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