, Kalesh and Prakash (2007) reported

41 larval host plants of 25 species of butterflies belonging

to the families Nymphalidae, Lycanidae, and Hesperiidae.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Our study was carried out in Dakshina Kannada district,

Karnataka state, from 2010 to 2015. More than 138 butterfly

species were documented and the life cycle of common

butterflies was studied. During our observations, host plants

were noted in specific localities, namely 1) Puttur (12° 46' N;

75° 12'E), 11) Mangalore University Campus, Konaje (12° 55'

N; 75° 54' E), and 111) Pilikula Biological Park, Mangalore

(12° 49'N; 75° 55' E). In the present note, we report 13 larval

host plants belonging to 10 families. These were checked

against Gunthilagaraj et al. (1998), Veenakumari et al. (1998),

Robinson et al. (2001), Balakrishnan et al. (2006), Kunte

(2000, 2006), Kunte et al. (2015), Kalesh and Prakash (2007),

and Kehimkar (2008), and found to be new records. The host

plants were reported after successful rearing of caterpillars to

ensure correct identification of the butterfly species. Scientific

names of host plants were taken from Flora of South Kanara

and Udupi (Bhat 2003, 2014).

181

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Family Hesperiidae

1. Erionota torus (Evans): Ravenala madagascariensis

Sonn., Strelitziaceae. Not a true palm; with enormous paddle-

shaped leaves borne on long petioles, in a distinctive fan-

shape aligned in a single plane. Usually found in gardens.

Recorded from Mangalore University, Konaje, Mangalore.

March 2015.

Family Papilionidae

1. Papilio polymnestor (Cramer): Zanthoxylum ovalifolium

Wight, Rutaceae. Large glabrous shrub, armed with short

prickles, on edges of small forest patches. Recorded from

Puttur. August 2011.

Family Pieridae

1. Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus): Mimosa invisa Matt.,

Fabaceae. Scandent or prostrate shrub, usually found in

neglected gardens and at roadsides. Recorded from Puttur,

Konaje. July 2012, February 2014.

Family Lycanidae

1. Arhopala centaurus (Fabricius): Terminalia catappa

L., Combretaceae. Large deciduous tree, often planted

on roadside. Recorded from Pilikula Botanical Garden,

Mangalore. November 2013.

2. Loxura atymnus (Stoll): Dioscorea wallichii Hook.f.,

Dioscoreaceae. Large glabrous climber, found on roadsides

and on garden hedges. Recorded from Puttur. May 2012.

3. Caleta decidia (Westwood): Ziziphus glaberrima

(Sedgw.) Santapau, Rhamnaceae. Scandent shrub, common

along edges of forests. Recorded from Puttur. September

DOT

4. Discolampa ethion (Westwood): Ziziphus oenoplia (L.)

Mill., Rhamnaceae. Common scandent shub found in forests.

Recorded from Puttur. September 2011.

Family Nymphalidae

1. Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus): Axonopus compressus (Sw.)

P. Beauv., Poaceae. Grass species found in gardens, arecanut

plantations. Recorded from Puttur. April 2011.

2. Melanitis leda (Linnaeus): Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.)

Koeler., Poaceae. Grass species found in gardens. Recorded

from Puttur. October 2011.

3. Ariadne merione (Cramer): Tragia hispida Willd.,

Euphorbiaceae. Slender twining or trailing herb with stinging

hairs, commonly found in wastelands and on roadsides.

Recorded from Puttur. September 2011.

4. Ariadne ariadne (Linnaeus): Tragia hispida Willd.,

Euphorbiaceae. Slender twining or trailing herb with stinging

hairs, commonly found in wastelands and on roadsides.

Recorded from Puttur. September 2011.

5. Moduza procris (Cramer): Mussaenda erythrophylla

Schumach & Thonn., Rubiaceae. Large spreading ornamental

shrub, often cultivated in gardens. Recorded from Puttur.

October 2011.

6. Neptis jumbha (Moore): Bauhinia acuminata L., Fabaceae.

Erect shrub, cultivated in gardens. Recorded from Puttur.

March—May 2011-2013.

7. Junonia iphita (Cramer): Synedrella nodiflora Gaertn.,

Asteraceae. Annual erect herb, common weed on cultivated

lands. Recorded from Puttur. May 2011.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. Krushnamegh Kunte for his advice and

discussion. We would like to thank Prof. Deviprasad K.N.,

Dr. K. Gopalakrishna Bhat, and Mr. Shrikrishna Ganaraj Bhat

for identification of host plants and also for their guidance.

Special thanks to the Chairman, Department of Applied

Zoology, Mangalore University for his support throughout

the work.

REFERENCES

BALAKRISHNAN, V.C., M.J. PALot & C. RADHAKRISHNAN (2006): New

host plant records of the Short-banded Sailer, Neptis columella

(Cramer) and the Chestnut-streaked Sailer, Neptis jumbha (Moore)

[Nymphalidae: Lepidoptera: Insecta]. Records of Zoological

Survey of India 106(2): 125-126.

Buat, K.G. (2003): Flora of Udupi. Published by Indian Naturalist,

Chitpady, Udupi. 350 pp.

Buat, K.G. (2014): Flora of South Kanara (Dakshina Kannada and

Udupi district of Karnataka). Published by Aakriti Prints, Udupi.

686 pp.

GUNTHILAGARAJ, K., T.N.A. PERUMAL, K. JAYARAM & M. GANESH KUMAR

(1998): Some South Indian Butterflies. Field guide published under

Project Lifescape. Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore. 270 pp.

KALESH, S. & S.K. PRAKASH (2007): Additions to larval host plants

of butterflies of the Western Ghats, Kerala, southern India

(Rhopalocera, Lepidoptera): Part 1. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 104

182

(2): 235-237.

KEHIMKAR, I. (2008): The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural

History Society and Oxford University Press, Mumbai. 497 pp.

Kocuer, S.D. & E.H. WILiiams (2000): The diversity and abundance

of North American butterflies vary with habitat disturbance and

geography. Journal of Biogeography 27: 785-794.

Kunte, K. (2000): Butterflies of Peninsular India. Universities Press,

Hyderabad and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. 254 pp.

Kunte, K. (2006): Addition to known larval host plants of Indian

butterflies. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 103(1): 119-122.

KuntTE, K., P. Roy, S. KALESH & U. KODANDARAMAIAH (EDS)

(2015): Butterflies of India. v. 2.20. Indian Foundation for

Butterflies.

Larsen, T.B. (1988): The butterflies of the Nilgiri mountains of southern

India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

85(1): 26-43.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

RosInson, G.S., P.R. Ackery, I.J. Kircuinc, G.W. BECCALONI &

L.M. HERNANDEZ (2001): Hostplants of the Moth and Butterfly

Caterpillars of the Oriental Region. The Natural History Museum,

London.

SAWCHIK J., M. DUFRENE & PH. LEBRUN (2005): Distribution patterns

and indicator species of butterfly assemblages of wet meadows

in southern Belgium. Belgian Journal of Zoology 135(1): 43-52.

VEENAKUMARI, K., P. MOHANRAJ & P.V. SREEKUMAR (1998): Host plant

utilization by butterfly larvae in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(Indian Ocean). Journal of Insect Conservation 1: 235-246.

15. THREE NEW RECORDS OF OPISTHOBRANCHS (MOLLUSCA) FROM

LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, INDIA

DeePAK Apte!**, IDREES BABU? AND V.K. SALAHUDDIN!4

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.

"Department of Science and Technology, Lakshadweep Administration, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep. Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

“Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114437

Introduction

The earliest work on the opisthobranch fauna of

Lakshadweep Islands, India, was by Gardiner (1903), which

was followed by a note by Rao et al. (1974), and Surya

Rao and Rao (1991). Thereafter, there were no studies on

opisthobranchs from these islands until recently.

The opisthobranch fauna of Lakshadweep Islands

is being studied by the present authors since 2004

under the All India Co-ordinated Project on Taxonomy

(AICOPTAX)-Mollusca programme supported by the

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

Government of India, and Department of Science

and Technology, Lakshadweep Administration. The

current count in India is approximately 350 species, of

which the Lakshadweep Islands have approximately

80 species. Of these 80 species, 63 species were first

reported by Apte (2009), Apte and Salahuddin (2010),

and Apte and Bhave (2014). The present work reports

three opisthobranch species, namely Scyllaea pelagica,

Goniobranchus alius, and Verconia norba, of which one is

a new record to India and all three are new to Lakshadweep

Islands. The contributions of these studies are invaluable in

understanding the diversity of these least studied molluscs

from Lakshadweep Islands.

Methodology

Surveys were conducted in the intertidal region of the

eastern lagoon of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. The specimens

were collected, and after morphological study were preserved

in 90% ethyl! alcohol and deposited in the BNHS collections.

Many alternative classifications are currently being used

on the basis of molecular studies. A modified version of the

classification presented by Bouchet and Rocroi (2005) and

used by World Register of Marine Species (Gofas 2009)

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

was followed. Unless specified, the worldwide distribution

is reproduced from Gosliner et al. (2008).

Results

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass: Heterobranchia Burmeister, 1837

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Tritonioidea Lamarck, 1809

Family: Scyllaeidae Alder & Hancock, 1855

Genus: Scyllaea Linnaeus, 1758

Scyllaea pelagica Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: Scyllaea edwardsii A.E. Verrill, 1878;

Scyllaea grayae A. Adams & Reeve, 1850; Scyllaea hookeeri

Gray M.E., 1850; Scyllaea marmorata Alder & Hancock,

1864; Scyllaea pelagica var. marginata Bergh, 1871; Scyllaea

viridis Alder & Hancock, 1864.

Size: 15 mm (Fig. 1). Single specimen (BNHS-

Opistho-639).

Description: S. pelagica is considered semi-planktonic,

associated with the floating macroalgae Sargassum (Yonow

et al, 2002).

Body dorsoventrally flattened; rhinophore sheaths

flattened; rhinophores small; two pairs of dorsolateral

lobes diagnostic, mediodorsal crest present at the posterior

end of body. Body yellowish with brown mottling and

some white markings; single row of brilliant blue spots

visible on dorsal surface. Blue spots also present on both

sides of body.

Distribution: Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica, Cuba, Gulf of

Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic, Spain, Japan,

France, Turkey, USA, Bahamas. The species was previously

reported from India along the coast of Andhra Pradesh as

183

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 1: Scyllaea pelagica

Fig. 3: Verconia norba

Scyllaea marmorata (Alder and Hancock 1864). It was also

reported from Gulf of Mannar by Farran (1905). However,

Farran’s work is mostly on Ceylonese nudibranchs with some

study areas that are currently in Indian territory, like Gulf

of Mannar. Thus, veracity of its presence in the Indian part

of Gulf of Mannar could not be ascertained. This 1s the first

record of the species from Lakshadweep.

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass: Heterobranchia Burmeister, 1837

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Goniobranchus Pease, 1866

Goniobranchus alius (Rudman, 1987)

Synonym: Chromodoris alius Rudman, 1987.

Fig. 2: Goniobranchus alius

Size: 40 mm and 35 mm (Fig. 2). Two specimens (BNHS-

Opistho-641 and BNHS-Opistho-701).

Description: The specimens match the description by

Rudman (1987) which is reproduced herewith. Creamy-white

mantle with six greyish patches and small translucent pits,

each with a golden-yellow spot, giving a pitted appearance.

Violet border to mantle broken into a series of spots, among

which is a diffused submarginal band of milky yellow.

Rhinophore stalks translucent white and clubs dark brown,

though in the specimen the dots are not clearly visible. Gills

translucent with white edging.

Distribution: Endemic to the Indian Ocean along South

Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, Reunion Island, and Sri Lanka.

This is the first record of the species from Lakshadweep.

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass: Heterobranchia Burmeister, 1837

Infraclass: Opisthobranchia

Order: Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817

Superfamily: Doridoidea Rafinesque, 1815

Family: Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891

Genus: Verconia Pruvot-Fol, 1931

Verconia norba (Er. Marcus & Ev. Marcus, 1970)

Synonym: Noumea norba Er. Marcus & Ev. Marcus,

1970.

Size: 40 mm (Fig. 3). Single specimen (BNHS-

Opistho-1234).

Description: Mantle pinkish orange. A broad creamy white

band around mantle edge. On inside edge of this band are a

series of reddish purple streaks or marks. Central part of mantle

has a continuous white median band which always encircles

gill pocket. Gills and rhinophores tinged orange-red. In similar

184

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

looking Verconia purpurea (Baba 1949) (known previously

as Noumea purpurea), white median band runs from behind

rhinophores to front of gills, but never encircles gill pockets.

Distribution: Indonesia and Hawai (Rudman 1999),

South Africa, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Red Sea, Gulf of

Oman, Australia, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Papua New

Guinea, Japan. This is the first record of the species from

Lakshadweep and from India.

Conclusion

Despite being one of the finest coral reef ecosystems in

India, faunal studies in Lakshadweep Islands are limited.

Among Mollusca, opisthobranchs are least studied on

these islands. The present records thus assume great

significance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the financial

support provided by MoEFCC, Government of India under

AICOPTAX-Mollusca. Dr. J.R. Bhatt, Advisor, MoEFCC

is a constant source of encouragement. The project is

being implemented in collaboration with the Department

of Science and Technology, Lakshadweep Administration.

REFERENCES

ALDER, J. & A. Hancock (1864): Notice on the collection of

nudibranchiate mollusca made in India by Walter Eliot Esq. With

descriptions of several new genera and species. Transactions of

the Zoological Society of London 5: 117-147.

AptE, D.A. (2009): Opisthobranch fauna of Lakshadweep Islands, India

with 52 new records to Lakshadweep and 40 new records to India.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.106(2): 162-175.

ApTE, D.A. & V.K. SALAHUDDIN (2010): Record of Hexabranchus

sanguineus (Ruppell & Leuckart 1828) from Lakshadweep

Archipelago, India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 107(3): 261-262.

Aptg, D.A. & VISHAL BHAVE (2014): New records of opisthobranchs

from Lakshadweep, India (Mollusca: Heterobranchia). Journal

of Threatened Taxa 6(3): 5562-5568; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/

JoTT.03487.5562-8.

Bouct et, P. & J.-P. Rocro! (2005): Classification and nomenclature of

gastropod families. Malacologia 47(1—2): 1-397.

FARRAN, G.P. (1905): Report on the Opisthobranchiate Mollusca

collected by Prof. Herdman. Pp. 29-364. Jn: Herdman, W.A.

(Ed.): Report on the pearl oyster fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar.

The Ray Society, London.

GARDINER, J.S. (1903): The fauna and geography of the Maldives and

Laccadive Archipelagoes.Vol 2. Cambridge University Press,

UK Pp. 1080}

Goras, S. (2009): Opisthobranchia. Jn: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed

through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.

marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id.

Gos.iner, T.M., D.W. Benrens & A. VaLpés (2008): Indo-Pacific

Nudibranchs and Sea Slugs: A Field Guide to the World’s Most

Diverse Fauna. Sea Challengers Natural History Books and the

California Academy of Sciences. 425 pp.

Rao, K.V., P. Srvapas & L.K. Kumary (1974): On three rare doridiform

nudibranch molluscs from Kavaratti Lagoon, Laccadive Islands.

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 16(1):

113-125.

RupDMAN, W.B. (1987): The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia:

Mollusca) of the Indo-west Pacific: Chromodoris epicuria,

C. aureopurpurea, C. annulata, C. coi and Risbecia tryoni colour

groups. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 305—407.

RupMaNn, W.B. (1999): Noumea norba Marcus & Marcus, 1970. In:

Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/noumnorb. Accessed on

February 13, 2016.

SurYA Rao, K.V. & N.V. SuBBA Rao (1991): Fauna of Lakshadweep:

Mollusca. State Fauna Series. Published by the Director,

Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta. Pp. 399.

Yonow, N., R. CHARLES ANDERSON & SUSAN G. Buttress (2002):

Opisthobranch molluscs from the Chagos Archipelago, central

Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History 36: 831-882.

16. FIRST RECORD OF TITISCANIA LIMACINA BERGH, 1890

(MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA) FROM INDIA

DEEPAK APTE!?}* AND SAYALI NERURKAR!”

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, S.B. Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.

*Email: [email protected], [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114438

Introduction

Franklin et al. (2015) provided a comprehensive review

of studies carried out on Phylum Mollusca during the past

135 years in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The most

notable work among these is by Subba Rao (2003) and

Subba Rao and Dey (2000), who reported 1,282 species of

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

molluscs from Andaman & Nicobar Is. More recent work is

by Arumugam ef al. (2010), Chandra and Rajan (2010), and

Franklin et al. (2013, 2014). Some recent studies focused

mainly on lesser studied opisthobranch fauna (Raghunathan

et al. 2010a,b; Ramakrishna et al. 2010; Sreeraj et al. 2010,

2012, 2013). Despite Mollusca being one of the most studied

185

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

1° 33' 31.70" N;

@ 92° 43' 49.41" E

Amanallah

11° 31' 34.15" N;

2° 43' 27.12" E

aghat

Fig. 1: Sampling locations of Titiscania limacina

taxa from these islands, new finds are not uncommon,

suggesting that the area requires frequent systematic studies.

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass: Neritimorpha Golikov & Starobogatov, 1975

Order: Cycloneritimorpha

Superfamily: Neritopsoidea Gray, 1847

Family: Titiscaniidae Bergh, 1890

Genus: Titiscania Bergh, 1890

Species: /imacina Bergh, 1890

Titiscania limacina Bergh, 1890

Present record: Kodiaghat (11° 31' 34.15" N; 92°

43' 27.12" E), Burmanallah (11° 33' 31.70" N; 92° 43'

49.41" E) in South Andaman (Fig. 1).

Two specimens (Fig. 2a) were found crawling on coral

rubble, c. 20 m away from freshwater runoff meeting the

sea. The specimens were deposited in the collections of the

Bombay Natural History Society (voucher nos BNHS Gastro

1611 and 1762). Thereafter, several specimens were observed

from this area.

186

Global Distribution: Guam (Smith 2003), Okinawa,

Japan (Kano et al. 2002), Mauritius, Philippines, Camiguin,

Marshall Islands, Eniwetok Atoll, Mexico, Panama, Puerto

Lobos, Gulf of California (Marcus and Marcus 1967),

Egypt, Red Sea (Rudman 2008), Galapagos (Templado and

Ortea 2001), Australia (Burn 1975; Loch 1975), Indonesia

(Burghardt et al. 2006), French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Costa

Rica, Guam (GBIF 2013), Moluccas (Strack 1998).

Taxonomic Status: Order Cycloneritimorpha comprises

more than 450 living species classified into six superfamilies,

namely Helicinoidea Feérussac, 1822, Hydrocenoidea Troschel,

1857; Naticopsoidea Waagen, 1880+; Neritoidea Rafinesque,

1815; Neritopsoidea Gray, 1847; and Symmetrocapuloidea

Wenz, 1938+ (Bouchet 2011; Fretter 1965; Ponder 1998).

Bergh (1890) established the family Titiscaniidae for the

sole species Titiscania limacina, emphasizing the absence of

the post-larval shell, complete limacization, and the animal’s

slug-like appearance. Subsequently, another species Titiscania

shinkishihataii Taki, 1955 was described from Japan (Saito

and Tsuchiya 1990). Previously, Genus Titiscania was a poorly

known group (Ponder 1998). The radular and anatomical

characteristics of Titiscania are almost identical to those of

Neritopsis, except those modified in relation to limacization

(Kano 1999). Based on molecular data Titiscania is in fact a

highly specialized offshoot of the Neritopsidae, and thus Kano

et al. (2002) produced a phylogeny of the Recent Nentimorpha

recognizing four clades: Hydrocenidae; Helicinidae +

Neritiliidae; Neritidae + Phenacolepadidae; Neritopsidae +

Titiscaniidae from the standpoint of cladistics.

Bouchet and Rocoi (2005) ranked the resulting clades

from Kuno et al. (2002) as superfamilies and Neritopsidae

along with Titiscanidae included within superfamily

Neritopsoidea.

Description

A bluish white, thread-like substance is discharged when

the animal is disturbed, through defensive glands placed on

the back. A row of about 12 densely placed white papillae

are present on both sides of the back. Other morphological

characters match the specimens described by Bergh (1890)

and Marcus and Marcus (1967).

Radula (Fig 2: b—d): Radula of Titiscania limacina 1s

rhipidoglossate type with absence of median rachidian tooth

along with two inner lateral teeth on either side in each row

(hence placed in Superfamily Neritopsoidea) exhibiting

dental formula n-3-3-n (n=100-110). It comprises about 210

rows [Bergh (1890) 180—205; Marcus and Marcus (1967):

220]. The first lateral tooth (L3) is flattened with short folded

pointed hook, second lateral tooth (L4) is also flattened but

without hook. The fifth lateral tooth (L5) is thickened, folded,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 2: a. Titiscania limacina. b—d: Electron micrographs of radula of T. limacina. b. Dorsal view.

c. Enlarged view of left row of radula teeth. d. Enlarged view showing marginal teeth.

Abbreviations: L3—L5: third to fifth lateral teeth; M: Marginal teeth

with wide blunt hook. L5 is larger than L3 and L4, which

is typical of Neritopsid radula. Marginal teeth (M) are more

or less oblique, sharply curved, hook-like structures with

narrow, pointed base.

Habits and Habitat

The observed animals were found to be active during dusk

and dawn, and remained under loose rocks during day time.

The habitat in Burmanallah is mostly dominated by degraded

coral reef with coral rubble and silt, while in Kodiaghat it is

dominated by rocky shore with scattered patches of corals,

coral sand and silt. These areas are not part of the protected

area network of Andaman & Nicobar.

Titiscania limacina is being recorded for the first time

from Indian waters, making this a valuable contribution to

the molluscan fauna of India.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We appreciate and acknowledge the Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change (GOI) and Whitley

Fund for Nature for providing financial support. We wish

to thank Mr. Sumantha Narayana and team working in

Andaman archipelago for the field work. We are also grateful

to Department of Forests and Environment, Andaman and

Nicobar Islands and Mr. Shinde, Technical Expert, Physics

Department, Savitribai Phule University, Pune for his assistance

in Scanning Electron Micrography of radula of 7° limacina.

REFERENCES

ARUMUGAM, M., A. SHANMUGAM, T. BALASUBRAMANIAN, L. KANNAN &

S. AJMALKHAN (2010): Studies on molluscan diversity of Great

Nicobar island - a pre tsunami scenario. Pp. 275—282. Jn: Recent

Trends in Biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Eds:

Ramakrishna, R.C. Raghunathan and C. Sivaperuman). Zoological

Survey of India, Kolkata.

Berau, R. (1890): Die Titiscanien, eine Familie der rhipidoglossen

Gastropoden. Morph. Jahrbuch 16: 1-26 + pl. 1-3.

Boucuet, P. (2011): Cycloneritimorpha. Jn: MolluscaBase (2016).

Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://

www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=394185 on

January 21, 2017.

Boucuet, P. & J.-P. Rocror (2005): Classification and nomenclator of

gastropod families. Malacologia 47(1—2): 1-397.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

187

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BURGHARDT, INGO BocHUM, ROSANA CARVALHO MANADO, DIRK EHEBERG

MUNCHEN, GREVO GERUNG MANADO, FONTJE KALIGIS MANADO,

GusTAF MAMANGKEY MANADO, MICHAEL SCHRODL MUNCHEN, ENRICO

SCHWABE MUNCHEN, VERENA VONNEMANN BOCHUM & HEIKE WAGELE

Bocuum (2006): Molluscan diversity at Bunaken National Park,

Sulawesi. J. Zool. Soc. Wallacea 2: 29-43.

Burn, R. (1975): Titiscania limacina Bergh, 1875, an unusual gastropod

new to Australia. Australian Shell News 11: 1.

CHANDRA, K. & P.T. RAJAN (2010): Biodiversity of Barren Island,

Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Pp. 299-312. Jn: Recent Trends in

Biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Eds: Ramakrishna,

R.C. Raghunathan and C. Sivaperuman) Zoological Survey of

India, Kolkata. 4

FRANKLIN, J.B., P. VENKATESHWARAN, N.V. VINITHKUMAR &

R. KiruBAGARAN (2013): Four new records of family Conidae

(Caenogastropoda: Mollusca) from Andaman Islands. Zootaxa

3635(1): 81-86.

FRANKLIN, J.B., N.V. VINITHKUMAR & R. KIRUBAGARAN (2014): Two new

records of marine Gastropods from Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

India. Marine Biodiversity Records 7(41): \—5.

FRANKLIN, J.B., N.V. VINITHKUMAR & R. KIRUBAGARAN (2015): Discovery

of marine molluscs from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: past,

present and prospects. Journal of the Andaman Science Association

20(1): 27-35.

Fretter, V. (1965): Functional studies of the anatomy of some neritid

prosobranchs. J. Zool. Lond. 147: 46—74.

GBIF (2013): GBIF Secretariat: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. July

01, 2013. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/species/2293667 on

March 29, 2016.

Kano, Y. (1999): Comparative anatomy and systematics of Pisulina

(Gastropoda: Neritopsina) from marine caves. M.Sc. thesis.

University of Tokyo, Japan.

KANO YASUNORI, SATOSHI CHIBA & TOMOKI KASE (2002): Major

adaptive radiation in neritopsine gastropods estimated from 28S

rRNA sequences and fossil records. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 269.

Pp. 2457-2465. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2178.

Locu, I. [An (1975): OZCAM - Online Zoological Collections of

Australian Museums Provider. http://biocache.ala.org.au/

occurrences/8 la4cc2a-bae2-42dd-abae-53e7f48d0ff7.

Marcus, E. & E. Marcus (1967): American opisthobranch molluscs.

Studies in Tropical Oceanography 6: 1-256.

PONDER, W.F. (1998): Superorder Neritopsina. Pp. 693-702.

In: Mollusca: the southern synthesis. (Eds: Beesley, P.L.,

G.J.B. Ross & A. Wells). Fauna of Australia. Vol. 5. CSIRO,

Melbourne, Australia.

RAGHUNATHAN, C., C. SIVAPERUMAN & RAMAKRISHNA (2010): An account

of newly recorded five species of Nudibranch (Opisthobranchia,

Gastropoda) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Pp. 283-288.

In: Recent Trends in Biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(Eds: Ramakrishna, R.C. Raghunathan and C. Sivaperuman).

Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

RAMAKRISHNA, C.R., C. SREERAJ, C. RAGHUNATHAN, J.S. SIVAPERUMAN &

Y. Kumar (2010): Guide to Opisthobranchs of Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. Zoological Survey of India Publications.

Pp. 1-196.

RupMaN, W.B. (2008) (August 16): Titiscania limacina Bergh, 1875.

In: Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/titiscania. Accessed on

November 15, 2015.

Saito, H. & K. Tsucurya (1990): Rediscovery of Titiscania

shinkishihataii Taki, 1955. Chiribotan 21(3): 45-47. (In Japanese)

SmitH, B.D. (2003): Prosobranch gastropods of Guam. Micronesica

35-36: 244-270.

SREERAJ, C.R., P.T. RAJAN, R. RAGHURAMAN, C. RAGHUNATHAN,

R. RAJKUMAR, T. IMMANUEL & RAMAKRISHNA (2010): On

some new records of sea slugs (Class: Gastropoda, Subclass:

Opisthobranchia) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Pp. 289-298. In: Recent Trends in Biodiversity of Andaman

and Nicobar Islands (Eds: Ramakrishna, R.C. Raghunathan, and

C. Sivaperuman). Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

SREERAJ, C.R., C. SrVAPERUMAN & C. RAGHUNATHAN (2012): An annotated

checklist of opisthobranch fauna (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia)

of the Nicobar Islands, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(4):

2499-2509.

SREERAJ, C.R., C. SIVAPERUMAN & C. RAGHUNATHAN (2013): Species

diversity and abundance of opisthobranch molluscs (Gastropoda:

Opisthobranchia) in the coral reef environments of Andaman and

Nicobar Islands, India. Pp. 81—106. Jn: Ecology and Conservation

of Tropical Marine Communities (Eds: Venkataraman, K.,

C. Raghunathan, and C. Sivaperuman). Springer. 481 pp.

STRACK, H.L. (1998): The Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition. A story

of present and past marine biology. Vita Marina 45(1—2): 17-40.

SuBBA Rao, N.V. (2003): Indian Seashells (Part-I): Polyplacopora and

Gastropoda. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional

Publications. Hooghly Printing Co. Ltd, Kolkata. Pp. 416.

SuBBA Rao, N.V. & A. Dey (2000): Catalogue of Marine Molluscs of

Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Records of the Zoological Survey

of India, Occasional Publications. Hooghly Printing Co. Ltd,

Kolkata. Pp. 323.

TEMPLADO, J. & J. OrTEA (2001):The occurrence of the shell-less

neritacean gastropod Titiscania limacina in the Galapagos Islands.

Veliger 44: 404-406.

17. PORTULACA GRANULATO-STELLULATA (POELLN.) RICCERI & ARRIGONI:

A NEW RECORD FOR FLORA OF GUJARAT, INDIA

RupesH Maurya!”, UMERFARUQ M. QuRESHIMATVA!?*, JAIVIN PATEL'* AND HITESH SOLANKI'”

'Department of Botany, USS, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India.

*Email: [email protected]

3Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114439

Introduction

The genus Portulaca L. is widely represented in tropical

flora. The taxonomic consistency of Portulaca oleracea L.

188

is not well-defined as its vegetative parts do not provide any

stable diagnostic characters. Recently seed morphology has

been used as one of the key diagnostic characters (Domina

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Gianniantonio and Raimondo 2009). Portulaca oleracea L.

has been divided into several microspecies based on seed

characters, such as seed size and surface morphology of the

seed (Dannin et al. 2008).

During a field survey in 2015-16, a few specimens

of Portulaca were collected from Kalsar village,

Ghoghamba taluka, Panchmahal district (22° 45’ N;

73° 36' E, area: 5,083.14 sq. km), Gujarat. Critical

examination of these specimens confirmed the identity as

Portulaca granulato-stellulata (Poelln.) Ricceri & Arrigoni.

This species has not been reported in the literature

from Gujarat (Cook 1901-1908; Dastur and Saxton 1922;

Meena and Pandey 2004; Parmar 2012; Raghvan 1981;

Santapau 1962; Saxton and Sedgwick 1918; Shah 1978;

Yogi 1970) and therefore it forms a new distributional

record for Gujarat state. Voucher specimen RM-543 is

deposited in Department of Botany, Gujarat University,

Ahmedabad, India.

Portulaca L.

Key to species

1. Testa cells flat devoid of emergences, star-shaped

Sc ated RRA Ce Rice cai cate te La Portulaca oleracea

1. Testa cells star-shaped, papillae emerging from rays

PG hahah caalinaa amt dem siiere ct Portulaca granulato-stellulata

Portulaca granulato-stellulata (Poel|n.) Ricceri & Arrigoni

in Parlatorea 4: 93 (2000).

Synonyms:

Portulaca oleracea var. granulatostellulata Poelln. in

Occ. Pap. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Mus. 12(9): 5(1936),

Portulaca oleracea subsp. granulatostellulata (Poelln.)

Danin & H.G. Baker in Israel J: Bot. 27: 189(1979).

Annual or perennial, prostrate or erect. Branches and

stem with 3—20 mm rarely up to 50 mm long internodes.

Leaves alternate, closely crowded below the flowers, spatulate

or obovate-oblong. Inflorescence cymose, with clusters of

3-6 flowers subtended by 4-leaved involucre. Sepals subequal,

basally united into a short, 2-3 mm long tube, keeled; lobes

2—3 mm long, margin broad membranous, acute, deciduous.

Petals 5, deliquescent, slightly united at the base, obovate, 5-6 mm

long, 2.5—3 mm wide, yellow, emarginate with mucronulate notch.

Capsule 30—32 seeded, seeds black, papillae like projections on

seed surface, small seed size (length less than 0.85 mm).

Flowers and fruits: Throughout the year.

Exsiccata: RM-543.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Department of Forensic

Science, USS, Gujarat University, for providing microscope.

REFERENCES

DoMINA GIANNIANTONIO & F.M. RArtmonpbo (2009): A new species

in the Portulaca oleracea aggregate (Portulacaceae) from

the Island of Soqotra (Yemen). Webbia 64: 9-12.

Cooke, T. (1901-1908): The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay. Vols

1-3. Taylor & c. Francis, London.

Danin A., Domina & F.M. Raimonpo (2008): Microspecies of the

Portulaca oleracea aggregate found on major Mediterranean

islands (Sicily, Cyperus, Crete, Rhodes) Fl. Medit. 18: 89-107.

Dastour, R.H. & W.T. SAxTon (1922): Ecology of plant communities in

the Savannah formation of Gujarat. J. Indian Bot. Soc. 2: 35-50.

RAGHVAN, R.S., B.M. WApHwA, M.Y. Ansart & R.S. Rao (1981): A

check list of plants of Gujarat. Botanical Survey of India XXI

(2): 1-128.

MEENA, S.L. & PANDEY R.L. (2004): A reassessment of the phytodiversity

of Gujarat state: Floristic composition and floristic analysis,

vegetation, threatened and rare taxa and their conservation strategies.

Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 28(4): 867-894.

SHAH, G.L. (1978): Flora of Gujarat State. Sardar Patel University,

Vallabh Vidhyanagar, Gujarat. Vols 1—2.

SANTAPAU, H. (1962): The Flora of Saurashtra. Part 1. Rajkot.

SAXxTON, V.J. & L.F. SeEpGwick (1918): Plants of Northern Gujarat. Rec.

Bat. Sure. Ind. 6(7): 210-323.

Yoat, D.V. (1970): A contribution to the Flora of North Gujarat. Ph.D.

Thesis, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar.

18. ADDITIONS TO THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF GOA, INDIA

SHARAD S. KAMBALE!”, ANuP S. DESHPANDE! ** AND RAVIKIRAN S. PAGARE!4

'Department of Botany, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau 403 206, Goa, India.

"Email: ceropegias [email protected]

>Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114440

Introduction

While surveying the Goa University Campus to document

angiosperms, the authors collected Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.)

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

Pour. and Ipomoea triloba L. which were not reported earlier from

the state of Goa (Datar and Lakshminarasimhan 2013; Datar

et al. 2005; Joshi et al. 1997; Naithani et al. 1997; Rao 1986).

189

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Desmodium Desv. (Leguminosae) is represented by

c. 275 species worldwide and in India by 47 species, seven

subspecies and five varieties (Sanjappa 1992), of which eight

species are known from Goa (Rao 1986). Some Desmodium

spp. are of medicinal value, and locally used as fodder and

green manure (Mabberley 2008).

Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae) is represented by c. 650

species distributed in warm temperate and tropical regions of

the world (Mabberley 2008). In India, the genus is represented

by c. 63 species (Santapau and Henry 1973), of which 15 are

known from Goa (Rao 1986).

Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.) Poir. Dict. Sci. Nat., ed. 2

(13): 110. 1819.

Specimens examined: INDIA: Goa, North Goa, Goa

University Campus. 25.1x.2015, SS. Kambale 360. Deposited

in Herbarium, Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa.

Prostrate to decumbent herbs. Stem angled, scabrid,

grooved, and hairy throughout. Leaves stipulate, trifoliate,

alternate; leaflets 2.0—-7.5 x 1.0-4.0 cm, ovate-oblong or

elliptic-oblong, rounded at base, obtuse at apex, sparsely

hairy on either sides, young leaves pubescent. Petiole 3.5—

4.0 cm long, channelled, puberulous; petiolule 1.0—2.0 mm

long; stipule orbicular, hairy along margin; stipels linear,

on either sides of petiolule, puberulous. Inflorescence

terminal and axillary racemes. Flowers white and pink. Pods

moniliform, 3.0—5.0 cm long, covered with hooked hairs.

Seeds yellow to pale brown, rhomboid.

Fl. & Fr.: September—March.

Distribution: Native to Mexico, Central & South

America, West Indies, and Peru. In India, it is spreading in

the states of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.

Notes: An exotic species and seems to be introduced

and naturalised in the Asia-Pacific region (Ohashi 1973). It

was reported from India by Tandyekkal and Mathew (1995)

from Kozhikode and Ernakulum districts in Kerala, and

by Vartak and Kumbhojkar (1984) from Maharashtra. It is

now naturalized in Goa, and is spreading along the Western

Ghats. Individual plants with white and pink flowers are seen

growing together.

Habitat: It was found growing abundantly in open

unused areas.

Ipomoea triloba L. Sp. Pl. 1: 161. 1753.

Specimen Examined: inpIA: Goa, North Goa, Goa

University Campus. 01.x.2015, S.S. Kambale 372. Deposited

in Herbarium, Department of Botany, Goa University,

Goa.

Extensive twining herb; stem 1.5—2.5 m long, glabrous

to sparingly hispid (at nodes). Leaves petiolate; petiole

2.3—12.5 cm long, channelled, glabrous; leaf lamina broadly

ovate-orbicular, 2.5—8.5 x 2-8 cm, 3-lobed, cordate at base,

basal lobes angular to entire, glabrous to sparsely hairy on

both surfaces. Inflorescence axillary cyme; peduncles 5—

16 cm long, glabrous to slightly verrucose at apex, 3- to many-

flowered; flowers aggregate; pedicel minutely verrucose, 0.5—

1.0 cm long. Calyx unequal, 0.7—1.0 cm long, mucronulate

at apex. Corolla funnel-shaped, 1.5—2.0 cm long, glabrous,

pink. Capsules globose. Seeds glabrous to rarely pubescent.

Fl. & Fr.: September—November. |

Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and

Uruguay. inpIA: Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka,

Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West

Bengal. This native of Tropical America (Magesh et al. 2012)

is now naturalized in the aforementioned states.

Note: Ipomoea triloba is spreading in the state of Goa

and is abundant in the Goa University Campus.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Dr. V.B. Shimpale, New College,

Kolhapur, for confirming the identity of Ipomoea triloba

and Dr. K.N. Gandhi, Harvard University Herbaria,

USA, for confirmation of the correct author citation

for Desmodium scorpiurus. The authors are grateful to

Prof. M.K. Janarthanam and Head, Department of Botany,

Goa University, Goa, for providing necessary facilities.

SSK thanks University Grants Commission for financial

assistance (F.4-2/2006 (BSR)/BL/14-15/0489 dated 1st July,

20a):

REFERENCES

Datar, M.N. & P. LAKSHMINARASIMHAN (2013): Flora of Bhagwan

Mahavir (Molem) National Park and Adjoinings, Goa. Botanical

Survey of India, Kolkata.

Datar, M.N., R. MANIKANDAN, P. LAKSHMINARASIMHAN & P.S.N. Rao

(2005): New plant records for Goa and Karnataka. Rheedea 15:

133-135.

Josui, V.C., S. RAJKUMAR & M.K. JANARTHANAM (1997): Additions to

the Dicotyledonous Flora of Goa. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 21:

495-500. |

190

MABBERLEY, D.J. (2008): Mabberley’s Plant Book. A portable dictionary

of plants, their classification and uses. 3rd edn. Cambridge

University Press, Cambridge.

Macesu; C.R., P. LAKSHMINARASIMHAN & P. VENU (2012): New plant

records for Jharkhand. Zoos’ Print (5): 24-25.

NaITHANI, H.B., K.C. SAHNI & S.S.R. BENNET (1997): Forest Flora of

Goa. International Book Distributors, Dehradun.

Nayar, T.S., A. RAstyA BEEGAM & M. Spi (2014): Flowering plants of

the Western Ghats, India. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Onasul, H. (1973): The Asiatic species of Desmodium and its allied

genera (Leguminosae). Ginkgoana, Tokyo. Pp. 95-97.

Rao, R.S. (1986): Flora of Goa, Diu, Daman, Dadra & Nagarhaveli.

Flora of India. Series 2. Vol. II. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.

SANJAPPA, M. (1992): Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal

Singh, Dehradun. Pp. 149-166.

SANTAPAU, H. & A.N. Henry (1973): A Dictionary of the Flowering

Plants in India. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New

Delhi. Pp. 83.

TANDYEKKAL, D. & P. MATHEW (1995): Desmodium scorpiurus (Swartz)

Desvaux (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae): a new record for India.

Rheedea 5(2): 177-179.

Vartak, V.D. & M.S. KUMBHOJKAR (1984): Occurrence of Desmodium

scorpiurus (Swartz) Desvaux in Western India. J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 81(1): 224-226.

19. VIRAL DISEASES OF FOUR TREE SPECIES IN FOREST NURSERIES OF INDORE, INDIA

HEMANT PATHAK!* AND S.C. SILAWAT?

'Forest Research and Extension Circle, Khandwa Road, Indore 452 017, Madhya Pradesh, India. Email: [email protected]

*Forest Research and Extension Circle, Malwa Demo Nursery, Khandwa Road, Indore 452 001, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114441

Introduction

The Research and Extension Circle of Forest Department of

Madhya Pradesh has been working towards forest management

for many years. The Research and Extension Circle maintains

many nurseries in which forest plant species are cultivated

through seedlings and culms, planted in polythene bags.

In these nurseries, viral diseases such as leaf mosaic,

leaf curl, and leaf shrink are seen affecting plants. Plant

diseases caused by viruses are mostly systemic in nature,

and though seldom lethal, are responsible for losses in plant

yield and quality. Although the entire plant is infected, only

a few plant parts exhibit symptoms. Symptoms may often be

characteristic for a specific virus on a specific host. An array

of symptoms along with other criteria are used to identify

viral diseases. Generally, leaves exhibit the majority of the

symptoms. In some cases, shoots, floral organs, or even roots

show symptoms.

In the present study, we observed specific and widespread

pathological problems on tree species in the forest nurseries

of Indore district due to viral pathogens. Viral infections

were commonly found on Dalbergia latifolia (Roxb.),

Thespesia populnea (L.), Duranta erecta (L.), and Bauhinia

purpurea (L.).

Material and Methods

The headquarters of Research and Extension Circle of

forest the department, situated at Malwa Demo Nursery

in Khandwa Road, and Residency Nursery, Indore were

selected to observe viral-infected plant species. The nurseries

were observed monthly during 2014-15. Most infected

plants were found between March and September 2015.

Most viruses are beyond the resolution capacity of a light

microscope, so identification of the disease was done on the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

basis of changes in external morphology or abnormality of

plant parts.

Results and Discussion

Dalbergia latifolia (Roxb.) is a deciduous timber tree

native to the Indian Subcontinent and southern Iran. Its

wood is used in the construction industry and for fuel. The

heartwood is durable and resistant to attack by termites and

fungi. During our surveys, leaves of Dalbergia latifolia were

found infected in about 70—80% of the total plant population.

The leaves are normally alternate, odd-pinnate with 5—7

unequal sized leaflets originating from the same rachis. The

leaflets are broadly obtuse, dark green above and pale below

(Orwa et al. 2009). In infected plants, we found that the leaf

margins were rolled inwards. The lower surface of infected

leaves turned black, and black patches developed on the upper

surface (Figs | & 2). Highly infected leaves were completely

curled towards the primary vein.

Thespesia populnea (Linn.) is a medium-sized evergreen

tree, up to 20 m tall with a dense crown. It has greyish bark

and the twigs are densely covered with brown to silvery

scales, heart-shaped leaves, and cup-shaped yellow flowers

that are produced intermittently throughout the year in

warm climates. In the trees we observed, the leaves were

found infected by leaf curl virus. Infected leaves had curled

upwards and shrunk (Fig. 3). During another observation

conducted in Vijaynagar area, Indore, young leaves of

Thespesia populnea were found to be highly infected with

leaf curl disease (Fig. 4), and had turned red in colour and

twisted in shape.

Duranta erecta (Linn.), commonly known as Golden

Dewdrop (family Verbenaceae) is a large, flowering

shrub, grown as an ornamental hedge plant in gardens. In

191

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 5: Infected leaves of Duranta erecta

our survey during March—October 2015, yellow mosaic

virus disease was observed on D. erecta in the nurseries

of Indore, India. Symptoms observed in the leaves were

reduction in size, upward leaf curl, and chlorosis (Fig.

5). This disease was first observed on Duranta erecta

by Jaidi et al. (2015) at Lucknow, India. The symptoms

we observed are reminiscent of a begomovirus infection

Fig. 6: Infected leaves of Bauhinia racemosa

reported previously on D. erecta in Pakistan (Iram

et al. 2004), hence a similar infection was suspected.

Bauhinia purpurea (Linn.) is a small to medium-sized

flowering ornamental deciduous tree with a short bole and

spreading crown, attaining a height of up to 15 m and trunk

diameter of 50 cm. Symptoms of disease observed in the

leaves of Bauhinia purpurea were similar to leaf curl disease

192

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

of D. erecta. In Bauhinia purpurea the leaf lamina is broadly

ovate to circular, but in infected leaves the size of lamina was

reduced and the leaf margin was distorted (Fig. 6).

Conclusion

Viral pathogens cause significant losses in forest nurseries.

Therefore, a study on these pathogens and finding solutions to

eradicate them is of utmost importance. In the current study,

four tree species were found infected: Dalbergia latifolia,

Thespesia populnea, Duranta erecta, and Bauhinia purpurea.

From the symptom, the disease was identified to be viral.

During this work, first time Dalbergia latifolia was found

infected by viral disease, in Forest Research and Extension

Nurseries (survey site) of Indore, India.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Forest Research and

Extension Circle, Indore for permission to conduct the

experiments.

REFERENCES

TRAM, S., L. AMrAo, M.S. Mansoor, A.H. MALIK, R.W. BrIpDON &

Y. ZAFAR (2004): First report of a begomovirus associated with

leaf curl disease of Duranta erecta in Pakistan. Plant Pathology

54: 260.

Jatoi, M., S. Kumar, A. Srivastava & S.K. Ras (2015): First report of

Clerodendron yellow mosaic virus on golden dewdrop (Duranta

erecta) in India. New Disease Reports 32: 12.

Orwa, C., A. Mutua, R. Kinpt, R. JaMNADAsS & S. ANTHONY (2009):

Agro forest tree Database: a tree reference and selection guide

version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya. Pp. 1-5.

Printed by Printania Offset Pvt. Ltd., D-20/21, Shalimar Industrial Estate, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019 and published on May 11, 2017,

by Dr. Ashok Bhagwat for Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk,

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 112(3), Sept-Dec 2015

193

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