Zoological Survey of India

South Asian treeshrews include the Madras Treeshrew Anathana ellioti, the Northern Treeshrew Tupaia belangeri, and the Nicobar Treeshrew Tupaia nicobarica, each occupying distinct and non‐overlapping geographical areas in India and Southeast Asia. In this study, we investigated the morphological variation among these species using museum specimens collected over a wide spatial and temporal range of India and Myanmar and combined with existing published datasets. We analyzed 22 cranial measurements and four external traits to evaluate inter‐ and intraspecific morphological differentiation, employing distance‐based morphometric approaches validated by multivariate analyses. Our findings revealed considerable heterogeneity in cranial morphology, with three species exhibiting clear differentiation, despite slight overlaps in morphospace. Furthermore, our results support the synonymy of the five previously recognized allopatric subspecies of T. belangeri and the two subspecies of A. ellioti. The additional diagnostic characteristics identified in this study enhance the understanding of morphological distinctions among the South Asian treeshrews and contribute to broader taxonomic knowledge of treeshrew diversity.

DNA metabarcoding is a rapid tool for sequencing a multitude of samples at once, to identify associated organisms. This pioneering study, using DNA metabarcoding of spider egg sacs, establishes a framework for investigating host-parasitoid associations. While traditional rearing methods identified ten arthropod taxa, DNA metabarcoding aided in resolving the identity of 28 arthropod molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), 14 of which represented host-parasitoid associations. The study provides the first documented occurrence of the genus Aphanogmus Thomson (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea: Ceraphronidae) within spider egg sacs. This research also emphasizes the importance of studying lesser-known associations to gain insights into the complexity of ecological networks and trophic interactions within arthropod communities. However, a well-curated DNA reference library and a comprehensive understanding of the functional roles of the studied taxa are essential prerequisites for accurately characterizing these complex trophic networks.

Background Pachliopta hector, known as the crimson rose, is a sizable swallowtail butterfly within the genus Pachliopta (roses) and part of the red-bodied swallowtails group. The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) offers valuable insights for phylogenetic studies and the evolutionary biology of Pachliopta hector. Methods and Results In this study, we sequenced, characterized, and annotated the mitogenome of P. hector. The complete mitogenome is 15,477 bp long and includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one control region, all arranged within a single scaffold. The mitogenome exhibits a strong A + T bias of 81.84%, along with a negative AT skew (−0.0379) and a negative GC skew (−0.1989). All PCGs initiate with a standard ATN start codon, while TAA or TAG serves as the common stop codons. Codon usage analysis revealed that the most frequently used amino acids in the mitogenome are Phe, Ile, Leu1, Met, and Asn. Most tRNAs displayed the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnI, trnS1, and trnF. The loop and DHU stem were absent in trnS1, while both trnF and trnI lacked the TΨC loop. A phylogenetic analysis was performed with 17 other species from the tribe Troidini along with 42 species from tribe Leptocircini, Papilionini, and Teinopalpini, within the subfamily Papilioninae was conducted using Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) based on the nucleotide sequences of the 13 mitochondrial PCGs. All the four tribes under Papilioninae were well separated. Conclusions The findings suggest that P. hector is a member of the Troidini under subfamily Papilioninae shares sister clade with Pachliopta aristolochiae and Losaria neptunus. The BI and ML tree supported well-defined monophyletic groups at the tribe level and illustrated the relationship between the groups ((Teinopalpini and Papilionini) + Leptocircini) + Troidini)). This research may provide valuable insights into the evolution of P. hector and phylogenetic relationship of tribes Troidini under subfamily Papilioninae.

Phaeocystis blooms are considered harmful algal blooms due to its negative impacts on the ecosystem. This study investigates the responsible factors for outbreak of Phaeocystis bloom in the coastal waters off Digha (Northwestern Bay of Bengal). Phaeocystis bloom was first observed along Talsari Beach over a ∼ 150 sq.km during early December 2022. The bloom reappeared in the same region during December 2023, suggesting it may be a recurrent feature of the Northeast Monsoon period. Eight samplings were conducted between March 2022 and February 2024 to understand the bloom dynamics along the Digha coast. Phaeocystis colonies are spherical and yellowish-brown colour. Colony abundance varied from 0 to 652 colonies/L. Based on the colony abundance, study period characterized as four distinct bloom phases viz.: initial (early December), peak (mid-December to early January), decline (late January) and late (February). Colony size varied between 1.22 and 14.22 mm and cell abundance ranged from 1.8 to 45 × 104 cells per colony. The present study highlights that, temperature, salinity and nitrate are key factors, collectively explaining 76 % of variance of Phaeocystis bloom in Digha coastal waters. Among these, temperature is crucial and accounts for 69 % of variance in bloom formation. During December, cool-dry northeasterly winds considerably reduced the temperature (<24 °C), while the freshwater input modified the coastal environment to polyhaline, nitrate and silicate rich (>5 μM); these likely triggered the Phaeocystis bloom formation. The recurrence of Phaeocystis bloom is significant and underscores the need for further studies to account for their possible impacts.

Background: Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are a notorious group of blood-sucking insects acting as vectors of various diseases in humans and other animals, most notable being Onchocerciasis. Due to its medical and veterinary significance, accurate and quick species identification is of utmost importance in the field of black fly research. DNA barcoding is one such taxonomic tool, aiding in quick and efficient species identification using molecular methods. Despite sporadic reports of ocular and cutaneous Onchocerciasis, especially from North-East India, Indian Simuliidae has been understudied due to lack of expertise on morphological taxonomy and lack of genetic library. Materials and Methods: Blackflies were collected from eight distinct locations in the Central Himalayan region that are part of the West Bengal, India, districts of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Various traps were used to collect the specimens, and they were kept it in 70% ethyl alcohol. Following the morphological identification of each fly specimen, genomic DNA was extracted from its dissected legs using the QIAmp DNA extraction kit (QIAGEN, Germany). The voucher specimen slide was deposited in the National Zoological collection, ZSI, Kolkata, India. Results: This is the first comprehensive DNA barcoding study of black flies (Feuerborni and Multistriatum species group) using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences along with morphological identification from the Central Himalayan region of West Bengal involving four species: Simulium dentatum, Simulium digitatum, Simulium praelargum, and Simulium senile. DNA barcode approach through ML tree clearly distinguished all the species with supporting PTP, ASAP, and GMYC analysis. Interspecific genetic distances were also calculated where S. dentatum and S. digitatum showed minimum distances in the study area. Conclusion: Coupled with a robust morpho-taxonomic framework, the DNA barcodes generated here will help with accurate species identification, which will lead to better management and control strategies for these harmful vector species at the study site.

This research aims to examine the morphological characteristics of all the life stages of the isopod Nerocila orbignyi (Guérin, 1832), which parasitizes the host fish Plotosus canius Hamilton, 1822 (Gray eel-catfish) in Chilika Lagoon, Odisha, India. A detailed examination of the morphology, life cycle, and prevalence of the isopod N. orbignyi, was conducted following the standard protocols. The observations included 104 females, 32 males, 11 juveniles, and 47 embryonic stages. This study enhances our understanding of this species’ biology, making identification clear and straightforward. This study may be helpful in developing effective management strategies that could prevent isopod infections in aquaculture.

Urbanization affects the bird life in a number of ways. Ambient noise, lack of suitable nesting sites and foraging material in urban landscape often impose a selection pressure on birds. Analysis of the data revealed that in urbanized habitats, the red-vented bulbul (RVB; Pycnonotus cafer) often altered its breeding behaviour in a number of ways like selection of unusual sites for nesting (such as nesting in buildings, wall holes and electric fixings), exotic plants for nesting and polythene pieces, paper pieces, threads, rags, and the like as nesting material. Breeding success was higher in urban areas than in forests. Plasticity in song characteristics, namely, increases in minimum and dominant frequencies and amplitude shifts were also observed. Basically, the red-vented bulbul is a wild species, and in forest, it forages mostly upon a number of wild fruits, while in urban areas, this species is seen foraging upon a variety of food, including kitchen waste. Such shifts in behaviour are examples of rapid evolution and provide excellent opportunities to address scientific questions pertaining to behaviour and evolution.

Mircoplastics (MP) are fragments of plastic that are smaller than 5 µm and are the product of the decomposition of larger plastic items or the direct discharge of smaller plastic particles, such as microbeads from personal care products, into the environment. About 320 million tonnes of plastics are generated every year that are disposed into the environment, recent studies have shown that 94% of the plastic are not properly disposed offwhich leads to major issue of MP pollution for us. MP are able to thrive in a wide variety of ecosystems, including the air, ocean, rivers, and lakes, as well as the soil. In addition, animals including human are capable of ingesting them, which may result in adverse effects for both groupsas MP are not biodegraded easily, they have the potential to remain in the environment for an extended period of time. This could have long-term consequences for the ecosystems and the creatures. Animals who consume MP experience a deficient supply of nutrients, oxidative stress, intestinal damage, and a variety of other unfavorable effects. Ingestion of MP by humans is likewise something that can hardly be denied. MP can enter the body through the gastrointestinal tract through contaminated food or by trophic transfer, the respiratory system from inhalation, or the skin via touch.The fate of MP and the consequences of their entry into the human body are little understood, despite widespread consumption of the particles. MP smaller than 10 µm in size can get into all organs, cross cell membranes, get through the blood–brain barrier, and get into the placenta, assuming that particles can be spread out in secondary tissues like the liver, muscles, and brain.The biodegradation of polyurethane is facilitated by fungi that produce hydrolases called proteases, esterases, ureases, and lipases. Breakdown of MP by bacteria. The breakdown of MP by bacteria has been the subject of numerous research. Enzyme biocatalysis depolymerizes plastic substrates into oligomers and monomers that can be recycled as raw materials to create new plastic goods or create other value-added chemicals in a circular economy. High-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate were effectively removed using hydrophilic bare Fe3O4 nanoaggregates. Fe3O4 at 1% of the bulk of the MP allowed for complete extraction. The wide level of pollution potential has made the MP, a hot topic of debate in the scientific community and many solutions are emerging to combat this problem. This chapter will focus to provide the latest insides of MP, distribution in the environment and inside body, effects and possible remedies.

This paper provides the first illustration of the male genital capsule of Asuridia rubrimargo (Hampson, 1894) and female genital capsule of Asuridia miltochristoides Rothschild, 1913 after 131 years and 112 years, respectively, of their first description. Originally, both the species were described solely on the basis of external characters. We report A. rubrimargo for the first time outside of the type locality (i.e, from Arunachal Pradesh, India) and update its distribution. A checklist of the genus Asuridia Hampson, 1900 is also provided.

In recent years, global warming has become a major driver of biodiversity loss, significantly impacting various vertebrate species, including mammals. Consequently, numerous smaller species face extinction risks due to anthropogenic factors as well as inadequate assessments and conservation planning. Thus, this study focuses on two recently described endemic giant flying squirrel species under the Petaurista genus—Petaurista mishmiensis and Petaurista mechukaensis—found in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Using an ensemble species distribution model (SDM), this research delineates suitable habitats for these lesser-known species and evaluates the effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on these areas. This analysis aims to inform a comprehensive management plan for their conservation. The ensemble model identified suitable habitat patches for the two species, extending beyond their current IUCN-designated ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. Under present conditions, P. mishmiensis has the largest predicted suitable area (9213 sq. km), followed by P. mechukaensis (6754 sq. km). However, future projections reveal alarming habitat losses ranging from 13.45% to 55.86% across the study area. This study also highlights severe habitat fragmentation throughout the state as viable patches for P. mishmiensis are drastically reduced in size, resulting in many being completely lost and the remaining areas being closer together. However, the P. mechukaensis experiences significant disintegration, resulting in numerous smaller, more dispersed patches within Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, to address these challenges, this study recommends several actions such as genetic assessments to confirm evolutionary relationships, evaluations of corridor connectivity, and comprehensive field studies. Furthermore, establishing joint forest conservation committees involving local communities, forest personnel, defense forces, naturalists, and scientists are also encouraged. Ultimately, this research provides critical insights for guiding future field studies across Arunachal Pradesh’s vast landscapes and supports the development of detailed species management plans to protect these endemic flying squirrels.

Prior to this study, Myanmar was known to host 15 species of snakehead fishes (genus Channa) distributed across Southeast Asia. The region, characterized by its confluence of diverse river systems and two biodiversity hotspots, is presumed to have notable gaps in its biodiversity assessments. Recently, a new snakehead species, Channa shingon, was discovered in China, with its potential distribution in Myanmar warranting further investigation. This study focused on exploring Channa species in Kachin State and examined collected specimens using an integrated approach. The specimens were identified as C. shingon based on their distinct morphological characters, with a maximum standard length of 99.2 mm. Additionally, mitochondrial COI sequence data were generated, and species confirmation was achieved through nucleotide BLAST searches, genetic distance estimations, and phylogenetic analyses. The DNA sequences of C. shingon showed a mean inter-species genetic distance of 7.97% to 27.41% compared with other Channa species in the dataset, while the intra-species genetic distance between the Burmese and Chinese populations was 0.27%. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses distinctly separated C. shingon from other congeners through a monophyletic clustering pattern, revealing its sister relationship with C. rubora. Overall, this study provides the first report of C. shingon from Myanmar and suggests its speciation from a common ancestor with C. rubora, likely driven by geographical barriers such as the Irrawaddy River. Furthermore, the study contributes a robust DNA barcode dataset encompassing 85.7% of the global Channa species diversity, which can serve as a valuable resource for further species identification, discovery, and diversity assessments of snakeheads from South and Southeast Asia.

The present study, conducted in West Bengal, India, explored the unique ‘multi-chambered’ appearance of certain spider eggs, leading to the discovery of gregarious parasitism in the idiobiont endoparasitoid Idris Förster (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Little is known about the roles of parasitoid Hymenoptera in regulating spider populations. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I marker identified five distinct species of Idris. These five gregarious species, identified in association with various spider hosts across multiple locations during a two-year study, offer new insights into host-parasitoid interactions and their adaptability in different host systems. Additionally, six novel host associations between egg parasitoids and five spider species from two families are documented. Under the family Scelionidae, Idris is the second genus, after Telenomus Haliday, adapting to gregarious development. Our findings emphasize the existence of diverse trophic interactions and life strategies in nature that are yet to be documented.

High-altitude regions of the Himalayas remain largely unexplored due to their inaccessible habitats, complex topography, and challenging climatic conditions, despite harbouring rich biodiversity. The present study captured the first photographic evidence of endangered Western tragopan and new records of Barking deer from Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh using camera traps. New records of barking deer captured in two places (2892 m & 2945 m) and first photographic evidence of the western tragopan captured at 3074 m elevation in month of May–July. The occurrence of Barking deer at high altitudes raises questions about potential habitat changes influenced by urbanization and increasing biotic pressures, demanding further investigation to understand the impact of environmental changes on species upward migrations.

The present paper thoroughly discussed the morphological characteristics, distribution, and systematic position of the Honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767) belonging to the family Sabellaridae Johnston, 1865, which has not been previously reported from the coastal waters of West Bengal, Eastern coast of India, Bay of Bengal. The species identification has been confirmed by examining the morphometric characteristics such as opercular stalk, crown, types of palea, body colour, and absence of nuchal spine; the details of these characteristics are discussed in the paper.

Cheilopogon arcticeps (Günther, 1866) is recorded for the first time from the Indian coastal waters. Two specimens of C. arcticeps (158–167 mm SL) were collected from the Petuaghat fishing harbour of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. The present paper reports the species for the first time from Indian waters and thus, the distributional range of the species is extended from Western Pacific Ocean to the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. This paper provides more detailed information on the taxonomy and morphometric of the poorly known species.

The role of hawkmoths in pollination is surprisingly understudied in tropical Asia and most of the studies related to flower visitation recordings lack a robust assessment. From India, very few research papers could be reviewed on the pollination ecology of hawkmoths. Herein, we analyzed the interactions of 109 individuals in 39 hawkmoth species to study their role as pollen transporters and potential pollinators. 67 individuals (61.47%), accounting for 29 species (74.35%), are found to be pollen carrier moths (PCM). The hawkmoths transported pollen from 16 plant families, with Ericaceae dominating the pollen composition (33.37% of total pollen grains). The pollen spectra (based on pollen abundance and relative pollen frequency) revealed that 44 PCM (18 species) came from Macroglossinae, followed by 16 PCM (7 species) from Smerinthinae, and 7 PCM (4 species) from Sphinginae. Macroglossinae transported pollen of 14 plant families. The value of selectivity (H2’) is 0.77 for the pollen transportation network and 0.36 for the moth-plant visitation network. We followed the refined method of pollen extraction from proboscides, rather than swabbing body parts, which enabled us to assess pollen carrying capacity in a refined way. Considering the scenario of the declining global pollinators, largely affecting crop production, moths are the least concerned insects for conservation and management. The outcome of the present study will help in strengthening the baseline information for expanding plant-moth interaction network-related studies and considering the least concerned groups of insects in the conservation policies.