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EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter ISSN No: 0974-2336
Telangana The Eastern Ghats E P T R I - E N V I S N e w s l e t t e r ENVIS CENTRE ON ECOLOGY OF EASTERN GHATS
The ENVIS Centre on Eastern Ghats is a decentralized Environmental Information Facility established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India at EPTRI, Hyderabad with a focused theme on the Ecology of Eastern Ghats
Volume-22 Issue-2 April - June 2016
Butterflies in Seshachalam hills - Common Gull (Cepora nerissa), Yellow orange tip (Ixias pyrene) and Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) are seen in photo
ENVIS CENTRE ON ECOLOGY OF EASTERN GHATS ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE 91/4, Gachibowli, Hyderabad-500 032, India. Ph: +91-40-23180120, 23180111 Fax: +91-40-23180135 URL: http://eptrienvis.nic.in EPTRI Email : [email protected] EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter: Eastern Ghats Vol.22, No.2, 2016
Editorial Contents Page No.
In this issue, was Seshachalam Biosphere Editorial 1 Reserve that is known for its rich wilderness and faunal diversity. Seshachalam BioLab Paper presentation at National 1 which has been engaged in documentation and Conference digitalization of the fauna of the Reserve for Caralluma diffusa - A New 2 quite some time has presented an article on Distributional Record for Andhra mammal/bird/snake/ butterfly diversity with Pradesh attractive field photos. The spotting of Thick- billed Green-Pigeon from Northern Eastern Faunal Diversity in Seshachalam 4 Ghats which is otherwise hitherto known from Biosphere Reserve the Himalaya and North East India and the Thick-billed Green Pigeon spotted in 6 reported collection of Caralluma diffusa from Eastern Ghats Mallayakonda hills from Chittoor district (now a new record for Andhra Pradesh) are the other ENVIS Activities 7 interesting presentations in this issue. World Environment Day was celebrated by Paper Presentation at ZSI Centenary EPTRI in coordination with Telangana State celebrations in Kolkata Pollution Control Board. A drawing competition Zoological Survey of India Organized a national was held for school children and a sticker conference on “Faunal Diversity in the Indian land prepared by ENVIS Team of EPTRI with an and sea scapes during its Centenary celebration awareness message against wid life poaching th nd between 30 June and 2 July, 2016. was released on the occasion. ENVIS Coordinator A paper was presented by Dr. K. Jyothi on Researches on Faunal Diversity of Eastern Ghats. Dr. M. Suneela, ENVIS Coordinator, exchanged Paper Presentation at National Conference views on the ENVIS Centre on Ecology of Eastern A Research Paper on “Euphorbiaceae species in Ghats with the participants. Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, Andhra Pradesh, India” – was presented at National Conference on Conservation of Eastern Ghats organized by Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha and Green Alliance for Conservation of Eastern Ghats (GrACE), Hyderabad on 16th & 17th April, 2016.
ENVIS Team
Dr. M. Suneela, ENVIS Coordinator Dr. K. Jyothi, Sr. Program Officer
Dr. D. Veeranjaneyulu, Program Officer EPTRI ENVIS Team receiving momento from ZSI
Published by Advisor : Dr. P. Venu, Emeritus Scientist EPTRI, Hyderabad Designer : Md. Khader, EPTRI Supported by Note: Views expressed in different articles of this Ministry of Environment, Forest and Newsletter are of authors only. Climate Change, Government of India Cover Photo : M. Bubesh Gupta, Punducherry, India. New Delhi, India.
1 EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter: Eastern Ghats Vol.22, No.2, 2016
Caralluma diffusa - A New Distributional Record for Andhra Pradesh A. Madhusudhana Reddy1, M.V. Suresh Babu2, S. Rajagopal Reddy1, Satish Mohabe1and B. Anjali Devi1 1Department of Botany, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa – 516216 2Department of Botany, Govt. College for Men (Autonomous), Kadapa-516004 [email protected] (Corresponding author)
Introduction thickness throughout the branches; internodes 6–12 mm long, 5–15 mm thick, glabrous. Leaves The genus Caralluma R.Br. includes fleshy, sessile, cordate, ca. 1.2 × 1.2 mm, acute at approximately 110 species distributed worldwide. apex, deciduous, leaf scars present, with The genus is distributed in southern and eastern appendage-like growth at nodes on angled portion. Africa, extending to the north into the Flowers in terminal umbellate cymes, many- Mediterranean and to the east through Arabia, flowered. Bracts small, lanceolate, 1.6–2 × 1 mm, India and Europe (Willis, 1973; Bryuns et al., acute, glabrous. Pedicels terete, ca 5 mm long, 2010). In India it is represented by 13 species and 1–1.5 mm thick, glabrous. Calyx 5-lobed, divided five varieties (Jagtap & Singh, 1999). Caralluma up to base; lobes lanceolate, 2.5–2.8 × 1 mm, apex diffusa was first described by Robert Wight and acute, glabrous. Corolla campanulate, ca. 8mm named by him as Boucerosia diffusa from long; tube ca. 5mm long; lobes 5, ca. 3x2 mm, Coimbatore hills in 1850. Subsequently, the ovate, acute at apex, ciliate at margin only, species was reported from Chinnar Wildlife otherwise glabrous. Corona biseriate, deep Sanctuary in Kerala (Prabhu Kumar et al., 2013). maroon; the outer annular, arising from base of There are no reports from the Eastern Ghats of stamens, closely intact; lobes 5, ca. 2.5x1.5 mm, Andhra Pradesh (Pullaiah & Moulali, 1997; Reddy with two horn like appendages widely separated et al., 2008). In February 2015 while exploring from each other; the inner variable, ca. 1mm long, the lichens of Mallayya konda hills (13º60.025'N, linear, arising from inner side of outer corona, 078º25.424'E,1006m) from Chittoor district, a overlapping anther-lobes. Stamens 5, ca. 2.5mm long; pollinia 5, pollen masses solitary in each species of Caralluma was found growing on rocky anther cell, yellow, waxy with pellucid layer crevices. Later the specimens were identified as attached by light brown caudicles. Gynostegium Caralluma diffusa and C. umbellata Haw. look ca. 1.5mm long. Fruit cylindrical follicle, green, similar for having same umbellate inflorescence with small dark spot, hooked at apex, paired. Seed and there is a chance of confusion in fixing flattened, broadly margined, with silky white identities. The shape of the corolla is one distinct hairs. character in which these two species differ. The corolla is campanulate in C. diffusa and rotate in Flowering & Fruiting: April – September. C. umbellata. A detailed description and photos of Habitat: Found in dry deciduous forests and C. diffusa are provided. grows on red soils mixed with rocky crevices on open hill. Taxonomy Specimens examined: India, Andhra Pradesh, Caralluma diffusa (Wight) N. E. Br., in Gard. Chittoor district, Thamballapalli, Mallayya konda Chron. 2: 369. 1892; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 2: hills, Temple premises, N 13°60.025´ E 862. 1923; Srinivasan in Henry et al., Fl. Tamil 078°25.424´ alt. A. Madhusudhana Reddy 1996 Nadu 2: 81. 1987; Jagtap & Singh, Fasc. Fl. India (YVUH). 24: 201. 1999. Boucerosia diffusa Wight. Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. t. 1599. 1850; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India Distribution: Endemic to Peninsular India; it is earlier known from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and 4: 78.1883. now reported from Andhra Pradesh (Eastern Succulent erect herb. Stem to 20–40 cm high, Ghats). branches ascending, 4-angled, nearly of equal Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Department of Science and Technology and 2 EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter: Eastern Ghats Vol.22, No.2, 2016
Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) officials Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for permission to and University Grant Commission (UGC), New field visits. Delhi for financial assistance and to the forest
Caralluma diffusa: A. Habit, B – C. Inflorescence, D. Flower
Literature cited
· Bryuns, P., A. Farsi & T. Hedderson. 2010. · Ramachandran, V. S., B. Thomas, C. Sofiya & R. Phylogenetic relationships of Caralluma R. Br. Sasi. 2011. Rediscovery of an endemic plant (Apocynaceae). Taxon, 59(4): 1031 – 1043. Caralluma diffusa (Wight) N.E. Br. ·Jagtap, A.P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. (Asclepiadaceae) from Coimbatore District, Asclepiadaceae, Fascicle 24, Flora India series. Tamil Nadu, India, after 160 years. Journal of Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India. Threatened Taxa 3(3): 1622-1623. · Prabhu Kumar, K. M., S. George, S. Sreedhar & · Reddy, C. S., K. N. Reddy & V. S. Raju, 2008. I. Balachandran. 2013. Caralluma diffusa Supplement to Flora of Andhra Pradesh, India. (Wight) N.E.Br. (Apocynaceae) - a new Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun. distribution record for Kerala from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, India. The Indian Forester · Willis, J.C. (1973). A Dictionary of the Flowering 139: 425-428. Plants and Ferns (Revised by H.K. Airy Shaw). Cambridge University Press, London, 201pp. · Pullaiah, T & A. Moulali, 1997. Flora of Andhra Pradesh (India) Vol. II. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur.
3 EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter: Eastern Ghats Vol.22, No.2, 2016
Faunal Diversity in Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve M.Bubesh Guptha Eco-Echo-Registered Office South Region: No:11,Second Cross, Thanthai Periyar Nagar, Puducherry - 605 005 E-mail: [email protected]
Seshachalam became the first biosphere reserve Antelope, Indian Giant Squirrel, Small Indian in the entire State and 16th in the country in 2011. Civet etc. It covers an area of 4,755.99 sq.km in Chittoor Mammals: Twenty five species of mammals and Kadapa districts. The elevation ranges from belonging to 17 families were recorded. During 150 to 1130 m, with both dry (red sanders camera traps as well as direct sighting (28 bearing) and moist deciduous forests. It has two individuals) of Elephant were recorded. The protected areas namely Sri Venkateswara Wildlife leopard (Panthera pardus) and Wild dog (Cuon Sanctuary and Sri Venkateswara National Park. alpines) is quite common. Other predators and It has the richest floristic diversity and faunal ungulates were also captured in the study area. hotspot. The prevailing representativeness The nocturnal Slender loris (Loris tardigradus) (richness), naturalness (nativity) and uniqueness could be common but seldom seen. Indian Giant (endemism) of biodiversity elements in the reserve Squirrel (Ratufa indica) and Ruddy mongoose highlight its conservation value. Likewise, (Herpestes smithii) are other interesting species preponderance of economically important species seen in the study area. (medicinal plants, wild edible plants, etc.) and Herpetofauna: Twelve species of amphibians traditional knowledge & practices of resource use belonging to four families and seven genera were and management makes the reserve site recorded. So far 46 species of reptiles belonging to important for eco-development and conservation 36 genera, distributed in 12 families were recorded of biodiversity. (33 species of snakes (72%) and 13 species of Few studies on Seshachalam have been done and lizards (28%). Six of them venomous snakes were assessed to perform biodiversity gap analysis. recorded and new records like Indian coral snake This article is a review of biodiversity from (Calliophis melanurus), Elliot's earth snake Seshachalam biosphere reserve to give adequate (Uropeltis ellioti), new locality records like Brown- and recent information pertaining to flora and speckled whipsnake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta), fauna of this area conducted during the year 2011 Yellow Collared Wolf Snake (Lycodon flavicollis) to 2015. Animals recorded include mammals, and rediscovery of Nagarjun Sagar Racer (Coluber herpetofauna, butterfly and birds. Species bholanathi). Five families of lizards have been identification in the review article was made by recorded, the highest representation is from the using various field guides and other available family Gekkonidae (5 spp.) followed by Agamidae literature. Mostly photographic documents were (3 spp.), Scincidae (2 spp.), Varanidae (1 sp.) and procured at Bio-Lab of A. P. Forest Dept, Tirupati. Chamaeleonidae (1 sp.). One of the first record in Seshachalam Bio-Lab has extensively worked on India is Sri Lankan Flying Snake (Chrysopelea the Fauna of Seshachalam Biosphere reserve. taprobanica), which primarily inhabits evergreen Bubesh Guptha et al., (2012a,b; 2014, 2015) biotopes in the Western Ghats and the Golden documented, categorized and digitalized the Gecko (Calodactylodes aureus) were recorded. fauna of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve. The Butterflies: Ninety six species of butterflies were presence of Leopard is commonly felt in the recorded under five families. The family region, the presence of other predators including Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae were found Hyena, Wild Dog, Golden Jackal, Indian Fox, dominant with 32 species and 22 species, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear are also present. Other respectively, followed by Pieridae (19 species), interesting species found in this region include Hesperiidae (14 species) and Papilionidae the Spotted Deer, Mouse Deer, Four-Horned (9 species). 4 EPTRI-ENVIS Newsletter: Eastern Ghats Vol.22, No.2, 2016
Birds: The study recorded 215 species of birds, stringent measures to control smuggling of red which belong to 45 families. Authorities have sanders are important. Everyone should realize also identified over 178 species of birds thriving in that the protection of habitat is an important the forests covered under the SV Wildlife aspect in conservation of threatened species. Sanctuary, including the globally threatened Smart technology connections will provide real Y e l l o w - t h r o a t e d B u l b u l ( P y c n o n o t u s time access to information on the location of forest xantholaemus), Pompadour Green Pigeon (Treron fires, illegal trade of forest wealth, poachers, pompadora), a bird generally found in the patrol position and key wildlife species. This will Himalayan region besides the large Hawk-cuckoo transform how anti-poaching operations (Hierococcyx sparverioides). coordinate and manage law enforcement's response to poaching, improving its speed and Insects: So far a total of 150 species of insects effectiveness. The ability and into detect and were reported which include beetles, spiders, respond to threats in real-time will shift the focus stick insects etc. One critically endangered from where poaching has happened to where species i.e., Peacock parachute spider poaching is about to happen. (Poecilotheria metallica) was rediscovered after a lapse of over 110 years from Seshachalam. Acknowledgments The area is very rich in biodiversity and many The authors grateful to P.V. Chalapathi Rao, CCF, environmental issues can be handled by Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati and N.V generating awareness in people. Prevention and Sivarama Prasad, DFO (TTD) for permission and control of forest fires and conducting awareness facilities to carry out field studies in Seshachalam camps for the general public and adopting Biosphere Reserve.
Literature Cited
· Bubesh Guptha, M. Prasad NVS and Deepak Banded peacock butterfly - Veerappan (2012a). Rediscovery and range Papiliocrino extension of Coluber bholanathi Sharma, 1976 from Seshachalam hills, Andhra Pradesh, India. Herpetology Notes, 5: 447-448 · Bubesh Guptha, M. Chalapathi Rao PV, Sivaram Prasad NV, Sekhar Maddala SRSC, Madhu Babu P and Srinivas Reddy D (2012b). Status of Herpetofauna in Seshachalam Nagarjunasagar Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Racer (Coluber Pradesh, India. World Journal of Zoology 7 (2): bholanathi) 131-134. · Bubesh Guptha, M. Kishore S and Sivarama Prasad NV. (2014) Butterflies Diversity of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. Discovery life, 6(15): 3-17. · Bubesh Guptha, M. Prasad NVS, Simon T. Indian pitta - Maddock and Deepak V. (2015). First record of Pitta brachyura Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 (Squamata: Colubridae) from India. Check List.11(1): 1523.
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Thick-billed Green Pigeon spotted in Eastern Ghats Aparna Surampudi Research scholar, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam [email protected]
Thick-billed Green Pigeon (Treron curvirostra) is a secondary with yellow outer edge. Thighs are dark resident bird in the Himalaya—from western green with white scales. Female has greenish Nepal eastward to Sikkim, north Bengal duars undertail coverts with whitish scales. Males have and Bhutan, to extreme eastern Arunachal maroon dorsum and dull chestnut under tail Pradesh—as also in the hills of north-eastern coverts. The birds had a distinct bluish-green India, south of the Brahmaputra River. It affects orbital skin, and a thicker yellow bill with red base, well-wooded areas and forests from plains to at ruling out any misidentification. Pigeons are least 1,500 m a.s.l. (Ali & Ripley, 1987). There has known to be nomadic outside their breeding been recent evidence of its presence in northern season. It is “Least concern” in IUCN Red list. Eastern Ghats in the forests of Simlipal, Orissa (Nair, 2010) and in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Orissa However, its sighting in May is of additional (Durgesh, 2010). It is now sighted from interest as it falls in the breeding season of this Visakhapatnam region in Thotlakonda hillock in species, which is April–June according to Northern Eastern Ghats. Thotlakonda Buddhist Rasmussen & Anderton (2005). Nair (2010) also Complex lies about 15 km from Visakhapatnam suggested that in Simlipal, these have been city on the way to Bheemili town on a hill about sighted year round. This strengthens the chances 128 meters above mean sea level overlooking the of the presence of a breeding population in Eastern sea. It has dry deciduous forest interspersed with Ghats and extends its range further south in bushes and shrubs. peninsular India. Acknowledgements The author is grateful to Mr. Vikram Penmetcha and Mr. Vivek Rathod for photograph. She is also obliged for support and encouragement from the members of the Bird Watchers Society of Andhra Pradesh. Literature cited · Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D., 1987. Compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. · Nair, M. V., 2010. Thick-billed Green-Pigeon Treron curvirostra in Simlipal Hills, Orissa: an addition to the avifauna of peninsular India. Indian Birds 6 (1): 19–20. · BirdLife International 2012. Treron curvirostra. This individual female sighted perching on the The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. branches of an Acacia species near a water tank. Version 2015.2.
During brain storming session, Dr. M. Suneela, ENVIS Coordinator, has given a brief introduction about ENVIS centre activities. Informed the gathering on ENVIS milestone achievements, papers and review articles presented in national conferences, training programs/awareness programs conducted for school children, Annual plan, new initiatives, etc. Participated in panel discussion on Development of ENVIS centre. World Environment Day The release of World Environment Day Sticker Hon’ble Minister of Environment & BC Welfare World Environment Day was observed on June 5th Shri Jogu Ramanna, Govt. of Telangana, every year. This year, the focused theme is on the Secretary Environment, Forests, Science and need to curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade to Technology Shri Vikas Raj, IAS, Director General ensure survival of threatened species in the wild. EPTRI Shri B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS and The stress is to bring awareness in wild life ENVIS Team members are also seen. poaching and say No to buying illegal wildlife products. The highlight of the celebrations was a march “Green Rally” from Necklace Road Railway Station to Jalvihaar Water Park, Hyderabad and release of WED sticker prepared by ENVIS centres. The sticker was released by Hon’ble Minister for Environment & BC Welfare, Shri Jogu Ramanna Garu, Govt. of Telangana. The Drawing competition at Jawahar Bal Bhavan for event was organised by EPTRI-ENVIS Centres children, conducted by EPTRI – ENVIS Centre on and TSPCB. the eve of World Environment Day, 2016.
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