Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal

Home , Edward Harrison Taylor, Ilam District

Synchronised counts of vultures to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day Butterflies of Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest Checklist of serpents in Institute of Forestry, Hetauda Campus Complex

Mammals of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal

First Record of King Cobra from Okhaldhunga and Sankhuwasabha districts

Predation of Common Tree Frog by Ornate Flying Snake 2 Editorial

The world is not the same as when we first called for articles for this issue. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Inside this issue the recently discovered novel strain of coronavirus formally known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), has forced many countries into a complete 3 Synchronised counts of vultures to celebrate lockdown affecting every aspect of life. While most of us International Vulture Awareness Day in Nepal might be working from home and keeping ourselves K.P. Bhusal and D.B. Rana isolated, some are fighting this pandemic in the frontline. 7 Butterflies of Baghmara Buffer Zone Community To them, we express our sincere gratitude. Forest, Chitwan, Nepal So far, the general consensus is that the virus originated from a wet market of Wuhan, Hubei Province, R. Sedhain, D.R. Thanet, S. Bhattarai, R.R. Subedi and T.B. Gurung China as a result of wildlife trade. However, this is not new as spillover viral and bacterial infections from wildlife have 16 Checklist of serpents in Institute of Forestry, been known to occur in the past too. Take for example Hetauda Campus Complex, Makwanpur, Nepal Ebola, MERS, SARS and HIV which were viral infections A. Pradhan, S. Bajagain and R. Sedhain transferred from wildlife to humans. Although these were 20 Mammals of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, all serious diseases, none had so grimly affected the world Gorkha in this way and in this scale. The world cannot ignore wildlife exploitation and A. Basnet, B.S. Bist and P. Ghimire trade anymore. Conservationists, scientists and health 24 Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal workers from all around the globe are now pushing the world leaders and governments to ban wildlife trade K.B. Thapa and K.B. Shah completely and instantly. 28 First record of King Cobra from Okhaldhunga and This is a difficult time for everyone around the Sankhuwasabha districts, Eastern Nepal world. Even so, we cannot help see the silver lining. Air K. Devkota, B. KC and K.B. Shah pollution has dropped, global carbon emission is lower. Clips of wildlife invading cities are going viral. These all 31 Photos from the wild point to the possibilities of the future we can create. We C. Sherpa can tip the world to a better future that has clean air to 34 Predation of Common Tree Frog by Ornate Flying breathe, no climate worries and space for wildlife. Snake at Satchari National Park, Bangladesh At the end, we apologize for the delay. Being a small team of volunteers with full-time jobs has pushed our T. Ahmed, S. Hasan and H. Naher publication date once again. 36 Nature close to us We would like to thank the authors for their Saroj Khadka and Samundra Ghimerey articles and all the reviewers for their valuable time and expertise. Please practice social distancing, wash your hands DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed in the articles are and stay safe. The world needs you. those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the editorial board or Friends of Nature. Email: [email protected]

Editors FRONT COVER PHOTO Impeyan pheasant by Bidhan Adhikary Nepal CHUNGBA SHERPA Jeevan Rai Nepal Mohammad Abidur Rahman Bangladesh Yadav Ghimirey Nepal Impeyan pheasant, known as Danphe in Nepali, is

Advisor the national bird of Nepal. This individual was photographed at Phortse, Sagarmatha National Raju Acharya Nepal Park.

Designer Bidhan Adhikary Nepal

BACK COVER PHOTO Mt. Everest by CHUNGBA SHERPA

Short Communication

Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal

KUL BAHADUR THAPA1* and KARAN BAHADUR SHAH1

1Himalayan Nature, PO Box 10918, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal *Email for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract Nationwide distribution information on Sikkim (AmphibiaWeb 2019). They are mostly distributed in the Caecilian Ichthyophis sikkimensis Taylor, 1960 is very tropics of South and Central America, Africa, and scant. Based on our field surveys and literature review, southern Asia. we present its updated geographical distribution in Nepal. Sikkim Caecilian Ichthyophis sikkimensis was first Our study includes 10 observations from five districts of described by Edward Harrison Taylor in 1960 after eastern, central and western part of the country. These examining preserved specimens deposited at various records indicate that the Sikkim Caecilian may be more museums. All the specimens examined and identified as I. widely distributed than previously thought and requires a sikkimensis were collections from Darjeeling and Sikkim, thorough survey across the country. thus named Darjeeling or Sikkim Caecilian. This species has the northern-most distribution record among Keywords Legless Amphibian, Darjeeling Caecilian, caecilians and has been recorded in eastern Himalaya Distribution, Nepal, Water Spring (Schleich and Kästle 2002; Ohler et al. 2004). ______I. sikkimensis is the only legless amphibian found in Nepal. It has been considered as scarce by Shah and Introduction Tiwari (2004). Caecilians are legless small snakes or earthworm-like Methodology amphibians and represent the amphibian order, Gymnophiona. They are sometimes mistaken for giant Primary Data Collection earthworms or even snakes. Due to their burrowing, Field surveys following opportunistic active search in secretive and nocturnal habit, they are encountered in potential habitats were carried out during 2013 to 2019 in the field only occasionally (Nussbaum and Wilkinson eastern, central and western parts of the country to 1989). Among the extant amphibians, caecilians are record occurrence of the Sikkim Caecilian. In addition, perhaps the least known creatures. The Sikkim Caecilian accidental sighting records were also documented. Ichthyophis sikkimensis Taylor, 1960 has been listed as Data Deficient (DD) by IUCN Red List of Threatened Secondary Data Collection Species in view of continuing uncertainties as to its extent In order to collate secondary information, research of occurrence, status and ecological requirements (Ohler articles, books, dissertations, and published and et al. 2004). Till now, 213 species of caecilians have been unpublished reports (1981-82 to 2019) on caecilians were recorded belonging to 10 families and 33 genera reviewed.

FIG. 1: Districts and locations with record of Sikkim Caecilian Ichthyophis sikkimensis in Nepal.

© Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 3(1), 24-27 25 Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal Results mentioned their observations as I. sikkimensis while Malla The Sikkim Caecilian has been reported from five districts (1981-82), Shrestha (2001) and Poudyal (2008) stated as I. of Nepal (FIG. 1). A total of 90 individuals of the species glutinosus and Nepali (2012) stated as I. kodaguensis. were observed from nine locations of five districts However, I. glutinosus is restricted to Sri Lanka (Nussbaun (ANNEX 1). It was found to be distributed from Ilam and Gans 1980; Dutta 1987) and I. kodaguensis is district in the east to Palpa district in the west. It has been endemic to Western Ghats (Wilkinson et al 2007). Thus, recorded from as low as 160 m (Butwal, Rupandehi these claims of occurrence of I. glutinosus and I. district) till up to 1,550 m (Dabugaun, Kanyam, Ilam kodaguensis may be due to wrong identification. For district). The species was recorded from Ilam district of example, Thapa (2016) carried out thorough Province No. 1, Dhading and Chitwan districts of Province examinations of the specimens collected by Nepali (2012) No. 3, Palpa and Rupandehi districts of Province No. 5. from Narayansthan and Holangdi, Tansen, Palpa and Geographically, Sikkim Caecilian occurred in two districts concluded them to be I. sikkimensis (FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). of Terai and three districts of hilly region.

KB THAPA FIG. 4: A preserved specimen from Narayansthan, Palpa.

KB THAPA FIG. 2: Narayansthan, Palpa one of the Sikkim Caecilian recorded locations. Among the recorded specimens, 78 were observed in water spring, eight in human settlement and four on stream bank. Among these, 10 individuals were found alive and 80 were dead.

KB THAPA

FIG. 3: A dead specimen from Teendhara, Palpa. FIG. 5: Specimen recorded from Holangdi, Palpa – (top) Our record of a dead specimen from Teendhara, live specimen (PC: PB Nepali), and (bottom) preserved Tansen, Palpa district was made on 9 September 2017 specimen (PC: KB Thapa). near a water spring (FIG. 3). Sighting of Katunje specimens of Dhading district was reported by Kantipur I. sikkimensis is considered to be native to Daily Newspaper where the authors made a field visit and eastern Himalaya. However, Pillai and Ravichandran examined the dead specimens (n=76) in May 2016 and (1999) claimed this species to occur in Anaimalai hills of identified them as Sikkim Caecilian (FIG. 6). the Western Ghats of peninsular India based on examination of the two specimens collected in 1949 by A. Discussion F. Hutton. But Gower et al. (2017) re-examined the Malla (1981-82) mentioned the occurrence of Ichthyophis specimens in question and said they have been in the foothills of Nepal which lacks precise location misidentified and that the pair together probably information. Later, Shrestha (2001), Rai (2003), Poudyal belonged to an undescribed species; thus concluding that (2008), Nepali (2012), Thapa (2016) and Shrestha (2017) I. sikkimensis does not occur in peninsular India; which reported from different parts of the country. Among removes a major biogeographic anomaly. Since the claim them, only Rai (2003), Thapa (2016) and Shrestha (2017) of I. sikkimensis occurrence in Western Ghats has been

© Friends of Nature, The Himalayan Naturalist, 3(1), 24-27 26 Distribution of Sikkim Caecilian in Nepal rejected, records from Palpa district appear to be the Holangdi and Janata Higher Secondary School, farthest distribution of the species from type locality i.e. Basantapur, Tansen, Palpa for their great help during our Darjeeling, West Bengal. Hence, based on the results of field survey and study of museum specimens. We are very our study, we suggest thorough surveys to further west in grateful to Sharad Singh, Director and Himalayan Nature Nepal and India to explore the possibility of its family for important support during Katunje field visit and occurrence. subsequent studies. As mentioned by Nussbaum and Wilkinson (1989) due to burrowing, secretive and nocturnal habits, References they are encountered in the field only occasionally. This AmphibiaWeb. 2019. University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. may be the reason why most of the records of I. https://amphibiaweb.org Accessed on 31 October 2019. sikkimensis from Nepal are accidental. Since they live in Dutta, S.K. 1987. Misidentification, Wrong Nomenclature and wet and damp areas, drying up of such habitats due to Misspelling of some Indian Amphibians. Journal of Zoological Society of change in microclimate and topography as a result of India 39, 109-113. climate change and anthropogenic disturbance might Gower, D., Giri, V., Kamei, R.G., Oommen, O.V., Khot, R. and Wilkinson, have been affecting the caecilian population in Nepal. In M. 2017. On the absence of Ichthyophis sikkimensis Taylor, 1960 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) in the Western Ghats of addition, sometimes people also mistake caecilian as a peninsular India. Herpetological Journal 27, 181-187. snake and kill it. Our understanding of possible reason Malla, Y.K. 1981-82. Amphibians: In Majupuria, T. C. (Ed) Wild is behind the huge mortality of caecilian at Katunje of Beautiful – Introduction to Fauna and Wildlife of Nepal. Pp 137-141. Dhading (n=76) is that it occurred due to drying up of the Nepali, P.B. 2012. Taxonomical Study on Ichthyophis; A Legless water spring triggered by the events of the earthquake of Amphibian in Nepal. Pragik Pravah 7, 73-76. 25 April 2015 and the frequent aftershocks that occurred Nussbaum, R.A. and Gans, C. 1980. On the Ichthyophis (Amphibia: in the subsequent weeks (FIG. 6). Gymnophiona) of Sri Lanka. Spolia Zeylanica 35, 137-154.

Nussbaum, R.A. and Wilkinson, M. 1989. On the Classification and Phylogeny of Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona), A Critical Review; Herpetological Monographs 3, 1-42. Ohler, A., Dutta, S., Gower, D., Wilkinson, M. and Oommen, O.V. 2004. Ichthyophis sikkimensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T59632A11973397.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59 632A11973397.en. Downloaded on 31 October 2019 Pillai, R.S. and Ravichandran, M.S. 1999. Gymnophiona (Amphibia) of the Zoological Survey of India – A taxonomic study – Rec. Zool. Surv. Ind. Occ. Paper no. 172, 1-117.

Poudyal, S.P. 2008. Ichthyophis; an interesting and important animal from Palpa. Pragik Pravah 5, 89-91.

KB THAPA Rai, K.R. 2003. Environmental Impacts, Systematics and Distribution of FIG. 6: Dead specimens from Katunje, Dhading. Herpetofauna from East Nepal. Ph.D. Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. The underground structure of the spring might Schleich, H.H. and Kästle, W. 2002. Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. have destabilized during the earthquake leading to drying Gantner Verlag K.G. Germany. PP 1295. up of the water source which might have forced them to Shah, K.B. and Tiwari, S. 2004. Herpetofauna of Nepal - A Conservation move out in search of wet areas leading them to their Companion. IUCN Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Pages 236. demise; they might have come out on the land surface on Shrestha, B. 2017. Assemblage of Herpetofauna in Korak Village, a hot summer mid-day and got killed by the heat. The Northern Chitwan, Nepal. Zoo’s Print 32, 23-30. dead specimen from Teendhara, Tansen, Palpa district Shrestha, T.K. 2001. Herpetology of Nepal: A Field Guide to Amphibians (FIG. 3) also appeared to have died due to heat after and Reptiles of Trans Himalayan Region of Asia. Mrs. Bimala Shrestha, being exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, in order to Kathmandu, Nepal. combat the challenges presented by climate change, Taylor, E.H. 1960. On the Caecilian Species Ichthyophis glutinosus and human disturbance and natural hazards, thorough Ichthyophis monochrous, with Description of Related Species. University information on the distribution of the species seems to be of Kansas Science Bulletin 40, 37–130. important. Thapa, K.B. 2016. Herpetofaunal Diversity of Palpa District, Nepal. An unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. Acknowledgements Wilkinson, M., Gower, D.J., Govindappa, V. and Venkatachalaiah, G. We are thankful to Mr. Pit Bahadur Nepali and Mr. 2007. A new species of Ichthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Karnataka, India. Herpetologica 63, 511–518. Narayan Baral (Tribhuvan Multiple Campus, Tansen, Palpa), Rabin Ale (Tansen, Palpa), Sudip Chhatkuli Biosketches (Division Forest Office, Dhading), Ram Bahadur Shrestha KUL BAHADUR THAPA is a zoologist, particularly interested in (Katunje, Dhading), Harihar Singh Rathour (Dhading- herpetology. He has been researching amphibians and reptiles, Kantipur Daily Newspaper), Raj Man Maharjan (Natural including their conservation in Nepal. History Museum, Swoyambhu), Bishow Prakash Subedi KARAN BAHADUR SHAH is a senior herpetologist and retired Professor of Natural History Museum, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. (District Administration Office, Dhading). We also He is the Chief Scientific Advisor at Himalayan Nature, acknowledge Shreenagar Higher Secondary School, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Sikkim Caecilian Ichthyophis sikkimensis (Taylor 1960) Records in Nepal S.N. Latitude Longitude Altitude No. of Location District Evidence Status Date of record Time of Habitat Source of (m) specimen record information 1 27.866153 83.547722 1241 1 Tindhara, Tansen Palpa Specimen Dead 09 Sep 2017 11h00 Water spring Authors 2 27.867649 83.547722 1295 1 Narayansthan, Palpa Specimen Live 2012 08h00 Water spring Nepali (2012) Tansen 3 27.865415 83.539639 1208 1 Holangdi, Tansen Palpa Specimen Live 2012 16h00 Tap water Nepali (2012) 4 27.865629 83.530306 1247 1 Bandevi, Tansen Palpa Literature Dead Feb 1989 N/A Stream bank Poudyal (2008) 5 27.865629 83.530306 1247 1 Bandevi, Tansen Palpa Literature Live 26 Aug 1999 N/A Stream bank Poudyal (2008) 6 27.679617 84.686061 1150 1 Chaughara, Korak Chitwan Literature Live Sep 2015 23h15 Human settlement Shrestha (2017) 7 27.973220 84.944040 1346 76 Katunje Dhading Specimen Dead May 2016 14h00 Water spring Authors 8 26.850000 88.100000 1550 6 Dabugaun, Kanyam Ilam Literature Live 10 Jul 2001 21h00 Human settlement Rai (2003) 9 N/A N/A N/A 1 Tadi Khola Nuwakot Literature Dead 1980 N/A Stream bank Shrestha (2001) 10 N/A N/A ̴160 1 Butwal Rupandehi Literature Dead 1980 N/A Stream bank Shrestha (2001) Total 90

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