Submitted date: 16 May 2011 Accepted date: 24 June 2011 Published date: 30 July 2011 Pp. 42–43.
Additions to black mildews of India
V.B. Hosagoudar*, Jacob Thomas & D.K. Agarwal *Corresponding author. E-mail: vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com
Kerala is located in the south-west corner of peninsular India and towards the western side of the southern Western Ghats, harbouring rich vegetation. It is a treasure of biological wealth and it needs the specialized personalities to identify and name them. Senior author is being engaged in the study of this never completing treasure of microfungal wealth of Kerala state since three decades. This paper gives an account of four taxa, hitherto unrecorded from India, belonging to the genera Asterina and Meliola, namely, Asterina garciniicola, Meliola abrupta, Meliola bakeri and Meliola hugoniae are described and illustrated.
Submitted date: 28 June 2011 Accepted date: 29 July 2011 Published date: 30 July 2011 Pp. 38–41.
MUGGER CROCODILE (Crocodylus palustris Lesson, 1831) PREYS ON A RADIATED TORTOISE IN SRI LANKA
Mahesh C. De Silva, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Anslem de Silva & D. M. S. Suranjan Karunarathna* *Corresponding author. E-mail: dmsameera@gmail.com
Abstract The Mugger crocodile is the second largest crocodile in Sri Lanka. Recently we observed a Mugger attacking an unidentified radiated tortoise. The body morphology and colouration of this particular tortoise appeared different to the native Star tortoise widely distributed in the country. Thus, the possibility of an escaped or released exotic pet is discussed.
Key words : Sri Lanka, Crocodylus palustris, Geochelone elegans, Stigmochelys pardalis, feeding
Abstract This paper presents the results of a two-year study of the sexual dichromatism, breeding, clutch size and development in a population of Sitana ponticeriana, conducted at Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, Orissa, India. Sexual dimorphism appears as a brighter overall colouration with red and dark blue gular pouch develops as outward projection at the neck. In the breeding season, mature males have crimson-red or brick-red colour at the base of the tail. Lizards start courtship in the early morning and afternoon, depending on the ambient temperature, during the early monsoons. Vitellogenic and gravid females occur simultaneously in early and mid-summer, and lay eggs during the onset of rains. Potentially, 2-3 clutches of 6- 23 eggs (mean 17.39 ± 4.39 eggs/clutch) are produced by each female each year. The smallest gravid female contained more eggs than larger ones. Eggs collected late in the reproductive season were significantly larger than those collected earlier. Freshly laid eggs are elliptical; during development, the shape, size and volume of the eggs were changed; hatchling success observed after 39 days of incubation.
Key words : ambient temperature, clutch size, development, Fan-throated lizard, India
Abstract From the main channel of River Ganga 95 invertebrate taxa have been recorded in the endangered Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) habitat over an observation period of ten years. Mollusks, Annelids and Arthropods are the dominating benthic groups that constitute the detritivores, filter-feeders and sediment feeders, scrapers/grazers and herbivores. The benthic sediment fauna is rich in diversity and high in abundance. This enables carnivores to occupy a large variety of specialized ecological niches. The qualitative faunal composition of Ganga resembles in general large European rivers with similar representation of taxa. Twelve taxa of marine-originated families were identified, but none of them can be classified as invasive or non-indigenous species. Only two taxa are certainly recognized as non-indigenous neozoans, whereas the remaining fauna shows pristine and stable ecological conditions. In this aspect River Ganga differs from regulated large rivers, where faunal change has largely replaced the original species inventory. Despite the heavy pollution in parts of the river, the original composition of biological diversity is still persisting in the middle reaches of the Ganga. This provides hope for the survival of the Gangetic Dolphin.
Submitted date: 16 May 2011 Accepted date: 13 June 2011 Published date: 30 July 2011 Pp. 15–17.
FOUR NEW ASTERINACEOUS MEMBERS FROM KERALA, INDIA
V.B. Hosagoudar*, Jacob Thomas & D.K. Agarwal *Corresponding author. E-mail: vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com
Abstract This paper gives an account of four new members belonging to the genera Asterina and Cirsosia, namely, Asterina aristolochiae, Asterina phyllanthi-beddomei, Cirsosia hopeae and Asterina thunbergiicola Hansford var. indica are described and illustrated.
Key words : morphology, characterization, lepidosis, habitus, colouration