Submitted date: 25 June 2020 Accepted date: 05 October 2020 Published date: 28 November 2020 Pp. 217–219, Pls. 58–59.
Range extension of a globally endangered Martenstyn’s barb, Systomus martenstyni
O.W. Kotagama, S. de A. Goonatilake*, W.P.N. Perera & D.K. Weerakoon *Corresponding author. E-mail: sampath.goonatilake@iucn.org
Sri Lanka is endowed with a rich network of rivers that dissects the island into 103 river basins. Mahaweli River, 332 km long, is the largest of these basins, covering 10,327 km2, approximately one-sixth of the island’s land area. Mahaweli River passes through three bioclimatic zones and therefore comprises a cross-section of almost all the natural ecosystems present in Sri Lanka other than tropical rainforest. Further, the river basin is inhabited by a diverse species assemblage including a number of endemic plants, fish, frogs, reptiles and mammals that are restricted to this river basin. Martenstyn’s Barb Systomus martenstyni (Sinhala name: Dumbara Pethia) is one such endemic freshwater fish species restricted to the Mahaweli Basin.
Abstract Human–elephant conflict (HEC) is a major problem to Tissmaharama Divisional Secretariat (TDS) in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. The current study was designed to identify and describe the patterns of HEC in TDS so that methods could be developed to minimise human and elephant deaths due to HEC. The data were collected through questionnaire surveys and internal data of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka. The results suggest that elephants feed on all cereals, fruits and vegetables available except citrus, pomegranate, sesame and bitter gourd. The majority of conflicts were caused by elephant groups of less than four individuals (94.3%). Elephant raids occurred mainly during the night and especially escalate towards January and September. There were no correlations between rainfall and crop damage. Both human and elephant males were more likely to die from HEC than human and elephant females.
Key words : crop and property damage, human–elephant deaths, rain fall, wildlife management
Abstract The poorly-known, insular endemic frog species, Minervarya nicobariensis (Stoliczka, 1870) is re-described based on new material from the Nicobar Archipelago. A neotype is designated as its holotype had been lost. Novel data on biology, ecology, distribution and natural history of this poorly known species are provided. Breeding biology and larval morphology are described in detail. Potential threats to the species are discussed and an assessment of its conservation status is attempted.
Key words : Distribution, endemic, India, larval morphology, natural history, Nicobar Archipelago.
Abstract The taxonomic status of the large-sized Fejervarya frogs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was assessed based on integrative analysis of molecular, morphological and acoustic data. Our results identify the population from the Andaman Islands as Fejervarya moodiei, and that from the Nicobar Islands as F. limnocharis. Representative specimens collected during this study are described along with observations on their natural history. The distribution of F. moodiei within the Andaman Islands and F. limnocharis in the Nicobar Islands recorded during this study are mapped, suggesting that these species are fairly widespread.
Key words :Fejervarya cancrivora, Fejervarya moodiei, Fejervarya limnocharis, India, mangrove.
Submitted date: 14 November 2020 Accepted date: 21 November 2020 Published date: 28 November 2020 Pp. 174–193, pls. 51–52.
A NEW SPECIES OF THE Pareas hamptoni COMPLEX (SQUAMATA : SERPENTES : PAREIDAE) FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Li Ding, Zening Chen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen*, Nikolay A. Poyarkov & Gernot Vogel *Corresponding author. E-mail: tan@svw.vn
Abstract An investigation of the taxonomic status of Pareas hamptoni (Hampton's Slug snake) based on morphological and molecular data revealed a new distinct species from the Golden Triangle region (comprising parts of southern China, and adjacent Laos and Thailand). The new species is shown to be a sister species to P. hamptoni but can be separated from the latter by having 3–5 dorsal scale rows at midbody slightly keeled (vs 5–9 scales strongly keeled); a lower number of ventrals, 170–188 (vs 185–195); and a lower number of subcaudals, 67–91 (vs 91–99). The new species is currently known from northwestern Thailand, northern Laos, and the southern part of Yunnan Province in China at elevations of 1,160–2,280 m a.s.l. We suggest that the new species to be considered of Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN's Red List categories. Problems of taxonomy and actual distribution of the P. hamptoni complex are briefly discussed; our results show P. hamptoni is now reliably known only from Myanmar and Vietnam, but its occurrence in Yunnan Province of China is likely.