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A review of amphibian fauna of Sri Lanka: distribution, recent taxonomic changes and conservation
Sudesh Batuwita, Sampath Udugampala, Madura de Silva, Jiaojiao Diao, Udeni Edirisinghe,
Volume 1, Issue 2 (12-2019)
Abstract
The amphibian fauna of Sri Lanka comprises 120 species, including 107 (~90.0%) endemic species. They belong to five families: Bufonidae, Dicroglossidae, Ichthyophiidae, Microhylidae, and Rhacophoridae. Based on distribution, we recognized five zoogeographic zones for them, Central Hills, Dry Zone, Knuckles Range, Lowland Wet Zone, and Rakwana Hills. Fifty three species were reported from the Central Hills (48 endemics [90.6%] and 42 [79.2%] threatened species). 47 species were recorded from the Lowland Wet Zone, including 36 (76.6%) endemics and 28 (59.6%) threatened species. The Knuckles Range had 25 species, of which, 19 (76.0%) were endemics and 15 (60.0%) are threatened species. 19 species were reported from Dry Zone including seven endemics (36.8%) and four threatened species (21.1%). Out of 29 species, which inhabited in the Rakwana Hills, 26 were endemics (~89.7%) including 24 (82.8%) threatened species. Species diversity along the elevational gradient was also observed with the highest species richness in the mid-elevational localities. Family Ichthyophiidae can be considered as the least studied family. Recent rediscoveries and studies have helped to reduce the number of extinct species from 21 to 18. It is speculated that some of the other extinct species have to be rediscovered or probably were misidentified as other species. About 90% of Sri Lankan amphibians occur in the regions with the highest human populations where there are established agricultural lands. Loss of habitats, competition due to anthropogenic species and invasive species, pollution (cause for malformations, parasites, and other diseases), and climate change appear to be major threats.

Description of a new species of Eutropis (Sauria: Scincidae) from the Central Hills of Sri Lanka with the resurrection of Eutropis lankae (Deraniyagala)
Sudesh Batuwita, Sampath Udugampala, Udeni Edirisinghe,
Volume 2, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
We reviewed the species referred to Eutropis carinata complex from Sri Lanka. We provided the data on the lectotype of Eutropis carinata along with a discussion on its synonyms. Examination of the lectotype of Sincus carinatus Schneider, 1801 (= Eutropis carinata), shows this taxon is not conspecific with Mabuya carinata lankae Deraniyagala, 1953 (= Eutropis carinata lankae). Therefore, we resurrected Eutropis lankae (Deraniyagala) as a valid species from Sri Lanka. Based on the available data, we here tentatively recognize Tiliqua rubriventris Hardwicke and Gray, 1829 (= Eutropis rubriventris) as a valid species. Also, a new species of the genus Eutropis Fitzinger is described from Sri Lanka. The new species was previously confused with E. carinata (Schneider) and may be the source of earlier records of E. beddomei (Jerdon) from the Central Hills of Sri Lanka. The new species, Eutropis resetarii sp. nov. differs from the lectotype of E. carinata by the following characters: widely (vs. narrowly) separated supranasal scales, first supraocular not in contact (vs. in contact) with frontal, third pair of chin shields separated slightly or not touching the second pair of chin shields (vs. in contact broadly with the second pair) and 30 (vs. 32) scale rows across the midbody. Eutropis resetarii sp. nov. is distinguished from E. lankae by the following characters: first loreal does not reach the dorsal surface of snout (vs. reaches in E. lankae); lower preocular larger (vs. smaller) than the anterior loreal scale; lateral border of postmental in complete contact with the first and the second (vs. first and partially the second) infralabials; third pair of chin shields not in contact or in narrow (vs. broad) contact with second pair of chin shields; palm and sole scales rounded, more or less juxtaposed (vs. tubercle-like imbricate scales); and having greater external ear opening size, 40–46% (vs. 23–38%) of eye diameter. Eutropis resetarii sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the following characters: in having widely separated supranasals and prefrontals, lacking postnasals, prefrontals reaching lateral sides of snout, only the first supraocular in contact with frontal, six or seven supraciliaries, lower preocular as large as first loreal, two primary temporals, upper pretemporal smaller than lower and both touching parietals, parietals completely separated by interparietal; two post-supralabials, first and second pairs of chin shields separated by a single scale, third pair of chin shields not in contact or in narrow contact with second pair of chin shields; juxtaposed rounded palm and sole scales, comparatively robust digits, having greater external ear opening size (40–46% of eye diameter) and presence of 14–15 subdigital lamellae under 4th digit of pes. The new species has been recorded from the highest elevations (from ~1000 m to ~1600 m), while E. lankae has a wider distribution from coast to ~900 m. The distributional ranges of these two species are therefore allopatric.

Ichthyodiversity and conservation importance of the Jakhor Taal Lake in Kailali district, far western Nepal
K. Deepak Singh, Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (9-2021)
Abstract
Jakhor Taal is an ox-bow perennial lake, situated in Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city in Kailali district, Nepal. The present study focuses on the factors determining fish diversity, socio-economic status of fishing communities and conservation challenges of Jakhor Taal. Fish sampling was done by gill net, cast net and other local fishing techniques such as Helka and Tiyari nets and Dhadiya trap. A total of 24 fish species (8 exotic and 16 native) were recorded belonging to 7 orders, 14 families and 22 genera. The order Cypriniformes was found to be highest, obtaining 41.66% of the total fish species recorded and 65.38% of total fish caught during the study period (February 2019 - August 2019) followed by Siluriformes (20.33%) and Perciformes (16.67%), respectively. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was found highest (2.93) in winter (February) and lowest (2.76) in summer (July). Similarly, the Simpson and Evenness values were also found slightly higher during winter (February) in comparison to summer (July). The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was found highest (2.73) at station II in comparison to station I, III, and IV where it was 2.31, 2.09, and 2.04, respectively. Results from the Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the environmental variables such as water temperature, depth and dissolved oxygen were found to be highly significant to most of the fish species at different stations and months. However, pH and free CO2 was not shown to have any relationship or significance. Altogether, 22 clusters were formed in which exotic species show highly significant clustering in comparison to native species. The socio-economic status of the local fishing communities is below the poverty line and the lake and its fishing resources play vital roles in their diet and income source. In the context of conservation challenges and implications, this lake is highly neglected by both governmental and local communities and this negatively affects its natural properties through habitat destruction, illegal fishing, urbanization, invasive species, and a general lack of awareness.

Do grassland burning practices affect the distribution of the Hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus (Pearson, 1839)? A study at the Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal
Bipana Maiya Sadadev, Thakur Silwal, Bijaya Dhami, Nabaraj Thapa, Bijaya Neupane, Anisha Rana, Harsha Bahadur Singh,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (9-2021)
Abstract
Few researches have been conducted on the hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus, an endangered small mammal native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas. In major protected areas of Nepal, grassland burning has been considered as one of the most important habitat management tools however its effects on grassland dependent species such as hispid hare has been less explored. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the grassland burning practices and its effect on distribution pattern of hispid hare at Shuklaphanta National Park, far-western Nepal. A total of 90 plots were laid in unburned (n= 45) and burned areas (n= 45) from November 2017 to May 2018. Two different approaches of grassland burning were observed: alternate and complete burning. Grassland burns are conducted from November to April each year, which coincides with the prime breeding season of hispid hares. A total of 89 pellet groups were observed in 22 plots out of 45 unburned plots while a total of 56 pellet groups were found in 17 plots out of 45 burned plots, both showing clumped type of distribution pattern of hispid hare in the study site. Higher number of fresh pellets was observed in the unburned plot. In contrast, higher number of old pellets was found in the burned plots. Thus, it is suggested that alternate year burning practices might have more positive effects on distribution and survival of this endangered species, rather than every year.

Observations of Odonata (Insecta) from heterogeneous habitat patches in Bankura district with the first report of Microgomphus torquatus (Selys, 1854) from West Bengal, India
Subhajit Roy, Aniruddha Singhamahapatra, Amar Kumar Nayak,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
The diversity and heterogeneity of Odonata was studied at 10 sites located across almost all parts of the Bankura district (except northwestern and northeastern boundary regions), in the state of West Bengal, India from July 2015 to June 2022. Analysis of variance and rarefaction was performed to study the β-diversity and compare the taxa abundance at the sites to understand the heterogeneity of Odonata observations. The seasonality of the species and their site-wise distribution were also studied. A total of 74 odonate species belonging to eight families, represented by 46 genera were recorded. The study adds 17 species to the known Odonata fauna of Bankura district, including the addition of Microgomphus torquatus (Selys) to the fauna of West Bengal. It also confirms the addition of Ictinogomphus kishori to the known Odonata fauna of West Bengal, which has been confused with and misidentified as Ictinogomphus distinctus for long, the latter being described from the state of West Bengal and is also found in the region adjacent to the study area. Most recorded odonates belonged to the family Libellulidae (29 species), followed by Coenagrionidae (19 species), Gomphidae (nine species), Platycnenididae (six species), Aeshnidae (five species), Macromiidae (three species), Lestidae (two species), and Chlorocyphidae (one species). Species diversity and abundance assessments are essential for conserving the habitats of the restricted and endemic (to peninsular India) species.

An updated checklist of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Rajasthan, India
Rajendra Singh, Garima Singh,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
In this review, an updated checklist of spider diversity in Rajasthan, India is presented. A total of 173 spider species from 90 genera belonging to 25 families are listed with records/descriptions originating from only 20 out of 33 districts of Rajasthan. A total of 74 taxa recorded from various districts of Rajasthan were identified only up to generic level. The maximum number of spider species were recorded from Jodhpur district (72 species), followed by Ajmer (69 species), Bharatpur (66 species), Pali (63 species), Jaipur (58 species), Dholpur and Karauli (38 species each), Jhunjhunu and Sikar (31 species each), Sri Ganga Nagar (26 species), Hanumangarh (25 species), and Jaisalmer (26 species). A fewer number of species are known from other districts. Thus far, no faunal surveys of spiders have been conducted in 13 districts of Rajasthan. Most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, forest areas, agricultural fields, human dwellings, etc. within the state still await intensive and extensive surveys to record the spider fauna.

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