Showing 97 results for Type of Study: Original Research Article
Jigme Tenzin, Yeshi Phuntsho, Dr. Phuntsho Thinley, Karma Tenzin,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
In Bhutan, protected areas constitute 51.4% of the total geographical area, out of which 7.7% is designated biological corridors (BCs) that serve as connectors between protected areas. The biological corridor (BC-03) constitutes a total area of 407.7 km² and connects Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in the west, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and Royal Manas National Park in the north and southeast through Sarpang–Tsirang District landscapes. However, most BCs, including BC-03, lack comprehensive inventories of mammal species. We conducted joint rapid biodiversity assessment (RBA) using camera trap surveys from November 2019 to February 2020. Our findings from BC-03 include records of 26 mammal species belonging to 11 families in five orders. Nearly half of these species are listed as Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened. Overall, the BC-03 landscape was found to support 77.8% of the mammal species of Sarpang District and 21.7% of Bhutan (as per Biodiversity Statistics of Bhutan, 2017). Therefore, BC-03 is of conservation interest. Comprehensive conservation plans, periodic monitoring of keystone species, and restrictions on the expansion of cardamom plantations in BCs are suggested for securing wildlife habitats and ensuring long-term persistence of keystone species, including within BC-03 in southcentral Bhutan.
Lam Norbu, Phuntsho Thinley, Norbu Jamtsho, Lekey Dorji, Pema Tenzin, Tandin Wangchuk, Ugyen Lhendup, Pasang Dorji, Zapa Dorji, Karma Jamtsho, Tshering Dorji, Tandin Jamtsho, Sangay Lodey, Ugyen Dechen,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Hawkmoths are a charismatic, diverse group of moths that are well-studied worldwide. In this study, we explored and presented the first ever comprehensive hawkmoth checklist for Tashigang Forest Division, Bhutan with five new taxa records for the country. We conducted fauna exploration over a period of five years (2017–2021). Data were collected opportunistically from twelve different localities. Online database and the current literature on hawkmoths of Bhutan were referred to for correct species identifications and nomenclature. We recorded a total of 48 species belonging to 23 genera and four subfamilies. Macroglossinae was the most dominant subfamily with 29 species, followed by Smerinthinae with 14 species, Sphinginae with four and Langiinae with one species. Ampelophaga thomasi Kitching and Cadiou, Cechetra subangustata Rothschild, Macroglossum saga Butler, Rhagastis confusa Rothschild and Jordan, and Notonagemia analis R. Felder are here reported as representing five new records to Bhutan. Further investigation in the area and in other parts of Bhutan appear necessary to discover more hawkmoth species and reveal endemism.
Azadeh Rezaei, Hoda Khaledi, Ahmad Savari, Babak Dostshenas, Hossein Mohammad Asgari, Rezvan Attari,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Macrobenthos play an important role in aquatic ecosystems because they mineralize, promote, and mix the oxygen flux into the sediment, which recycles the organic matter. Sampling of macrobenthos populations for this study was carried out in the supratidal, mid tidal, low tidal, and subtidal regions of the Dayyer, Ouli, and Kangan stations in the Persian Gulf during both cold and warm seasons. Water parameters such as the temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity, and electrical conductivity were assessed, and were indicative of moderate water quality. Representatives of a total of 31 taxonomic families were identified during both seasons, of which 59 were identified to genus and species. The highest average number of species was observed in the low tidal region of Kangan in the warm season at 16.6 ± 1.2 species, and the lowest number was observed in the supratidal regions of Ouli and Kangan in the cold season at 6.6±2 species. The species diversity, as calculated using the Shannon–Wiener Index (H’), showed a significant difference between sampling seasons and sampling stations, as well as pollution level at the beaches. The species diversity index in Ouli, Dayyer, and Kangan stations also differed between the seasons. In both seasons, the Kangan station showed the highest species diversity while the Dayyer station showed the lowest. These results reveal a rich species diversity of macrobenthos and good water quality at the three beaches in the Persian Gulf. Re-assessment of species diversity during an environmental impact assessment prior to urban development should be further conducted to ensure that the
community is not significantly affected and the ecosystem remains intact.
Bharat Sharma, Rajeev Joshi, Sambandam Sathyakumar,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus Shaw), one of four species of bear found on the Indian sub-continent, has a geographical distribution across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. It is listed as Vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species due to the rapid decline of the global population. This decrease in Melursus ursinus presents a need for comprehensive research to predict and understand the distribution pattern. The present study predicts the habitat suitability and distribution pattern of M. ursinus in the Chitwan National Park, Nepal and its buffer areas. The entire study area was divided into 4 X 4 km grids. Within each grid, 10-meter radius plots were sampled for bear signs and habitat evaluation occurred at every 250 meters along a transect (1–1.5 km). Data on direct and indirect signs (diggings, pugmarks, scrapes, and scats) and other habitat use parameters of M. ursinus were collected. The study was carried out during the dry season (January to March 2019) in almost 57 grids of the study area. The calculated habitat suitability for M. ursinus determined that 25% of the total area was suitable, and the remaining 75% was less suitable habitat. Drainage, followed by slope and elevation, were found to be the important variables affecting the distribution of species in the study area and this model was found to be 88.5% accurate in terms of explaining the dependent variables. The findings of the present research will be useful for park managers, researchers, and academicians in the formulation of an appropriate conservation plan for this charismatic mammal species.
Vasantkumar M. Rabari, Arzoo Malik, Nishith Dharaiya,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
Knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of terrestrial mammals is imperative in the design of conservation strategies in protected areas. There is a lack of information available on the occurrence and abundance of wild mammals in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat of India. Thus, the present study was carried out to understand the relative abundance of the wild mammalian species in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary via camera trapping. We used day/night camera traps to record the presence of diurnal and nocturnal mammals in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary. We plotted 11 cameras near water bodies for 20 days from 6 January 2020 to 26 January 2020. A total of 268 photographs of wild animals were captured. Among the photos 13 wild mammalian species were identified, including the Rusty-spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire), which is reported for the first time in this area. The Relative Abundance Index (RAI) of each identified species was calculated to understand the species richness, providing baseline data for species occupancy.
Biswarup Mandal, Subhajit Roy,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
Diversity and abundance of butterfly (Papilionoidea) species were studied intensively between January 2017 and December 2021 from six heterogeneous sites of the newly created Jhargram district in West Bengal state, India. A total of 142 species from all six butterfly families were recorded from the study sites, of which 45 belong to the family Lycaenidae, 42 to Nymphalidae, 29 to Hesperiidae, 14 from Pieridae, 11 from Papilionidae and 1 from Riodinidae. Thirteen of the species observed are new reports from the district. New distributional records of Deudorix epijarbas (Moore, [1858]), Notocrypta curvifascia (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1862) from the southern part of West Bengal are reported. Rachana jalindra (Horsfield, [1829]) is rediscovered from the southern part of West Bengal after a long period. Gangara thyrsis (Fabricius, 1775) is reported from this part of the state for only the second time. Additionally, Cupitha purreea (Moore, 1877), Gerosis bhagava (Moore, [1866]), Sarangesa dasahara Moore, [1866], Celaenorrhinus leucocera (Kollar, [1844]), Rapala pheretima (Hewitson, 1863), Athyma inara Westwood, 1850, Athyma selenophora (Kollar, [1844]) and Tanaecia lepidea (Butler, 1868) are among the other notable species which are reported for the first time from Jhargram district. The statistical analysis of the diversity and abundance of the study sites and the analysis of variance and rarefaction have been performed to study the β-diversity and compare the abundance of the sites in order to understand the heterogeneity of butterfly observations. The distribution by site of the species has also been studied.
Shipra Khanduri, Vedagiri Thirumurugan, Chandravilasam Sreedharan Nair Vishnu, Chinnasamy Ramesh, Abhijit Das, Gautam Talukdar,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
A comprehensive record of reptiles found in the Moyar River Valley Landscape (MRVL) is presented in this manuscript. The observations did not adhere to standardized survey methods, and are based on opportunistic encounters during our vegetation survey in different habitats of the MRVL between December 2017 and December 2019. A total of 135 live individuals and 31 road-killed specimens, representing 37 species of reptiles were recorded of which two species are Vulnerable, 13 are Least Concern and 22 species are Not Evaluated in accordance with the criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The recorded species belonged to six families of lizards (Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, and Varanidae), six families of snakes (Colubridae, Elapidae, Erycidae, Pythonidae, Typhlopidae, and Viperidae), two families of chelonians (Geoemydidae, and Testudinidae), and one family of Crocodylia (Crocodylidae,). The road-killed specimens were recorded between the year 2018 and 2020 and come under Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Though the present work did not follow a specific survey method, the contribution provides baseline information on the reptile diversity of the MRVL and presents interesting findings from the Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves in north-western Tamil Nadu, India.
Brian Sabanal, Marion John Michael Achondo, Pedro Alviola Iv, Lief Erikson Gamalo, Mae Responte,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
In addition to protected landscapes, anthropic land covers (ALCs) can also harbor spiders in human-modified landscapes (HMLs). This study determined the diversity of spiders in seven different ALCs within the University of the Philippines Mindanao campus in order to identify ALCs with the highest priority for spider conservation. Direct sampling methods were employed to collect specimens within 2,000 m2 belt transects. A total of 364 spider individuals belonging to 69 morphospecies from 40 genera and 13 families were documented. Highest species richness was observed from the family Araneidae. Nephila pilipes Fabricius (Araneidae) and Heteropoda venatoria Linnaeus (Sparassidae) were found across sampling sites. Among the ALCs, site 5OGSF (old- growth and secondary forest) had the highest species richness (q0 (26)) while site 7AF (agroforest) had the highest species diversity (q1 (17.16); q2 (13.83)). Site 3CTP (cacao tree plantation) was consistently the least species-rich (q0 (10)) and least diverse (q1 (6.92); q2 (5.54)). The different vegetation density and structural complexity of ALCs on the campus support spider communities in which the highest species richness and diversity were observed in the secondary forest and agroforest, respectively. This paper highlights that spider communities have varying levels of diversity in different small-scale ALCs.
Hoda Khaledi,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
Benthic macrofauna has a pivotal role in the energy flow and material cycles of marine ecosystems. Abiotic and biotic factors determine the presence and distribution of benthic macrofauna. The present study investigated possible relationships between benthic macrofauna and natural abiotic factors along the coastal region of the Gulf of Oman, including the north of Chabahar Bay, Konarak, and Tis. This was achieved through survey of the supra-littoral and intertidal zones at low tide, during the cold and warm seasons. In each zone, nine transects were sampled at random using quadrats. Then, sediment characteristics and macrofaunal abundance were determined. Mollusks and echinoderms had the highest and the lowest species richness, respectively. The average values for the Shannon–Wiener index of the transects at Tis, north of Chabahar Bay, and Konarak were 3.22, 3.28, and 3.20 in the warm season, respectively, while the index reached 3.29, 3.47, and 3.17 in the winter. Regardless of seasonality, the level of biodiversity was at a maximum in the northern part of Chabahar Bay, and Konarak showed the minimum biodiversity. The results of multi-linear regression analysis proposed that non-biological factors are suitable proxies for predicting the levels of species density in the study regions (R2= 0.72, F(6,71) = 2.25, p< 0.05).
Shuo Liu, Mian Hou, Hong Hui,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
We sequenced mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragments of 84 samples of Odorrana graminea (Boulenger, 1900) sensu lato from 33 sites in southern China. Combining the newly generated sequences and congeneric sequences obtained from GenBank, we reconstructed a molecular phylogeny for the genus Odorrana Fei, Ye and Huang, 1990. Phylogenetic analysis revealed five highly divergent lineages which were paraphyletic within O. graminea sensu lato in southern China. The lineage from Medog and western Yunnan is assigned to O. chloronota (Günther, 1876). The lineage from Hainan, southeastern Guangxi, and southwestern Guangdong corresponds to O. graminea sensu stricto; the lineage from Fujian, Jiangxi, easternmost Guangxi, and northern, central, and eastern Guangdong corresponds to O. leporipes (Werner, 1930); and the remaining two lineages from southern Yunnan represent two cryptic new species. In addition, by checking the type specimens of O. rotodora (Yang and Rao, 2008) we confirmed that O. rotodora is the synonym of O. chloronota.
Usha J. Zala, Jatin V. Raval, Romanch S. Nimavat, Namrata K. Hun,
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
The present study was conducted to study avifaunal diversity of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Junagadh, Gujarat, India. This study was carried out from August 2020 to August 2022. Data collection was done using a point count method and visual encounter method, with opportunistic sighting also included. A total of 276 species of birds belonging to 70 families and 21 orders were recorded from Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary. In the present study out of 70 families, Accipitridae and Muscicapidae were the most dominant families with 24 species each. As per the IUCN status, 261 species are Least Concern, three species are Critically Endangered, one species is Endangered, eight species are Near Threatened and three are Vulnerable. Out of seven foraging guilds, species of birds classified as Insectivores were dominant. The results obtained provide baseline information on the avifaunal diversity of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which will help in further conservation implications.
Adarsha Mukherjee, Arjun Kumar, Supriya Mahato, Supriya Samanta,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
To understand and update the account of the butterfly diversity in Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India a study was carried out in two consecutive years from January 2020 to December 2021 with photographic documentation. A total of 143 butterflies from 6 families, 19 subfamilies and 95 genera were recorded. The highest richness was found in the families Nymphalidae with 45 species and Lycaenidae with 44 species, whereas Riodinidae had the lowest richness with only 1 species recorded. This study also reports the addition of one species, Black Angle Tapena thwaitesi (Moore), to the state butterfly fauna of West Bengal, as well as the addition of one species, Common Orange Awlet Burara jaina (Moore), to the butterfly fauna of southern West Bengal. In addition, three species, Plain Banded Awl Hasora vitta (Butler), Malabar Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ambareesa (Moore) and Common Acacia Blue Surendra quercetorum (Moore), were recorded with the first photographic documentation from southern West Bengal representing the rediscovery of Malabar Spotted Flat after 124 years from the Chotanagpur Plateau of West Bengal. The present study updates knowledge of the butterfly diversity of Ajodhya Hills and discusses the threats and conservation of the area, which may help in threat prevention, developing effective conservation strategies and to build awareness among the local people and government authorities to save the wildlife of Ajodhya Hills and its habitats.
Dhanapal Sangavi, Padur Sankaranarayanan Anisha, Govindharaj Vinothini, Parthasarathy Thiruchenthil Nathan,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
A detailed investigation of the spider diversity in Salem district, Tamil Nadu was carried out across different habitats for a period of five years. A total of 184 spider species belonging to 97 genera in 29 families were recorded, which represented nearly 10% of Indian and 65% of Tamil Nadu spider diversity. Among them 25 spider species are endemic to India. From the 29 families, the 3 most abundant families based on number of specimens sampled were Lycosidae (21%), Araneidae (18%), and Eresidae (17%), constituting 56% of the spider species. Simpson diversity indices ranged between 0.88 to 0.30 for all the studied habitats. The species richness was highest in bamboo fields (2.78), and the lowest was observed in grasslands (0.76). The highest abundance of spider species was observed in the sugarcane fields (0.83), followed by the grasslands (0.57) and paddy fields (0.53). Further, these spiders were categorized into nine types based on their foraging guilds. Among them, the highest species richness was observed in foliage runners. A maximum of nine spider guilds were observed in the shrub ecosystem. Natural ecosystems such as shrublands, treescapes, and grasslands had higher spider diversity than altered agricultural and domestic ecosystems. This is the first report on spider diversity in Salem District, Tamil Nadu revealing the varying spider diversity along with their guild types across different habitats.
Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha, A. Shabnam, K. P. Dinesh,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Seventeen nominal species of the ranid frog genus Amolops, some of which are based on unverified historical records, are reported from India. Herein, we describe a new species of Amolops of the marmoratus group from a cave ecosystem. This is an uncommon habitat for this group offrogs, which is commonly found around cascades. The Siju Cave, from which four specimens of the new species were collected is a natural limestone cave located in the South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, Northeast India. The new species is separated from other congeners based on morphological and genetic differences and is also geographically isolated from it ssister species.
Raju Vyas, Vishal Mistry, Pranav Vaghasiya, Devendra Chauhan,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Railway lines, roadways, canals, and electricity cable networks, pose serious problems to wildlife, fragmenting habitats worldwide. These infrastructures are well-recognized as linear intrusions. Today it is a threat to wildlife, including the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). The current study documents 15 crocodile-vehicle collisions (CVC) recorded in two years (2021 and 2022); 11 were on roads, and four were on railway tracks. Sex was determined for 11 individuals (five males, six females), and four unknown due to crushing). A total of 13 individuals were found dead at the various sites of collision, and two juvenile individuals were found injured, and one of them was treated successfully and returned to the wild. The high numbers (9) of CVCs occur in the Central Gujarat and follow 3 CVCs in Saurashtra, 2 CVC in the Kutch region, and one in north Gujarat. Mitigation measures would be required for the collision situationsin Gujarat are discussed. The literature survey shows totals of 75 CVCs were recorded within the last 18 years due to the state's road (n= 51, 68%) and railway (n= 24, 32%) networks, with the highest numbers of 56 CVCs observed in the Central Gujarat and lowest 2 CVC noted in north Gujarat, and no CVC was noted in south Gujarat. The high number of subadults and juvenile muggers victimized due to the CVC. The CVC site location in different regions of Gujarat state positively corresponds to crocodile populations. However, the Mugger crocodile (C. palustris) has been nationally protected under Indian Wildlife Act as Schedule I species, the IUCN criteria as ‘Vulnerable’, and the Appendix I of CITES, therefore conservation acts are essential. The CVC incidences were recorded widely in the entire species distribution range, from Iran, India, and Sri Lanka and can be classified as an emerging threat for mugger crocodiles.
Kalyan Mukherjee, Ayan Mondal,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
In this paper, we present a preliminary checklist of butterfly larval host plants from the Bankura and Purulia districts, which are a part of the Chotanagpur Plateau of West Bengal, India. The authors found 223 plant species from 52 plant families, which were used as larval hosts by 124 butterfly species. In terms of the use of plant families and species, we discovered a strong positive association between Nymphalidae and Hesperiidae and between Lycaenidae and Pieridae. According to our two-way ANOVA findings, there are notable variations in plant usage among butterfly families, which were elaborately discussed using hierarchical classical clustering. Most of the plant species utilized were from the Fabaceae and Poaceae families.
Sherab Jamtsho, Sonam Phuntsho, Tshering Dorji, Lhendup Tharchen,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
Pallas’s fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas), is listed as endangered (En) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with a global population of 2,500 to 9,999 individuals. It is one of the least known species in Bhutan and assessing its foraging and nesting behavior will be one of the best conservation measures to monitor its status, ecology and conservation threats. Therefore, the nesting behavior of the eagle was observed for two months and chick feeding activities for sixteen weeks at 21 vantage points along a 75 km highway in the Punatshangchu River Valley, Bhutan. Fifty households residing 500 m from the river were interviewed using structured questionnaires to examine their perception towards the eagle. A total of 92% (n= 46) of respondents were aware of the presence of H. leucoryphus in their locality and 78% felt that it is a rare and endangered fishing eagle. However, 84% (n= 42) of respondents were not aware of nesting within their vicinity. The sexes of H. leucoryphus can be differentiated by their plumage and the fledgling was observed approximately one week after the end of the incubation period. It took 112 days for the fledging to leave the nest. The study revealed that the eagle preferred foraging between 7 and 9 AM in the morning and in the afternoon from 1 to 3 PM. The maximum foraging attempts occurred in a pool habitat 54% (n= 37) with a success rate of 78% (n= 54). The hunting and feeding of the fledgling was done by the male and prey delivery in the first two months consisted of 78.5% fish and 19.5% rodents. However, the feeding of fish declined by 35% in the next two months and its diet mainly consisted of small birds. Attacks on the fledgling were done by the crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela Latham) (48%), followed by the black eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis (Temminck) (33%).
Maryam Rezaie, Fariba Ardeshir,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops worldwide, infesting a wide range of plants including some economically important crops. An investigation was carried out to study the life table parameters of five Iranian populations of T. urticae from Urima, Dashtnase, Faryman, Razkan and Tehran under laboratory conditions of 27 °C, 60% RH and 16 L: 8 D hours on Malus domestica Borkh leaves. There was a significant difference in the developmental time of T. urticae among tested populations. The total survival rate of T. urticae ranged from 76% to 81%. The adult longevities were significantly different. The adult longevities of the Faryman and Dashtnase populations were different from the Razkan population. Total fecundity of the Urima, Razkan and Tehran populations were higher than that observed for the other tested populations. The highest value of R0 was for the Urima and Dashtnase populations and the lowest was for the Faryman population. The r values of the Dashtnase (0.248 day-1) and Urima populations (0.200 day-1) were significantly higher in comparison to the Faryman population (0.124 day-1). The observed variation of the two-spotted spider mite collected from different localities showed that ecological factors such as geographical separation can influence the life table parameters of a phytophagous organism.
Fred Kraus,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
I describe a new species of blindsnake of the genus Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843, from Woodlark Island, off the southeastern tip of New Guinea. The new species is a member of the R. flaviventer (Peters, 1864) group and is characterized by a unique combination of number of longitudinal scale rows, details of the shape of the rostral scale, color pattern, and shape of the tail spine. The nearest related species (R. depressus Peters, 1880) in this group occurs 380 km to the northeast from the new species, and the remaining species of the group lie no closer than 2570 km distant. The new species seems most similar morphologically to relatives from far western New Guinea, but this could be due to homoplasy or plesiomorphy. The species seems common in the widespread mature secondary forest that occurs across the island, but non-traditional land tenure and repeated outside proposals to deforest much of the island pose a continuing series of threats to this and other endemic species on Woodlark.
Pritom Roy, Antara Das, Md. Asir Uddin, Jadab Kumar Biswas,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
We used linear morphometric measurements to assess secondary sexual dimorphism in the external traits and pelvis of the lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant difference between the sexes in both external (Wilks' lambda = 0.542, F = 3.378, P < 0.05) and pelvis measurements (Wilks' lambda = 0.238, F = 10.05, P < 0.05). Males were larger than females in most of the external traits. In contrast, females were larger in most variables of the pelvis. Separation between the sexes was also demonstrated in the discriminant analysis. Although allometric slopes did not differ between the sexes, means adjusted for allometry were sexually dimorphic in five out of seven variables of the pelvis. In conclusion, our results revealed differential patterns of secondary sexual dimorphism for the external morphology and pelvis in B. bengalensis. These patterns are explained with respect to the accessible evolutionary theories on mammalian sexual dimorphism.
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