Journal on New Biological Reports ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online) JNBR 8(2) 37 – 124 (2019) Published by www.researchtrend.net An updated checklist of the mammals of West Bengal Jayanta Kumar Mallick Wildlife Wing, Forest Department, Govt. of West Bengal (Retd.), India Corresponding author:
[email protected] | Received: 09 April 2019 | Accepted: 31 May 2019 | How to cite: Mallick JK. 2019. An updated checklist of the mammals of West Bangal. J New Biol Rep 8(2): 37-123. ABSTRACT The Checklist of Mammalian fauna of West Bengal has been updated after more than two and half decades to include recent taxonomic changes, new additions and distribution records for West Bengal. In this checklist, 234 species (Extant 211, Extinct 23) and 215 sub-species, belonging to 137 genera, 39 families and 11 orders, are reported. The chiropterans represent maximum number of species (75) followed by rodents (50), carnivores (48), Artiodactyls (29), Eulipotyphla (11), Primates (8), Lagomorpha (5), Perissodactyla (3), Pholidota (2) Scandentia (2) and Proboscidea (1). Relative to the 1992 version, the gain in number of species is 46 (+24.46%), that of sub-species 70 (+48.27%), genera 31 (+29.24%) and families 7 (+21.87%). Following recent molecular evidences, Cetacea is reordered under Artiodactyla in the new version. There are, however, a few records that remain unresolved, doubtful or controversial. Key words: checklist, mammals, taxonomy, distribution, habitat, status, conservation. Abbreviations (Old names in parenthesis). BWLS: Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Birbhum district BBWLS: Bibhuti Bhushan (Parmadan) Wildlife Sanctuary, North 24-Parganas district BDWLS: Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, Nadia district BTR: Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district.