We carried out a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of fejervaryan (dicroglossid frogs with 'Fejervaryan lines' on the ventral side of the body) frogs, distributed in South and SE Asia, using published and newly generated sequences of unidentified individuals from the northern Western Ghats. The results corroborate the presence of a larger fejervaryan clade with a sister relationship to a clade composed of Sphaerotheca. Two sister clades could be discerned within the lager fejervaryan clade. The unidentified individuals formed a monophyletic group and showed a strong support for a sister relationship with Minervarya sahyadris. The species was found to be highly divergent (16S rRNA-4% and tyr-1%) from its sister lineage Minervarya sahyadris, and the clade composed of these two lineages were found to be deeply nested within the larger clade of Fejervarya. Based on this, the genus Minervarya Dubois, Ohler and Biju, 2001 is synonymized under the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915. The unidentified lineage is recognized, based on phylogenetic position, genetic divergence and morphological divergence, as a distinct species and named here as Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. The presence of rictal glands was observed to be a synapomorphic character shared by the nested clade members, Fejervarya sahyadris and Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. Based on the presence of rictal gland and small size, Minervarya chilapata, a species from a lowland region in the Eastern Himalayas, is synonymized under Fejervarya and evidence for morphological separation from the new species, Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. is provided. For fejervaryan frogs, three generic names (Frost, 2015) are currently in use for two phylogenetic subclades; the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 for species distributed in South East Asia; the genus Zakerana Howlader, 2011 for species distributed in South Asia and the genus Minervarya Dubois, Ohler and Biju, 2001 nested within the 'Zakerana clade'. In the phylogenetic analysis Minervarya sahyadris and the new species described herein as Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. are nested within the 'Zakerana clade'. If the 'Zakerana clade' for the fejervaryan frogs distributed in South Asia is assigned a generic status, the nomen 'Minervarya' should be used as per the principle of priority of the ICZN Code. Taking into consideration the overlapping distribution ranges of members of the sister clades within the larger fejervaryan clade and the absence of distinct morphological characteristics, we also synonymize the genus Zakerana Howlader, 2011, a name assigned to one of the sister clades with members predominantly distributed in South Asia, under the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915. We discuss the need for additional sampling to identify additional taxa and determine the geographical ranges of the members of the sister clades within Fejervarya to resolve taxonomy within this group. [Corrected]
Frogs of the genus Minervarya are cryptic and widely distributed in South Asia. However, many of them lack information about the precise type locality, genetic data, and distribution range. The present study aimed to examine the genetic affinities of a widely distributed species Minervarya syhadrensis around its type locality in the northern Western Ghats (Pune, Maharashtra). We studied the type specimen of M. syhadrensis and collected similar sized Minervarya frogs from Pune district. In the field, we observed two different calls from morphologically similar (M. syhadrensis like) males suggesting the sympatric occurrence of two cryptic species (that we initially named Minervarya species A and Minervarya species B). We analyzed morphology, call pattern, and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequence of both species. Minervarya species A has a long call with a low pulse repetition rate and higher dominant frequency compared to that of the Minervarya species B. These species cannot be differentiated based on morphometric data. However, they can be sorted out using morphological characters such as the presence of longitudinal skin folds on the dorsal side (Minervarya species A) and differences in foot webbing. DNA sequences of Minervarya species A and Minervarya species B are matching with those of M. caperata and M. agricola respectively. After studying the type specimens of M. syhadrensis and M. caperata, we found morphological similarities (longitudinal skin folds) with the samples of Minervarya species A collected during the present study. Based on the results of our study (morphology and genetic) and available literature, we propose to redefine M. syhadrensis as applying to the lineage initially named Minervarya species A, and to treat the species M. caperata as a junior synonym of M. syhadrensis. Our study will be helpful in further taxonomic revision of the genus, and provides natural history information for M. syhadrensis and M. agricola.
Lockdowns intended to control the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major socioeconomic upheavals across the world. While there were numerous reports of these lockdowns benefiting wildlife by reducing human movement and habitat disturbance, increased hunting during these lockdowns emerged as a conservation concern, particular in tropical Asia and Africa. We used online interviews with key informants including wildlife researchers, enforcement staff and NGO employees (N=99), and media reports (N=98), to examine the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown in India (March-May 2020) on wildlife hunting across the country. We asked whether and how hunting patterns changed during the lockdown, and explored socioeconomic and institutional factors underlying these changes. Over half the interviewees spread over 43 administrative districts perceived hunting (mammals, in particular) to have increased during the lockdown relative to a pre-lockdown reference period. Interviewees identified household consumption (53 percent of respondents) and sport and recreation (34 percent) as main motivations for hunting during the lockdown, and logistical challenges for enforcement (36 percent), disruption of food supply (32 percent), and need for recreational opportunities (32 percent) as key factors associated with hunting during this period. These insights were corroborated by statements by experts extracted from media articles. Collectively, our findings suggest that the COVID-19 lockdown potentially increased hunting across much of India, and emphasize the role of livelihood and food security in mitigating threats to wildlife during such periods of acute socioeconomic perturbation.
No abstract
Five polymorphic forms. including a new one, of the brachionid rotiferBrachionus quadridentatus, are described from the Morar channel in Gwalior. These are the nominate form quadridentatus, fonn cluniorbicularis, form rhenanus, form breoispina and form monospina nov. The variation in different morphological forms is due to the emergence, development and elongation of postero-lateral and postero-median spines. and changes in the size of lorica. The present communication forms the first report of polymorphosis in B. quadridentatus from India.
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