Photographic record of Dholes predating on a young Banteng in southwestern Java, Indonesia

A long-term camera-trap study of the Javan Rhinoceros in 2013 in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP), Indonesia, allowed us to document the first photographic evidence of Dholes preying on a young Banteng and other species. Our photographs suggested that Dholes get in large packs to predate on Banteng and commonly separate young from adults when attacking the young. Future research should examine the Dhole diet and interspecific relationships between Dhole and Banteng to gain a better understanding of the ecological impacts of endangered predators on endangered prey in UKNP.

Checklist of Odonata (Insecta) of Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, India

In this communication, we have collated a checklist of 97 species of odonates from Doon valley, Uttarakhand by reviewing the literature. These species are distributed across 13 families, 58 genera, and eight superfamilies. Of these species, 60 were Anisoptera (dragonflies) and 37 were Zygoptera (damselflies). Three species of dragonflies and two damselflies are endemic to India. This checklist updates existing knowledge on insect diversity in the Doon valley and will aid conservation management of wetlands in the region.

A new species of flat-headed mayfly Afronurus meenmutti (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae) from Kerala, India

A new species of mayfly (Heptageniidae: Ecdyonurinae) Afronurus meenmutti sp. nov. is described based on larvae and imagoes from the state of Kerala, southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish the new species from all other species are in having glossae oblong with two stout spines medially; lingua of hypopharynx deeply cleft; absence of postero-lateral spines on terga and gill I slightly lobate in the nymph. Hind wing with the acute costal process; stout spine dispersed on basal and surface of forceps in the adults.

Comprehensive checklist of algal class Chlorophyceae (sensu Fritsch, 1935) for Uttar Pradesh, India, with updated taxonomic status

Uttar Pradesh is an active center for algal research in India, but regional checklists are not available. Checklists of algae reported from class Chlorophyceae (sensu Fritsch, 1935) are presented here, with taxonomic status updated per AlgaeBase. The checklist covers algae from 17 types of habitats and includes 749 species, 166 varities and six forma, belonging to four phyla, 11 classes, 26 orders, 64 families and 161 genera. Charophyta is the dominant phylum with 519 infrageneric taxa (species, varities, forma), while Chlorophyta is represented by 389 taxa. Zygnematophyceae is the dominant class with 465 infrageneric taxa under two orders, six families and 29 genera. Chlorophyceae has 305 infrageneric taxa under five orders, 33 families, and 76 genera. Cosmarium is the most speciose genus with 163 taxa, followed by Oedogonium (79), Spirogyra (72), and Closterium (54). Our study revealed that of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh only 40 are explored for algae, with Prayagraj and Lucknow recording 266 and 144 taxa respectively.

Pentatropis R.Br. ex Wight & Arn. (Apocynaceae), a new generic record for Kerala, India

Pentatropis capensis (L. f.) Bullock. is being reported for the first time from the state of Kerala, India. The extended distribution is discussed with notes on ecology.

Updated distribution of seven Trichosanthes L. (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) taxa in India, along with taxonomic notes

In India, lack of revisionary work in the genus Trichosanthes L. (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) over the past 38 years had resulted in several taxonomic and nomenclatural issues, which had implications in determining actual distribution status of taxa. Based on field observations, collected specimens, data from various specimens in herbaria and critical study of all the resources available, here we confirm the extended distribution of T. anaimalaiensis Bedd. in the states of Manipur and Nagaland; T. cordata Roxb. in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar; T. cucumerina L. subsp. sublobata (Kundu) K. Pradheep, D.R. Pani & K.C. Bhatt in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha; T. dicaelosperma C.B. Clarke in Nagaland; T. kerrii Craib in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur; T. majuscula (C.B. Clarke) Kundu in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam; and T. truncata C.B. Clarke in Nagaland. Two taxa, namely, Trichosanthes dicaelosperma and T. majuscula, earlier subsumed with T. ovigera Blume or T. cucumeroides (Ser.) Maxim., and T. dunniana H. Lév., respectively, have been resurrected at the rank of species. Lectotypes were designated for the names of above two species. For the first time, female plants of T. majuscula have been described. This communication provides an updated distribution status of seven taxa of Trichosanthes in India along with field and taxonomic notes, and additional taxonomic characters.

Nomenclatural notes and report of Boehmeria penduliflora Wedd. ex D.G. Long from the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India

Boehmeria penduliflora Wedd. ex D.G.Long (Urticaceae) is rediscovered after 81 years in Barahi range of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the present article, detailed description, digital photographs, illustration, nomenclature update and relevant notes are provided to facilitate easy identification.

Ichthyofaunal diversity with relation to environmental variables in the snow-fed Tamor River of eastern Nepal

Tamor River in eastern Nepal supports diverse hill stream fishes. From winter, spring, summer, and autumn of 2020, we investigated the ichthyofaunal diversity with environmental variables in the snow-fed Tamor River covering four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) and field surveys were carried out in January, April, July, and October 2020. We used two cast nets of different sizes, one with a mesh size of 2 cm, 6 m diameter and 6 kg weight and another having 0.5 cm, 3 m diameter and 2 kg weight. In addition, monofilament gill nets with mesh sizes of 6, 8, and 10 were used for fish sampling. A total of 6,373 fish individuals representing 28 species belonging to three orders, seven families, and 16 genera were recorded. One-way permutational multivariate analysis of variance (perMANOVA) on the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) showed no significant (P >0.05) difference between winter, spring, and autumn season but summer season showed significant (P <0.05) difference from winter, spring, and autumn seasons. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance on redundancy analysis (RDA) vindicated that among the selected parameters, pH, air temperature and total hardness were the influencing factors (P <0.05) to determine the fish community structure in Tamor River.

Diversity and distribution of macro lichens from Kalpetta Municipality of Wayanad District, Kerala, India

Macro lichens of Kalpetta Municipality of Wayanad District of Kerala state were studied. The study revealed about 21 macro lichen species. All the species identified are either foliose or fruticose forms belonging to families Coccocarpiaceae, Caliciaceae, Physciaceae, Parmeliaceae, Collemataceae, Lobariaceae, and Ramalinaceae indicating the dominance of these groups in the study area.

Wildlife managers ignore previous knowledge at great risk: the case of Rivaldo, the iconic wild Asian Elephant Elephas maximus L. of the Sigur Region, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India

Management of wildlife depends mostly on scientific data; ignoring this can lead to unintended consequences. We take the case study of the wild male Asian Elephant Rivaldo of the Sigur Region, who was translocated out of his range. Rivaldo returned to his home range within a few days, which could have been expected if scientific publications had been consulted. We suggest that a simple checklist of relevant publications can help park managers to decide on a proper management procedure. We also used a simple Bayesian framework to visually show how the probability of predicting a management outcome is increased by prior knowledge. The expensive and risky effort to relocate the elephant could have been avoided altogether if prior knowledge had been taken into consideration.