JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

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

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Deepak A. Apte, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai

Copy Epitor

Ranjit Manakadan, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society

Copy AND PropbuctTioNn EbDiTorR

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

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

Y.V. Jhala, Ph. D.

Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

K. Ullas Karanth, Ph. D.

Wildlife Conservation Society — India Program,

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Consultant Editors

Gayatri W. Ugra, Ph. D.

Bombay Natural History Society

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

Qamar Qureshi, M. Phil.

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

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.

EDITORIAL

VOLUME 113: 2016

CONTENTS

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, BALRAMPUR AND SHRAVASTI DISTRICTS, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Rajat Bhargava, Asad RaRatimanicaincexwpareleen. 2 ihe Ere eicn eet tee connec tieatte etter nae ean ene CoNaran, gra feanene ned Santee Menem Eee, ee cos

REVIEWS

FLORA OF THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS AND PALNIS —A FIELD GUIDE

Reviewed oy: Fregetracliger SS IMM este a estes creer ern a tee wanna a earn ca Screen deat at le Mtn gin eee eR a ee Ra an Ms 3

2. DICTIONARY OF LOCAL-BOTANICAL NAMES IN INDIAN FOLK LIFE

Reviewed. by Asad: FR. Ran anual ee fay c8 a al tse cette Saher recta ected yi Ie Na ea och nee aad ne eda ape ince ee cae Aan ae ast

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

MAMMALS

Recent record of Indian Grey Wolf Canis lupus pallipes

Sykes, 1831 in Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, India

Khursic- A. ian ait te rc See eee en

First photographic (camera trap) evidence of Tibetan

Wolf Canis lupus chanco in the Uttarakhand Himalaya,

India

Vipul Maurya, D.S. Meena, Paramjit Singh,

Parag ‘M: Dhakate and:3.B weal. cr esti aea eect ees

First photographic evidence of Indian Pangolin Manis

crassicaudata E. Geoffroy, 1803 in Mukundara Hills

Tiger Reserve (MHTR), Rajasthan, India

K, -Latafatand A, Sac 2 ae. area ncnver tae

AVES

Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii scavenging on Little

Cormorant Microcarbo niger

P. Greeshma and E.A. Jayson Shige Wea te some Beall

Floating behaviour of Asian Openbill Stork Anastomus

oscitans

P. Greeshma- and E.A. Jayson ..2.....224442e-4 ean

Breeding of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas)

(Anatidae: Anseriformes) from Chandertal wetland in

Himachal Pradesh, India

D.R. Thakur and Asheesh Menta ......4...:0:..erecce-s<crenensans

Sighting of the White-eyed or Ferruginous Duck Aythya

nyroca in Adilabad district, Telangana state, India

Humayun Taher, Srikanth Bhamidipati,

Lawrence Mathappan and Hemant Kumat..................+.

Sighting of Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni (Blyth,

1842) from Great Nicobar Island, Andaman & Nicobar

archipelago, India

C. Sivaperuman and G. Gokulakrishnan............. ee

Recoveries of ringed Sand Plovers indicate the

importance of Modhava, Gujarat, as a stopover site for

migrant waders from East Africa

Coli H.W. Jaeeoins, tie eta res 5 2 LAE

INSECTS

10.

Pie

12.

IS:

14.

Hasora chromus (Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera): a new

record for Delhi, India

Himanshu Gupta and Swati Diwakat...............:::e

Turnera subulata Sm. (Family Passifloraceae): a new

host of Tawny Coster Acraea violae Linn. in Kerala, India

Saroj Kumar V., S. Karthy, M. Minsa,

Manoj Kumar Singh, K. Athira, N.P. Sooraj and

FRe PANS HANK OT tes ete ek ht asec ee eee ee,

First report of Euploea klugii from Uttar Pradesh,

India

Shivangi Mishra, Adesh Kumar, Peter Smetacek

SACI PAIN Leie INGUIN ACL os ge cccscsaa tees amse axttcenaghtaates eee teases eae ee

Purple and Gold Flitter Zographetus satwa (de Nicéville,

1884), Family Hesperiidae: a new record for Bangladesh

Tahsinur Rahman Shihan, Tania Khan, Mohammad

Quamruzzaman Babu, Md Ashraf Ul Hasan

and: Proseniit, Delia iia seis cers acta rca Ao scgnadenees

Anew host plant of Red Pierrot Talicada nyseus Guerin,

1843 recorded in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Jennifer Francis: FMM O Seis icessdiaannacvcenes Wiad acreeaname

Northernmost breeding record of Orchid Tit Chiiaria

othona (Hewitson 1865) from the Western Ghats, at

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Thane, India

Mandar Sawant, Sagar Tukaram Sarang,

Sarang Shyam Mhatre and Sanchit Chandrakant More

OTHER INVERTEBRATES

16.

UE:

New records of marine parasitic molluscs (Mollusca:

Gastropoda) from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

Sumantha Narayana and Deepak Apte................00088

Sighting the Spider Crab Elamena xavieri Kemp, 1917

(Crustacea: Decapoda: Hymenosomatidae) a century

after its first report on the Indian seacoast

Biswaprajna Mohanty, Dipti Raut, Malay Kanti Dev Roy,

Akkur V. Raman, Lipika Patnaik, Aswini Nayak,

Bhagyashree Dash and Sonali S. Rout...................

BOTANY

18.

19.

Rediscovery of Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst. (Family

Tamaricaceae) from Maharashtra, India

Se UT DIN ELI 22 eae epee ne ee RD este erent ees Sere as ad 46

A new location for a rare legume Flemingia rollae

(Family Fabaceae) and notes on its typification

Sandip K. Gavade, Mayur D. Nandikar,

Vinod B. Shimpale and Manoj M. Lekhak .................0 48

20. Eleocharis khandwaensis (Family Cyperaceae): a new

record for Maharashtra, India

A.N. Chandore, D.B. Borude, V.I. Kahalkar and

Nea Byte el re eTi ah tae er ones, Se eitecter ern es ileus sania

Cover Photograph: Jungle Owlet

Glaucidium radiatum malabaricum

by Mandar Sawant

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,

GovT. OF INDIA,

FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE JOURNAL.

Editorial

IBAs and the Way Ahead

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are sites of international significance for the conservation

of birds and their habitats at the global, regional, and sub-regional level. IBAs are key sites for conservation

— small enough to be conserved in their entirety and often already part of a protected area network. The

selection of IBAs is a particularly effective way of identifying conservation priorities. A site is recognized

as an IBA only if it meets certain criteria based on the occurrence of key bird species that are vulnerable to

global extinction or whose populations are otherwise irreplaceable. The IBA criteria, which are applicable

globally, are as follows (sub-criteria are not being given here):

A1: Sites holding threatened bird species of global conservation concern.

A2: Sites having restricted range bird species, i.e. bird species with a historic breeding range up to

50,000 sq. km in the world.

A3: Sites having biome restricted bird species, 1.e. key bird species representing distinct habitat types.

A4: Sites having large congregations of birds.

IBA programme in India

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is the BirdLife Partner in India, and is responsible for

coordinating the IBA programme in the country. The programme was launched in 1999 by the BNHS,

BirdLife International, and Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB).

In 2004, BNHS identified 466 IBAs in India through a network of over 100 organizations and 1,000

individuals. Of these 466 IBAs, 191 were Wildlife Sanctuaries, 52 were National Parks, 23 were Tiger

Reserves, and one was a Conservation Reserve. A total of 199 IBAs (almost 43%) were located outside the

Protected Area Network (PAN), with no official protection! A revised IBA directory was published in 2016,

with descriptions of 554 IBA sites, which is an increase of 88 new additions to the inventory. Analysis of

the data from these 554 IBAs shows that 506 sites have globally threatened species (A1), 240 sites hold

restricted range species (A2), 99 sites qualify on the basis of biome-restricted assemblages (A3), and 136

sites fit the congregatory criteria (A4). Out of 554 IBAs, 312 IBAs are officially protected and 242 IBAs

are unprotected.

Threats to IBAs

Altogether, we have identified 26 major threats to IBAs and to threatened species. The foremost threat

to IBAs in India is from human settlements and encroachment, because in a country with more than a billion

people, pressure on land is immense. Intensive agricultural practice is also a serious threat to IBAs, especially

in the northern Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Agricultural intensification, which

seriously affects 321 IBAs, involves excessive use of chemicals, changes in crop species or cultivation,

loss of habitat, and effects of pesticides on non-target species.

Overgrazing is another major problem all over the country, but especially in the grassland IBAs.

Overgrazing causes adverse impacts on the habitats of grassland inhabiting birds such as Lesser Florican

Sypheotides indica, Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps, Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis,

larks, pipits, and many others. The grazing policy in India is not effective, and even in many protected

areas, illegal grazing 1s seen.

Deforestation has been the key issue in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, while in the northeastern

states of the Eastern Himalaya, rapid reduction in the cycle of shifting cultivation (jhum) has resulted in

the loss of habitats. For example in Meghalaya, shifting cultivation has resulted in the loss of large areas

of forest and severe soil erosion.

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119671

Many of the IBAs will be badly affected by hydroelectric projects, especially in the northeastern states.

A large number of IBAs in the Northeast are impacted or likely to be impacted by large dams due to a range

of issues: submergence, downstream impacts, pressures on forests due to migrant labour, etc. Besides dams,

in the Western Himalaya, habitat is being lost at important sites because of development projects such as

expansion of road network. These projects adversely affect the habitats of some globally threatened species

of this region, such as the Western Tragopan 7ragopan melanocephalus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichi,

Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa (now practically extinct), and Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra.

Rapid industrialization along the coast has put several key IBA sites at high risk. Unregulated tourism,

sand mining, coastal power plants, sea walls, and so on are significantly altering the shore features, seriously

affecting migratory waders. Other threats to IBAs include habitat loss and hunting for food and sport.

Conservation of IBAs, especially those outside the PA network, is a huge challenge. There is no one

solution for these complex conservation challenges. While strengthening the PA network is the need of the

hour, we need to work on newer approaches to conservation, considering the local resistance to new PAs.

Engaging local people assumes great significance in this scenario. The concept of Smart PAs needs to be

explored, along with other non-invasive instruments where local people, who are the main stakeholders,

can play a significant role in conservation.

Expanding infrastructure continues to exert additional pressure to existing issues. Even “green”

infrastructure like solar and wind energy, if done in the wrong place may become a “Red Industry”. To

state a specific case, transmission lines for both conventional and renewable power sector are proving to be

catastrophic in the last remaining Great Indian Bustard areas. In the last one year, we have lost three adult

birds by collision with transmission lines. The number may sound very small, but considering that the global

population of GIB is less than 200, the loss of three adult birds is highly significant.

The integration of IBAs in the MoEFCC’s Decision Support System (DSS) is thus a vital tool and can

provide various stakeholders rapid inputs on the IBAs, but it also needs to be brought in the public domain.

BNHS will soon be launching IBA DSS, where the revised IBA directory will be linked for easy and free

of cost access to anyone who is keen to use this resource.

JBNHS STEPS TOWARDS ADVANCED ONLINE PUBLICATION

With changing times and advanced technology, JBNHS has been evolving with respect to its functionality.

Adhering to its aim of disseminating science, another step towards progress and updated approach is

implementation of Advanced Online Publication (AOP).

AOP is a system by which papers get published online (ahead of print) on the journal’s AOP website.

The uploaded paper will bear a DOI (digital object identifier) code and the paper can be referenced/cited

using this code DOI. A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by the International DOI Foundation

to identify content and provide a persistent link to its location on the Internet. The main benefit of publishing

articles ahead of print is that the time between submission and publication is significantly reduced, which

is essential in this digital age, where the web is increasingly used as the primary source of information.

The only difference between this online publication and the printed product is that the article will not

have page numbers. After printing, the paper will be removed from the AOP table of contents and transferred

to that issue’s table of contents on the website, and here, the paper will be assigned page numbers. The DOI

will remain associated with a manuscript, and papers can be traced online by their DOI. DOIs are used by

more and more publishers of scientific literature, and with the increasing shift of emphasis from print to online

publication, this system looks set to become a universal practice for publishing and identifying research papers.

AOP has come as the silver lining to the dark clouds that have been threatening the existence of JBNHS,

and our opting for this new scheme will help to steer the Society’s more than a century old journal through

its journey into the future.

Deepak Apte

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 113: 2016

3-14

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY,

BALRAMPUR AND SHRAVASTI DISTRICTS, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Rasat BHarGaAva!**, ASAD R. RAHMANI4 AND RupaAK DE?

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001,

Maharashtra, India.

717, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119672

The paper deals with the avifauna of Suheldev, also called Suhelwa, Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, based on a

study carried out from November 2013 to November 2014. The primary focus of the study was to make an inventory

of the birds of the Sanctuary with special reference to ascertaining the status of threatened species of the area. A total

of 298 bird species were recorded during the study, including 3 Critically Endangered, 3 Endangered, 7 Vulnerable,

and 16 Near Threatened species.

INTRODUCTION

Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Terai Arc

Landscape and has been designated as an Important Bird

Area (UP-23), based on the presence of threatened and biome-

restricted species (Islam and Rahmani 2004; Rahmani et al.

2011). The Sanctuary was considered as a Data Deficient

site for birds (Islam and Rahmani 2004), with only a basic

listing of species given in the Sanctuary’s Management Plan

(2011-12 to 2020-21). To fill this lacuna, we undertook an

intensive one year study, covering all areas and habitats of the

sanctuary, to document the avifauna, with special reference

to threatened species.

STUDY AREA

Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary (27° 30’ 1”—27° 55’ 42" N;

81° 55’ 36"—82° 48’ 33” E), flanked by Nepal on three sides,

lies immediately south of Churia hills in Nepal. It is situated

in the Tulsipur tehsil of Balrampur district and Bhinga tehsil

of Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh, India. The area primarily

comprises rugged mountains and boulder-strewn riverbeds,

especially along the northern boundary. It is contiguous with

the forests of Dang in Nepal, and is connected to Banke

National Park, which is part of the Bardia forest complex

of Nepal. The area is drained by 8—10 major seasonal

rivers, many of which flow into artificial reservoirs built along

the southern boundary of the Sanctuary (Chanchani et al. 2014).

The Sanctuary, approximately 120 km long and 6—8 km

wide, is situated at elevations of 120—202 m above msl, and

has a core area of 45,200 ha and a buffer zone of 23,000 ha. It

is divided into seven ranges: five ranges constituting the core

area and two ranges occurring in the buffer area. The West

Sohelwa and East Sohelwa ranges are in Shravasti district,

while the rest are in Balrampur district. All the ranges are

further divided into beats and compartments.

The area receives around 1,300 mm rainfall. There are

11 tanks and reservoirs in and around the Sanctuary, namely

Motipur, Rampur, Vanghoghwa, Khairman, Girgitahi,

Ganeshpur, Baghelkhand, Bhagwanpur, Majgaowan,

Chittaurgarh, and Kohargaddi. Most of the reservoirs tend

to dry up by the end of February, except for the Chittaurgarh

and Kohargaddi reservoirs, which are large and present near

the forest areas. These two reservoirs are the main water

sources for wildlife in the Sanctuary. However, the Irrigation

Department tries to maintain about 50—60 cm water level in

at least one-third area of most of the reservoirs for use during

the dry season. The reservoirs with their seepage areas and

other water bodies, ranging from 3 ha to 900 ha, support a

variety of waterbirds especially during winter.

The Sanctuary falls under the Terai-Bhabhar biogeographic

subdivision of the Upper Gangetic Plain (7A), according to

the biogeographic classification of Rodgers and Panwar

(1988). It is characterized by elements of the Bhabhar

zone, typified by porous rocky riverbeds and undulating

terrain along the Himalayan foothills. Terai habitats such

as tall wet grass stands are absent in Suheldev. The tropical

moist deciduous forest is dominated by Sal Shorea robusta

interspersed with Syzygium cumini, Terminalia tomentosa,

Acacia catechu, and grass species of Vetiveria, Themeda,

Imperata, Saccharum, and Arundo. Teak Tectona grandis

was raised by the Forest Department in the past, but planting

stopped after the declaration of the Sanctuary. The unique

geophysical attributes of the area, its plantation history, and

the numerous drainages and reservoirs have given rise to

a mosaic of varied forest types such as sal, teak, broadleaf

moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen, with small patches of

grassland fringing the reservoirs.

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Nearly 40 species of mammals, including the tiger

Panthera tigris, are found in the Sanctuary, although there has

been a significant decline in the tiger population (Johnsingh

et al. 2004). Large prey species such as chital Axis axis, wild

boar Sus scrofa, nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, sambar

Rusa unicolor, barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, and hog

deer Axis porcinus appear to be rare in Suheldev. Leopard

Panthera pardus and striped hyena Hyaena hyaena appear

to be widely distributed. Studies by Jhala et al. (2008),

Johnsingh et al. (2004) and Chanchani et al. (2014) indicate

signs of the presence of sloth bear Melursus ursinus.

METHODS

From November 2013 to November 2014, we surveyed

all the ranges and wetlands of the Sanctuary, covering the

diversity of habitats to obtain checklists of birds inhabiting

the different habitats. Besides the sightings obtained during

the surveys, six transects of one kilometre length each were

laid in the various habitat types, where systematic sampling

was carried out during the mornings.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 298 bird species were recorded during the study

(Table 1). The Management Plan (2011—2012 to 2020-2021)

of the Sanctuary lists 223 bird species, of which 212 species

were recorded during our study. We recorded an additional

86 species that are not listed in the Forest Department’s

checklist. Along with these, the bird checklist for Suheldev

Wildlife Sanctuary adds up to 310 species.

Twelve species not recorded by us, but listed in the Forest

Department’s checklist, were Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus

philippensis, Great White Pelican P. onocrotalus, Striated

Heron Butorides striata, White Stork Ciconia ciconia,

Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius, Laggar Falcon Falco

Jugger, Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis, Red Spurfowl

Galloperdix spadicea, Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus,

Brown Crake Porzana akool, Indian Skimmer Rynchops

albicollis, and Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae. Despite

our efforts to look out for them, especially since some of them

are in the threatened category of IUCN, besides many of them

being large and conspicuous species, we did not sight them.

Of the 298 species recorded during the study, 181 (61%)

species are year-round residents that are likely to breed in

the sanctuary area or adjoins, judging by their presence

throughout the year — no breeding bird surveys were carried

out during the study. Winter migrants constitute at least 80

(27%) species, the majority comprise waterfowl, besides

other migratory species such as flycatchers, warblers, and

wagtails. Six species are breeding visitors (Summer migrants),

and 17 (6%) species show local movements. There are five

passage migrants which stay in the area for a day or two,

or occasionally for a week or so. The Amur Falcon Falco

amurensis is a fall migrant, 1.e., it passes through only

during the onset of migration in November (Bhargava et

al. 2014) and was seen for the first time in Uttar Pradesh.

The Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola is a spring

migrant, passing through this area in March on its return

migration. The Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo, Red-headed

Bunting Emberiza melanocephala, and Black-headed

Bunting Emberiza bruniceps are two-way migrants, 1.e.

passing through the area at the start and the end of winter.

Of the 298 species recorded in the Sanctuary during our

study, 29 (nearly 10%) species are listed under the globally

threatened categories of IUCN. These include 3 Critically

Endangered, 3 Endangered, 7 Vulnerable, and 16 Near

Threatened species. Their sightings are discussed below:

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris

We recorded the Slender-billed Vulture on seven occasions

in four ranges: East Sohelwa, West Sohelwa, Rampur, and

Tulsipur. Not less than 20 Slender-billed were sighted during

the winter of 2013-14. The Sohelwa population, though

small, is significant considering its Critically Endangered

status. It probably breeds in the Poorvi Sohelwa Range, thus

making Suheldev a very important site for this species.

White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis

We recorded the White-rumped Vulture from four ranges:

East Sohelwa, West Sohelwa, Rampur, and Tulsipur. More

than 60 birds were sighted among mixed flocks of Slender-

billed and Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis from the

buffer areas of the Sanctuary. The presence of more than

60% juveniles indicates good breeding success of this

species in the Suheldev area. The presence of livestock

around the Sanctuary ensures a good food supply for these

birds, nevertheless, there is a corresponding threat if the drug

diclofenac is used for treatment of sick cattle.

In Uttar Pradesh, the White-rumped now occurs in small

numbers in certain pockets. According to Rahmani et al.

(2014), there are numerous records of White-rumped Vulture

from the Suheldev area 1n recent years: a mixed flock of 50+

birds (along with Himalayan and Eurasian Griffon Gyps

fulvus) along the Balrampur-Tulsipur road in March 2009;

over 30 vultures roosting on a mango tree and a dry silk cotton

tree in a grassland near Motipur reservoir in December 2009;

regular sighting of 20 to 60 vultures from East and West

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

z. DD

as ee ae eS Se SSS

SEE LESS See Oe oe we Sey PH NN! Mi NS NH SS Ss se ese Se ae Ss

ae Me SSS AVP ee eR Se eS eS Se eS ee NS SS ae St ea eS ef

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study

Species

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Great Egret Egretta alba

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii

Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis

Chestnut Bittern /xobrychus cinnamomeus

Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala

Black Stork Ciconia nigra |

Black-necked Stork Ephipporhynchus asiaticus

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Indian Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus

Greylag Goose Anser anser

Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos

Common Teal Anas crecca

Garganey Querquedula querquedula

Falcated Duck Mareca falcata

Gadwall Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope

Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata

Northern Pintail Anas acuta

Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Status

RB/LM

Habitat

WL/ML/RF/AGR

WL/ML

ML/ RF

WL/ML

ML/WL/AGR

ML/WL

ML/ RF

WL/ML/AGR

WL/ML

WL/AGR

WL/ML/AGR

WL/AGR

WL/ML

Occurrence

SereeceeGehee Gee OOS e eee Geeoeonomeeg@ oe a aoe oe Seg eae Ge ee SS @

Threat

Category

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd.)

Species

Common Pochard Aythya ferina

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina

Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus

Black-winged Kite E/anus caeruleus

Black Kite Milvus migrans

Shikra Accipiter badius

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa

Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Changeable Hawk-eagle Nisaetus limnaeetus

Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata

Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis

Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax

Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Lesser Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga humilis

Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus

White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis

Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus

Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

Red-headed Vulture Aegypius calvus

Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus

Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos

Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Amur Falcon Falco amurensis

Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix

Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica

Blue-breasted Quail Excalfactoria chinensis

Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus

Sarus Crane Grus antigone

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo

Status

WV/RB?

TWV

Habitat

WL/ML

WGL/AGR

MF/WGL

MF/MC

AGR/WGL

MF/RF/MC

WGL/MF

MF/WGL

MF/AGF

MF/WGL

AGR/WGL

ML/WL

AGR/WGL

AGR

WGL/AGR/

WL/WGL

AGR/WGL

MF/MC

MF/MC/AGR

ML/AGR

ML/WL

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Occurrence

ee eB are at oe Aeon aC) BOY BCG 9» Gs "© 3) @ a@: 3 SE LE. EO eS SC BE =P TE FS SS AD L@ F@ CCE OD): TO EO) 5): E@): EO

Threat

Category

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

OW.

108.

109.

110.

shee

112.

113:

114.

dig):

q1G:

a7.

118.

119.

120.

AZ 1,

122.

123.

124.

125.

126:

a 20

128.

129.

130.

131.

132,

ASS:

134.

so:

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd.)

Species

Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio [porphyrio] poliocephalus

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus

Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris

Indian Stone-curlew Burhinus indicus

Small Pratincole Glareola lactea

Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus

Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus

White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus

River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelli

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Temminck’s Stint Ereunetes temminckii

Little Stint Ereunetes minutus

Great Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

Common Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda

River Tern Sterna aurantia

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia

Oriental Turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis

Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis

Red Collared-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto

Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

Orange-breasted Green-pigeon Treron bicinctus

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Status

Habitat

ML/WL

ML/ACF

ML/WL

AGR/WGL

AGR

WL/ML

AGR

MF/MC/AGR

AGR/MF/WGL

MF/MC

Occurrence

Cee Oa GG CO oe Cc 2 Oe £2 ee C'S © 2.0 OO 6S oO Ge a Oo Cc e€ @' Se 8 @ oO oa @ & @ ES

Threat

Category

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd. )

Species

Yellow-footed Green-pigeon

Treron phoenicopterus phoenicopterus

Ashy-headed Green-pigeon TJreron phayrei

Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria

Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis

Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Brown Hawk-owl Ninox scutulata

Common Barn-owl Tyto alba

Indian Scops-owl Otus bakkamoena

Spotted Owlet Athene brama

Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum

Indian Eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis

Forest Eagle-owl Ketupa nipalensis

Brown Fish-owl Ketupa zeylonensis

Indian Little Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus

Crested Tree-swift Hemiprocne coronata

Asian Palm-swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

Little Swift Apus affinis

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis benghalensis

Common Hoopoe Upupa epops

Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Himalayan Pied Kingfisher Ceryle lugubris

Lesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni

Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris

Coppersmith Barbet Xantholaema haemacephala

Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torguilla

Indian Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus

Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis

Scaly-bellied Woodpecker Picus squamatus

Streaked-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus

Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus

Status

Habitat

MF/MC

MF/MC/AGR

MF/MC

MF/MC/AGR

WGL/AGR

MF/WGL/MC

WGL/MF

MF/MC

AGF/MF

MF/WGL/MC

MF/MC

MC/MF

WL/WGL/AGR

MF/WGL

MF/GL

AGR/WGL/MF

RF/WL

RF/WL/WGL

WGL/AGF

MF/WGL

WGL/MF

WGL

MF/MC/WGL

MF/MC

MF/WGL

MF/WGL/RF

MF/MC/RF/WGL

MF/MC

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Occurrence

Ze te ot 1. mf Se Oem OO Co SCH GO eS oe © GCe eon Cee OeGet ce fof fs

Threat

Category

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd.)

S. Threat

No. Species Status Habitat Occurrence Category

180. Himalayan Flameback Dinopium shorii LM MF/MC O LC

181. Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense RB MF/MC/RF C LC

182. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus RB MF/MC O LC

183. Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus RB MC/MF U VU

184. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula RB AGR C LC

185. Bengal Bushlark Mirafra assamica RB AGR/WGL C LC

186. Ashy-crowned Finch-lark Eremopterix grisea RB AGR/WGL O LC

187. Grey-throated Sand-martin Riparia chinensis RB ML C LC

188. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica RB ML C LC

189. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii RB ML C LC

190. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica WV ML C LC

191. Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava WV ML/AGR/MC C LC

192. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea WV ML/AGR C LC

193. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola WV ML/AGR/MC C LC

194. White Wagtail Motacilla alba dukhunensis WV ML/AGR C LC

195. White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis RB ML/AGR C LC

196. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni WV GL C LC

197. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi WV GL O LC

198. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus RB GL C LC

199. Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus RB MF/WGL O LC

200. Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus RB MF/RF/WGL U LC

201. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Lalage melaschistos WV WGL/MF U LC

202. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina maceli RB/LM MF/MC/WGR/WGL_ C LC

203. Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus WV MC/MF/RF C LC

204. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus WV MC/MF O LC

205. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus WV MC/MF C LC

206. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer RB MF/MC/WGL/RF C LC

207. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus RB MF/MC/RF C LC

208. Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys RB MF C LC

209. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus LM MF O LC

210. Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris RB MF C LC

211. Common lora Aegithina tiphia RB MF/MC C LC

212. Gold-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons RB MC/MF O LC

213. ‘Black-headed’ Long-tailed Shrike WV WGL/AGR C LC

Lanius schach (tricolor group)

214. ‘Rufous-backed’ Long-tailed Shrike WV WGL/AGR C LC

Lanius schach (erythronotus group)

215. Great Grey Shrike Lanis excubitor lahtora RB WGL/WL/AGR C LC

216. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus WV WGL/AGR O LC

217. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus cristatus WV WGL/AGR C LC

218. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus WV WGL U LC

219. Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus RB WGL/AGR O LC

220. Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina WV MF/RF/MC C LC

221. Blue Whistling-thrush Myophonus caeruleus LM MF U LC

222. Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis WV MF/AGR O LC

223. Small-billed Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma WV MF/AGR U LC

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd.)

Species

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis

Indian Black Robin Copsychus fulicatus

Brown Rock-chat Oenanthe fusca

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris

White-capped River-chat Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

Grey Bushchat Rhodophila ferrea

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus

White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis

Blue-naped Blue Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva

Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense

Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra

Common Babbler Turdoides caudata

Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei

Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi

Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata

Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps

Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsoni

Indian Reed-warbler Acrocephalus [stentoreus] brunnescens

Blyth’s Reed-warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonesis

Smoky Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus fuligiventer

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca halimodendri

Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus

Indian Nuthatch Sitta castanea

Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile

Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus

Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja

Status

Habitat

WL/AGR

MF/MC/RF

MF/RF

WGL/AGR

AGR

WGL/AGR/MF

Stream

WGL/AGR

WGL

WGL/AGR

MF/MC

MF/RF/MC

MF/WGL/RF

MF/RF

MF/MC

WGL

WGL/MF

WGL/AGR

AGR/MF

MF/MC/AGR

MF/MC

GL/WGL/AGR

MF/WGL

MC/MF

WL/ MF

WGL/MF

MF/MC/WGL

MF/MC

MF/MC/WGL

MF/MC

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Occurrence

Cs eo wo oe) ee OO CeO. CO € © & DQ) tO ©) 20. _OfO2O.Of. Ch. a oO Oo. CG ©&€ DH © © © 7-0 4670 Co Oro a Ge © ©

Threat

Category

LC.

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Table 1: Birds recorded in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary during the study (contd. )

S. ' Threat

No. Species Status Habitat Occurrence aienony

267. Crested Bunting Emberiza lathami RB WGL/AGR C LC

268. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola SM/WV? AGR/GL U EN

269. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala TWM AGR C LC

270. Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps TWM AGR C LC

271. Common Rosefinch Erythrina erythrina WV AGR/MF O LC

272. Red Avadavat Amandava amandava RB GL/WGL/AGR C LC

273. Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla 1 record GL/AGR U LC

274. —Tricoloured Munia Lonchura malacca BV GL/AGR C LC

275. — Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica RB GL/WGL/AGR U LC

276. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata RB GL/WGL/AGR C LC

277. House Sparrow Passer domesticus RB GL/WGL/AGR C LC

278. Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis RB GL/WGL/AGR C LG

279. ‘Indian’ Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus philippinus RB GL/WGL/AGR C LC

280. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar RB GL/WGL/AGR U LC

281. Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis RB GL/WGL/AGR C LC

282. Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo BV MF/WGL/RF O LC

283. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus RB MF/MC/WGL C LC

284. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus RB MC/WGL C LC

285. Ashy Drongo Edolius leucophaeus WV MC/MF U LC

286. White-bellied Drongo Edolius caerulescens RB MC/MF/RF/WGL C LC

287. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus RB MC/MF/RF C LC

288. Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus RB MC/MF C LC

289. Grey-headed Starling Sturnia malabarica RB MF/WGL C LC

290. Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum RB MF/WGL/AGR C EC

291. Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra RB WGL/MF C LC

292. Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus RB AGR/GL C LC

293. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis RB AGR/WGL C LC

294. Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus RB MF C LC

295. House Crow Corvus splendens RB AGR/WGL/MF C LC

296. Jungle Crow Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus RB AGR/MF/MC C LC

297. Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha LM MF U LC

298. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda RB MF/MC/WGL C LC

Abbreviations:

RB - year-round resident, WV - winter visitor, BV - breeding visitor, LM - local migrant,SM - spring migrant, FM - fall migrant, TWM - two-way

migrant; MF - mixed forest, WL - wetland, MC - sal or teak forest, ML - marshland, RF - riparian forest, GL - grassland, AGR - agricultural crop

fields on forest edges, WGL - wooded grassland;

C - Common (C = seen frequently, more than 10 sightings), O - Occasional (O = less than 10 sightings), Uncommon (U = less than 5 sightings,

and irregularly seen); CR - Critically Endangered, EN - Endangered, VU - Vulnerable; NT - Near Threatened, LC - Least Concern.

*Note: Status grouping was done based on our year-long observations, along with previous published sources and information gathered

from researchers. Wetland and marshland species are mostly clumped together as ML/WL because of the difficulty in delineating the habitat

boundaries for certain species. Special emphasis was given to globally threatened species such as vultures, storks, and cranes. The level of

threat for each species is based on the list prepared by BirdLife International for IUCN.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016 11

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

Sohelwa ranges, mostly around Hathiakunda and Bhainsahi

stream, between August 2010 and February 2011; over 70

birds sighted on a tree from Navashahr beat in Tulsipur range

in January 2012; and a mixed flock of more than 100 vultures

near Bankatwa during early 2013.

Red-headed Vulture Aegypius calvus

Only one confirmed sighting of this species was obtained

from Hathiakunda nullah on April 01, 2015 (Anand Singh

in litt. 2015).

ENDANGERED

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

During the survey, 27 Egyptian Vultures were sighted,

solitary or in twos or threes, sometimes in the company of

other vultures, in almost all the ranges, particularly in East

Sohelwa, West Sohelwa, Tulsipur, and Rampur.

Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda

Around 25—30 Black-bellied Terns were recorded in East

Sohelwa range at Rampur Bandh during the second week

of April 2014. Other than this, one or two individuals were

recorded in the Bhambhar and Rampur ranges during the

same period.

Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola

The Yellow-breasted Bunting is listed as Vulnerable

because its population has undergone a rapid decline

mainly due to trapping in the wintering grounds (BirdLife

International 2014). Nearly 200 Yellow-breasted Buntings

were sighted during the last week of March 2014 in the

Rampur Range, near the Chittaurgarh Dam before Suga-

nagar Dumri. These buntings were mostly seen foraging

in fallow fields in the morning and evening with munias

and weaverbirds. During the day, they were observed

resting in Arundo and Ipomea vegetation at the edges of the

Chittaurgarh Dam. These birds were perhaps on their way

to the wintering grounds as they were not recorded during

any other season. In Uttar Pradesh, Yellow-breasted Bunting

has earlier been reported only from Dudhwa (Rahmani et

al. 2014).

VULNERABLE

Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus

The species was seen in most of the ranges in low

numbers. A maximum of seven birds was recorded during

April 2014 near Rampur Bandh in East Suheldev, while

solitary birds or twos or threes were recorded around the

Kohargaddi, Baghelkhand, and Chittaurgarh reservoirs on

more than one occasion.

Common Pochard Aythya ferina

The Common Pochard has been uplisted as Vulnerable

in 2016 (BirdLife International 2016). In Suheldev, the

Chittaurgarh Reservoir in Rampur Forest Range is a haven

for waterfowl, including Common Pochard. This species

was also seen in good numbers (c. 80-100) in winter in

Suga-nagar Dumri, a wetland formed from the spillage of

the Chittaurgarh Dam.

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus

In the first week of April 2014, only one individual was

recorded in the buffer zone near Semra, the headquarters

of Bhambhar Range. It is regularly seen in the terai region,

and breeding has been recorded from Dudhwa National Park

(Javed and Rahmani 1988). It is quite common in and around

Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Rahmani et al. 2015).

Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata

A bird was recorded near Baghelkhand reservoir in

Tulsipur Range on February 10, 2014. However, this record

needs verification due to the lack of good photo-evidence,

and remains unconfirmed.

Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga

Only one (unconfirmed) record of this species was

obtained in January 2014 from Baghelkhand reservoir.

Sarus Crane Grus antigone

Uttar Pradesh currently harbours nearly 50% of India’s

Sarus Crane population. Despite our best effort to locate the

species in and around Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary, only

five Sarus Cranes were recorded during our surveys. The

records comprise a pair with a juvenile in Rampur Banda and

another pair at the outskirts of East Sohelwa in April 2014.

We estimate a population of not more than 10 birds in the

area. There are good populations of Sarus Crane on the way to

Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary (from Suheldev), especially

in and around Siddharthnagar (Bhargava and Singh 2014).

Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus

The large patches of old sal forest in the core areas

of Suheldev offer excellent habitat for the Great Slaty

Woodpecker. During our line transect sampling in Mansurwa

beat of Rampur range, we encountered this resident species

twice in the buffer zone. During January 2014, we sighted 3—5

birds, and again recorded 9—10 birds including four juveniles

with the adults from the same area in October. In East Sohelwa,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

a group of five birds was recorded in July 2014, 3 km from the

Forest Rest House on the SSB Road, Bhaisahinaka. We also

heard its call near Sonpatri Ashram in October 2014.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Great Slaty Woodpecker is mainly

found in the mature sal forests of Dudhwa National Park,

Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Kishanpur Wildlife

Sanctuary, and Pilibhit Reserve Forest (Rahmani 2012;

Rahmani et al. 2014).

NEAR THREATENED

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

The Oriental Darter was recorded in most wetlands of the

Sanctuary. In certain seasons, up to 20 birds were counted

roosting around the Chittaurgarh Dam before Suga-nagar

Dumri in Rampur and also at Rampur reservoir in East

Sohelwa range during our monthly waterfowl census. We

recorded a total of 40 birds along with other cormorants

during our visits. There 1s also a good population of this

species (>30) in the wetlands of the neighbouring Bhinga

Range (not part of Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary).

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala

More than a dozen Painted Storks were recorded from

east Sohelwa Range in Rampur Bandha in April 2014. A

few solitary or 2—3 birds were also recorded at various dams.

Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

A pair each was recorded from the water bodies of

Rampur Bandha and Razia Taal of East Sohelwa Range in

April 2014.

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus

This species was frequently recorded around Baghelkhand

reservoir, Rampur and Chittaurgarh dams. Eight to ten birds

were encountered during the visits.

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

We recorded less than 10 Ferruginous Ducks, along with

pochards, at Chittaurgarh dam near Suga-nagar Dumri during

the winter waterbird surveys in December 2013.

Falcated Duck Mareca falcata

This species was recorded in Bhagwanpur Bandh, in

Tulsipur Range during January 2017 (Sharad Gaur, in /itt.

2017).

Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis

One or two Lesser Fish-Eagles were regularly recorded at

Razia Taal in East Sohelwa range. It probably breeds in the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Sanctuary. In Uttar Pradesh, the Lesser Fish-Eagle is reported

from Dudhwa, and is likely to occur in Katerniaghat and

Kishanpur, and probably also North Pilibhit Reserve Forests

(Rahmani et al. 2014).

Grey-headed Fish-Eagle [chthyophaga ichthyaetus

The Grey-headed Fish-Eagle was recorded at Razia

Taal, East Sohelwa in the first week of April 2014. Due to

identification difficulties between this species and the Lesser

Fish-eagle J. humilis, there is a possibility of either of the

species being misidentified.

Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis

This species was encountered throughout the surveys

during winter, seen feeding with other vulture species. We

recorded between 80 to 100 individuals from almost all

ranges of the Sanctuary. Around 40 to 50 birds were seen

in the Bhambhar, Rampur, West and East Sohelwa ranges.

Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus

We recorded three individuals on three occasions in the

East and West Sohelwa ranges during February 2014, along

with other vulture species.

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus

The Pallid Harrier was recorded twice in January 2014,

in and around agricultural fields between the East and West

Sohelwa ranges.

Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera

The Red-headed Falcon was occasionally recorded in

most of the ranges of Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary, mainly

near open areas adjacent to wetlands.

River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii

The River Lapwing was regularly recorded, especially

around wetlands of East Sohelwa range. During most of our

monthly waterbird surveys, we recorded 5 or 6 birds around

the Rampur wetlands. The species was also recorded at

the Kohargaddi, Vanghoghwa, Girgitahi, and Baghelkhand

reservoirs.

River Tern Sterna aurantia

The River Tern was seen in and around the various

reservoirs and wetlands, flying singly or in group of 3-4 birds

Ashy-headed Green-pigeon 7reron phayrei

The species was recorded from five ranges on several

occasions, and was especially sighted in early summer

when the birds engage in courtship display. The majority of

BIRDS OF SUHELDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, UTTAR PRADESH

the sightings were in mixed forest patches in the Jarwa and

Mansurwa forest beats of Rampur Range, and also in most

forest patches of West Sohelwa, East Sohelwa, Bankatwa,

and Barhawa ranges.

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria

The Alexandrine Parakeet was recorded in all the ranges

of the Sanctuary, nesting especially in mixed forest of old

trees.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We acknowledge Sarus Sanrakshan Samiti, Uttar Pradesh

Forest Department for funding the study and granting

permission to work in the area. We wish to put on record our

appreciation of all the forest officials for help and cooperation,

especially Shri V.N. Garg, Principal Secretary (Forests),

Ms Pratibha Singh, Mr Mukesh Kumar, Mr Kuruvilla

Thomas, Mr Sanjay Srivastava, and Mr R.S. Mishra. We also

thank the staff of Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary, especially

Mr S.S. Srivastava, Mr Karan Singh Gautam, Mr A.N. Singh,

Dr Rengaraju, and Shri Prakash Shukla.

We thank Ms Niharika Singh, Suheldev Suraksha Samiti

for inspiring us throughout the study. We are especially

grateful to Vikram Tiwari, Kaajal Das Gupta, Anand Singh,

Satpal Gandhi, Sachin Gaur, Pankaj Singh, Ashish Dwivedi,

Anurag Singh, Manan Singh, and Sonu Liladhar for sharing

their birding records of Suheldev.

At BNHS, we especially thank M.R. Maithreyi for her

editorial help, our project staff and volunteers, Briyesh Kumar,

Mohammad Bilal, Vinod Tiwari, Satish Jain, Vipin Agarwal,

and Amit Puri, for their technical support throughout.

REFERENCES

BuHarGavVa, R. & P.N. SINGH (2014): Majhauli Sagar: a potential IBA.

Mistnet 15(1): 4-6.

BHARGAVA, R., N. SHINDE, A.R. RAHMANI & R. De (2014): Recent

sighting of Amur Falcons Falco amurensis near Suheldev Wildlife

Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. Indian BIRDS 9(5 & 6): 154-155.

BirDLIFE INTERNATIONAL (2014): Species factsheet: Emberiza aureola.

Downloaded from http://www. birdlife.org on May 10, 2014.

BirDLIFE INTERNATIONAL (2016): The IUCN Red List of Threatened

Species. Version 2016-3. <www.iucnredlist.org>.

CHANCHANI, P., A. Bista, R. WaArRRIER, S. Nair, R. SHARMA, D. HASSAN

& M. Gupta (2014): Status and Conservation of Tigers and their

Prey in the Uttar Pradesh Terai. WWF-India, New Delhi.

IsLAM, M.Z. & A.R. RAHMANI (2004): Important Bird Areas in India:

Priority Sites for Conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Network,

Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International.

Oxford University Press, Mumbai. Pp. xviii + 1133.

JHALA, Y.V., R. GopaAL & Q. QuRESHI (2008): Status of Tigers, co-

predators and prey in India. National Tiger Conservation Authority,

Government of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun.

JOHNSINGH A.J.T., K. RAMESH, Q. QurREsHI, A. Davin, S.P. GOYAL,

G.S. Rawat, K. RAJAPANDIAN & S. PRASAD (2004): Conservation

status of tiger and associated species in the Terai Arc Landscape,

India. RR-04/001, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Pp. viii

+ 110.

RAHMANI, A.R. (2012): Threatened Birds of India — Their Conservation

Requirements. IBCN, BNHS, RSPB and BirdLife International.

Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Pp. xvit 864.

RAHMANI, A.R. & M.Z. Istam (2000): Prioritization of the Indian

Grasslands for Conservation of Biodiversity. Pp 169-175.

In: Singh, S., A.R.K. Sastry, R. Mehta and V. Uppal (Eds): Setting

Biodiversity Priorities for India. WWF-India, New Delhi.

RAHMANTI, A.R., M.Z. IsLam, V.P. SINGH & S. CHAUDHURI (2011): Important

Bird Areas of Uttar Pradesh: Priority Sites for Conservation. Indian

Bird Conservation Network, Bombay Natural History Society and

Katerniaghat Foundation. Pp. 122.

RAHMANI, A.R., S. Kumar, N. Srivastav, R. BHARGAVA & N.I. KHAN

(2014): Threatened Birds of Uttar Pradesh. IBCN, BNHS, RSPB

and BirdLife International. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

Pprxiv + 226)

RAHMANI, A.R., R. BHARGAVA & R. DE (2015): Avifaunal Studies at

Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary: Final Report. Bombay Natural

History Society, Mumbai. Pp. 110.

Ropcers, W.A. & H.S. PANWAR (1988): Planning a protected area

network in India. Vol. 1 — The Report. Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 113: 2016

15-16

REVIEWS

1. FLORA OF THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS AND PALNIS — A FIELD GUIDE by

Pippa Mukherjee. 2016. Published by Niyogi Books, New Delhi, India. Size: 23 cm x 15 cm.

A488 pp. Price: Rs. 1,250/- ($ 25). Paperback.

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119674

As an environment enthusiast, nature lover, and founder

member of Palni Hills Conservation Council, Ms Pippa

Mukherjee has written extensively on gardening, health, and

environment and also has two books to her credit, COMMON

TREES OF INDIA and TREES OF INDIA. Here comes the third one,

FLORA OF THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS AND PALNIS — A FIELD

GUIDE, which includes trees, shrubs, and herbs, with a few

conifers and ferns. In this attempt, she has been ably helped by

Bob Stewart and Tanya Balcar with their inputs and Kannan

with his invaluable knowledge on the uses of plants.

This field guide provides information on both

indigenous and exotic species found in the hill ranges of

Southern Western Ghats and Palni hills. It contains a total of

197 species, of which 63% are indigenous and the rest exotic.

It is divided into three sections, namely, Trees (includes

60 species), Shrubs & Climbers (72 species), and Herbs

(65 species). Each species is described with its botanical

name, family, English name, local name, distribution,

description, phenology, and uses.

In the beginning, a map of the Southern Western Ghats

and one of the hill ranges of Kodai area are provided. Earlier

floristic works, right from 1915, and historical details from

Megalithic times till date, have also been provided. The book

talks about the foreigners who developed these biodiverse

areas as hill stations and the effects of anthropogenic activities

on sholas and grasslands, a unique ecosystem in the Western

Ghats. Thus there is a need for conservation of these areas,

which have endemic, rare, and endangered species of flora

and fauna. Additional information and notes are also provided

for each species, which includes information on other species

of that genus, importance of that species in the ecosystem,

mainly in shola forest, and if it is an introduced species then

whether it is invasive or grown in garden, households, and

for commercial purposes.

In each section, species are arranged alphabetically

and a colour photograph is provided. Line drawings of all

the species, leaf shapes, and a glossary of botanical terms are

provided towards the end.

A few of the colour photographs are not clear.

Photographs of Ziziphus oenoplia, Cestrum diurnum, and

Centella asiatica are wrongly identified. Ficus pumila 1s

a climbing shrub; it should be included in the Shrubs &

Climbers section, rather than in the Herbs section. Ziziphus

oenoplia is a straggling shrub; it should be in the Shrubs &

Climbers section rather than in the Tree section. The header

label on p. 153 is wrong.

To sum up, it is a good book for common people and

visitors to that area, to refer and use as a field guide.

M@ Rajendra Shinde

2. DICTIONARY OF LOCAL-BOTANICAL NAMES IN INDIAN FOLK LIFE by Vartika Jain

and S.K. Jain. 2017. Published by Scientific Publishers, India. Size: 24 cm x 18 cm. 336 pp.

Price: Rs. 1,950/-. Hardbound.

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119673

This is a book that anyone working on ethnobotany and

anthropology in India should possess, as it contains 26,000

local names and relevant botanical names of plants. As the

authors write in the Preface, “About a hundred books have

been published in Indian ethnobotany in the last three or four

decades, most of them are descriptive, dealing with concept,

definition, scientific and economic importance of the subject.

Many field workers often do not attach much importance

to local names and sometimes don’t even record them.”

This book has compiled local names from the authors’ own

field work, and has listed 1,200 research papers and books

published in the last six decades. It is a compilation of large

numbers of tribal and rural local names of plants from every

part of India, including Andaman & Nicobar.

Anyone who has worked in the field in ecology, either

animal or plant, will vouch for the importance of local

knowledge. Most tribal and rural people have names of species

that are of economic, medicinal, or ecological importance.

REVIEWS

Many times local knowledge can lead to discovery of new

taxa, or new economic use of a species. Often a species may

have two or three names, within a limited geographic area,

or more often, closely related species have a common local

name. For example, Cordia dichotoma and Cordia myxa are

both called Lasora (p. 180). Sometimes unrelated species may

have a similar name, e.g. Kadai is Albizia lebbeck, Firmiana

simplex, and Xylia xylocarpa (p. 127). Kamraj is the local

name for seven species (p. 135). The only drawback of the

book is that it does not give the geographical area/region

where a name 1s prevalent. Perhaps in the second edition of

the book this major lacuna will be rectified.

The authors have rightly written that etymological

studies on local names show cultural richness of indigenous

communities and their understanding of flora. With the rapid

disappearance of native languages, there is real danger that

much of our folk knowledge will also disappear. It is time we

quickly document local names of plants and their uses before

this knowledge is lost in the name of economic development.

This book is a useful compendium in that direction. I

recommend it to all institutions and universities where

ecological work is being carried out. Even pharmaceutical

companies will find this book useful as many commercial drugs

originate from local knowledge of medicinal value of plants.

@ Asad R. Rahmani

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 113: 2016

17-52

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

1. RECENT RECORD OF INDIAN GREY WOLF CANIS LUPUS PALLIPES SYKES, 1831

IN ALIGARH DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

KuHursip A. KHAN!

'Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 001, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119675

The Indian Grey Wolf Canis lupus pallipes was

historically distributed in Aligarh district (Uttar Pradesh) of

India (Atkinson 1875). However, its occurrence was uncertain

in the past (Hunter 1909; Shahi 1982) and was considered

locally extirpated from Aligarh district (Satish Kumar pers.

comm. 2014).

A sighting of the Grey Wolf was recently recorded in

Muzaffarnagar district, where it severely injured 11 people

(PTI 2014). On the morning of June 03, 2014, a female

wolf Canis lupus pallipes was sighted and photographed

in a Prosopis juliflora plantation (27° 57’ 16” N; 78° 19!

16” E) near Gazipur village, in Atrauli tehsil of Aligarh

district. Gazipur village is situated about 30 km north-

east of the district headquarters. This constitutes a recent

photographic record of the Indian Grey Wolf in Aligarh

district of Uttar Pradesh.

The wolf was differentiated by its larger size, slim body,

big head with long muzzle, arching brow, elevated forehead,

and long limbs in comparison to other members of Canidae.

The Golden Jackal Canis aureus is the closest relative of

Indian Grey Wolf but it is smaller in build and “meaner

in aspect” (Prater 2005). An adult wolf weighs about 17 to

25 kg, with height of 57 to 72 cm and length about 103 to

145 cm, while the Golden Jackal is 8—11 kg in weight and

about 60—75 cm in length, with a more slender build, a sharper

muzzle and a shorter tail. The coat of Grey Wolf is sandy

fawn stippled with black, while the Golden Jackal is a mix

of black and white, washed with buff about the shoulders,

ears, and legs.

The Golden Jackal’s winter fur also differs from the wolf’s

by its more fulvous-reddish colour (Jhala 2003; Menon 2014;

Prater 2005).

The Indian Grey Wolf is distributed in western Uttar

Pradesh in parts of Jhansi, Etawah, Mainpuri, Firozabad,

Farrukhabad, and Etah districts (UCN 2015), and in eastern

Uttar Pradesh in Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Raibareli, and Jaunpur

districts (Jhala and Sharma 1997). The small patches of

Prosopis plantation across its distributional range in Uttar

Pradesh are preferred by the Indian Grey Wolf, possibly as

these plantations besides serving as dumping ground of carcass

from villagers, have ample prey for the wolf such as Blackbuck

Antilope cervicapra, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Rufous-

tailed Hare Lepus nigricollis ruficaudata, Indian Bush Rat

Golunda ellioti, and free ranging stray cattle.

Indian Grey Wolf has almost disappeared from Aligarh

and its surroundings (Satish Kumar pers. comm. 2014). This

needs to be further investigated by conducting more surveys

to know the status and distribution of Indian Grey Wolf in

Aligarh district for effective management and conservation

of this species and its habitat.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to Professor Jamal A. Khan for giving me

the opportunity to work in this project. I am thankful to

Dr. Satish Kumar and Dr. Khursheed Ahmad for their valuable

suggestions and comments. I also thank DST PURSE

Programme for the funding and Department of Wildlife

Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, for providing scientific

and logistic support.

REFERENCES

ATKINSON, E.T. (1875): Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account

of the North-Western Provinces of India. Vol. II. Meerut Division,

Part I, North-Western Provinces Press, Allahabad. 612 pp.

Hunter, W.W. (1909): Imperial Gazetteer of India. 2nd edn. The

Clarendon Press, Oxford, London.

IUCN (2015): The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version

2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>.

JHALA, Y.V. (2003): Status, ecology and conservation of the Indian

Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes Sykes). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

100(2&3): 293-307.

JHALA, Y.V. & D.K. SHARMA (1997): Child-lifting by wolves in eastern

Uttar Pradesh, India. J. Wildl. Res. 2: 94-101.

Menon, V. (2014): A Field Guide to Indian Mammals. Hachette Book

Publications, Gurgaon, India. 528 pp.

PRATER, S.H. (2005): The Book of Indian Animals. 3rd edn.

Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press.

Pp. 274-297.

Press Trust oF INpiA (PTI) (2014): http://archive.news18.com/amp/

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

news/bihar/wolf-menace-tension-prevails-in-muzaffarnagar-as- SHAHI, S.P. (1982): Status of Grey Wolf Canis lupus pallipes in India:

11-injured-in-two-days-611611.html a preliminary survey. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79(3): 493-502.

2. FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC (CAMERA TRAP) EVIDENCE OF TIBETAN WOLF

CANIS LUPUS CHANCO IN THE UTTARAKHAND HIMALAYA, INDIA

VipuL Maurya!>*, D.S. MEENA’, PARAMJIT SINGH’, PARAG M. DHAKATE* AND S.B. LAL! ®

‘School of Forestry and Environment, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHAITS),

Allahabad 211 007, Uttar Pradesh, India.

*O/o D.F.O., Bageshwar Forest Division, Bageshwar 263 642, Uttarakhand, India. Email: [email protected]

3O/o C.C.F., Kumaon, Nainital, Fairt Hall Forest Compound, Tallital 263 002, Uttarakhand, India. Email: [email protected]

4O/o D.F.O, Terai East Forest Division, Haldwani 263 139, Uttarakhand, India. Email: [email protected]

‘School of Forestry and Environment, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHAITS),

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

°Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119676

Historically, wolves had the largest and most extensive — \yiddje East, India, and Nepal (Srivastav and Nigam 2009).

range of all mammals, second only to humans (Srivastav

and Nigam 2009). Their former range included most of the

Though their distribution and populations have severely

FiO} reduced, wolves were once distributed throughout the northern

countries in Europe, most of northern Russia, parts of the hemisphere (Feldhamer et al. 2003; Mech 1970). They are

79°30°0"E

Legend

@® Camera Trap Locations

a Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

China (Hong Ko

Fig. 1: Sites of Tibetan Wolf capture at Sunderdhunga valley, Bageshwar

18 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Departnment

Fig. 2: Camera trap image of Tibetan Wolf Canis lupus chanco

nearly extinct throughout most of western Europe, with a

few stable populations extant in Spain, Italy, Poland, Russia,

Greece, and Turkey (Srivastav and Nigam 2009). Most of the

reports of wolf presence in the Himalaya have appeared from

the Trans-Himalayan landscape across India, Tibet, and Nepal

(Chundawat 1992; Chundawat and Qureshi 1999; Chanchani

et al. 2011; Fox et al. 1986; Hodgson 1847; Jackson et al.

1996; Maheshwari and Sharma 2010; Pocock 1941). In 2010,

Bhattacharya and Sathyakumar sighted the Tibetan wolf in

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, where small portions of the

Trans-Himalaya are found in Uttarakhand, in Nanda Devi

Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) and Gangotri National Park (NP).

The presence of Tibetan Wolf in Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti,

and northern Sikkim, along with information on livestock

depredation has been well-documented (Chundawat 1992;

Chundawat and Qureshi 1999; Fox et al. 1986, 1991; Jayapal

2000; Sathyakumar and Qureshi 2003).

We carried out continuous sampling in the buffer zone of

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in the Bageshwar district of

Uttarakhand, using 16 camera traps during a snow leopard

survey conducted by Uttarakhand State Forest Department

under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forest (Kumaon

Zone, Nainital) in November—January, 2013.

Fig. 3: Camera trap images: a: Musk Deer, b: Himalayan Tahr, c: Himalayan Serow, d: Yellow-throated Marten

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) extends

from 30° 17'N to 30° 41'N and from 79° 40’ E to 80° 05’ E

and covers an area of 624.62 sq. km core zone and 1,612.12

sq. km buffer zone. NDBR is a well-known biodiversity

hotspot in the Himalayan region. The Reserve supports over

1,000 species of plants including bryophytes, fungi, and

lichens and about 520 species of fauna including mammals,

birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, molluscs, and

annelids (Samant 2001). Average temperature ranges between

14—24 °C in summer to 7.5—3 °C in winter respectively.

We obtained a camera trap photograph of Canis lupus

chanco from Sunderdhunga valley (Fig. 2) at 30° 13'48" N,

79° 54' 57” E and at an altitude of 3,298 m (Fig. 1). The area

is rich in prey species for predators (Tibetan Wolf and Snow

Leopard). In addition, the team recorded sightings and camera

trap photographs of Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Himalayan

Serow, and Yellow-throated Marten (Fig. 3 a-d).

To the best of our knowledge, this 1s the first camera trap

record of Tibetan Wolf in Kumaon Himalaya from the buffer

zone of NDBR in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. It is

recommended that extensive field surveys should be carried

out in similar habitats in the Kumaon Himalaya region, using

camera traps and DNA sampling (from scats) to confirm the

presence of the Tibetan Wolfin Kumaon Himalaya. Also open

and close handed questionnaire surveys should be carried out

for shepherds and villages of transition zone of Himalaya to

investigate the extent of local knowledge about the presence

of wolf and their attitude towards wolf presence. Such

survey data will be of great significance in enhancing our

understanding of a possible range extension of this species,

and has implications for conservation and management.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We take this opportunity to express our appreciation of

Mr Paramjit Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand,

for organizing this expedition and involving us in this project.

Our sincere thanks to Forest staff of Bageshwar for providing

information and help during survey in their division. It was a

tough time in the field, and we got full support from the team,

thanks to Mr Shankar Kumar, Mr Sunder Kumar, Mr Pramod

Kumar, and Mr Tara Singh. We also thank Mr Vibhu Puri,

Mount Craft for Field Gears, Mr Chaitenya Verma (Ph.D.

Scholar, AIMS) for encouragement.

REFERENCES

BuHatTTAcuarya, T. & S. SATHYAKUMAR (2010): Sighting of Tibetan Wolf

Canis lupus chanco in the Greater Himalayan Range of Nanda Devi

Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India: a new record. Journal of

Threatened Taxa 2(12): 1345-1348.

CHANCHANI, PRANAV, G.S. RAwaT & S.P. GoyaL (2011): Ecology and

Conservation of Ungulates in Tso Lhamo, North Sikkim. Pp. 351-—

362. In: Arrawatia, M.L. and Sandeep Tambe (Eds): Biodiversity of

Sikkim — Exploring and Conserving a Global Hotspot. Information

and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim.

CHunpDAwaT, R.S. (1992): Ecological studies on Snow Leopard and its

associated species in Hemis National Park, Ladakh. Ph.D. Thesis,

University of Rajasthan, 166 pp.

CHUNDAWAT, R.S. & Q. QuRESHI (1999): Planning Wildlife Conservation

in Leh and Kargil Districts of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir. Final

Report. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 92 pp.

FELDHAMER, G.A., B.C. THompson & J.A. CHAPMAN (2003): Wild

Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and

Conservation. JHU Press. |

Fox, J.L., S.P. Stnna, R.S. CHUNDAWaAT & P.K. Das (1986): A survey of

Snow Leopard and associated species in the Himalayas of North-

Western India. A Report. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

Fox, J.L., S.P. Smnna, R.S. CHuNDAwaT & P.K. Das (1991): Status of

Snow Leopard Panthera uncia in northwest India. Biological

Conservation 55: 283-298.

Honacson, B.H. (1847): Description of the Wild Ass and Wolf of Tibet.

Calcutta Journal of Natural History 7: 469-477.

JACKSON, R.M., C.G. AHLBORN, M. GuRUNG & S. ALE (1996): Reducing

Livestock Depredation Losses in the Nepalese Himalaya.

Pp. 241-247. In: Timm, R.M. and A.C. Crabb (Eds): Proceedings

of the 17th Vertebrate Pest Conference (VPC-1996). University

of California, Davis.

JAYAPAL, R. (2000): Livestock depredation by wild animals in Zanskar,

Ladakh. Jn: Conserving Biodiversity in the Indian Trans-Himalaya:

A New Initiative of Field Conservation in Ladakh. Collaborative

Project of Wildlife Institute of India, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

& International Snow Leopard Trust. Wildlife Institute of India,

Dehradun.

MAHEsHWaARI, A. & D. SHARMA (2010): Snow Leopard Conservation in

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. New Delhi.

Mecu, L.D. (1970): The Wolf: The Ecology and Behaviour of an

Endangered Species. University of Minnesota Press. 384 pp.

Pocock, R.I. (1941): The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and

Burma: Mammalia. Vol. II. Taylor and Francis, London.

SATHYAKUMAR, S. & Q. QurRESHI (2003): Brown Bear — Human Conflicts

in Zanskar and Suru Valleys, Ladakh —A Report. Wildlife Institute

of India, Dehradun. 21 pp.

SAMANT, S.S. (2001): Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (Nomination for

UNESCO-MAB Net, Draft copy) G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan

Environment & Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora.

SRIVASTAV, A. & P. NiGAM (2009): National Studbook of Tibetan Wolf

(Canis lupus chanco). Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and

Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

3. FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF INDIAN PANGOLIN

MANIS CRASSICAUDATA E. GEOFFROY, 1803 IN MUKUNDARA HILLS

TIGER RESERVE (MHTR), RAJASTHAN, INDIA

K. LATAFAT)?* AND A. SADHU!?

‘Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 007, Uttarakhand, India.

"Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119677

Indian Pangolin, also known as Scaly Ant-eater because of

its myrmecophagous diet and presence of large overlapping

scales on the body, is a medium-sized solitary mammal

found widely across the Indian subcontinent (Heath 1995;

Prater 1980; Tikader 1983). Although widely distributed,

the population status and local distribution of the species is

scarcely known (Baillie et al. 2014; CITES 2000). Only a few

studies have been conducted in zoos (Mohapatra and Panda

2013; Pattnaik 2008) and sporadic notes have appeared,

depicting the species’ presence in local sites (Hutton 1949;

Mishra and Panda 2011; Murthy and Mishra 2010; Saxena

1986; Singh 1994). However, increasing market demands

(national and international trade), as well as rapid habitat loss

and local hunting, have caused a significant decline in Indian

Pangolin population throughout its range (Baillie et al. 2014;

Broad et al. 1988; Mahmood et a/. 2012). Illegal hunting of

pangolin for scales (for medicinal and ornamental purposes)

and meat (local source of protein) poses a grave threat to the

species (Baillie et al. 2014; Broad et al. 1988; Mishra and

Hanfee 2000). Biological traits of Indian Pangolin, like low-

density occurrence and low reproductive vigour, make them

vulnerable to these ever increasing threats (Mishra and Panda

2011). Considering its susceptibility, the species has been

included in the ‘Endangered’ category of the IUCN RedList

(Baillie et al. 2014; Murthy and Mishra 2010), and listed in

Appendix II of CITES to ban all kinds of international trade

(CITES 2000).

Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve (hereafter MHTR),

situated in the south-eastern part of Rajasthan, India,

comprises Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar

Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. The

dry deciduous forest tracts of MHTR are dominated by

Anogeissus pendula, A. latifolia, Acacia catechuoides,

A. leucophloea, Aegle marmelos, Ziziphus mauritiana,

and Flacourtia indica (Champion and Seth 1968). MHTR

harbours a diverse carnivore assemblage that includes

Leopard, Indian Wolf, Sloth Bear, Hyena, Honey Badger,

Jungle Cat, Desert Cat, Indian Fox, and the wild ungulate

species include Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, and Chinkara.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

In a recent survey on ‘Monitoring of tiger, co-predator,

prey, and their habitat’ (Phase III. For details, see Jhala et

al. 2015), a total of 104 camera traps were placed in MHTR,

covering an area of 59 sq. km (Fig. 1). Total trapping effort

was 1,771 trap nights. During the camera trapping session,

a pangolin was photo-captured in a digital camera trap

on December 13, 2014, at 4:35 am (Fig. 2). The camera

(camera trap ID-17, 24° 59’ 49.3" N and 75° 38’ 11.3” E)

was deployed on a mud road on Seljar plateau top, in the

735°420°E

Fig.1: Camera trap placement (black dots) in Mukundara Hills

Tiger Reserve. Inset: Location of Mukundara Hills

Tiger Reserve in India

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 2: Camera trap photograph of Indian Pangolin in

Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve

north-western part of MHTR. The camera trap was kept

30 cm above the ground to maximize capture of small as well

as large mammals present in the area. This particular forest

patch was dominated by Anogeissus pendula and Acacia

catechuoides, and the terrain was flat. Seljar area experiences

lower anthropogenic pressure in comparison with other parts

of MHTR, and this plateau acts as a refuge for the remaining

wildlife species present in this human dominated landscape.

This was the first photographic evidence of Indian

Pangolin from MHTR and its adjoining forested areas.

Confirmed records of Indian Pangolin are very rare due to

its low density occurrence and elusive nature (Baillie et al.

2014). Out of 104 camera trap points and 1,771 nights of

camera trapping in MHTR (camera trapping efforts were of

13 trap nights at camera trap point 17 where the pangolin was

photo-captured), the species was photographed only once.

Although listed in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection)

Act 1972 and Appendix I in CITES, Indian Pangolin faces a

high risk of extinction primarily due to poaching and habitat

loss (Baillie et al. 2014; CITES 2000; Murthy and Mishra

2010; Wu et al. 2002). The presence of the species in MHTR

is encouraging enough to conduct a solemn investigation to

understand ecology, especially abundance and habitat use of

the elusive and Endangered Indian Pangolin for its long-term

conservation. |

REFERENCES

BAILLig, J., D. CHALLENDER, P. KAspAL, A. KHATIWADA, R. MOHAPATRA &

H. Nasu (2014): Manis crassicaudata, Indian Pangolin. The IUCN

Red List of Threatened Species: eT12761A45221874.

BroapD, S., R. Luxmoore, & M. JENKINS (Eps) (1988): Significant trade

in wildlife: a review of selected species in CITES Appendix

II. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural

Resources.

CHAMPION, H.G. & S.K. SETH (1968): A Revised Survey of Forest

Types of India. Manager of Publications, Government of India,

New Delhi. Pp. 143-150.

CITES (2000): CoP17 Prop. 8. Manis crassicaudata, Manis

pentadactyla, Manis javanica. Transfer from Appendix I to

Appendix I (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United States). https://cites.

org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/17/prop/060216/E-CoP17-Prop-08.

pdf. Accessed on November 16, 2016.

Heatu, M.E. (1995): Manis crassicaudata. Mammalian Species 513:

1-4.

Hutton, A.F. (1949): Note on Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 48(4): 805-806. |

JHALA, Y.V., Q. QuREsHI & R. GopaL (2015): The status of tigers in

India 2014. National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi

and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

Maumoop, T., R. Hussain, N. IRsHApD, F. AKrIM & M.S. NADEEM (2012):

Illegal mass killing of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in

Potohar Region, Pakistan. Journal of Zoology 44(5): 1457-1461.

Misura, M. & N. HANnFEE (2000): Pangolin distribution and trade in East

and Northeast India. TRAFFIC Dispatches 14: 4-5.

Misura, S. & S. PANDA (2011): Distribution of Indian Pangolin Manis

crassicaudata Gray (Pholidota, Manidae) in Orissa: A rescue

perspective. Chiroptera, Rodentia, Insectivora & Scandentia,

Conservation and Information Networks of South Asia. Small

Mammal Mail Bi-annual newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA.

4: 51-53.

Mouapatra, R.K. & S. PANDA (2013): Behavioral sampling techniques

and activity pattern of Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata

(Mammalia: Manidae) in captivity. JoTT 5(17): 5247-5255.

Murtuy, K.L.N. & S. Misura (2010): A note on road killing of Indian

Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Gray at Kambalakonda Wildlife

Sanctuary of Eastern Ghat ranges. Small Mammal Mail Bi-annual

Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA, Vol. 2, No 2.

PatTNaik, A.K. (2008): Enclosure design and enrichment key to the

successful conservation breeding of Indian Pangolin (Manis

crassicaudata) in captivity. Indian Zoo Year Book V: 91-102.

Prater, S.H. (1980): The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural

History Society and Oxford University Press, Bombay, India.

SAXENA, R. (1986): Instance of an Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata

Gray) digging into a house. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83(3): 660.

SincH, K.D. (1994): The Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Gray

near Delhi. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 91(2): 309.

TIKADER, B.K. (1983): Threatened Animals of India. Zoological Survey

of India, Kolkata, India.

Wu, S.B., G.Z. Ma, M. Tana, H. CHEN & N.F. Liu (2002): The status

and conservation strategy of Pangolin resource in China. J Nat.

Resour. 17(2): 174-180.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

4. INDIAN POND-HERON ARDEOLA GRAYI SCAVENGING ON

LITTLE CORMORANT MICROCARBO NIGER

P. GREESHMA!** AND E.A. JAySon!?

'Wildlife Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

"Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119678

The Indian Pond-Heron or Paddybird Ardeola grayii is

a small heron belonging to the Ardeidae family. Its feeding

ground is mainly marshy areas, and floating vegetation used

to access food from deep water. Kallettumkara Heronry (10°

20' 26.50” N; 76° 16’ 49.93” E) is one of the largest heronries

in Kerala (Ajitha and Jose 2015). While counting the nests

in the heronry on July 19, 2016, a breeding Indian Pond-

Heron was found scavenging on young Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger which was lying dead on the ground. A

flock of 12 Indian Pond-Heron were competing for the prey

and at last one of them took the alimentary canal from the

carcass and consumed it within four seconds. Usually herons

are carnivores associated with wetlands and water, and feed

on a variety of live aquatic prey. Standing and waiting for

prey and sometimes stalking the prey are the usual feeding

techniques adopted by herons (Kushlan 2011).

Heron diet includes fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans,

molluscs, and aquatic insects. Indian Pond-Heron mainly

feeds on fish (Kirkpatrick 1953), as well as crustaceans,

aquatic insects, dragonflies (Santharam 2003), bees (Prasad

and Hemanth 1992), tadpoles and sometimes leeches

(Herpobdelloides sp.) (Mathew et al. 1978). The present

observation of Indian Pond-Heron scavenging on Little

Cormorant was not reported earlier.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Director, KFRI for

facilities and infrastructure. Special thanks to Mr Riju P. and

Mr Bablu for rendering field support. We wish to thank Kerala

State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment, for

providing necessary financial support.

REFERENCES

AuTHA, K.V. & B. JosE (2015): Kallettumkara Heronry, an ideal breeding

site for waterbirds in Kerala, South India. /nternational Journal

of Science and Research 4(3): 923-927.

KirKPATRICK, K.M. (1953): Feeding habit of the Indian Pond Heron

_ (Ardeola grayii). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 51(2): 507.

KusHLaNn, J.A. (2011): The terminology of courtship, nesting, feeding

and maintenance in herons. [online] www.HeronConservation.org.

Downloaded on December 11, 2016.

MatHew, D.N., TC. NARENDRAN & V.J. ZACHARIAS (1978): A

comparative study of the feeding habits of certain species of Indian

birds affecting agriculture. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 75(4):

1178-1197.

PRASAD, J.N. & J. HEMANTH (1992): Pond Heron Ardeola grayii (Sykes)

feeding on bees. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. §9(2): 246.

SANTHARAM, V. (2003): Indian Pond-herons Ardeola grayii feeding on

dragonflies. J. Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 100(1): 108.

5. FLOATING BEHAVIOUR OF ASIAN OPENBILL STORK ANASTOMUS OSCITANS

P. GREESHMA!** AND E.A. JAYSON!?

'Wildlife Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

*Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119679

The Asian Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans 1s a large

wading bird of the stork family Ciconiidae. While conducting

studies on foraging behaviour of birds in Kole wetlands of

Thrissur, Kerala (10° 20'—10° 40’ N; 75° 58’—76° 11' E), on

April 18, 2016, Asian Openbill Stork was seen floating in a

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

small stream (water depth 74 cm) (Fig. 1) in Pullu Kole (10°

28' 10.47” N; 76° 9’ 2.47" E). It continued to float for about

24 minutes. The temperature recorded that day was 33° C

and it was assumed that the bird was floating in order to

withstand the high ambient temperature. Unfeathered body

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 1: Floating behaviour of Asian Openbill Stork

surfaces serve as important sites for heat exchange with the

environment and usually heat conduction occurs between the

bird’s body and the substrate where the bird rests. Similar

floating behaviour of Indian Pond Heron was observed

by Neelakantan (1986). Foraging (Kahl 1971), nesting

(Datta and Pal 1993), breeding (Mukhopadhyay 1980), and

locomotory behaviour (Kahl 1972) of Asian Openbill Stork

was described by earlier workers, but floating behaviour has

not been recorded so far.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Director, KFRI, for

facilities and infrastructure. Thanks to Mr Joy Vincent for

rendering field support. We thank Kerala State Council

for Science, Technology and Environment, for providing

necessary financial support.

REFERENCES

Datta, T. & B.C. Pat (1993): The effect of human interference on the

nesting of the Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans at the Raiganj

Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Biological Conservation 64(2): 149-154.

Kant, M.P. (1971): Food and feeding behaviour of Openbill Storks.

Journal of Ornithology 112(1): 21-35.

Kau, M.P. (1972): Comparative ethology of the Cicontidae. Journal

of Ornithology 113(2): 121-137.

MukuHopabHyay, A. (1980): Some observations on the biology of the

Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert), in southern Bengal.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 77(1): 133-137.

NEELAKANTAN, K.K. (1986): Pond heron afloat. Newsletter for

Birdwatchers 26(5—6): 11-13.

6. BREEDING OF RUDDY SHELDUCK TADORNA FERRUGINEA (PALLAS) (ANATIDAE:

ANSERIFORMES) FROM CHANDERTAL WETLAND IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

D.R. THakur!” AND ASHEESH Menta!>*

‘Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla 171 005, Himachal Pradesh, India.

°E mail: [email protected]

>Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119680

Introduction

The breeding of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, also

known as Brahminy Shelduck, is so far reported from Ladakh

(Pfister 2004), Arunachal Pradesh (Choudhury 2000), and

Sikkim (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1990). The global abundance

of Ruddy Shelduck has declined drastically in recent decades

(Zu-Kui et al. 2013). In Himachal Pradesh, Ruddy Shelduck

has also been observed in Pong dam in winter, commencing

its arrival in September, but no breeding has been reported

from the state.

Chandertal, a freshwater wetland, also called ‘the lake

of the moon’ because of its crescent shape, is located at an

altitude of 4,290 m above sea level, near the Kunjam Pass

which connects the Great Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges. It

has been designated as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’

under the Ramsar Convention due to the presence of rare plant

species and a wide range of unique animal species.

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas) was observed

as a large orange-brown duck with a pale head and neck with

a faint black collar at its base. Female was similar to male, but

lacked the black collar ring and had a less pale head.

Its nesting season is from April to June in Ladakh, Nepal,

and Tibet. Its nest is a thick pad of down feathers in holes in

cliffs or in a building, often at a considerable distance and

height from water. It lays 6 to 10 eggs, which are pearly white

with smooth texture.

A pair in and around Chandertal was recorded with seven

ducklings from July 24-28, 2015. The Ruddy Shelduck has

been observed in the Chandertal wetland by earlier workers,

but it is the first breeding record of this duck from the wetland.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are thankful to the State Council for Science,

Technology & Environment, Himachal Pradesh, India, for

providing financial assistance to carry out this research

work.

REFERENCES

CuHoupHury, A.U. (2000): The Birds of Assam. Gibbon Books and

WWI, Guwahati, India.

GANGuLI-Lacuunopa, U. (1990): Brahminy Duck Tadorna ferruginea

(Pallas) breeding in Sikkim. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87(2):

20;

PrisTER, O. (2004): Birds and Mammals of Ladakh. Oxford University

Press, New Delhi, India.

Zu-Kut, L., W.H. ZHANG, Y. Hou, X.Y. Li, W. Liu & Z. Jr Li (2013):

Seasonal dynamics and habitat selection of Ruddy Shelduck

(Jadorna ferruginea) (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Alpine wetland

ecosystem of Southwest China. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 65 (4):

469-478.

7. SIGHTING OF THE FERRUGINOUS DUCK AYTHYA NYROCA

IN ADILABAD DISTRICT, TELANGANA STATE, INDIA

HUMAYUN TAHER!*, SRIKANTH BHAMIDIPATI’,, LAWRENCE MATHAPPAN? AND HEMANT KUMAR‘

'2-B, Atlas Apartments, Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500 034, Telangana, India. Email: [email protected]

*C-408, Vijaya Hills Apartments, AC Guards, Hyderabad 500 004, Telangana, India. Email: [email protected]

3Beema Avenue, St. Anthony School Lane, Venelagadda, Suchitra Main Road, Hyderabad 500 055, Telangana, India.

Email: [email protected]

4304, Sri Sai Residency, Plot No. 66,67,68, Maruthi Nagar, Puppalaguda, Manikonda, Hyderabad 500 089, Telangana, India.

Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119681

The Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca is a medium-sized

diving duck found in the Eurasian region. Very distinctively

coloured, the adult male is a rich chestnut colour with a

darker back and a glaring yellow-white eye. The white

underbelly and pure white undertail helps to distinguish this

species from the somewhat similar Tufted Duck. The female

is similar to the male, but somewhat duller, and with a dark

eye. Juveniles are similar but the belly and undertail are

erey-buff. In flight, a broad white wingbar extends onto the

outer primaries. It is easily distinguished from other similar

ducks by the white undertail when sitting and the extensive

wingbar in flight. They are gregarious birds, forming large

flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving species such

as Tufted Duck and Common Pochard. Four main populations

are recognized and migration occurs from early September to

mid-October, whilst breeding grounds are reoccupied from

mid-March to early May. Their normal breeding habitat is

in marshes and lakes with a metre or more of water depth.

The European population breeds in southern and eastern

Europe and southern and western Asia. The main part of

the population occurs in Asia, where there is much suitable

habitat and it remains common, although quantitative data

is lacking (BirdLife International 2016).

On January 24, 2016, during the AWC (Asian Waterbird

Census) in Adilabad district (Telangana State), SB, LM, and

HK sighted five Ferruginous Ducks in a small tank (19° 5’

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

54.3372" N; 78° 46' 55.4916” E) close to the Nirmal-Jannaram

main road. The tank in which the birds were sighted was about

one metre deep, with good growth of water lilies and other

aquatic plants. The birds were observed staying in a more

open part of the tank, where the water lily leaves were less

dense. Although the Ferruginous Duck is described as being

somewhat shy, we observed that the birds appeared to be quite

at ease in this place, although the level of disturbance was high,

due to the proximity of the tank to the main arterial highway.

The birds appeared to associate with other species (Cotton

Pygmy Goose, Comb Duck, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and

Indian Spotbill Duck). This is interesting, in that though

the birds are said to associate with other diving ducks, their

association with dabbling ducks is not reported earlier.

Extant distribution records for the species are not very

conclusive. The IUCN Red Data List indicates that there are

some grounds for concern for this species, as it is listed as

‘Near Threatened’’, with a population trend of “Decreasing”.

The species has a justification of “There have been rapid

declines in Europe, but evidence of declines in the larger

Asian populations is sparse, and sometimes contradictory, so

it is currently listed as Near Threatened. Evidence of rapid

declines in Asia would qualify the species for up listing to

Vulnerable” (BirdLife International 2016). Ali and Ripley

(1989) mention the distribution of this species as “Breeds in

Kashmir and Ladakh; winter visitor elsewhere. Common in

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

W. Pakistan and N. India, and practically the entire Union;

Nepal (valley chiefly on passage; bhabar winter). Less

common to rare in Bengal, Assam, Manipur, E. Pakistan.

Sparsely in the Deccan south to Mysore and Kerala (on

coastal backwaters and lagoons). No record from eastern side

of the Peninsula south of Madras or Ceylon.”

In “Spotlight — White-eyed Pochard”, published in Pitta,

November 2000, Taher writes “A winter visitor (October to

March) to India, though widely distributed and abundant in

Pakistan and western India. Less common in eastern India,

Bengal, Assam, Manipur, and Bangladesh, it 1s scarce in

the Deccan and South India (Karnataka, Maharashtra, and

Andhra Pradesh). No reports from Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka,

though there are two specimens from the erstwhile Madras

State in the Madras Government Museum, Chennai. There are

two old published records from Andhra Pradesh — one from

Visakhapatnam District (1904) and the other from Nalgonda

District (1935).”

We looked closely at records for the species from the

state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and now AP and Telangana,

and found a few records of the species. Abdulali has written

about this species from Hyderabad in JBNHS (Abdulali

1936); Srinivasulu has recorded it from the Adilabad district

(Srinivasulu 2004). Baker and Inglis (1930) mention it as

being quite rare along the Madras and Malabar coasts, and

this is consistent with most extant literature, which shows the

species as not having been reported from so far south. Sight

records exist for Warangal district (Madannapet Cheruvu in

1994 and Nirkula Cheruvu in 2001). There is also a sight

record from Nalgonda district from Musi Reservoir in 1993

(Pittie and Taher 2004).

Closer to Hyderabad, members of BSAP have sight

records of this species from many places around the city.

Records exist for the ICRISAT campus in Patancheru (Hash

and Peacock 1996; Hash et al. 1996). There are also records

from Sangareddy Tank and the Manjira Reservoir. There is

a record from the Bibinagar Tank from 1983 and one from

Jogipet from 2004 (eBird). So the bird is not completely

unknown in the Hyderabad region, at least, and there are

published records of the sightings.

During the Hyderabad State Ornithological Survey (Ali

1933), this species was not sighted by the survey team. The

survey period as mentioned in Dr Salim Ali’s report is from

October 03 to December 20, 1931, and from February 28 to end

April 1932. This being the case, it is possible that so secretive a

bird may well have been overlooked, especially since the peak

migration season was not part of the covered period.

In the Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats,

this species only has a single mention “There is no definite

record of the White-eyed Pochard in the Presidency beyond

Hume’s general statement (GAME BIRDS, 111, 263) that it occurs

in the Northern Circars and that he has no record from south

of Madras.” (Whistler and Kinnear 1937).

Going by the above historical records and references, it

seems quite probable that the Ferruginous Duck, though not

unknown from our region, remains a rarely seen and unusual

visitor to the state. Old records notwithstanding, it 1s clear that

there is insufficient data available from recent times, to make

even a reasonable estimate of current probable wintering

populations in either Andhra Pradesh or Telangana States.

Also given its current status of “Near-Threatened/Declining’

in the IUCN Red Data Lists, it is perhaps a good time to make

a plea to all naturalists and birdwatchers to keep an eye open

for these birds and to report any sightings that may be made.

Historical sightings would be equally as interesting to us as

any current sightings.

REFERENCES

ABDULALI, H. (1936): The Jack Snipe and the White-eyed Pochard in

Hyderabad. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 38(3): 625.

Aut, S. (1933): The Hyderabad State Ornithological Survey — Part I.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36(2): 356-390. ,

Aut, S. & S.D. Rietey (1989): Compact Handbook of the Birds of India

and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

Baker, H.R. & C.M. INc.is (1930): The Birds of Southern India

including Madras, Malabar, Travancore, Cochin, Coorg and

Mysore. i-xxxiii, 1-504 pp. Government Press, Madras.

BirDLIFE INTERNATIONAL (2016): Species factsheet: Aythya nyroca.

Downloaded from http://www. birdlife.org on February 11, 2016.

Hasu, C. Tom & M.E. Peacock (1996): Migratory status, frequency

of sightings and frequent habitats of the birds of ICRISAT Asia

Center. Mayura 11: 16-27.

Hasu, C. Tom, A. VARADACHARY & S.E. Moss (1996): Mallards and

other mysteries — An update on the birds of ICRISAT Asia Center.

Mayura I1: 12-15.

PittieE, AASHEESH & SiRAJ A. TAHER (2004): Mid-winter waterbird

census in Andhra Pradesh: 1987-1996. pp. 1-142, 6 line drawings

(by S. Subramanya). Birdwatchers’ Society of Andhra Pradesh,

Hyderabad.

SRINIVASULU, C. (2004): Birds of Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra

Pradesh, India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 101(1): 3-25.

TAHER, SIRAJ A. (2000): Spotlight: Ferruginous / White-eyed Pochard

Aythya nyroca. Pitta 115: 7.

WHISTLER, H. & N.B. KINNEAR (1937): The Vernay Scientific Survey of

the Eastern Ghats (Ornithological Section). J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 39(3): 447-463.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

8. SIGHTING OF JERDON’S BAZA AVICEDA JERDONI (BLYTH, 1842) FROM GREAT NICOBAR

ISLAND, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ARCHIPELAGO, INDIA

C. SIVAPERUMAN!** AND G. GOKULAKRISHNAN!?

‘Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair 744 102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

"Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119682

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni belongs to the family

Accipitridae under order Accipitriformes and 1s distributed

in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, southern China,

Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines. The species has been

listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List (BirdLife

International 2015).

Jerdon’s Baza is a medium-sized raptor measuring 40—

50 cm long and can be mistaken for Crested Goshawk

or Crested Hawk-eagle in flight. However, it can be

distinguished by the longer upright crest, very broad and

rounded paddle-shaped wings, and normally plain and pale

underparts (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005). Jerdon’s Baza

is mostly found in the evergreen forests and tea estates of

Southeast Asia (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005). It is resident

in the Terai of northern India and foothills of the Eastern

Himalaya from eastern Nepal and Bengal duars to the Assam

valley, Western Ghats in southern India, southern Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand (Ali and

Ripley 1983), Sumatra (Busy 2003), Singapore (Chan et al.

2007), and Philippines (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Two subspecies

(jerdoni and ceylonensis) are reported from India (Ali and

Ripley 1987; Grimmett et al. 2011). The species jerdoni 1s

known from the tropical evergreen and moist deciduous

forests of Sikkim, eastward to Myanmar, while ceylonensis

occurs in the tropical and subtropical evergreen and moist

deciduous forests of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and

Sri Lanka. Very few sight records of Jerdon’s Baza are

reported from different localities of India, namely Kerala

(Vishnudas 2007); Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka (Achar

and Nayak 2000), Andhra Pradesh (Srinivasan et al. 2012),

and Tripura (Deuti 2013).

The Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost island of

the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago. It lies between 6° 45’

to 7° 15’ N and 93° 38’ to 93° 55’ E. Great Nicobar Island

includes the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Campbell Bay

National Park, Galathea National Park, Galathea Bay Wildlife

Sanctuary, and Megapode Island Wildlife Sanctuary. The total

geographical area of this island is approximately 1,044.54

sq. km, of which the Biosphere Reserve covers 1,038.70

sq. km. The island represents a unique and threatened

tropical evergreen forest ecosystem, including a host of

forest systems, ranging from seasonal rainforests in the low

hills, tropical mountain forests, and moist deciduous to dry

deciduous types. Great Nicobar Island is located about 482

km south of Port Blair, the capital of the archipelago. The

length of this island is 55 km from Murray Point in the north

to Indira Point in the south. This island has a rich heritage of

faunal diversity and the area also harbours one of the most

endangered and endemic bird species, the Nicobar Megapode

Megapodius nicobariensis.

On February 14, 2016, the second author (GG) sighted

a single Jerdon’s Baza in the forest edge at Shastri Nagar

(06° 48.541’ N; 93° 53.165’ E) in Great Nicobar Island.

Later, on March 25, 2016, it was sighted again and

photographed at Jogindar Nagar (06° 57.751" N; 93°

55.434’ E). The bird was identified based on the prominent

white-tipped black crest, mesial stripe, and distinct banding

pattern on the ventral side while in flight. The present sighting

of Jerdon’s Baza is a new distribution record to Andaman &

Nicobar Islands.

REFERENCES

Acuar, K.P. & K.G. Nayak (2000): A Field Guide to the Birds of

Dakshina Kannada. Bhuvanendra Nature Club, India. 214 pp.

Aut, S. & S.D. RipLey (1983): Handbook of the Birds of India and

Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 737 pp.

Aul, S. & S.D. Riptey (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.

BirDLirE INTERNATIONAL (2015): Aviceda jerdoni. The IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species 2015: e.T22694956A85002432. http://dx.doi.

org/10.2305/ IUCN. 2015.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

Buu, R. (2003): Breeding behaviour of Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni

at Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia: the first

nesting record for Sumatra. Forktail 19.

Cuan, Y.M., L.K. WanG & Y.C. We (2007): Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda

jerdoni in Singapore. Birding ASIA 8: 45-48.

DEL Hoyo, J., A. ELLiot & J. SARGATAL (1994): Handbook of the Birds

of the World. Vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx

Edicions, Barcelona.

Deut, K. (2013): Photographic record of Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni

in Tripura, India. Indian BIRDS 8(2): 47.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

GRIMMETT, R., C. INskipp & T. INskipp (2011): Birds of the Indian

Subcontinent. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

528 pp.

RASMUSSEN, P.C. & J.C. ANDERTON (2005): Birds of South Asia: The

Ripley Guide. Vols 1 & 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx

Edicions. Washington D.C. and Barcelona. 1072 pp.

SRINIVASAN, S., B. RAMAKRISHNA, C. SRINIVASULU & G. RAMAKRISHNA

(2012): Records of Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni (Blyth, 1842)

(Aves: Falconiformes: Accipitiridae) in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(9): 2920-2923.

VISHNUDAS, C.K. (2007): Notes on the breeding of Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda

jerdoni in Wayanad District, Kerala. Indian BIRDS 3(2): 62.

9. RECOVERIES OF RINGED SAND PLOVERS INDICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MODHAVA, GUJARAT,

AS ASTOPOVER SITE FOR MIGRANT WADERS FROM EAST AFRICA

CoLin H.W. JAcKsSoNn!

'A Rocha Kenya, P.O. Box 383, Watamu, Kenya and Animal Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch.

Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119683

The closely related Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius

mongolus and Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii are both

medium-sized, long-distance migrants that breed across

Central Asia and spend the non-breeding season from

East Africa through the Middle East, around the shores of

southern Asia, and throughout Southeast Asia and Australasia

(Balachandran 1998; Cramp et al. 1983; Hirschfield et al.

2000). While both can be very common, occurring in large

flocks on passage and in their non-breeding grounds, little

is yet known about the relationship between the different

breeding populations and subspecies, their migration

routes, and their non-breeding grounds (Delany et al. 2009;

Hirschfield et al. 2000; Wiersma et al. 2016a).

Five races of Charadrius mongolus are recognized:

three form the more westerly breeding ‘atrifrons group’

which includes C. m. pamirensis centred on the Pamir

mountains, C. m. atrifrons in Tibet, and C. m. schaeferi in

north-central China south to eastern Tibet. The remaining

two form the easterly-breeding ‘mongolus group’ containing

C. m. mongolus east and north of Lake Baikal in Siberia and

C. m. stegmanni farther east and north into Chukotka (Cramp

et al. 1983; Hirschfield et al. 2000).

Three races of Charadrius leschenaultii are recognized:

C. Ll. columbinus is the smaller-billed, most westerly race,

C. 1. scythicus has the generally longest wing-length and is

found in western Central Asia, and C. /. leschenaultii occurs

farthest east across Mongolia and extending slightly farther

north than scythicus into southern Siberia (Cramp et al. 1983;

Delany et al. 2009; Wiersma et al. 201 6a).

All races of both species are migratory, flying south

from the breeding grounds to spend the boreal winter along

the coastlines of East Africa, south and east Asia, and

Australia (del Hoyo et al. 1996; Hirschfield et al. 2000;

Nielsen 1971; Summers eft al. 1987). Detailed analysis of

museum skins has allowed an overall understanding of

which race migrates to which general non-breeding ground

and shown that for example perhaps surprisingly and unlike

previously thought, the race of Greater Sand Plover found

on the East African coastline was the nominate /eschenaultii

that breeds the furthest east in Mongolia and not the

Central Asian scythicus (Delany et al. 2009; Hirschfield et

al. 2000).

In recent years, much has been discovered about the

migration route and breeding grounds of both these species

following the East Asian/Australasian Flyway, in particular

about Greater Sand Plovers, due to substantial effort put into

ringing and observing birds at key sites along the flyway

(Minton 2005; Minton et a/. 2013). However, next to nothing

has been learnt regarding the routes and migration timing of

birds following the Central Asia/South Asia and West Asia/

East African Flyways (Wiersma et al. 2016b).

The photograph, therefore, of a Greater Sand Plover on

Modhava beach near Mandvi-Kutch, Gujarat on April 10,

2015 taken by Mr. Prashant Tewari (Fig. 1) that had been

ringed and flagged on the Kenyan coast was noteworthy. The

plover, ring no. A70821 and orange colour flag no. ‘TA’ had

originally been ringed at Mida Creek, Kenya on November

08, 2004, as an adult. It had then been retrapped at the same

location on September 16, 2013, before being photographed

on Modhava beach in 2015. This was the first Greater Sand

Plover to be recovered from any ringing carried out in East

Africa and it showed that the north-western coastline of India

was probably a staging post for this species on its way to its

breeding grounds in Mongolia.

Remarkably, a year later on March 29, 2016, the same

bird ‘TA’ was seen and photographed by Mr Jaysukh Parekh

‘Suman’ and his son Nirav Parekh at the same location as

in 2015, Modhava beach (Fig. 2). Even more remarkably,

another year later on March 30, 2017, the very same Greater

Sand Plover with leg flag ‘TA’ was photographed yet again

by the same photographers on the same Modhava beach

(Fig. 3). This confirmed the suggestion that Greater Sand

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

PRASHANT TEWARI

JAYSUKH PAREKH

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 1: Tagged Greater Sand Plover, ‘TA’, photographed at

Modhava Beach, Mandvi, April 10, 2015

Fig. 2: Tagged Greater Sand Plover, ‘TA’, photographed at

Modhava Beach, Mandvi, March 29, 2016

Plovers from East Africa migrate through north-western

India, using the beaches around Mandvi as an important

staging site to gain strength and accumulate fat for the final

flight overland to breeding grounds up to 4,000 km to the

north-east.

Fig. 3: Tagged Greater Sand Plover, ‘TA’, photographed

at Modhava Beach, Mandvi, March 30, 2017

g. 4: Tagged Lesser Sand Plover, ‘S6’, photographed at

Modhava Beach, Mandvi, May 22, 2016

In a further remarkable event almost two months after

first photographing the Greater Sand Plover ‘TA’, Mr Parekh

found and photographed on May 22, 2016 a second flagged

bird, this time a Lesser Sand Plover, ring no. F00338 and

white colour flag no. ‘S6’ (Fig. 4). It had been ringed at the

same location at Mida Creek, Kenya, on January 20, 2013,

by A Rocha Kenya. This is the second recovery of a Lesser

Sand Plover from East Africa, the first being ringed also at

Mida in December 1982 and recovered in September 1985

on the Pakistan coast, 650 km west of Mandvi. Even more

extraordinarily, Mr Parekh photographed this same Lesser

Sand Plover again, flag no. ‘S6’, on the same beach but

another year later on May 24, 2017 (Fig. 5).

Together these demonstrate the importance of the

north-western India and Pakistan coastline as a staging

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

JAYSUKH PAREKH

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

to fatten as well as to spend the non-breeding season.

Around 300 Greater Sand Plovers and the same number

of Lesser Sand Plovers have been ringed and marked with

leg flags by A Rocha Kenya at Mida Creek — orange flags

for Greater Sand Plovers and white for Lesser Sand Plovers.

Furthermore, similar numbers of Terek Sandpipers have been

flagged with white leg flags at the same location. The advent

of digital photography has greatly opened up the potential to

record re-sightings of flagged or colour-ringed birds and to

thus substantially add to our knowledge and understanding

of their migration and overall biology (Minton et a/. 2011).

Through a better understanding in this way, we can better

manage their habitats and hopefully help to conserve them

Fig. 5: Tagged Lesser Sand Plover, ‘S6’, photographed at Modhava_ _—« More effectively. We strongly encourage birders with cameras

Beach, Mandvi, May 24, 2017 to watch out for colour-marked birds and to photograph and

report them to the Bombay Natural History Society.

and fattening area for Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers that

spend the non-breeding season on the north Kenyan coast. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

They also confirm the high level of site fidelity of the birds

which prefer to use the same location for both stopping over Many thanks are due to Mr Prashant Tewari and

Details of recovered birds:

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus

f Date of ringed / : ; Migration distance / duration

Ring No. Location ringed / recovered

recovered (years/months/days)

Mida Creek, Kenya

O37 7227S,,59° 56" E

39.1985 Shadi Kor, Pasni, Baluchistan, Pakistan Le

ts 25° 13° N, 63° 30’ E ¢ Meas

Mida Creek, Kenya,

A43250 12-42-1982

F00338 20:4.2013

03° 2275, 39° 56° E

92 5.2016 Modhava, Mandvi, Gujarat, India ea ar od

a 22° 46’ N, 69° 26’E . a

Modhava, Mandvi, Gujarat, India

24.5.2017 4,318 km; 4 y, 4m, 3d

22° 46’ N, 69° 26° E

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii

Suakin, Red Sea coast, Sudan

A42779 7.9.1981

19° 08°N, 37°17°E

3.4.1982 eee (eseeHans Oy Gimn,25 d

= 35° 40’ N, 37° 45°E pepe

Rida Grecion

A70821 8.11.2004 pega Ua aly

03° 22S, 39° 58’E

Mida Creek, Kenya

16.9.2013 Olan: 200 1Oanedoid

03° 22’ S, 39° 58’E Mortis

Modhava, Mandvi, Gujarat, India

A70821 10.4.2015 4 .

entree 318 km: 10 y,5m, 3d

Modhava, Mandvi, Gujarat, India

A70821 29.3.2016 4.318 km: 1 22

22° 46’ N, 69° 26’E SEs

Modhava, Mandvi, Gujarat, India

30.3.2017 4,318 km: 12 y, 4m, 23d

22 45 WN, 6o 20 E

Note: y = years, m = months, d = days

30 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Mr Jaysukh Parekh ‘Suman’ and his son Nirav Parekh for

their efforts in photographing and reporting the flagged birds.

Thanks too for all those who have assisted in the many nights

of ringing waders at Mida Creek over the years.

REFERENCES

BALACHANDRAN, S. (1998): Population, moult, biometrics and subspecies

of Large Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii wintering in

southeast India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 95: 426-430.

Cramp, S., S. Simmons, D.C. Brooks, N.J. CoLLar, E. DuNN,

R. Gittmor, P.A.D. Ho_tom, R. Hupson, E.M. NICHOLSON &

M.A. OaiILviE (Eps) (1983): Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the

Middle East and North Africa. The birds of the Western Palearctic:

III. Waders to Gulls.

DELANY, S., D.A. Scott, T. DoDMAN & D. Stroup (2009): An Atlas

of Wader Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia. Wetlands

International, Wageningen, The Netherlands

DEL Hoyo, J., A. ELLiotr & J. SARGATAL (EDS) (1996): Handbook of the

Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions.

HIRSCHFIELD, E., C.S. ROSELAAR & H. SuHiRIHAI (2000): Identification,

taxonomy and distribution of Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers.

British Birds 93: 162-189.

Minton, C. (2005): What have we learned from banding and flagging

waders in Australia. Pp. 116—142. Jn: Status and conservation of

shorebirds in the East-Asian-Australasian Flyway. Proceedings of

the Australasian Shorebirds Conference. December 13—15, 2003.

Canberra, Australia.

Minton, C., K. GosBELL, P. JoHns, J. Fox & V. AFANASYEV (2011):

Recoveries and flag sightings of waders which spend the non-

breeding season in Australia. Stilt 59: 17-43.

Minton, C., K. GosBELL, P. JouNs, M. CuristigE, M. KLAASSEN,

C. Hassett, A. Boyte, R. Jessop & J. Fox (2013): New insights

from geolocators deployed on waders in Australia. Wader Study

Group Bull. 120: 37-46.

NIELSEN, B.P. (1971): Migration and relationships of four Asiatic plovers

Charadriinae. Ornis Scandinavica 2: 137-142.

SUMMERS, R.W., L.G. UNDERHILL, D.J. PEARSON & D.A. Scott (1987):

Wader migration systems in southern and eastern Africa and

western Asia. Wader Study Group Bull. 49: 15-34.

WIeERSMA, P., G.M. Kirwan & P. BOESMAN (2016a): Greater Sand Plover

(Charadrius leschenaultii). In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, J. Sargatal,

D.A. Christie, & E. De Juana (Eds): Handbook of the Birds of the

World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved from http://

www.hbw.com/node/53846 on June 20, 2016.

WierRSMA, P., G.M. Kirwan, D.A. CHRISTIE & P. BOESMAN (2016b):

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus). In: del Hoyo, J.,

A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D.A. Christie, & E. De Juana (Eds): Handbook

of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

(retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53845 on June 20,

2016).

10. HASORA CHROMUS (HESPERUDAE, LEPIDOPTERA): A NEW RECORD FOR DELHI, INDIA

HIMANSHU GuPpTA!* AND SwaTI DIwAKAR!

'Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India. Email: [email protected]

Postal Address: Lab 309, USIC, North Campus, University of Delhi 110 007, India.

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119684

- The Common Banded Awl Hasora chromus Cramer 1780,

earlier Hasora alexis Fabricius 1775, is a member of family

Hesperiidae and is known to occur in India, Pakistan, Nepal,

Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka (Kehimkar

2008). The species is more frequently found in India and it is

among the most widely distributed species in the subfamily

Hesperiinae, order Lepidoptera (Kehimkar 2008; Wynter-

Blyth 1957). Previous studies on butterflies did not show any

record of H. chromus from Delhi (Ashton 1973; Donahue

1967; Jandu 1942, 1943; Larsen 2002). H. chromus is easily

identifiable and the likelihood of mistaking it for other closely

related species is not likely.

On December 09, 2014 at 11:35 hours, I photographed

H. chromus nectaring on Lantana camara near Flagstaff

Tower, Kamala Nehru Ridge, North Delhi. It was a bright,

sunny day with very little wind blowing. The temperature

and relative humidity recorded using pocket weather meter

were 24.5 °C and 43% respectively. The butterfly nectared

on Lantana camara for almost a minute and then flew away.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

The adults are fast flying and the wingspan is roughly

45 mm. Adults usually perch on the underside of the leaf.

The species closely resembles a few other members of the

genus to which it belongs. However, it could be identified by:

(1) &: UPF unmarked, dark brown in colour.

(2) : In space 2 and 3 of discal band, large yellowish

white spots, suggesting it was a female.

(3) UN brown with purple sheen.

(4) UNH with bluish white band diffused towards outside.

A black tornal patch was seen (Kehimkar 2008;

Wynter-Blyth 1957).

Among the known host plants of H. chromus, Ricinus

communis and Pongamia pinnata are present in Kamala

Nehru Ridge, where the species was spotted. H. chromus

is already documented from states adjacent to Delhi such

as Punjab and Uttarakhand (Kumar 2015; Smetacek 2012).

It is possible that H. chromus might have reached Delhi

from these states while migrating or was transported

accidentally.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

REFERENCES

ASHTON, R. (1973): Butterflies of New Delhi (Papilionoidea). J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 69(3): 502-509.

DoNnaAHUE, J.P. (1967): An annotated list of the butterflies of Delhi, India.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 63(2): 235-269, 64(1): 22-48.

JHANDu, A.S. (1942): Biological notes on the butterflies of Delhi. Part I.

Papilionidae and Pieridae. Indian Journal of Entomology 4: 201-214.

JHANDU, A.S. (1943): Biological notes on the butterflies of Delhi. Part IT.

Danaidae, Satyridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae.

Indian Journal of Entomology 5: 223-241.

KEHIMKAR, I. (2008): The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural

History Society, Mumbai. Pp. 63-64.

Kumar, C. (2015): Checklist of butterfly diversity dwelling in the forest

strip along Sirhind Canal Mainline in Punjab, India. /nternational

Journal of Research Studies in Biosciences (IJRSB) 3(1): 169-173.

Larsen, T.B. (2002): The butterflies of Delhi, India — an annotated

checklist. Esperiana 9: 459-479.

SMETACEK, P. (2012): Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and

Hesperoidea) and other protected fauna of Jones Estate, a dying

watershed in the Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Journal

of Threatened Taxa 4(9): 2857-2874.

Wynter-Biytu, M.A. (1957): Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay

Natural History Society, Mumbai. 467 pp.

11. TURNERA SUBULATA SM. (FAMILY PASSIFLORACEAE): A NEW HOST OF TAWNY COSTER

ACRAEA VIOLAE LINN. IN KERALA, INDIA

SARoyJ Kumar V.!?, S. Kartuy '?, M. Minsa!4, MANoy Kumar SINGH!», K. AtTuirA’®, N.P. Sooras)’

AND R. JAISHANKER!**

'C.V. Raman Laboratory of Ecological Informatics, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management — Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala, India.

*Email: [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

>Email: manojkumar.mphilei8 @iiitmk.ac.in

°Email: [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119685

Tawny Coster Acraea violae Linnaeus, 1758 is native to

peninsular India and Sri Lanka (Bingham 1905; Doubleday and

Westwood 1846-1850; Kunte 2000). Tawny Coster larvae are

polyphagous and have been reported to feed on leaves of more

than 10 families of plants in India (Khot and Gaikwad 2011).

New host plants are occasionally added to the list of Tawny

Coster larval diet. Larval defoliation of Turnera ulmifolia was

recently reported (Khot and Gaikwad 2011). The authors report

Turnera subulata family Passifloraceae as a new host species of

Tawny Coster larvae. In a recent publication, Turnera ulmifolia

was misidentified as Turnera subulata to report the latter as a

new larval host of Acraea violae (Gideon et al. 2016). —

Florivoral behaviour of Tawny Coster larvae was

initially observed on Turnera subulata (Fig. 1) within

Technopark campus, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, in June 2016.

Subsequently, it was extensively observed at other locations

within Trivandrum and Kollam, Kerala, India. 7: subulata is

an invasive angiosperm native to Tropical America (Reddy

2008). The species has been reported to be widely naturalized

outside its native range (Short 2011).

To observe the life history, 54 larvae were reared in the

laboratory. The first three instars were folivorous and confined

to the lower surface of leaves. Mature larvae (4—Sth instars)

Fig.1: Larvae feeding on flowers of Turnera subulata

were florivorous, feeding voraciously on unopened buds and

flowers. The presence of large numbers of Tawny Coster

larvae on 7: subulata implies its potential as a host plant.

Larval feeding on flowers causes considerable damage to

the host plant, resulting in reduction of seed set and further

multiplication. Hence, Tawny Coster larvae can be considered

as a potential biological control agent against the invasive

Turnera subulata.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful to Prof. M.S. Rajasree, Director of

Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management

- Kerala for continuous encouragement and support towards

successful completion of the study.

REFERENCES

BincuaM, C.T. (1905): The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon

and Burma. Butterflies, Vol. 1. Taylor and Francis, London, UK.

DouBs ebay, E. & J.O. WEstwoop (1846—1850): The Genera of Diurnal

Lepidoptera: Comprising their Generic Characters, A Notice of

their Habits and Transformations, and A Catalogue of the Species

of each Genus, Vol 1. Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans,

London, UK.

GIDEON, V.A., K.C. Rurus & P. ViveKRAJ (2016): Record of new larval

host plant for Acraea terpsicore (Tawny Coster). International

Journal of Advances in Scientific Research 2(9): 167-168.

Kuort, R. & K. Gaikwap (2011): An additional record of larval host plant

of Tawny Coster Acraea violae (Fabricius 1775). J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 108(2): 62-63.

Kunte, K. (2000): Butterflies of Peninsular India. Universities Press,

Hyderabad and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. 254 pp.

Reppy, C.S. (2008): Catalogue of invasive alien flora of India. Life

Science Journal 5(2): 84-89.

SHort, P. (2011): Turneraceae. Jn: Short, P.S. & I.D. Cowie (Eds): Flora

of the Darwin Region. Northern Territory Herbarium, Palmerston,

Australia, 1: 1-2.

12. FIRST REPORT OF EUPLOEA KLUGIT FROM UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

SHIVANGI MisHRA!?, ADESH KUMAR!*, PETER SMETACEK” AND AMITA KANAUJIA)>*

‘Biodiversity & Wildlife Conservation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007,

Uttar Pradesh, India.

*Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand 263 136, India. Email: [email protected]

3Email: shivangimishra5 @rediffmail.com

‘Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119686

Euploea klugii (Moore 1858) is a widespread species that

has been recorded from Sri Lanka and southern India through

Nepal to Malaysia. It inhabits dense forests in regions of

heavy rainfall and belongs to a group of distasteful butterflies

that contain cardinolides (toxic glycosides) in their body tis-

sues. They are often very common in suitable localities and

are known to migrate in large numbers in southern India and

North America.

A peculiar feature of this group of butterflies is the need

for males to obtain pyrrolizidine alkaloids to trigger their

courtship. Therefore, males often congregate on flowers or

roots of certain plants having these alkaloids.

While conducting a survey of butterflies in Katerniaghat

Wildlife Sanctuary (27° 55’—28° 25’ N; 81°-81° 25’ E),

Uttar Pradesh, some Crows along with other Danatid

and Plain Tiger butterflies were seen sitting on Coat

Button plant Tridax procumbens and on milkweed, and

photographed (Eds: photographic evidence provided).

While identifying the specimens photographed during

the survey at the Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal,

it was noted that one of the individuals was Euploea

klugii.

Perusal of the literature indicates that Euploea klugii

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

has been previously reported as far west as the Kathmandu

valley in Nepal (Smith 2006) and northern Bihar in India

(Varshney and Smetacek 2015). Two subspecies occur in

India, E. klugii kollari C. & R. Felder (1865) from Gujarat

eastwards to West Bengal and Odisha, and E. k. klugii Moore

from northern Bihar, Sikkim to NE India. Both forms occur

together in N.E. India and Nepal (Smith 2006).

Conclusion

The current record extends the known distribution of the

species Euploea klugii considerably westwards from northern

Bihar to Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.

Since this species is known to migrate in southern India,

the possibility that the presently recorded butterfly was a

migrant from further south or east cannot be ruled out, but it

is generally believed that migrating butterflies do not prime

their pheromones from alkaloid sources which the individual

photographed appears to be doing. Therefore, the status of

the species in Katerniaghat needs to be established, whether

it is a vagrant, a regular migrant, a part time colonizer like

Delias acalis (Godart 1819) in the Western Himalaya, or a

resident that has been overlooked among swarms of Euploea

core (Cramer 1780).

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are due to the Head, Department of Zoology,

University of Lucknow, Lucknow, for his valuable support

and for providing necessary facilities to carry out the research.

We express our sincere gratitude to Uttar Pradesh State Bio-

diversity Board for funding and U.P. Forest Department for

permission to carry out the work.

REFERENCES

SMITH, COLIN (2006): Illustrated Checklist of Nepal’s Butterflies. Walden Book House, Minnesota. Pp. 129.

VARSHNEY, R.K. & P. SMETACEK (Eps) (2015): A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov

Publishing, New Delhi. Pp. ii + 261, 8 plates.

13. PURPLE AND GOLD FLITTER ZOGRAPHETUS SATWA (DE NICEVILLE, 1884),

FAMILY HESPERIIDAE, A NEW RECORD FOR BANGLADESH

TAHSINUR RAHMAN SHIHAN!*, TANIA KHAN*, MOHAMMAD QUAMRUZZAMAN Basu>?, Mp ASHRAF UL Hasan*

AND PROSENJIT DEBBARMA”*°

‘Present Address: Belgachi Railgate Para, Chuadanga 7200, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

*SOUL (Save Our Unprotected Life) Organization, Moulvi Bazar 3200, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

*Wildlife Conservation Team of Bangladesh (WCTBD). House - 25, Road- 18, Sector- 11, Uttara- 1230, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

“Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka. Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

°Email: p.debbarmal [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119687

Members of the genus Zographetus Watson, 1893 are

known to be distributed in southern Asia. Ten species are

recorded under genus Zographetus (Savela 2016). Their

distribution records are as follows:

(1) Zographetus satwa (de Nicéville, 1884), India (Sikkim,

Assam, Uttarakhand), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, China

(Hainan), Langkawi, Malaysia, Java (Fan et al. 2007;

Inayoshi 2016; Varshney and Smetacek 2015);

(ii) Z. pangi Fan & Wang, 2007, China (Guangdong,

Ruyuan) (Fan et al. 2007);

(ii) Z. doxus Eliot, 1959, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia,

Singapore, Borneo (Corbet and Pendlebury 1992);

(iv) Z. hainanensis Fan & Wang, 2007, China (Fan et al.

2007);

(v) Z. kutu Eliot, 1959, Malaysia (Corbet and Pendlebury

1992);

(vi) Z. ogygia (Hewitson, 1866), India (Sikkim, Western

Ghats: Goa southwards), Malaya, Thailand, Laos,

Borneo, Sumatra, Nias, Banka, Java (Kehimkar 2016;

Lewis 1973; Varshney and Smetacek 2015);

(vil) Z. ogygioides Elwes & Edwards, 1897, Thailand,

Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra (Savela 2016);

(vill) Z. pallens de Jong & Treadaway, 1993, Philippines

(Savela 2016);

(ix) Z. rama (Mabille, 1877), India (Assam), Myanmar,

Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Langkawi, Singapore,

Sumatra, Philippines, Celebes (Inayoshi 2016; Varshney

and Smetacek 2015);

(x) Z. abima (Hewitson, 1877), Celebes (Lewis 1973).

There is no previous record of the genus Zographetus or

species Z. satwa from Bangladesh (Larsen 2004). During the

survey period in December 2016, we recorded Zographetus

satwa as a new record from Madhabkunda Eco Park,

Bangladesh, which is presented in this note.

One individual was recorded in the Madhabkunda Eco

Park, Moulvi Bazar (24° 38’ 16.72" N; 92° 13’ 21.21” E)

(27.x11.2016; Local time: 12:30 pm (BST); Height of Z. satwa

active zone from ground: 10 m). During the observation,

we continuously monitored the habitat and movement of

butterflies. The individual came from top of the Patharia

hill near Madhabkunda waterfall and sat on a leaf of a Wild

Banana tree. Immediately after alighting, it opened its wings

and sat basking for three minutes, after which it changed place

and sat on another leaf for five minutes. At last it flew to a

bush of Chromolaena odorata and started feeding on nectar

from the flowers.

The sighting spot was an inaccessible place beside a hill

near a running stream and was covered with heavy bushes of

Chromolaena odorata and Banana Musa sp. trees. We could

only photograph the species using a 250 mm telephoto lens,

and were unable to collect the specimen for identification or

preservation. The photograph was identified with the help of

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

the description and diagrams of Hesperiidae given by Watson

(1893), Evans (1927), Fan et al. (2007) and IFB (2017)

(http://www. ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/839/Zographetussatwa)

respectively.

The characteristics which matched the photographed

species without any ambiguities about the identification are

as follows:

Antennae clubbed and elongate, with a short apical crook,

tip acuminate. Palpi: third joint minute, obtusely conical. Fore

wing: apically rather produced; inner margin longer than

outer margin; cell less than two-thirds the length of costa;

vein 12 reaching costa before the end of cell; discocellulars

suberect, the middle one slightly longer than the lower; vein

5 slightly nearer to 4 than to 6; vein 3 shortly before end of

cell; Cilia greyish.

Hind wing: underside with basal half yellow, distal half

brown making it different from other congenerics. Outer

margin slightly excavated at vein 2; vein 7 well before the end

of cell, arising at an acute angle; vein 3 immediately before

end of cell; vein 2 very close to vein 3, more than twice as far

from base of wing as from end of cell ; lower margin of cell

slightly angled at vein 2. Hind tibiae with two pairs of spurs.

The larval host plant and other behaviour of this species

are still unknown in Bangladesh.

REFERENCES

Corset, S. & H.M. PENDLEBURY (1992): The Butterflies of the Malay

Peninsula. Jn: Extort, J.N. (Eds): 4th edn. Malayan Nature Society,

Kuala Lumpur. 595 pp.

Evans, W.H. (1927): The Identification of Indian Butterflies. Bombay

Natural History Society, Bombay, India. 302 pp.

Fan, X., M. WANG, L. CHEN & L. ZENG (2007): The genus Zographetus

Watson (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in China, with the description

of two new species. Entomol. News 11&(3): 296-302.

IFB (Indian Foundation for Butterflies) (2017): Zographetus satwa de

Nicéville, 1884 — Purple and Gold Flitter. Jn: Kunte, K., P. Roy,

S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (Eds): Butterflies of India v. 2.24:

Indian Foundation for Butterflies. (http://www.ifoundbutterflies.

org/sp/839/Zographetussatwa) Accessed on January 04, 2017.

InayosuHl, Y. (2016): A Checklist of Butterflies in Indo-China (chiefly

from Thailand, Laos and Vietnam) (http://yutaka.it-n.jp/

lyc4/82300010. html). Accessed on January 03, 2016.

KEHIMKAR, Isaac (2016): Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History

Society, Mumbai. Pp. xii + 528.

Larsen, T.B. (2004): Butterflies of Bangladesh — an annotated checklist.

IUCN, Bangladesh. 158 pp, 8 colour plates.

Lewis, H.L. (1973): Butterflies of the World. Follett Publishing Co.,

Chicago. 312 pp.

SAVELA, M. (2016): http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/

lepidoptera/. Accessed in January 2017.

VARSHNEY, R.K. & P. SMETACEK (Eps) (2015): A Synoptic Catalogue of

the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and

Indinov Publishing, New Delhi, 11 + 261 pp.

Watson, E.Y. (1893): A proposed classification of the Hesperiidae, with

a revision of the genera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of

London. Pp. 3-132. Plates I-III.

14. A NEW HOST PLANT OF RED PIERROT TALICADA NYSEUS GUERIN, 1843

RECORDED IN MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

JENNIFER FRANCIS FERNANDES!

‘Gopi Birla Memorial School, 68, Walkeshwar Road, Mumbai 400 006, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119688

The Red Pierrot Zalicada nyseus, a member of the family

Lycaenidae (commonly known as Blues), is a small

butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast

Asia. The larvae of the Red Pierrot have been reported

to feed on Kalanchoe laciniata and K. pinnata of the

family Crassulaceae. Adult butterflies have been known to

visit lichens sometimes. Studies suggest that they collect

phenolic substances by scraping lichens (Karunaratne et

al. 2002, 2008; Kehimkar 2008; Wynter-Blyth 1957).

Recently, a Red Pierrot was observed laying eggs on a new

host plant which was planted beside Kalanchoe pinnata. The

new host plant was identified as Kalanchoe serrata (Fig. 1),

commonly known as Kalanchoe Magic Tower. This was on

the 20th floor of a high rise apartment in Mumbai Central.

According to past records, the Red Pierrot is a weak flier

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

and flutters close to the ground. But this tiny butterfly was

observed in a balcony on the 20th floor. The female laid four

eggs on the new host plant Kalanchoe serrata and more than

20 eggs on Kalanchoe pinnata on March 07, 2017. On March

10, 2017, the eggs hatched and the caterpillars bored into the

fleshy leaves of the new host plant (Figs 2 and 3). They moved

on to new leaves after completely consuming the leaves. They

left a blackish green trail within, filled with frass particles

(droppings). The caterpillars, along with the new food plant,

were reared in a box to record the life cycle. The first pupa

was observed on March 26, 2017, and on the next day the

other three caterpillars pupated. On March 30, the first pupa

turned brownish black and appeared infected. On April 04 and

05, 2017, the other three pupae turned completely black. Two

butterflies emerged on April 04, and the third pupa on April

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 2: Caterpillar leaf mining

Fig. 3: Caterpillar feeding from inside the leaf

05. The lifecycle of the Red Pierrot butterfly feeding on the

new host plant was thus completed in 29-30 days.

Description of Kalanchoe serrata Mannoni and Boiteau,

1947

The host plant Kalanchoe serrata is native to central and

southern Madagascar. It has succulent, thickened, narrow,

ovate, grey-brown leaves, with their undersides marked

with a darker chocolate brown; they produce plantlets along

the serrated leaf margins (Fig. 4). The plantlets fall off the

leaves to readily root and grow in the substrate. Though

grown in pots and rock gardens in India, Kalanchoe serrata

is known to be invasive in some countries. It could be easily

Fig. 4: The host plant Kalanchoe serrata

confused with Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe x

houghtonii (Mother of Millions hybrid), as the shape of the

leaves and the stripe marks are very similar. However, the

edges of the leaves of K. serrata are more tooth-like than in

K. daigremontiana (Knowledgebase Lookseek 2017; Plants

Database 2017; The Plant List 2017; Top Tropicals 2017).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most grateful to Mr Isaac Kehimkar, then

Deputy Director (Natural History), BNHS for continuous

encouragement and support towards successful completion

of the study.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

REFERENCES

KARUNARATNE, VERANJA, KARUNANANDA BOMBUWELA, SELVALUXMY

KATHIRGAMANATHAR, VIJAYA KUMAR, D. NEDRA KARUNARATNE,

K.B. RANAWANA, D.S.A. WIJESUNDARA, ARUNA WEERASOORIYA

& E.D. DE Sitva (2002): An association between the butterfly

Talicada nyseus and the lichen Leproloma sipmanianum as

evidenced from chemical studies. Current Science 83(6): 741-745.

KARUNARATNE, VERANJA, SELVALUXMY KATHIRGAMANATHAR, ANURA

WIJESEKERA, D. SiriL A. WIJESUNDARA & PAT WOLSELEY

(2008): Insights into the unique butterfly-lichen association

between Talicada nyseus nyseus and Leproloma sipmanianum.

Journal of Plant Interactions 3(1): 25-30. www.tandfonline.

com/doi/full/10.1080/17429140701740061. Published online on

April 04, 2008. Accessed on April 02, 2017.

KEHIMKAR, Isaac (2008): The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay

Natural History Society and Oxford University Press, Mumbai.

x1i+465 pp.

KNOWLEDGEBASE LOOKSEEK (2017): Red Pierrot Butterfly. http://

knowledgebase.lookseek.com/Red-Pierrot-Butterfly-Talicada-

nyseus.html. Accessed on March 29, 2017.

THE PLANT LIST (2017): Kalanchoe serrata. http://www.theplantlist.org/

tpl1.1/record/tro-8902834. Accessed on March 20, 2017.

Tor TropicaLs (2017): Kalanchoe serrata. https://toptropicals.com/

catalog/uid/kalanchoe_serrata.htm. Accessed on March 20, 2017.

PLANTS DaTABASE (2017): Kalanchoe serrata in Kalanchoes Database.

https://garden.org/plants/view/369120/Kalanchoe-Kalanchoe-

serrata/. Accessed on March 20, 2017.

Wynter BriytH, M.A. (1957): Butterflies of the Indian Region.

Bombay Natural History Society. Bombay.

15. NORTHERNMOST BREEDING RECORD OF ORCHID TIT CHLIARIA OTHONA (HEWITSON 1865)

FROM THE WESTERN GHATS, AT SANJAY GANDHI NATIONAL PARK, THANE, INDIA

MANDAR SAWANT!” SAGAR TUKARAM SARANG2, SARANG SHYAM MHATRE* AND SANCHIT CHANDRAKANT More?

'Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected]

2A-15,2nd Floor, Nanubai Niwas, Pasaidan CHS, Navapada, Subhash Road, Dombivli (West) 421 202, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected]

3603/ C-2, Panvelkar Sankool, Kharvai naka, Badlapur (East) 421 503, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

4A-501, Kuber Samruddhi, Kumbharkhan Pada, Near Shankeshwar Palms, Dombivli (West) 421 202, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119689

Introduction

Chliaria othona (Hewitson 1865) is an uncommon

butterfly belonging to Subfamily Theclinae under Family

Lycaenidae. It has been recorded in the Western Ghats

northwards up to Thane-Mumbai, and in northern India from

Uttarakhand to Arunachal, northeast India, and the Andaman

Islands. It prefers dense wet forests and can be seen on

the wing up to 1,500 m in the Himalaya from February to

November and from October to May in the Western Ghats.

This note provides the first documentation of its lifecycle

stages and also its larval host plants in the Mumbai-Thane

region. This is the northernmost distribution record in the

Western Ghats as well. Chliaria othona was newly reported

from Mumbai-Thane region between December 2014 and

March 2015. The search for life cycle stages was carried

out on the flower buds of commonly seen epiphytic orchids

following persusal of literature (Wynter-Blyth 1957) in the

same region. We found the eggs of this species at Yeoor forest

range of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Thane, and further life

cycle was observed in natural environment. Each instar was

observed and documented photographically, giving special

attention to larval behaviour and morphological transitions.

Host plants: Cottonia peduncularis and Acampe

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

praemorsa (Family: Orchidaceae).

Egg-laying behaviour: The adult female lays eggs on

flower buds (Swinhoe 1911—12), singly on each bud (pers.

obs.) (Fig. la).

Eggs: Eggs white, shiny, hemispherical in shape like a

half cut golf ball.

Hatching: Eggs hatch on the third or fourth day. The

emerging first instar is approximately 1 mm in length (Fig. 1b).

First instar: Small, hairy yellowish caterpillar with

reddish line passing through all the segments on dorsal side

of body (Fig. 1c). Size reaches 3 mm.

Second instar: Second instar larger, with a prominent

pink-red coloured line passing through all the segments on

dorsal side of the body along with a pair of faint pink lines

on the lateral sides (Fig. 1d and e). Hairs present on all the

segments. Size 5—6 mm in length.

Third & fourth instars: The third instar is similar to the

second instar, except that it grows in length as well as thickness

(Fig. 1f and g). Size 9 mm in length. In fourth instar the

striations on lateral side are fused to form a broad band similar

to the one on dorsal side (Fig. 1h). Both bands are pinkish

purple in colour. Hairs diminished. Size 1.1 cm in length.

Fifth instar: Colour turns greenish yellow, with

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 1 (a-l) Chliaria othona (Hewitson 1865): a. Egg; b. & c. First instar larva; d & e. Second instar;

f & g. Third instar; h. Fourth instar; i. Fifth instar; j & k. Pupa; |. Adult underside

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

diminished dorsal and lateral bands (Fig. 11). Size reduced,

indicating that it is preparing for pupation.

Larval behaviour: The first instar caterpillar fed only

on the flower buds, making holes into them. From second

instar onwards, it started feeding on the petals of flowers

along with flower buds.

Pupa: Pupation occurs after 14-15 days of hatching.

Initially the pupa was greenish in colour (Fig. 1j). On the

second day it became greyish. It was stuck to the twig of

larval host plant. The pupal stage continued for 9—10 days.

Pupa appears similar in shape as that of other members of

Subfamily Theclinae. A day before emergence, the wing area

of the pupa becomes darker, nearly black (Fig. 1k), like the

upperside wing colour, a few hours before emergence.

Adult: Hindwing with two delicate tails. Both sexes white

on underwing with faint bars at end-cells, and black-edged

brown markings (Fig. 11). Discal band on UNF completely

broken at vein 4, and upper part of band much wider than

lower part. Prominent small black costal spot mid-cell. UNH

discal band broken in spaces 4 and 6; prominent black spot

in space 7 towards base (Evans, W.H. 1932). Tornal spots

prominent and orange-crowned. Male pale blue on UP, with

broad black apex and termen; the black apex is shot deep

purple-blue. Narrowly black UPH apex and costa. Female

brown on UP, with lower part of discal area whitish. UPH

tornal area broadly bluish white, crossed by dark veins (Evans

1932; Kehimkar 2016)

Adult Behaviour: Both sexes were seen in open

forest canopy with bright sunlight. This butterfly prefers to

fly along forest trails, near ground level. Flight is strong and

fluttering. Males were often seen visiting nearby mud-puddling

areas and females were mostly seen near the larval hostplant.

Remarks

So far, in the Western Ghats, the life cycle of Orchid

Tit Chliaria othona has been observed and documented in

the form of photographic evidence of larval stages from

Amboli in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra state by Hemant

Ogale. The documentation is available online on www.

ifoundbutterflies.org website at http://www.ifoundbutterflies.

org/sp/509/Hypolycaena-othona. Similar sightings of this

species were reported in Kaas and Thoseghar, Satara district

in Maharashtra by Milind Bhakare on March 03, 2011.

Further north from the above localities in Western Ghats,

there is no published record in any source in the literature. Hence

this note represents the northernmost record of observations on

the lifecycle of this species from the Western Ghats.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are thankful to Mr Isaac Kehimkar for

his valuable inputs and guidance while drafting this note. We

are grateful to Mr Hemant Ogale and Mr Milind Bhakare for

their help while writing the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Evans, W.H. (1932): The Identification of Indian Butterflies. 2nd

edn. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. 454 pp., pls

XXXII.

KEHIMKAR, ISAAC (2016): Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History

Society, Mumbai. xii + 528 pp.

SWINHOE, CHARLES (1911—12): Lepidoptera Indica - Vol IX. Lovell Reeve

and Co. Ltd., London. vii + 278 pp., 50 colour plates.

Wynter BiytTu, M.A. (1957): Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay

Natural History Society, Bombay. xx + 523 pp, 27 colour &

45 black-and-white plates.

16. NEW RECORDS OF MARINE PARASITIC MOLLUSCS (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA) FROM

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA

SUMANTHA NARAYANA!?:* AND DEEPAK APTE!*

‘Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001,

Maharashtra, India.

*Email: [email protected]

-Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119690

Introduction

Parasitism, a non-mutual symbiotic relationship between

organisms, is one of the most common habits in the

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

marine ecosystem with parasitic molluscs being one such

ecologically significant group. Marine gastropods belonging

to the families Eulimidae, Pyramidellidae, Ovulidae,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Marginellidae, Epitoniidae, Cancellariidae, Triviidae,

Architectonicidae, Colubraridae, and Velutinidae are known

to be ectoparasites or endoparasites of many slow-moving or

sessile marine invertebrates, namely echinoderms, molluscs,

annelids, coelenterates, ascidians, and sponges, and also fish

(Lorenz 2005).

Studies on these parasitic gastropod families from Indian

waters are lacking, which is evident from the fact that so far

only 18 species of Eulimidae, 13 species of Ovulidae, and

19 species of Epitoniidae are reported from Indian waters

(Subba Rao and La Fond n.d.; Tripathy and Mukhopadhyay

2015); whereas the Eulimidae family comprises about 4,000

species (Warén and Gittenberger 1993) including c. 1,500

parasitic species, while the families Ovulidae and Epitoniidae

include c. 400 and 200 parasitic species respectively (Lorenz

2005) across the globe. Whereas eulimid gastropods are both

ecto- and endoparasites on all classes of Echinodermata, the

Ovulidae, a large family of egg-cowries, comprises obligate

ectoparasites on gorgonians, alcyonarians, and antipatharians,

spending their entire lives on their host coelenterates (Lorenz

2005). On the other hand, Epitoniidae or wentletraps as

they are commonly known, are a very large family of

heterogastropods that are permanent ectoparasites or foraging

predators mostly associated with Actiniaria, and to some

extent with Zoanthid or Scleractinian corals (Gittenberger

and Gittenberger 2005).

Also, most of the studies on marine molluscs in India

have only documented the distributional records of the

species, while host association records are practically non-

existent. The present work provides observations on host

associations with brief species description of the parasitic

gastropod molluscs, namely Melanella bovicornu and

Prosimnia semperi recorded for the first time from Indian

waters. Though Epidendrium aureum 1s being recorded for

the first time from Indian waters of Andaman & Nicobar

Islands, it had also recently been recorded from Lakshadweep

Archipelago (Narayana and Apte 2016).

Methodology

Field surveys were carried out during February and March

2016 across Andaman Islands including Burmanallah, Port

Blair (11° 3429.57" N; 92° 44’ 21.06” E), and Rutland (11°

27’ 41.61” N; 92° 40’ 39.66” E). Specimens were collected by

direct search method in the intertidal areas, under dead coral

boulders and rocks during low tides and sub-tidal reefs, by

SCUBA diving. The snails and their hosts were photographed

in situ. Shell sculpture was observed under a binocular

microscope and photographed with a digital camera. The

specimens were stored in 90% ethyl alcohol after studying

the morphological characteristics without relaxing them. To

study the shell sculpture of Epidendrium aureum, the shell

was mounted on an aluminium stub, kept in the chamber,

analysed in Low Vacuum mode (65 Pa) at a voltage of 20 kV

and photographed using an environmental scanning electron

microscope (SEM). Accession numbers were assigned to the

specimens that were then deposited in the Bombay Natural

History Society (BNHS) collections.

Results and Discussion

Systematics

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Subclass: Caenogastropoda

Order: Littorinimorpha

Superfamily: Vanikoroidea

Family: Eulimidae Philippi, 1853

Genus: Melanella Bowdich, 1822

Melanella bovicornu Pilsbry, 1905

Syn: Eulima bovicornu Pilsbry, 1905.

Eulimids are identified by their tall glossy shell which

is often slightly curved. Members of the genus Melanella

are known to parasitize sea cucumbers as endoparasites

or ectoparasites, feeding on the host’s fluids through their

proboscis (Queiroz et al. 2013; Will 2009). The present

specimens were found to be associated with the sea cucumber

Holothuria hilla (Lesson 1830). Melanella bovicornu is light

green with yellow margin on the head region giving a greenish

appearance to the shell (Figs 1a, b). The description provided

by Pilsbry (1905) exactly matches the specimens found

during the present study. Shell glossy white and moderately

solid with 11-13 convex whorls, having single distinctly

impressed varix (Fig. 1b); aperture ovate (Fig. Ic). Spire

regularly tapering, attenuate near the apex and strongly bent

to the right and backwards.

Habitat: Intertidal and sub-tidal region, loosely attached

to the holothurian dermis as an ectoparasite.

Number of specimens: | (BNHS Gastro 1530).

Distribution: Japan, Philippines, French Polynesia.

Distribution in India: Burmanallah, South Andaman,

Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Remark: New record to India.

Superfamily: Cypraeoidea

Family: Ovulidae Fleming, 1828

Subfamily: Prionovolvinae Fehse, 2007

Genus: Prosimnia F.A. Schilder, 1925

Prosimnia semperi Weinkauff, 1881

Syn: Ovula hordacea Lamarck, 1810 (unreviewed);

Ovula semperi Weinkauff, 1881; Ovula triticea Fischer, 1927

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 1: (a): Melanella bovicornu, (b): Varices on the shell (arrow) of Melanella bovicornu, (c): Aperture of Melanella bovicornu,

(d): Prosimnia semperi on gorgonian Melithaea sp., (e): Shell of Prosimnia semperi, (f): Epidendrium aureum with egg cases

(highlighted) on dendrophylliid hosts Tubastrea sp. feeding on its mucus (arrow),

(g): SEM photograph of Epidendrium aureum shell, (h): Aperture of Eoidendrium aureum

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

(unreviewed); Ovulum hordaceum G.B. Sowerby I, 1830

(unreviewed); Primovula coarctaca Schilder, 1941.

Prosimnia semperi is commonly known as Semper’s

Ovulid. It is known to show a preference for gorgonians

from genera Melithaea and Acabaria. One specimen (BNHS

Gastro 1764) of length 10 mm was observed on gorgonians

belonging to the genus Melithaea at a depth of 11 m (Fig.

1d). The description of the collected specimens matches that

of Lorenz and Fehse (2009); Draper and Churchill (2014)

and is reproduced hereunder. Shell (Fig. le) red in colour,

small, nearly cylindrical with tapering terminal collars; tips

of terminals narrow and blunt. Dorsal surface granulose,

ventral surface rough. Aperture narrow, widening abruptly

at the fossular section. Labrum flattened, crenulated, and

apertural edge denticulate. Outer labral shoulder coarsely

undulate. Parietal lip crenulated.

Mantle red like that of the host, covered with fine dark

maroon coloured rings and large white compound papillae

that match the host polyps and calyces. Siphon red with a

darker pattern of longitudinal lines.

Habitat: Ectoparasite on gorgonian of the genus

Melithaea which is a conspicuously large, simple or bushy

sea fan growing at depths of 2.0 to 45 m.

Number of specimens: | (BNHS Gastro 1764).

Distribution: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon

Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Australia.

Distribution in India: Rutland, Pongibalu in South

Andaman and North Reef Island in North Andaman,

Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Remark: New record to India.

Subclass: Caenogastropoda

Order: Unassigned

Superfamily: Epitonoidea

Family: Epitontidae Berry, 1910

Genus: Epidendrium Gittenberger and Gittenberger, 2005

Epidendrium aureum Gittenberger and Gittenberger,

2005

Three specimens along with egg cases were observed to be

associated with 7ubastrea sp. corals under rocks at a depth of

9 m (Fig. 1f). These shells were attached to the surface of their

dendrophylliid hosts Tubastrea sp. with the help of mucus

threads. The larger specimen (BNHS Gastro 1521) was used

to describe external morphology. Shell fragile, with convex

whorls; 8.4 mm in length (Fig. 1g). Protoconch dark purplish

red, which continues to the teleoconch whorls, gradually

fading out and not visible from about the 6th teleoconch

whorl onwards. Remaining parts of teleoconch white to

yellowish. Protoconch with 3’ whorls; apart from its smooth

apical part, it is sculptured with regularly spaced, very fine,

incised, axial lines. Teleoconch with 6*4 whorls, separated by

a moderately deep suture; sculptured with mostly regularly

placed, discontinuous, orthocline, lamellar, slightly curved

low costae, hardly touching the adjoining whorls. Aperture

subcircular (Fig. 1h). Umbilicus moderately wide and

operculum paucispiral (Gittenberger and Gittenberger 2005).

Habitat: The snails were found at 9 m depth, associated

with 7ubastrea sp. corals.

Number of specimens: 3 (BNHS Gastro 1521, 1522

(2 specimens in a vial)

Distribution: The species is known from the Indo-

West Pacific, Red Sea, Seychelles, Maldives, Thailand,

Japan, Philippines, Palau and Indonesia to Australia, India

(Lakshadweep Islands). |

New Distribution in India: Rutland, Pongibalu and

Twin Islands, South Andaman, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Remark: New record for Andaman & Nicobar Islands

which is the northernmost limit of the species in the Indian

Ocean.

Conclusion

Parasitic molluscs exhibit unique adaptations and

morphological specializations which have led to extensive

adaptive radiation and great diversity, which in turn empowers

co-evolution of host species. Further systematic studies of

these parasitic marine gastropod families from India are

required to fill the lacunae in our knowledge regarding these

parasitic molluscs which can influence species throughout a

community. The present findings add valuable information

to the literature on Indian marine molluscs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors take this opportunity to thank Ministry of

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government

of India. Dept of Environment and Forests, Andaman &

Nicobar Islands has always been supportive. G. Shaktivel and

P. Mohammed Ishaq assisted during the field work.

REFERENCES

Draper, R. & S. CHURCHILL (2014): The Invisibility Cloak: Ovulids and

Octocorals of Melanesia and Australia and the Magic Mantle that

Links them. Sue Churchill Publisher. 591 pp.

GITTENBERGER, A. & E. GITTENBERGER (2005): A hitherto unnoticed

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

adaptive radiation: epitoniid species (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae)

associated with corals (Scleractinia). Contrib. Zool. 74(1/2):

125-203.

Lorenz, F. (2005): Mollusca. Pp. 240-245. In: Rohde, K. (Ed.): Marine

Parasitology. CABI Publishing, Wallingford. 565 pp.

Lorenz, F. & D. FEHSE (2009): The living Ovulidae: a manual of

the families of allied cowries: Ovulidae, Pediculariidae and

Eocypraeidae. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, Germany.

NarayAna, 8S. & D. ApTE (2016): First record of Epidendrium aureum

(Gastropoda, Epitoniidae) associated with Tubastrea corals

(Scleractinia, Dendrophylhidae) from Lakshadweep, India.

Spixiana 39 (2): 202.

Pitssry, H.A. (1905): New Japanese marine Mollusca. Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Philadelphia 101-122.

Queiroz, V., L.S. DE Souza, A.D. PIMenta, & C.M. CunuHaA (2013): New

host records to Melanella (Caenogastropoda: Eulimidae) from the

Brazilian coast. Mar. Biodivers. Rec. 6: e67.

SUBBA RAo, D.V. & W.G. LA Fonp (n.d.): Compendium of Biota of the

Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. http://bayofbengalbiota.org/ visited

on 22.8.2017.

TRIPATHY, B. & A.K. MukHopADHYAY (2015): Marine molluscan diversity

in India. Pp. 39—74. In: Venkataraman, K. & C. Sivaperuman

(Eds): Marine Faunal Diversity in India: Taxonomy, Ecology and

Conservation. Academic Press, London.

Waren, A. & E. GITTENBERGER (1993): Turbo politus Linnaeus, 1758

(currently Melanella polita; Mollusca, Gastropoda): proposed

conservation of usage of the specific name, so conserving the

specific name of Buccinum acicula Miller, 1774 (currently

Cecilioides acicula). Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 50: 107-111.

WILL, I. (2009): Host preference, detection, and dependence: the

ectoparasitic gastropods Melanella acicula and Peasistilifer

nitidula (Eulimidae) on holothurian hosts. Student Research

Papers, Fall 2009. Available at: http://escholarship.org/uc/

item/1 ft6r4hf

17. SIGHTING THE SPIDER CRAB ELAMENA XAVIERI KEMP, 1917 (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA:

HYMENOSOMATIDAE) A CENTURY AFTER ITS FIRST REPORT ON THE INDIAN SEACOAST

BISWAPRAJNA MoHANtTy'™, Dipti RAutT!?*, MALAY KANTI Dev Roy~®, AkkuR V. RAMAN?*”, LipIKA PATNAIK'®

b 2, 2) b) )

AswIN!I NaYAK'”, BHAGYASHREE DASH!!! AND SONALI S. Rout!”

‘Environmental Science Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Odisha 753 003, India.

*Ex Crustacea Section, Zoological Survey of India, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700 016, West Bengal, India.

’Marine Biology Laboratory, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, India.

‘Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

‘Email: [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

’Email: [email protected]

*Email: [email protected]

Rmail: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

* Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119691

A Hymenosomatid crab Elamena xavieri 1s reported for

the first time from Devi estuary of Odisha, on the east coast

of India. The occurrence of this species is of interest, as

despite a record of the same from Mandovi river, Goa, on the

west coast of India, its presence in the waters of the Indian

subcontinent, Bay of Bengal in particular, remained elusive

for a century until the current study. Hence, the present

communication is a step towards documentation of the

species as anew record in the region, and a range extension.

Family Hymenosomatidae MacLeay, 1838, includes

small “spider crabs” which prefer to live in shallow coastal

waters of low salinity. The family includes 20 genera and

122 species of crabs worldwide (Davie et al. 2015). A

peculiar feature of this family is the absence of megalopa

larva during the early developmental stages. In these crabs,

the 4 pairs of ambulatory legs are longer, spider-like and

brittle, while abdominal segments and telson are markedly

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

20.02 *

19.59 ~

19.88

19.87

Bay of Bengal |

19,56 spn nn . ms a ,

$6.18 86.19 86.20 86.21 86,22 86.23

Fig.1: Location maps showing the Devi estuary, east coast of India.

Exact site of observation is encircled

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 2: Elamena xavieri Kemp, 1917 (a: Dorsal; b: Ventral)

unlike other brachyuran crabs (Dudgeon 1999; Lucas 1980)

and are relatively larger. Members of the genus E/amena

H. Milne Edwards, 1837 have a wafer thin, triangular

or pear-shaped, moderately convex outline of the carapace

with a characteristic triangular rostrum; grooves absent

on upper surface of carapace. The external maxillipeds

are broad and close the buccal cavern. Only five species

have been reported from India, namely Elamena truncata

(Stimpson, 1858), E. sindensis Alcock, 1900, E. cimex Kemp,

1915, E. xavieri Kemp, 1917, and E. gracilis (Borradaile,

1903). |

Fig. 3: Elamena xavieriKemp, 1917 a. Habitus Dorsal view, b. Anterior

region Dorsal view, c. Anterior region Ventral view, d. Chela of male

and tip of dactylus of last walking leg. e. Anterior region ventral view

depicting Post ocular tooth. Scale bars: a—c 2.5 mm; d, e 1.1 mm

The specimen reported here was obtained from dredge

hauls in Devi estuary (19° 58’ 30” N; 86° 21'54” E) (February

2015) on the east coast of India, Odisha (Fig. 1), identified

from taxonomic literature (Kemp 1917), and measured to

the nearest 0.1 mm using Vernier callipers. It was preserved

in 10% neutralized formaldehyde and deposited in the

Environmental Science Laboratory Museum, Department

of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, and

the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Systematic position

Elamena xavieri Kemp, 1917

Order Decapoda (Latreille, 1806)

Family Hymenosomatidae MacLeay, 1838

Genus Elamena (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

Type species: Hymenosoma mathoei Desmarest, 1823

Diagnosis:

Elamena xavieri Kemp, 1917 (Figs 2, 3, and 4)

Carapace dark brown, pear-shaped in outline, longer

than broad, antero-lateral border robustly curved, surface

devoid of hairs, margins rather convex and not upturned

as in Elamena truncata (Stimpson, 1858) and EF. gracilis

(Borradaile, 1903), rostrum not hollowed above, bears

a forwardly directed post ocular tooth underneath base

(Figs 3e and 4b) thus differing from F. sindensis Alcock,

1900. The post ocular tooth is not visible in dorsal view unlike

that of E. cimex Kemp, 1915. Eye stalk extended beyond

Table 1: Morphometric measurements of Elamena xavieri

Kemp, 1917

Morphometric parameters Measurements (mm)

Carapace width yaks)

Carapace length 20

Frontal width 0.8

Abdominal width 2.0

Cheliped: Propodus length yh)

Dactylus length fey

Merus length 0.8

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Fig. 4: Microphotographs depicting key diagnostic features of Elamena xavieri Kemp, 1917. a. Triangular rostrum, dorsal view b. Post ocular

tooth, ventral view c. Chela of male d. Dactyli slender, curved, with fine hairs on inner margin and two recurved teeth at apex. Scale bars: 1mm

carapace. Anterior border of buccal cavern convex on either

side of middle line. Rostrum flat above, triangular and pointed

(Fig. 4a). Antennules separated by distinct septum. Ischium

of maxilliped longer than merus. Chelipeds not stouter than

walking legs, as long as carapace; merus, carpus, and palm

with short hairs; fingers and palm of same length. Fingers

slightly incurved on inner face of chela and meet throughout

their length when the claw is closed (Figs 3d and 4c). Each

finger provided with small recurved teeth extending from

the base to the apex. Merus and carpus of walking legs with

strong distal tooth; all segments with fine hairs. Dactyli

slender, curved with fine hairs on the inner margin and two

recurved teeth at the apex (Figs 3d and 4 d) unlike a single

subdistal tooth observed in Elamena samalensis (Husana et

al. 2013). Second pair of walking legs somewhat longer than

the first or third. End pair shortest. Last segment of abdomen

in male triangular, with a pair of prominent pits at the base.

The specimen examined was 1, Devi estuary,

20.11.2015, (Biswaprajna Mohanty), Reg. No. RZEV CB-3

Odisha. The morphometric measurements are tabulated

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

(Table 1) for the specimen dredged from a depth of 10 m with

a salinity of 28.7 psu of soft mud and sandy clay textured

sediment habitats (sand 57.7%; silt 42.26%; clay 0.4%;

organic matter 3.2%).

The distribution of this species 1s restricted to India. With

the exception of an early report from Mandovi estuary, Goa,

west coast of India (Kemp 1917) and a reference to the same

(Dev Roy 2013), there has been no record or description from

the east coast. Hence, through this note, a detailed description

of Elamena xavieri has been attempted for the first time for

documentation and affirmation of range extension of the

species, sighted after a century.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support in

the form of a project grant (260/OBB, dated 06 September,

2014, Odisha Biodiversity Board, Bhubaneswar). Our thanks to

MrR. K. Parija, Artist, Department of Botany and Biotechnology,

Ravenshaw University for the illustrations of Fig. 3 and

Dr B. Charan, Young Scientist DST, Marine Biological

Laboratory, Andhra University, for the map. Laboratory

facilities and logistic support provided by the Department of

Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha is appreciated.

The paper benefited from the comments of reviewers.

REFERENCES

Davis, P.J.F., D. Guinot & P.K.L. NG (2015): Systematics and

classification of Brachyura. Jn: Castro, P., P.J.F. Davie, D. Guinot,

E.R. Schram & J.C. von Vaupel Klein (Eds): Treatise on Zoology

—Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Crustacea, complementary to

the volumes translated from the French of the Traité de Zoologie.

Decapoda: Brachyura (Part 1). Brill, Leiden, 9(C): 1049-1130.

http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40090250.

Dev Roy, M.K. (2013): Diversity and Distribution of Marine

Brachyuran Crab Communities Inhabiting West Coast of

India. Pp. 147-169. Jn: Venkataraman, K., C. Sivaperuman &

C. Raghunathan (Eds): Ecology and Conservation of Tropical

Marine Faunal Communities. Springer Verlag, Berlin &

Heidelberg.

Dupceon, D. (1999): Tropical Asian Stream: Zoobenthos, ecology and

conservation. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. 830 pp.

Lucas, J.S. (1980): Spider crabs of the family Hymenosomatidae

(Crustacea: Brachyura) with particular reference to Australian

species: Systematics and Biology. Rec. Aust. Mus. 33: 148-247.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/.0067-1975.33.1980.199.

Kemp, S. (1917): Notes on Crustacea Decapoda in the Indian Museum.

X. Hymenosomatidae. Rec. Ind. Mus. 13: 243-279. http://

biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11128085.

Husana, D.E.M., T. Kase, & J.C.E. MENDozA (2013): A new genus

and species of anchialine Hymenosomatidae (Crustacea:

Decapoda: Brachyura) from Samar, Philippines. Zootaxa 3109:

49-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3616.5.6

18. REDISCOVERY OF TAMARIX APAHYLLA (L.) H. KARST. (FAMILY TAMARICACEAE)

FROM MAHARASTHRA, INDIA

SAMIR MEHTA!

'#06, 'Punil' 3rd floor, Plot No. 9, Ashok Nagar Society, N.S. Road no. 11, Juhu Scheme, Mumbai 400 049, Maharashtra, India.

Email: [email protected]

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119692

Introduction

Genus Tamarix comprises approximately 90 species

globally. Tamarix aphylla is distributed in Africa, Middle

East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It is found as a

cultivated species in North America and has earned weed

status in Australia. In India, the genus is represented by

nine wild species, namely Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst.,

T: dioica Roxb. ex Roth,, 7! indica Willd., T: pakistanica

Qaiser, T. arceuthoides Bunge, T: leptostachya Bunge,

T: ericoides Rottler & Willd., T. kutchensis Shetty & Pandey,

T: passerinoides Delile ex Desv. var. macrocarpa Ehrenb.,

and and one ornamental species T. chinensis Lout.

During a field trip in Raigad district, Maharashtra, a large

shrub was photographically documented in detail showing

all its characteristic features. The possible identity of the

specimen was assessed as a member of genus Zamarix. After

comparison with literature, the specimen was confirmed to

be Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst. (Almeida 1996; Mahabale

1987). Tamarix aphylla (L.) is distributed in Africa, Middle

East, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

A brief description and key is given with notes for easy

identification.

Key to Tamarix species in India

1. Flowers unisexual; plants dioecious................. T: dioica

ae losers bisertia nz hnaontes. doops. Avite rea chias -ahdercsts} a 2

2. Androecium haplostemonous; stamens 5................0068 3

— Androecium diplostemonous or partially diplostemonous;

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

stamens: [0-or 6-10 2:2 eee eee ees 7

3. Leaves vaginate; racemes spirally twisted .....7. aphylla

— Leaves pseudo-vaginate, amplexicaul or narrowed at base;

racemes notispitally twasted yt 0G. ie

4. Leaves pseudo-vaginate or amplexicaul; sepals rounded

or truticate-atapex Plants OL Plamis. aioe se 5

— Leaves narrowed at base, at least some sepals acute at

apex; plants or hiehvaltitude tac... eeu ee ateee 6

5. Rachis glabrous to sparsely papillose; racemes 3—4

(-5) mm broad; lobes of disc notched; filaments

MACS OCISCUINE .. Fokicgncoan, SeaAh wena tee Pee ee T. indica

— Rachis densely papillose; racemes 5—7 mm broad; lobes

of disc not notched; filaments epilophic to confluent-

SOIL PRG Erne ee, LP cee nee, ae T. pakistanica

6. Lobes of disc notched; filaments mesodiscine...............

a BED Mass Nite 2 ES, Se ee. a T. arceuthoides

— Lobes of disc not notched; filaments confluent-

epilophic2da | 2) Sa eat co oe T. leptostacya

7. Leaves vaginate in lower part; racemes 1—1.5 (—2) cm

broad; bracts more than 2 mm long; petals irregularly

denticulate in upper half; stamens 10; disc fleshy..........

acter heythdanolm..upictrriy toe. so. tiene T. ericoides

— Leaves amplexicaul or semi-amplexicaul; racemes

5—8 mm broad; bracts less than 2 mm long; petals

entire, often emarginate; stamens 6—10; disc not

LE SI CN /Sieg ohecke of Miers ake eer eth Se ei a. vetlig oath OY tee anes d Mdt 8

8. Petals 2—2.5 x 1-1.5 mm; disc lobed; filaments epilophic;

capsules less than:7 mitilOne...4,,. cesses T. kutchensis

— Petals 3-4.5 x 2—2.5 mm; disc not lobed; filaments

epidiscine; capsules more than 8 mm long....................

Wide Hae AE LAN, Scheel eee T: passerinoides

Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst., Deut. Fl. 641.1882. Thuja

aphylla L., Cent. Pl. 1: 32. 1755, p.p. Tamarix orientalis

Forsskal, Fl. Aegypt-Arab. 206. 1775. T. articulata Vahl,

Symb. Bot. 2: 48, t. 32. 1791, nom. illegit; Dyer in FI. Brit.

India 1: 249. 1874.

Tree or tall shrub, up to c. 13 m tall with reddish brown

to grey bark, entirely glabrous. Leaves vaginate, abruptly

mucronate 1.5—2 (—3) mm long, with impressed punctate

glands; reduced to tiny scales (1—2 mm long) and alternately

arranged along the fine branchlets (similar in appearance to

pine needles). Racemes mostly aestival, simple or compound,

2—6 cm long, spirally curved. Flowers bisexual, subsessile,

pinkish white, pedicel <1 mm long. Bracts vaginate, ovate,

acuminate, 1.25—1.5 mm long, 0.5 mm broad. Sepals 5,

free, 1.5 mm long, c. | mm broad, almost entire, obtuse,

broadly ovate to elliptic, outer 2 somewhat smaller than the

inner 3. Petals 5, stamens 5, exerted, filaments filiform, 2

mm long, anthers cordate, somewhat apiculate. Disc deeply

5-lobed, the five filaments inserted in between lobes of disc

(mesodiscine), insertion peridiscal. Stigmas 3, discoid, styles

half the length of the ovary, ovary conical, 1.75—2 mm long.

Capsule pyramidal, rounded at tip, 2.5—3.5 mm long, c. 1.5

mm broad. Seeds many, c. 0.5 mm long, coma 2—3 mm long.

Flowering & Fruiting: June to October, mainly in August

and September.

Distribution: Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,

Egypt, Senegal, Sudan, Abyssinia, Eritrea, Somaliland,

Kenya), Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen,

Iraq, Kuwait, Iran), Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India

(Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat,

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu). It is found as an introduced

species, being planted in N. America, and has earned weed

status in Australia.

Ecological Note: Tamarix aphylla is xerophytic and

drought resistant. It grows best in loamy soil, but it is also

found on sand and stiff clay, and on alkaline, saline, and

seasonally waterlogged soils, and saline sodic soils.

Specimen examined: 2 specimens: INDIA: Maharashtra,

Raigad district, 18° 41' 42.9894" N, 73° 1’ 7.3452" E;

15.vit.2015, 14.vii1.2016. Coll: Dr Samir Mehta.

Chromosome number: 2n=24

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is thankful to Dr Pankaj Kumar and Dr Satish

Pardeshi for their suggestions on this article.

REFERENCES

ALMEIDA, M.R. (1996): Flora of Maharashtra. Vol. 1. Published by Thomas Almeida for Blatter Herbarium, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

MaunaBaL_e, T.S. (1987): Botany & Flora of Maharashtra. Jn: K.K. Chaudhari (Ed.) Gazetteer of India: Maharashtra State.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

19. ANEW LOCATION FOR A RARE LEGUME FLEMINGIA ROLLAE

(FAMILY FABACEAE) AND NOTES ON ITS TYPIFICATION

SANDIP K. GAVADE!**, MAyuUR D. NANDIKAR””, VINOD B. SHIMPALE*° AND MANoJ M. LEKHAK*’

3) b)

‘Angiosperm Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, Maharashtra, India

*Naoroji Godrej Centre for Plant Research (NGCPR), Shindewadi, Post Shirwal, Satara 412 801, Maharashtra, India.

*Department of Botany, The New College, Kolhapur 416 012, Maharashtra, India.

*Email: [email protected]

>Email: [email protected]

°Email: [email protected]

7Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119693

Introduction

Flemingia rollae (Billore & Hemadri) An. Kumar was

first collected by Patwardhan in 1907 from Kalsubai hills,

Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. However, the specimens

were identified as F. involucrata Benth. In 1970, this species

was collected from Panshet forest, near Bari, Kalsubai hills,

Ahmednagar district by Wadhwa. Billore and Hemadri (1982)

described Moghania rollae Billore & Hemadri (now F' rollae)

based on collections made by Patwardhan (Patwardhan 1200

A-C), Wadhwa (Wadhwa 128313 A-J) and Billore (Billore

115683 A-F).

Since the description of the species in 1982, it was not

collected again until 2014 (Gavade and Lekhak 2015). During

a botanical exploration in 2015, the authors collected some

interesting plant specimens from Torna fort, Pune district,

Maharashtra. Based on critical examination of the specimens

and consultation of literature, the plant was identified as

Flemingia rollae. So, the collection site constitutes a new

locality for F: rollae.

The species is restricted to high altitude plateaus and

resembles F. nilgheriensis (Baker) Wight ex Cooke, a

weak stemmed species, but differs in its erect, robust habit,

broader, longer, lanceolate-acuminate stipules, and larger

inflorescence (Billore and Hemadri 1982).

The present work provides a detailed description of

F. rollae, notes on typification and ecology.

Taxonomy

Flemingia rollae (Billore & Hemadri) An. Kumar in

J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 4(1): 232. 1983; Sanjappa, Leg. India:

178. 1992; Kothari in Singh et al., Fl. Maharashtra 1: 687.

2000. Moghania rollae Billore & Hemadri in J. Econ. Taxon.

BOL SIZ )V GF: 1982.

Lectotype (designated here): inp1A: Maharashtra:

Ahmednagar district, Kalsubai hills, 13.x.1907, Patwardhan

1200 (BSI).

Erect herb, 20-45 cm long with branched stem; stems

3—4 mm in diameter, angular, pubescent with long white

hairs, gland-dotted. Leaves trifoliolate, 4.4—9.0 cm long,

stipulate; petiole 1.3—2.2 cm long, pubescent with white hairs,

gland-dotted; stipules 2, ovate, acuminate, fused, separate at

maturity, 1.2—-1.8 x 0.4—0.5 cm, persistent, basifixed, many

nerved. Leaflets 2.5—4.8 x 1.2—3 cm, ovate to elliptic; middle

leaflet cuneate at base; lateral leaflets asymmetrical or oblique

at base, pubescent on both surfaces, gland-dotted beneath,

ciliate at margins; petiolules 1-2 mm long, pubescent.

Inflorescence terminal heads or capitate, 15—25-flowered;

flower 1.3—1.4 cm long; pedicel 2—3 mm long; bracts ovate,

acuminate, 1.1—1.2 x 0.3—0.4 cm, many-nerved, gland-dotted,

densely hairy; hairs white, antrorse. Calyx 1.2—1.3 x 0.4—

0.5 cm, pubescent, gland-dotted on outer surface; calyx tube

4—5 mm long, campanulate, hairy, gland-dotted; calyx teeth

5, equal, 7-8 x 2 mm, linear to lanceolate, connate for 1/3

of their length, many-nerved. Corolla purple; standard c. 1.2

x 1.1 cm, obovate, retuse at apex, pubescent, gland-dotted

on outer surface, clawed with 2 auricles at base; wings 1.2 x

0.5 cm, oblong, pubescent, gland-dotted on outer surface, claw

5 mm long, auricles c.1 mm long; keel petals 1 x 0.3 cm,

fused half of their length on lower side, slightly falcate, claw

4mm long, auricle less than 1 mm, pubescent, gland-dotted on

outer surface. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9+1); staminal tube

7-8 x 1.5—2 mm; anthers uniform, less than 1 mm, basifixed;

filaments of united stamens 3—4 mm long, those of free

stamens 7-8 mm long. Ovary 2—2.5 x 1—1.5 mm, sub-sessile,

hairy on margin, hairs white, antrorse; ovules 1—2; styles

7-8 mm long, glabrous, swollen at middle; stigma capitate,

hairy. Pod 1.2—1.4 x 0.4—0.5 cm, calyx exceeding the pod,

beaked, turgid, glabrous; beak <1 mm long; 1-seeded. Seed 1,

4 x 2 x 2mm, brown, oval, hilum less than 1 mm long (Fig. 1).

Flowering and Fruiting: October to November.

Specimens examined: INDIA: Maharashtra: Ahmednagar

district, Panshet forests, Kalsubai hills, near Bari, 3.x.2014,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Gavade & Lekhak 6 (SUK); Harishchandragad, near Pachnai,

4.x.2014, Gavade & Lekhak s.n. (SUK); Pune district, Torna

fort, 26.1x.2015, Nandikar & Giranje 1403 (SUK).

Ecology and Distribution: In the present survey

Flemingia rollae was found growing on the high altitude

plateau of Kalsubai (19° 35' 58.14" N; 73° 42' 49.86" E),

Ahmednagar district and Torna (18° 17’ 3.48" N; 73° 37’

26.04” E) Pune district, Maharashtra. It occurs on hill slopes,

rocky crevices, and plains at elevations from 700—1,500 m

above msl. It grows in association with other species, namely

Adelocaryum sp., Adenoon indicum Dalzell, Barleria sepalosa

C.B. Clarke, Ceropegia sahyadrica Ansari & B.G.Kulk.,

Chlorophytum glaucum Dalzell, Delphinium malabaricum

(Huth) Munz, Echinops echinatus Roxb., Neuracanthus sp.,

and Pleocaulus ritchei (C.B. Clarke) Bremek.

Nomenclatural note

Billore and Hemadri (1982) described Moghania rollae

(now Flemingia rollae) based on specimens of Patwardhan

(Patwardhan 1200 A-C), Wadhwa (Wadhwa 128313 A-J)

and Billore (Billore 115653 A-F). They mentioned that the

holotype is at CAL; isotypes are at BSI, BLAT, K, and MH (K

and MH: acronyms of the herbaria of Royal Botanic Gardens,

Kew, England, U.K. and Southern Regional Center, Botanical

Survey of India, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, respectively) and

paratypes at BSI. Gavade and Lekhak (2015) designated

neotype of F! rollae for this binomial, as they could not

trace any original material in the relevant herbaria (BSI,

BLAT, K and MH). However, during a visit in January 2016

to Western Regional Centre, Botanical Survey of India

(BSI), Pune, as part of revisionary work on the genus, the

authors could trace one relevant sheet (Patwardhan 1200). A

perusal of the protologue reveals that the sheet was cited as a

paratype. Since there are no existing holotype and isotypes,

the paratype (Patwardhan 1200) is designated here as the

lectotype, superseding the neotype designated earlier by

Gavade and Lekhak (2015), following Art. 9.19 (a) of ICN

(McNeill et al. 2012).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Head, Department of Botany,

Shivaji University, Kolhapur and Naoroji Godrej Centre for

Plant Research (NGCPR) for providing research facilities. We

thank the authorities of BSI, Pune for allowing us to consult

the herbarium. SKG thanks the Science and Engineering

Research Board (SERB), New Delhi for financial assistance

under the project Cytotaxonomical studies in Flemingia from

India, a wild relative of Cajanus cajan vide sanction letter

SERB/F/201/2014-15 dated 15.5.2014.

REFERENCES

Bittore, K.V. & K. HEMApRI (1982): A new species of Moghania J. St.-

Hil. from Western Ghats, India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 3: 617-619.

GAVADE, S.K. & M.M. LEKHAK (2015): Neotypification of Flemingia

rollae (Leguminosae). Phytotaxa 212(2): 17-174.

Koruart, M.J. (2000): Fabaceae Jn: Singh, N.P., P. Laxminarasimhan,

S. Karthikeyan & P.V. Prasanna (Eds): Flora of Maharashtra State

I, Dicotyledons. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. 687 pp.

McneILL, J.M., FR. Barrie, W.R. Buck, V. DEMOULIN, W. GREUTER,

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

D.L. HaAwkswortu, P.S. HERENDEEN, S. KNAPP, K. MARHOLD,

J. PRADO, W.F. PRUD’ HOMME VAN REINE, G.F. SMITH, J.H. WIERSEMA

& N.J. TURLAND (Eps) (2012): International Code of Nomenclature

for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code): Adopted by the

18th International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July

2011. Regnum Vegetabile154. Koeltz Scientific Books, KOnigstein.

SANJAPPA, M. (1992): Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal

Singh, Dehradun. 178 pp.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

20. ELEOCHARIS KHANDWAENSIS (FAMILY CYPERACEAE):

A NEW RECORD FOR MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

A.N. CHANDOoRE!** D.B. Borupe!”* V.I. KAHALKAR*? AND M.M. LEKHAK?

‘Department of Botany, Abasaheb Marathe Arts and New Commerce, Science College, Rajapur 416 702, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.

*Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Arts Science and Late NP Commerce College, Armori, 441 208, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra,

India. Email: [email protected]

*Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]

*Email: [email protected]

>Email: [email protected]

*Corresponding author

doi: 10.17087/jbnhs/2016/v113/119694

Introduction

The genus Eleocharis R. Br. is widely distributed from

tropical to temperate regions of both hemispheres (Prasad and

Singh 2002). Recently, Govaerts et al. (2015) have reported

about 297 species, 12 subspecies, and 17 varieties for the

world. In India, it is represented by about 21 species (Prasad

and Singh 2002). Recently, Eleocharis wadoodii S.R. Yadav,

Lekhak & Chandore and E. konkanensis Chandore, Borude,

Kambale & S.R. Yadav have been described from the state

of Maharashtra (Chandore et al. 2016; Yadav et al. 2009).

Another species of Eleocharis i.e. E. khandwaensis Mujaffar,

Chandore & S.R. Yadav has been described from the state of

Madhya Pradesh (Mujaffar et al. 2014). Similarly, one more

species E. setifolia (A. Rich) Raynal has been recorded for

India by Wadoodkhan (2015). Therefore, the present count

of Eleocharis in India is about 25 species including 3 new

species and one addition. At present, 14 taxa (10 species,

3 subspecies, and one variety) of Eleocharis (including

E. khandwaensis) have been reported from the state of

Maharashtra.

As part of a taxonomic revision of genus Eleocharis in

India, the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra was surveyed

in October 2015. During the survey, we collected some

specimens of Eleocharis R. Br. On examination of the

literature (Koyama 1985; Mujaffar et al. 2014) and critical

analysis of specimens, the identity of the species was revealed

as Eleocharis khandwaensis Mujaffar, Chandore & S.R.

Yadav. Further scrutiny of literature (Lakshminarasimhan

1996; Wadoodkhan 2015) revealed that this species has not

been recorded so far from Maharashtra state. Hence, it 1s

reported here as a new record for Maharashtra state.

Eleocharis khandwaensis Mujatffar, Chandore & S.R. Yadav

in Nord. J. Bot. 32: 710-712, 2014.

Perennial herb. Rhizome c. 3 cm long, c. 1.5 cm thick.

Stolons slender, c. 15 cm long, c. 3 mm thick, covered with

reddish to brown scales. Root c. 15 cm long x 1.5 mm

thick. Culms erect, densely tufted, leafless, c. 100 cm high,

2-5 mm wide, terete, acute at apex, shiny, striate when

dry, transversely septate, hollow between septa, deeply

green, yellowish brown when dry. Sheaths membraneous;

outer sheath up to 7 cm long, purple to brownish; inner

Characters

Stolon

Culms

Spikelet

Glumes

Perianth bristles

Perianth bristle spinules

Achene shape

Achene colour

Achene surface

Table 1: Comparison between Eleocharis dulcis, E. lankana and E. khandwaensis

Eleocharis dulcis

Present

50—100 cm tall, soft, flat after pressing

and drying

Cylindrical, not wider than the culms

Obtuse or rounded

Two to three times longer than

achene

Stout

Obovoid to suborbicular

Yellowish brown to dark brown

Epidermal cells very small, hexagonal

in many vertical rows

E. lankana

Absent

20-25 cm tall, rigid, slender after

pressing and drying

Cylindrical, not wider than the culms

Acute

As long as to slightly longer than

achene

Stout

Obovoid

Brown to olive

Epidermal cells isodiametrically

hexagonal to vertically rectangular

E. khandwaensis

Present

c. 100 cm tall, rigid, slender after

pressing and drying

Terete to angular, as broad as or

narrower than culms

Acute

As long as to slightly longer than

achene

Weak

Oval—obovate

Dark brown to black

Epidermal cells isodiametrically

hexagonal to pentagonal

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

sheath 15-30 cm long, yellowish to light brown, oblique

at mouth. Spikelets straight, terete to angular, as broad as

or narrower than culm, contracted to acute at apex, 2.0—

4.0 cm long, 2.5—4.0 mm in diameter, densely many-flowered,

green to pale yellowish; rachilla persistent, acuminate; bracts

glume-like, sterile, 3.0-4.0 mm long. Glumes imbricate, all

fertile, ovate to oblong, c. 6.5 x 3 mm, cartilaginous, closely

imbricate except the loose sub-rounded tips, convolute when

dry, c. 1/2 overlapping, acute to subacute, scarious along

margins; mid-nerve prominent. Hypogynous bristles c. 6,

unequal, several as long as nut or | to 2 shorter than nut,

1 or 2 slightly overtopping the nut; spinules in upper 2/3 of

nut, linear to gradually narrowed upwards, slightly connate at

base. Stamens 3. Style bifid or trifid; style-base articulate but

persistent on the nut. Achene biconvex, oval-obovate, 1.8—2.0 x

1.7—1.8 mm, abruptly narrowed at base, constricted below the

annular apex into a short neck; epidermal cells isodiametrically

hexagonal to pentagonal, dark brownish to black.

Flowering: Aug—Sept. Fruiting: Oct—Nov.

Habitat: Eleocharis khandwaensis grows in natural ponds

in typical association with Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl. &

K. Krause, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Nechamandra

alternifolia (Roxb. ex Wight) Thwaites, Nymphoides cristata

(Roxb.) Kuntze, Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers., Potamogeton

nodosus Potr., and Sagittaria guyanensis Kunth.

Distribution: tnp1A: Madhya Pradesh, Khandwa district,

Bamangaon village and Tirandaz village (Mujaffar et al.

2014). Recently, we have collected it for the first time from

outside the type locality i.e. Allapali, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

Specimens examined: INDIA: Maharashtra [Gadchiroli

district, Allapali lake, 12.x.2015, A.N. Chandore 1972

(SUK)]; Madhya Pradesh [Khandwa district, Bamangaon

village, 22.1x.2012, Mujaffar 4520 (SUK!); Khandwa district,

Tirandaz village 11.1x.2013, Chandore 1831 (SUK)].

Note: Morphologically, Eleocharis khandwaensis is

similar to E. lankana T. Koyama but it differs from this

species by stolons present (vs absent), perianth bristle spinules

weak (vs stout), achene annulate apex with a short neck

(vs without neck or neck short), base of achene abruptly

narrowed (vs attenuate), colour of achene dark brown to

black (vs brown to olive), achene surface epidermal cells

isodiametrically hexagonal to pentagonal (vs isodiametrically

hexagonal to vertically rectangular). The detailed comparison

between Eleocharis dulcis, E. lankana, and E. khandwaensis

is given in Table 1.

Key to the species of Eleocharis R.Br. (Maharashtra)

la. Culms I—12 mm in diameter, generally more than 30 cm

tall

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. 113: 2016

2a. Culms with transverse septa

3a. Glumes obtuse or rounded

4a. Perianth bristles two to three times longer than achene

TOE eS Mees tN ER OEE eA. E. dulcis

4b. Perianth bristle as long as to slightly longer than

FEI TELE CE UN a nme tr eens enh Sacer E. equisetina

3b. Glumes acute

5a. Stolon present; colour of achene dark brown to black

ERA IL EN Ae iO. Mies E. khandwaensis

5b. Stolon absent; colour of achene brown to olive............

xcs eet Mi eel Aaa hoe dhe: strep, AM heh E. lankana

2b. Culms without transverse septa

6a. Stem triquetrous

7a. Glumes obtuse, spirally arranged ................ E. spiralis

To PGhinie. acute ambrieaten yu a... E. acutangula

6b. Stem tceraquewoOus, ~ —....«tte ke eee eee E. wadoodii

1b. Culms less than 1 mm in diameter, generally less than

30 cm tall

8a. Spikelet usually proliferous at base; nutlet olivaceous

or yellowish when mature with small pits on surface

ge ehh. chr RP Ee OE a E. retroflexa ssp. chaetaria

8b. Spikelet not proliferous at base; nutlet generally

brownish or black when mature without pits on surface

9a. Achene biconvex; style 2 cleft

10a. Style base conical; lower two glumes sterile; achene

BBV teria ss eigtedaceita gecdahtnealnted E. geniculata

10b. Style base discoid; glumes all fertile; achene obovoid

elta.d anette Reeve halbataMiatvnent Rind tens Ale E. atropurpurea

9b. Achene trigonous; style 3 cleft

11a. Culms quadrangular, basal tuber present, perianth bristles

SST ee Ee ee ee ee Re ee E. setifolia

11b. Culms pentangular, basal tuber absent, perianth bristles

[CSC eee a Te ee ee ae Te eee E. konkanensis

Key to the subspecies of Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.)

Schult.

la. Perianth bristles as long as or slightly longer than

RS TCT oe TS ene ene: subsp. acutangula

lb. Perianth bristles shorter than achene ..subsp. breviseta

Key to the varieties of Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.)

J. Presi & C. Presl

Fa; 'Perianty bristles present... var. atropurpurea

Tb. Periatitly Gristles asenit «.............<0. var. vengurlaensis

Key to the subspecies of Eleocharis lankana T. Koyama

la. Spikelets terete; rhizome without stolon..................000.

ie or Pea eM te rs, Sie sO, MR oie iE subsp. lankana

lb. Spikelets angular; rhizome having stolon....................

che, apm SERRE! MORE ann subsp. mohamadii

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are thankful to Prof (Dr) S.R. Yadav, Department

of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur for encouragement.

ANC & DBB are thankful to SERB, Department of Science

and Technology (DST), New Delhi for financial assistance

(File No.: SR/FT/LS-82/2012) under DST Fast Track

Young Scientist Scheme and to the Principal, Abasaheb

Marathe Arts & New Commerce Science College, Rajapur

for facilities.

REFERENCES

CHANDORE, A.N., D.B. Borupg, S.S. KAMBALE & S.R. Yapav (2016):

Eleocharis konkanensis, a new species of Cyperaceae from the

Konkan region of Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa 252(2): 154-158.

Govaerts, R. (2015): World Checklist of Cyperaceae. Facilitated by the

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wesp/qsearch.do

Koyama, T. (1985): Cyperaceae. In: M.D. Dassanayake and F.R. Fosberg

(Eds): A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon, Vol. 5. Oxford

& IBH, New Delhi. Pp. 255-268.

LAKSHMINARASIMHAN, P. (1996): Jn: B.D. Sharma, S. Karthikeyan and

N.P. Singh (Eds): Flora of Maharashtra State - Monocotyledons.

BSI, Calcutta. Pp. 297-301.

MujsAFFar, S., A.N. CHANDOoRE & S.R. YaApav (2014): Eleocharis

khandwaensis sp. nov. (Cyperaceae) from Madhya Pradesh, India.

Nord. J. Bot. 32: 710=712.

PRASAD, V.P. & N.P. SincH (2002): Sedges of Karnataka (India).

(Reprinted from J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Addl. Ser. No. 21). Scientific

Publishers, Jodhpur. Pp. 137.

WapoopkHaN, M.A. (2015): Cyperaceae of Western Ghats, West Coast

and Maharashtra. Dattsons Publishers, Nagpur. Pp. 126-146.

Yapav, S.R., M.M. LEKHAK & A.N. CHANDORE (2009): A new species

of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from Western Ghats, India. Rheedea

19: 37-40.

Printed by Printania Offset Pvt. Ltd., D-20/21, Shalimar Industrial Estate, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019 and published on November 22,

2017, by Dr Ashok Kothari 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., Vol. 113: 2016

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

The Journal welcomes concise reports of original research in natural history,

taxonomy and other aspects of zoology and botany of general interest.

SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPT

Manuscripts should be submitted as Word documents (.doc) or

RTF (.rtf) files. Figures may be uploaded separately or embedded

into the text of your initial submission. On acceptance, you will

be required to upload your manuscript as one text file and

additional high resolution graphics files in TIFF (.tiff). Please

ensure that the track changes feature has been turned off and

any reviewing notes removed before submission or they will be

visible throughout the review process.

If a new taxon is described, the institution in which the type

material is deposited must be given, together with details of the

registration assigned to it; the specimen should be deposited in

a National Depository. Full binomial names should be given on

the first occasion an organism is mentioned (and abbreviated

thereafter), except at the beginning of a sentence. Avoid

footnotes except to add information below the body of a table.

Do not use initial capitals for the common names of animals

unless derived from a proper noun.

Revised manuscripts must be submitted in their final form within

two months of receipt of a revision letter from the Editor.

PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPT

Main Papers and New Descriptions

Manuscripts of papers for the Main section and New Descriptions

should be as concise as possible and must be typed in double

spacing. The text should run in one, single column and have

generous margins. Pages should be numbered consecutively,

and the matter on Page 1 should be arranged in the following

order: Title of the paper; Name(s) of Author(s), Department(s)

and Institution(s) [in case of multiple affiliations, author(s) should

specify current affiliation]; Footnote containing address of

Author for correspondence with e-mail id, followed by the List of

Abbreviations used in text. A short running title derived from the

original title may also be given for main papers. Page 2 should

contain the Abstract. The text may be arranged in the following

order: Introduction; Material and Methods or Methodology;

Results; Discussion; Acknowledgements; References. Abstract,

Key Words, Tables and Captions for Figures should be typed

separately.

Title: The title should be such as to be useful for indexing and

information retrieval.

Abstract: The abstract, not exceeding 200 words, should

indicate the scope and significant content of the paper,

highlighting the principal findings and conclusions.

Introduction: The introductory part should bear no heading,

should be brief and state precisely the objective of the study in

relation to the present status of knowledge in the field. Review

of literature should be restricted to the essential references

Material and Methods or Methodology: The nomenclature,

sources of material and the procedures should be clearly

stated. New methods should be described in detail, but if the

methods are well known, a mere reference to them will do; any

modifications made in the methods should be stated.

Results: Only data relevant to the objectives of the study

and main conclusions emerging from the study should be

included. The data should be arranged in a unified and coherent

sequence for clarity and readability. The same data should not

be presented in both tables and figures, and such data as can

be easily and briefly stated in the text should not be depicted

diagrammatically. Only such tables and figures as are necessary

should be given. Tests of statistical significance should be

identified and references used should be cited. Statements about

the statistical significance of the results must be borne out by

the level of significance, preferably provided in the tables and

legends. The use of the word “significant” should be restricted

to “statistically significant”.

Discussion: The discussion should provide an interpretation of

the results of the study, without repeating information already

presented under Results. It should relate the new findings to

the known and include logical deductions. Where necessary,

the Results and Discussion can be combined.

Illustrations: The number of illustrations should be kept to

the minimum and numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals.

Simple linear plots or linear double reciprocal plots that can be

easily described in the text should be avoided. Extension of

graphs beyond the last experimental point is permissible only

while extrapolating data. The drawings are usually reduced to the

page width or column size, and care should be taken that the size

of letters, numerals, dots and symbols is relatively uniform and

sufficiently large to permit this reduction. Photographs should be

the same size as they will appear in the journal and should be

selected to fit neatly into one column (80 mm) or two columns

(168 mm). Photographs should be labelled and numbered as for

line drawings. For microscopical preparations, scale bars with

appropriate units must be provided; statements of magnification

are not acceptable.

Tables: Each table should have an explanatory title and should

be numbered in Arabic numerals. Units (metric) of measurement

should be abbreviated and placed below the headings. Negative

results should be indicated as Nil (0) and absence of a datum

by a dash.

Acknowledgements: Acknowledgements should be brief and

relevant.

References: Responsibility for the accuracy of references rests

with the author(s). References must be checked against the text

to ensure (a) that the spelling of authors’ names and the dates

given are consistent and (b) that all authors quoted in the text

(in date order if more than one) are given in the reference list

and vice versa. The full title of the paper must be given together

with the first and last pages. Abstracts of papers presented

at scientific meetings may be cited. References to literature

should be alphabetically arranged under author’s name, with

the abridged titles of journals or periodicals in italics and titles

of books or papers in Roman type.

Miscellaneous Notes: The section accommodates incidental

observations on flora and fauna of the Asian region, and need

not follow strictly the above section headings. No abstract is

required, but key words may be included and references must

be cited as in the rest of the Journal.

The Editors reserve the right, other things being equal, to publish

a member’s contribution before that of a nonmember and also

to publish invited papers on priority. Authors may suggest up to

four referees for their paper; however, the Editor reserves the

right to choose referees other than those suggested.

Visit www.bnhsjournal.org for details