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Occurrence of Asian Small-Clawed Otter Aonyx Cinereus (Illiger, 1815) in Eastern India

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Occurrence of Asian Small-Clawed Otter Aonyx Cinereus (Illiger, 1815) in Eastern India SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE 5. McLennan, S. M. and Taylor, S. R., J. Geol., 1991, 99, 1–21. 6. Sensarma, S. Hoernes, S. and Muk- hopadhyay, D., Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), 2004, 113(4), 619– 648. 7. McKelvey, V. E., Everhart, D. L. and Gar- rels, R. M., Econ. Geol., 1955, 15th anni- versary volume, p. 491. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We thank the Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) for encour- agement and granting permission to publish this paper. We thank our colleagues from the Physics, Chemistry, XRF and Petrology labo- ratories, AMD, Nagpur for providing labora- tory support. Received 2 February 2014; revised accepted 16 June 2014 Figure 5. a, Sericite masked with limonite/iron oxide and very fine size quartz in radioactive 1, shale. b, Alpha track matching with limonite and iron oxide on radioactive shale. c, Adsorbed U. P. SHARMA * 1 uranium on radioactive phyllite corresponding with alpha track. d, Alpha track on radioactive S. SHUKLA 1 phyllite. P. K. SINHA 1 R. K. PUROHIT 1 basement and overlying sediments. These within rocks of Chilpi Group and under- A. MAJUMDAR 2 faults probably acted as conduits for lying basement rocks of Nandgaon A. K. RAI transfer of uranium-bearing solution Group. from basement rocks. Kanhari and 1 adjoining areas can be looked for struc- Atomic Minerals Directorate for turally controlled and fracture-bound 1. Basu, A. K., Geol. Surv. India, Spec. Publ., Exploration and Research, unconformity type of uranium minerali- 2001, 55, 181–204. AMD Complex, Civil Lines, 2. Thorat, P. K., Natrajan, A., Guha, K. and zation considering favourable geological Nagpur 440 013, India Chandra, S., Geol. Surv. India, Spec. Publ., 2Atomic Minerals Directorate for set-up where Paleoproterozoic Nandgaon 1990, 28, 167–180. Exploration and Research, Group (Bijli Rhyolites) is unconformably 3. Tripathi, C., Ghosh, P. Thambi, P. I., Rao, AMD Complex, Begumpet, overlain by Mesoproterozoic Chilpi T. V. and Sibendra, C., Geol. Surv. India, Group. Spec. Publ., 1981, 3, 17–30. Hyderabad 500 016, India This finding has opened up a new tar- 4. Condie, K. C., Chem. Geol., 1993, 104, 1– *For correspondence. get area for future uranium exploration 37. e-mail: [email protected] Occurrence of Asian small-clawed otter Aonyx cinereus (Illiger, 1815) in Eastern India The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx wurmbi (Sodi, 1953), A. c. concolor India in Coorg (Kodagu), Karnataka; cinereus) is found across much of South (Rafinesque, 1832) and A. c. nirnai Ashambu, Nilgiri and Palani hills, Tamil and Southeast Asia, with a continuous (Pocock, 1940). Among these, the former Nadu and some places in Kerala3–5. This population in Southeast Asia, Northeast three occur in Southeast Asia, A. c. con- species was earlier not recorded from the India and Himalayan foothills and a pur- color occurs in Upper Myanmar, Yunnan Eastern Ghats and other regions of Odisha. portedly disjunct population in the hill (China), Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, Arun- Here we report the occurrence of the ranges of the Western Ghats in South anchal Pradesh, Garhwal, southeast of species from this area, specifically from India1,2. Five subspecies have been iden- Kumaon and the Himalayan foothills Odisha (Figure 1). Only one species of tified, namely Aonyx cinereus (Illiger, through Sikkim to Kolkata, and A. c. otter, smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale 1815), A. c. fulvus (Pohl, 1926), A. c. nirnai has been recorded from southern perspicillata (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 107, NO. 3, 10 AUGUST 2014 367 SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE 1826) had earlier been reported from the (Table 1). Direct observations of Asian these sites fall within the Eastern Ghats state6. small-clawed otter were from Ghusurigudi of Odisha. Subsequently, in 2012 three While carrying out biodiversity stream (194154.9N, 830630.3E and individuals of this species were observed surveys in different protected and non- 194157.6N, 830627.7E – WGS-84) in streams of Kachudahan (215215.7N, protected areas of Odisha during 2005– in Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary; Kotagarh 863033.4E) in Similipal Tiger Reserve 2012, direct sightings and indirect evi- stream (195059.3N, 834308.5E – (north Odisha). Furthermore, photo- dences such as footprints and spraints WGS-84) and Luddu waterfall graphs of an old skin of otter recovered (otter faeces) of Asian small-clawed otter (195136.6N, 835239.5E – WGS-84) by the Forest Department of Kalahandi were encountered in several hill streams in Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary. All South Division were studied, which show distinctive characters of A. cinereus such as claws not extending beyond the toes and bare rhinaria with a flat dorsal mar- gin, unlike the other Asian otter species7. The skin was discoloured as it was kept in the kitchen of a tribal house, which makes it difficult to identify at sub- species level. Indirect evidences of this species were recorded from Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Parelakhemundi and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha. Footprints of Asian small-clawed otter recorded during the study (n = 51) were quite distinct from other otter species found in the distribution range, as in- ferred from the absence of claw marks and reduced webbing4,8. To avoid confu- sion, footprints were recorded only from the sites where other otter signs such as tracks, spraints and holts were found. Similarly, spraints (n = 157) observed during the study period comprised maximum of undigested exoskeleton of crabs along with lesser percentage of Figure 1. Map showing distribution of Asian small-clawed otter as hypothesised before the bones of frogs, feathers of birds and current records and in Odisha. scales of fishes, which is in agreement with the earlier observation of crab- eating habit of the species4,8. Photo- graphs of the species along with direct sightings, of an old pelt and other evi- dences confirm occurrence of the Asian small clawed otter in Odisha (Figure 2). This species is found in perennial streams in riparian ecosystem with big boulders, with or without a wide bank and signs were recorded in both muddy and sandy shoreline. They are adapted to moderately disturbed habitats, where human activities occur only by day. Dur- ing dry season, this species abandons the drying hill streams and congregates at places with shallow water. All these ob- servations concur with the previous stu- dies carried out on the habitat preference of the species in South India9,10. Habitat destruction due to changing land-use pattern in the form of develop- ment, illegal encroachment in the sanctu- Figure 2. Photographs of Asian small-clawed otter and its signs. a, Asian small-clawed otter at aries, increasing forest dependency and Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. b, Pelt of Asian small-clawed otter recovered by Forest reduction in prey biomass due to over- Department, Kalahandi South Division. c, d, Spraint and footprints of the species from Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary. e, Close-up view showing rhinaria of the otter pelt recovered by the Forest exploitation seems to be the main threat Department. to this species, as it is for other otter 368 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 107, NO. 3, 10 AUGUST 2014 SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE Table 1. Locations and habitat characteristics of the different protected and non-protected areas of Odisha, where presence of Asian small-clawed otter was observed (datum: WGS 84) Location Coordinates and altitude Habitat characteristics Anthropogenic activities Karlapat Wildlife 194154.9N Stream with water depth 1.5–2 m. Sandy-loam bank Human activities confined to Sanctuary 830630.3E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; morning hours; fishing Mangifera indica, Terminalia arjuna and activities moderate. Diospyros malabarica trees along the bank. Karlapat Wildlife 194157.6N Streams with water depth <1.5 m. Sandy-loam bank Occasionally used by humans Sanctuary 830627.7E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; for fishing. M. indica, T. arjuna and D. malabarica trees along the bank. Kotagarh Wildlife 195059.3N Streams with clay-loam bank; swallow stream with Regularly used by humans Sanctuary 834308.5E thick shrubs; water depth <1 m. during morning hours. Kotagarh Wildlife 195136.6N Streams with water depth <2 m. Sandy-loam bank Occasionally used by Sanctuary 835239.5E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; humans; fishing activities M. indica, T. arjuna and D. malabarica trees along moderate. the bank. Muniguda, Rayagada 193749.44N Streams with water depth <2 m. Sandy-loam bank Moderate disturbance in the 832743.57E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; area due to fishing Dillenia pentagyna, D. malabarica, M. indica and activities. T. arjuna along the bank. Gandahati, 185349.7N Streams with water depth <2 m. Sandy-loam bank Occasionally used by humans Parelakhemundi 841615.0E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; for fishing and collection D. malabarica, Ficus arnottiana, Ficus exasperata of NTFP. Fresh otter scat and Salix tetrasperma along the bank. found during December 2013. Gadadi, Raikia, 195902.8N Streams with water depth < 2 m. Sandy-loam bank Less disturbed area; Kandhamal 840736.3E substrate with large to medium rock boulders; occasional fishing and D. malabarica, T. arjuna, Barringtonia bathing activities noticed. acutangula, Terminalia alata, Ficus racemosa along the bank. Similipal Tiger Reserve 215215.7N Rocky stream bed; clay bank; small to medium Occasionally used by humans 863033.4E waterfalls and water depth of about <1 m. for bathing; moderate M. indica and D. malabarica trees along fishing activities confined the bank. during night. species2. Another important threat to the In the villages of Phulbani and Kand- be targeted for systematic biodiversity Asian small-clawed otter comes from hamal districts, local communities were exploration and can be secured from illegal hunting for its pelt11. Otters in found keeping otter pups as pets, stating unplanned developmental activities. Odisha may be facing threats due to that when they die the meat is often con- Additionally, as this species occur on poaching, large-scale fishing (even dur- sumed and the pelt is kept at home to be the southeastern boundary of Odisha ing night) and poisoning of water for sold to the traders.
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