REVIEW_ARTICLE
On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)
A brief review of the phylogeny and nomenclature of the weasels, genus Mustela Linnaeus, 1758 in the broad sense, indicates continuing confusion over the appropriate name for the well-supported American clade included within it. A case is made that the American mink (Neovison vison) and three allied species (Mustela frenata, M. felipei, and M. africana) should now be recognized in the genus Neogale Gray, 1865. The ages and morphological disparities of both Neogale and Mustela sensu stricto indicate that both are in need of comprehensive revisions.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-132-en.pdf
2021-04-14
1
8
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.1
Classification
Mammalia
phylogeny
synonymy
taxonomy
Bruce D.
Patterson
bpatterson@fieldmuseum.org
1
Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago IL 60605, USA
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2249-7260
Héctor E.
Ramírez-Chaves
hector.ramirez@ucaldas.edu.co
2
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2454-9482
Júlio F.
Vilela
vilela@ufpi.edu.br
3
Núcleo de História Natural da UFPI, Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral, Universidade Federal do Piauí – UFPI BR343, Km 3,5 - Bairro Meladão, 64808-605, Floriano, PI, Brazil 4
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1254-3072
André Elias Rodrigues
Soares
aersoares@gmail.com
4
Department of Organismal Biology, Human Evolution, Evolutionsbiologiskt Centrum EBC, Norbyvägen18 A, Uppsala Universitet, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7768-2199
Felix
Grewe
fgrewe@fieldmuseum.org
5
Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago IL 60605, USA
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2805-5930
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
The first record of Kurixalus yangi Yu, Hui, Rao and Yang, 2018 (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Mizoram State, India, with a reassessment of previous records of its congeners from Mizoram
Based on a collection of Kurixalus specimens collected from different localities in Mizoram State, we report the occurrence of Kurixalus yangi from the State. Species identification was confirmed based on morphology and molecular data (mitochondrial 16S rRNA marker gene sequence). In addition, we confirm the previous record of Kurixalus naso from the same region to be erroneous as it is in fact K. yangi. Herein, we reassess the systematic status of this montane population of Kurixalus from Northeast India and provide evidence for its distinction from Kurixalus naso sensu stricto, thereby reporting K. yangi as an addition to the amphibian fauna of Mizoram. This record represents the southernmost distribution of the species.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-112-en.pdf
2021-08-12
9
17
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.2
First record
Northeast India
range extension
re-identification
16S rRNA gene
taxonomy
Lal
Muansanga
muanapunte16@gmail.com
1
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8182-9029
Malnica Vanlal
Malsawmtluangi
malnicachawngthu96@gmail.com
2
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7816-8693
Gospel Zothanmawia
Hmar
goszhmar@gmail.com
3
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6529-2479
Lal
Biakzuala
bzachawngthu123@gmail.com
4
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5142-3511
Vanlal
Siammawii
siammawiikito@gmail.com
5
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6909-6528
Mathipi
Vabeiryureilai
m.vabeiryureilai@gmail.com
6
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8708-3686
Hmar Tlawmte
Lalremsanga
htlrsa@yahoo.co.in
7
Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3080-8647
REVIEW_ARTICLE
Status, current distribution and threats to the Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) in Nepal
The Fishing cat, Prionailurus viverrinus is a medium-sized, wild felid, native to south and Southeast Asia. The global status of the species has been assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and it is further listed as ‘Endangered’ in Nepal. Knowledge on the species is limited due to scarce research studies, resulting in a lack of ecological information. A few conservation programs for the species have been initiated in the past but current concern is that conservation programs may not be sufficient for the long-term survival of the species in Nepal. Therefore, we reviewed the available published scientific literature and anecdotal reports relating to the Fishing cats in Nepal, and used this data to assess current population status, distribution, threats and conservation efforts for the species. We screened and selected 49 scientific papers and reports related to Fishing cats for the current study and analyzed them to produce our findings. Our results found that fishing cats are recorded from five protected areas, and three non-protected wetland areas, within the Terai region of Southern Nepal. Two publications are found that substantiate the population status of the species in the country. In Protected Areas of Nepal, most of the Fishing cat records were accessed through camera trap surveys targeting large cat species. Fishing cats have been facing extinction threats mainly due to poaching, human over-exploitation of local fish stocks, retaliatory killing, wetland shrinkage and conversion, pollution and other conflicts with humans. We believe our review will be a useful guide for conservationists, managers and wildlife researchers to promote the conservation of this charismatic and threatened species in Nepal.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-117-en.pdf
2021-09-30
18
25
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.3
Endangered
felid
poaching
threatened
vulnerable
Sachin
Timilsina
Sachintimilsina66@gmail.com
1
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4749-9289
Rama
Mishra
amitadhikari944@gmail.com
2
Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, 2333 Antwerp, AK, Belgium; Wildlife Conservation Association Nepal (WildCAN), Babarmahal Kathmandu, Bagmati 44614, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8648-7256
Amit
Adhikari
amitadhikari944@gmail.com
3
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9937-7382
Subash
Gautam
subashgautam2729@gmail.com
4
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9349-2865
Bijaya
Neupane
bijneu@gmail.com
5
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1215-689X
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Annotated checklist of the snakes of Bengaluru Urban District, Karnataka, India with notes on their natural history, distribution, and population trends over the last 150 years
Systematic and thorough studies of snake populations across large areas are rare in the tropics. Bengaluru city in southern India has not had a thorough checklist of snakes in over a century, during which time land-use changes, taxonomic revisions, and fluctuating reptile populations have left the current status of snakes of this region unclear. We combine data from snake rescues, visual encounter surveys, and other reliable records to generate a contemporary checklist of 33 snake species (15 of which are novel) present within the Bengaluru Urban District with comments on their apparent habitat preferences. We also provide evidence and insight on six additional species that have not been recorded but potentially occur within the limits of the district. Compared with the earlier checklist, all but 4 species (Naja naja, Ptyas mucosa, Daboia russelii, and Fowlea piscator) have shown considerable decline within city limits. Additionally, all of India’s “Big Four” medically significant venomous snake species (Naja naja, Bungarus caeruleus, Daboia russelii, and Echis carinatus) are found within the district. Naja naja and Daboia russelii appear to be well-adjusted to urbanization with serious ramifications for human-wildlife conflict and healthcare in the future as the majority of Indian snakebite deaths can be attributed to these two species. The population trajectory of Daboia russelii is of particular interest as it was classified as “not common” in the previous checklist, but it is presently one of the most abundant snake species in the area. Our study provides a new baseline that can be used to monitor ophidian population trends going forward.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-123-en.pdf
2021-06-30
26
41
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.4
Habitat change
Indian snakes
inventory
Ophidiofauna
population trends
Serpentes
Southern India
Squamata
tropics
Yatin
Kalki
yatin.kalki@gmail.com
1
Madras Crocodile Bank Trust & Centre for Herpetology, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7121-8558
Chayant
Gonsalves
me@chayant.net
2
C-01, Good Earth Malhar Footprints, Kambipura Taluk, KengeriHobli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3176-7373
Daniel B.
Wylie
wylie.dan@gmail.com
3
Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, Illinois 61820, USA
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/000-0002-2870-6713
Karthik A. K.
Sundaram
akkagks@gmail.com
4
Wildlife Conservation Group, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3761-7752
Tristan D.
Schramer
tristan.schramer@gmail.com
5
Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4553-8002
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Spatio-temporal comparison of intertidal macrofaunal communities along anthropogenically influenced Mandvi coast, Gulf of Kachchh, India
Natural and human disturbances can affect population and community assemblages in complex ways. The present study was carried out from June 2019 to January 2020, along the Northern Gulf of Kachchh (can also be spelled as Kutch), western India wherein an effort was made to investigate the intertidal assemblage at three distinct but spatially closely located stations (Kathda, Mandvi, and Modhva). The efforts were also made to correlate anthropogenic effects with intertidal assemblage. The Mandvi station served as an anthropogenically active area whereas the other two remained as control stations with minimal disturbance. Replicate quadrat samples on fixed transect lines and wet biomass analyses were carried out for three seasons. In total, 43 species, viz. Mollusca (21), Crustacea (12), Polychaeta (7), Nemertea (1), and fishes (2) were recorded. Cumulatively, during pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and winter, overall population densities ranged from 0 to 999 individuals/m2; biomass from 0 to 899 g/m2, and the Simpson evenness index score remained between 0.15 to 0.89. Overall, high density and diversity were observed during winter (December 2019 and January 2020) with the maximum number of two Mollusc species Umbonium vestiarium and Cerethidia cingulata. High densities were observed at the Modhva station followed by Kathda and Mandvi stations. Relatively lower intertidal macrofaunal diversity and density were clearly observed at Mandvi station which is a famous tourist destination. Comparative data recorded in the present study can serve as a vital baseline and can be a part of future monitoring processes, especially at anthropogenically influenced stations.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-110-en.pdf
2021-06-30
42
56
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.5
Abundance
anthropogenic influence
intertidal community
Gulf of Kachchh (Kutch)
Pranav
Pandya
pranavpandya1@yahoo.com
1
Department of Biology, R. R. Lalan College, Bhuj 370001, Gujarat, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7897-3799
Mansi
Thakkar
mansithakkar343@gmail.com
2
Deptartment of Earth and Environment Science, KSKV Kachchh Universiyt, Bhuj 370001, Gujarat, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0022-7101
Mansi
Goswami
mansi3gs@gmail.com
3
Department of Biology, R. R. Lalan College, Bhuj 370001, Gujarat, India
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7120-7936
REVIEW_ARTICLE
Research trends, conservation issues and approaches for the endangered Red panda (Ailurus fulgens): a systematic review of literatures across their home-range
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), an arboreal mammal belonging to the family Ailuridae, and order Carnivora with herbivorous tendencies is distributed across the mountains of Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, and Myanmar. Due to different anthropogenic activities, the wild populations of A. fulgens have declined by 50% across these range countries. There are many gaps in the current knowledge concerning this endangered, elusive, and charismatic animal. We applied a systematic review process to better understand the research trends, conservation threats, and approaches and identified research gaps that potentially impact the long-term conservation of A. fulgens. Altogether, we analyzed 168 published papers over 33 years and in different thematic areas. Our study revealed that studies on A. fulgens are not evenly distributed across the range of the species, with the majority of them being from China, then Nepal, and very few from Bhutan, India, and Myanmar. The majority of the literature concerning captive and free-ranging populations of A. fulgens is skewed toward different aspects of biology including anatomy, general behavior, reproduction, nutrition, and different aspects of habitat including distribution patterns, and habitat use. There is limited information on A. fulgens genetics and it is confined to Chinese populations. Studies on diseases, the impact of anthropogenic activities like tourism, infrastructure development, movement ecology, interaction with other associated species, and studies addressing the impact of climate change on this species are very sparse. Hence, for the conservation success of A. fulgens understanding, these issues are critical.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-130-en.pdf
2021-06-30
57
68
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.6
Anthropogenic activities
charismatic animal
conservation
endangered
research trend
Bijaya
Dhami
bijaysinghdhami@gmail.com
1
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4127-138X
Sachin
Timilsina
sachintimilsina66@gmail.com
2
Society for Wildlife Research and Conservation (SOWREC), IOF, Pokhara, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4749-9289
Amit
Adhikari
amitadhikari944@gmail.com
3
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9937-7382
Bijaya
Neupane
bijneu@gmail.com
4
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1215-689X
Nar Bhadur
Chhetri
narbahadurchhetri947@gmail.com
5
Assistant Forest Officer, Division Forest Office, Dailekh, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0903-5723
Alisha
Sharma
sharma.alizzha56@gmail.com
6
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8787-5744
Aakash
Paudel
aakash43454@gmail.com
7
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2867-9265
Mahamad Sayab
Miya
sayabmiya13@gmail.com
8
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1675-593X
Byanjana
Sharma
Sharmabyanjana07@gmail.com
9
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0734-1679
Apeksha
Chhetri
apeksha5747@gmail.com
10
Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2123-2348
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Tigers in the Himalayan foothills: Possible linkage between two tiger population clusters in Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal
Conserving tigers (Panthera tigris) in highly fragmented landscapes is a daunting task. Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) at the base of the Himalayas aims to connect the remaining Tiger habitats in southern Nepal and northwestern India. Tiger population clusters in central (Chitwan-Parsa) and western (Bardia-Banke) Nepal are distinct with limited connectivity in recent past. We present the photographic evidence of Bengal tiger (P. tigris tigris) from forest patch between these population clusters for the first time. The photographs were obtained during camera trap survey across Chure region of Nepal in 2018. Two adult tigers–a female and a male—were photographed ~40 km apart. This record indicates the possibility that tiger habitat extends outside the protected areas in Nepal and natural linkages between Chitwan-Parsa and Bardia-Banke tiger population clusters through forest corridors along the Chure region. Conservation efforts should also focus on the forests outside protected areas especially the critical biological corridors to conserve tigers in TAL via a meta-population approach.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-128-en.pdf
2021-06-30
69
75
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.7
Camera traps
Chure region
habitat connectivity
meta-population
Terai Arc landscape
tigers
Naresh
Subedi
nareshsubedi@gmail.com
1
National Trust for Nature Conservation, POB 3712, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4517-4912
Babu Ram
Lamichhane
baburaml@gmail.com
2
National Trust for Nature Conservation, POB 3712, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0580-7682
Yajna Nath
Dahal
dahal1965@yahoo.com
3
National Trust for Nature Conservation, POB 3712, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal; Ministry of Forests and Environment, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1973-7585
Ram Chandra
Kandel
rckandel06@gmail.com
4
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, 44617, Kathmandu, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3570-4249
Madhuri
Karki Thapa
madhureethapa@gmail.com
5
Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Babarmahal, 44617, Kathmandu, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2824-386X
Rajan
Regmi
rajan.regmi67@yahoo.com
6
President Chure-Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Board, Khumaltar, 44700, Lalitpur, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2091-4112
Binod
Shrestha
binod.env@gmail.com
7
National Trust for Nature Conservation, POB 3712, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2781-7742
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE
Pupa affinis (A. Adams, 1855) (Gastropoda: Acteonidae) a newly recorded species from Iraq, with an updated checklist of the marine gastropods from the Iraqi coast
The present study is part of an ongoing project on the mollusc diversity of Iraq. Specimens of the gastropod Pupa affinis were collected live from the intertidal zone of the northwest of the Persian Gulf, Iraq, in the Fao region. The species was identified to species level using standard taxonomic literature. It is widely distributed in the Persian Gulf; however, this study provides the first record from the Iraqi coast. Also, a checklist of the marine gastropods from the Iraqi coast is provided and now comprises 32 species belonging to 30 genera within 24 families.
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-129-en.pdf
2021-06-30
76
80
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.8
Fao region
Molluscs
Persian Gulf
Amaal
Yasser
a.ghaziyasser@gmail.com
1
Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq; Griffith University, School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan Queensland 4111, Australia
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1286-969X
Murtada
Naser
nasergriffith@gmail.com
2
Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5047-7657
SHORT_COMMUNICATION
Erratum: An annotated checklist of damselfishes, Family Pomacentridae Bonaparte, 1831
Correction
After the publication of this article (Parenti, 2021) it came to my attention that I have missed out the LSID code mandatory to publish any new nomenclatural act. Then, that article has been registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as [urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C2FD477B-1B9B-4F27-8E90-1F30B291E40C]
http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-214-en.pdf
2021-06-30
81
81
10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.9
Paolo
Parenti
1
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
AUTHOR
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9749-4048