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v7i1150v7i1.150
ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i1.150

Submitted date: 22 February 2014
Accepted date: 30 July 2014
Published date: 19 January 2015
Pp. 14–19, Pl. 9–11.

PREYING FREQUENCY OF COMMON KINGFISHER, Alcedo atthis (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN BANGLADESH

Habibon Naher
*Corresponding author. E-mail: habibonnaher@yahoo.com

Abstract
A study on the preying frequency of common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) was conducted from September 2008 to September 2011 at Nikunja-1 in Dhaka City Corporation Area of Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to determine the average preying frequency per day across different months using focal animal sampling method. It preyed 8.5 times / day, with the highest frequency of preying at 11:01–12:00 h and 16:01–17:00 h. The average frequency was highest in September and lowest in April and highest in monsoon season and lowest in summer. Food items comprised of arthropods (31.7%) and fish (68.3%). From May through September, they avoided arthropods preferring fish as it was peak breeding season. During this period, they were preoccupied with courtship, nest building and caring of their nestlings.

Key words : breeding season, behaviour, Dhaka City, feeding activities, monsoon, summer

Section Editor: Varadharajan Gokula
v7i1149v7i1.149
ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i1.149

Submitted date: 4 December 2013
Accepted date: 10 October 2014
Published date: 19 January 2015
Pp. 8–13, Pl. 4–8.

DISPLAY BEHAVIOUR OF INDIAN PEAFOWL Pavo cristatus (AVES: GALLIFORMES) DURING THE MATING SEASON IN VIRALIMALAI, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Varadharajan Gokula & V. Muthukrishnan
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gokulae@yahoo.com

Abstract
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), the largest of the pheasants in India, inhabits mostly semi-arid conditions. We examined the courtship displays of free-ranging peacocks in relation to the orientation and the relative positions of females being courted from August 2012 to January 2013 in Viralimalai, Tamil Nadu, India, to address these questions: (1) Do the peacocks orient their courtship display towards the sun? (2) Is there any relationship between the presence of peahen and the duration of display of peacock? (3) Is there any site-preference to display? We found that the majority of the displays were oriented towards the sun initially, but then oriented towards peahen (regardless of direction) soon after their arrival. Although peacock displayed even in the absence of peahen, presence of peahen influenced the display duration of peacock. Displays were performed largely in open areas.

Key words : courtship, orientation, peahen, pheasants, semi-arid habitats, South India

Section Editor: S.M. Henkanaththegedara
v6i2147v6i2.147
ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i2.147

Submitted date: 11 February 2013
Accepted date: 12 May 2014
Published date: 30 August 2014
Pp. 140.

Solanum diphyllum (Solanaceae) in India

R. Kr. Singh*, J.S. Jalal & C.R. Jadhav
*Corresponding author. E-mail: rksbsiadsingh@yahoo.co.in

Solanum diphyllum L., commonly known as two-leaf nightshade, is native to Mexico south to Costa Rica in Central America but widely naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world having escaped from cultivation. The first occurrence of S. diphyllum in India was reported in 1995 from two locations in the Howrah District of West Bengal where it was known from only a few individuals. The species went unnoticed for several years until a large population near Bhushi dam and the Ambavane area of Lonavala town, Pune District, was found by the senior author in 2006. According to local sources the species had been present for seven or eight year and, in 2006, it was found to have occupied grasslands and forests edges in the towns of Lonavala and Khandala as well as most of the wastelands of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and other nearby towns. It was also found in various botanical gardens in the city of Pune including the Empress Garden, Mudwa Experimental Garden of Botanical Survey of India (BSI), the associated garden of BSI office campus, and other public gardens.

Section Editor: James L. Reveal
v6i2146v6i2.146
ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i2.146

Submitted date: 19 December 2013
Accepted date: 17 January 2014
Published date: 30 August 2014
Pp. 137–139, Pl. 15.

Cyperus papyrus L. (Cyperaceae): a new record for Western Ghats, India

A.R. Viji, S. Deepu & A.G. Pandurangan*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: agpandurangan@gmail.com

Cyperus L. (Cyperaceae) contains about 600 species and distributed mainly in the tropics. In India, it is represented by 70 species, of which 48 are found in Kerala State. It is a taxonomically complex genus and the treatment of Cyperus by Kuekenthal in 1935–1936 is considered to be an useful treatment even now. They usually grow in wetland vegetation, mud banks, open areas, etc. While studying the sedge flora of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the authors collected an interesting species of Cyperus, from the Western Ghats in the Wayanad District, Kerala State. On examination, the species was identified as Cyperus papyrus L., a naturalised ornamental in Africa and North America. Scrutiny of the literature revealed that it was not reported from Western Ghats earlier but known from Gujarat and Rajasthan, India.

Section Editor: James L. Reveal
v6i2145v6i2.145
ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v6i2.145

Submitted date: 19 December 2013
Accepted date: 5 February 2014
Published date: 30 August 2014
Pp. 135–136, Pl. 14.

Canscora stricta Sedgw. (Gentianaceae): an endemic species of Western Ghats

M.P. Geethakumary, A.G. Panduranga*, & P. Ravichandran
*Corresponding author. E-mail: agpandurangan@gmail.com

The genus Canscora Lam, known presently from Africa, Australia and tropical Asia, is represented in India by 13 species of which ten are found in Kerala. During our taxonomic studies of Gentianaceae in Kerala, India, the authors collected a species of Canscora from the lateritic region of northern Kerala which, on critical examination and perusal of relevant literature, proved to be Canscora stricta Sedgw., a species hitherto known only from Karnataka State of central Western Ghats.

Section Editor: James L. Reveal
Hubungi Kami
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