Faunal Diversity of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore Campus

Faunal diversity of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore campus

Dr Maya Mahajan & Dr M Murugesan

Faunal diversity of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore campus

Dr Maya Mahajan & Dr M Murugesan

June 2020

©Copyright: ENVIS RP Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, 2020

Concept: Dr Maya Mahajan

Scientific data & text: Dr Maya Mahajan&Dr M Murugesan

Photo credits: Dr M Murugesan Dr Arun P R Mr R Sundhararaman Dr Maya Mahajan Mr B Siddhartha Mr H Theivaprakasham Mr Shritharan Thirumalai Mr Sreepad Krishnan Ms Kavya Ram Mr B Santhakumar Mr Subramanian Mr M. Samsoor Ali Mr S Ramesh Kumar Dr HN Kumara Dr HP Ashwin

Dedicated to our Beloved Chancellor-Amma

Amma says……….

By protecting and preserving wild and domestic animals, trees, and plants we are protecting and preserving nature. Trees, animals, birds, plants, forests, mountains, lakes and rivers- everything that exits in nature-are in desperate need of our kindness, compassionate care and protection.

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature.

However, because of man’s thoughtless actions, equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed and the pulse of human life is becoming erratic. Air and water are polluted. Rivers have dried up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue in this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe...”

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment 1 Introduction ...... 6 2 Methodology followed ...... 6 2.1 Field visits ...... 6 2.3 Avifauna ...... 10 2.4 Butterflies ...... 11 2.5 Mammals ...... 11 2.6 Reptiles ...... 12 3 Results ...... 12 3.1 Avifauna ...... 12 3.1.1 Endemic and IWPA (Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972) birds of the study area ... 13 3.1.2 Diversity Index ...... 13 3.2 Butterflies ...... 19 3.2.1 Endemic butterflies ...... 19 3.3 Mammals ...... 22 3.4 Reptiles ...... 23 4 Detailed Description of Birds ...... 24 5 Detailed Description of Butterflies ...... 98 6 Detailed Description of Reptiles ...... 159 7 Detailed Description of Mammals ...... 168 8 References ...... 178

List of Tables

Table 1. Sampling techniques used for the present survey ...... 10 Table 2. List of avifauna recorded in Amrita University campus ...... 13 Table 3. List of butterflies recorded in Amrita University campus ...... 20 Table 4. List of mammals recorded in the university campus ...... 22 Table 5. List of reptiles found in the university campus ...... 23

List of Figures

Figure 1. Google earth imagery map of the Amrita University campus and its environs...... 7 Figure 2. GIS Map of the campus with permanent survey points...... 8 Figure 3. Different strata of the study area ...... 9 Figure 4. Few important bird attracting trees in the campus ...... 18 Figure 5. Family wise representation of butterfly species in the university campus...... 19

Acknowledgment:

It gives us immense pleasure in expressing our deep sense of gratitude to Br. Abhayamrita Chaitanya, Pro chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (University) for his commitment towards nature conservation, inspiring guidance, constant encouragement and invariable support during the study and beyond. We express our special thanks to Vice Chancellor, Dr P Venkat Rangan & Dr Sasangan Ramanathan, Dean, School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham for their continuous support & encouragement and providing all the necessary facilities during the study. We are grateful to Dr S Mahadevan, Deputy Dean for providing accommodation for experts during the field survey. Dr Arun PR, Head, Environmental Impact Assessment division, and Butterfly expert,Dr Raja Jayapal, Principal Scientist, Ornithology and Dr P A Azeez, Director, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History are greatly acknowledged for their technical guidance and support. We would also like to thank Mr Santhakumar, Mr M Samsoor Ali & Mr S Rameshkumar from Salim Ali Centre, Mr R Sundharraman, Mr MG Santhosh & Mr Ashwin Ganesan from Amrita University, and our budding nature lovers from Amrita Prakriti Samrakshan Samiti (Nature club), B Siddhartha, Anup Nair, S Divyabharathi, Muthuselvi, NKR Prajapathy, K Aravinda, B Rakesh, Sudheer Manoj, Sanjay Sriram, Yuvanisha, Vishnavi, Pavithra for their active participation and supportduring the field surveys.

Maya Mahajan & M Murugesan

1 Introduction

The Coimbatore campus of Amrita Vishwa Vidyappetham (University) is located at the foothills of Western Ghats, 25 kms away from the Coimbatore city near the Ettimadai village. The 400 acres of lush green campus is surrounded by a part of Western Ghats in the north, rain-fed cultivated plains in the south and west and open scrub jungle in the east. The campus has large number of fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs that provide habitat to the diverse fauna including varieties of insects, butterflies, birds, mammals and reptiles. The major fruiting trees found here include Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosa, F. tsjakela, Bridelia crenulata, Syzygium cumini, Santalum album, Azadirachta indica etc. These trees attract large number of frugivorous birds. The majorflowering trees found in the campus such as Butea monosperma, Tecoma stans attract different species of nectarivorous birds. Although the flora of the campus is recorded, the faunal wealth of the campus is not studied systematically. Hence, a present study on the faunal diversity of the Amrita University campus has been carried out by a team of researchers in the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) under the guidance of Dr. Maya Mahajan, Associate professor, Environmental Sciences from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore.

2 Methodology followed

2.1 FIELD VISITS In order to document the fauna (including birds, butterflies, mammals and reptiles) in the campus, detailed intensive and extensive field surveys were conducted from November 2013 to January 2014 followed by rapid surveys in 2015-16 and 2018-19 in the entire campus covering different landscapes and peripheral area.

Initially a reconnaissance survey was conducted in the entire campus and its periphery for understanding the vegetation types and land use pattern of the campus. The entire area was tracked and the boundaries were marked using GPS etrex-20. For the convenience, the area was also divided into few blocks and marked as a, b, c and so on, for sampling all the areas in the

6 campus with the same frequency (Figure 1).The Google earth imagery map was prepared by marking different vegetation types and landscapes.

Figure 1.Google earth imagery map of the Amrita University campus and its environs.

Quantum and the permanent survey points were marked in the map (Figure 2) to make sure that sampling is done uniformly without missing any area. Sampling points were marked again in the areas which were not covered adequately and sampling was carried out in these newly marked areas.

Figure 2.Map of the campus with permanent survey points.

After marking the area, the area has been stratified in to the following categories viz., (Figure 3) 1. Plantation 2. Garden areas 3. Built up areas 4. Open area (with grassland) and barren lands 5. Forest areas 6. Coconut farms 7. Agriculture areas occurring inside the campus and the peripheries.

Figure 3.Different strata of the study area

Builtup area Forest area

Open area Plantation area

Cattle Shed Garden area

Coconut farm Agriculture areas at periphery

Various standard sampling techniques were used for documenting different faunal groups in the campus. The present study focuses on four major faunal groups viz. i) Butterflies, ii) Reptiles, iii) Birds and iv) Mammals. The standard sampling methods used for documenting the fauna of the campus are given below (Table 1). Table 1.Sampling techniques used for the present survey

Sl. No. Taxa Sampling method 1 Butterflies Random walk, opportunistic observations, transect walk and time constrained Point count method 2 Reptiles Visual encounter survey (VES) search 3 Avifauna Random walks, opportunistic observations, Mackinnon’s list technique, transect method and Time constrained Point count method. 4 Mammals Pug marks, calls, tracks and signs, Identification of faeces, dead animal body parts such as horns, teeth etc. Visual Encounter Survey (VES) and Information from local public.

2.2 AVIFAUNA

The avifauna of the campus was documented following direct observation methods such as time constrained point count method and transect walk method by Bibby et al., 1992., Based on the size of the landscape or stratum, 2 to 5 points were fixed in each landscapefor quantification of the birds in the campus. Based on the availability of the area, one to two transects of 1 km were also laid, wherever possible. Uniform sampling/ surveys wereconducted in each stratum of the campus.

In order to document total species in the campus MacKinnon lists technique was followed. This technique has been developed for birds in tropical forests (MacKinnon and Philips 1993). The MacKinnon lists technique is a rapid assessment methodology designed to use in species rich environments. This method is typically used to estimate species richness of the particular area but it has also been suggested that it can generate consistent abundance indices, even when observer experience and environmental conditions vary.

Random walks and opportunistic observations were also made whenever unrecorded birds during previous sampling were seen. Birds recorded during these observations are included in the checklist.

The survey was conducted from 0600 to 1100 hrs and from 1500 to 1800 hrs, as activities of the birds is highest during these periods. Based on the visibility, the observations on both the sides of the field personal on a field path were recorded with the help of 7 x 35 and 10 x 50 m field binoculars (Nikon). Indirect observations, signs and vocalizations, were also recorded. Number of individuals of a bird species, their activities and distance from the observer was recorded for estimating diversity of avifauna. Identification manuals and Field Guides by Ali & Ripley (1989), Kazmierczak (2000) and Grimmett et al. (2001) were used for the identification of birds during the study period. Nomenclature of the birds was adopted following Grimmett et al., (1998 & 2001); Manakadan and Pittie (2001).

2.3 BUTTERFLIES The butterflies in the campus were documented by direct observation methods such as Random walks and opportunistic observations by recording all butterflies during sunny hours, as butterflies are very active during these hours (between 08:00 to 17:00 hrs). Kunte (2000) and Kehimkar (2008) were referred to identify the Butterflies and for scientific nomenclature.

2.4 MAMMALS Both direct and indirect methods (tracks and signs, and visual encounter survey) were used to document the mammal species present in the study area. For surveying the mammals, tracks and signs, and visual encounter survey were used during the survey period. Species were also identified by indirect evidences such as pug marks, calls, signs and identification of faecal matter, dead animal body parts such as horns, teeth etc. (Bang et al., 1972; Burnham et al., 1980 and Heyer et al., 1994). Mammals were identified following standard field guides (Prater, 1971; Menon, 2003).

2.5 REPTILES Visual Encounter Survey (VES) search was followed for the survey of the reptiles of the campus. VES is a method in which field personnel walk through an area or habitat for a given time period systematically searching for animals. This is an appropriate technique to document the herpetofauna for inventorying and monitoring studies. During the search leaf litter, fallen logs, trees (bark, buttress, root and holes), shrubs, boulders, rocks and rock crevices were examined. The

identification of reptiles was done with the help of Boulenger (1890), Daniel (2002), Daniels (2005), Indraneil Das (2003), Whitaker and Captain (2004)

3 Results

3.1 AVIFAUNA A total of 114 species of birds belonging to 80 genera and spreading over 42 families have been recorded during the present study period (Table 2).

Of the 114 bird species recorded in the campus, birds such as Purple-rumped Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Common Tailor Bird, Tickell’s Flowerpecker, Asian Palm-Swift, Small Green Bee-eater, Asian Koel, Common Myna, Red-vented Bulbul, Spotted Dove, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black- headed Cuckoo Shrike, Coppersmith Barbet, White-headed Babbler, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Blue Rock Pigeon, Jungle Crow, Pied Buschat, House Crow, Indian Robin, Grey Francolin, Black Drongo and Indian Treepie were commonly seen in the study area.

Birds like Blue-winged Parakeet, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Jungle Myna, Verditer Flycatcher, Jungle Babbler, Common Kestrel, Plum-headed Parakeet, Little Cormorant, Indian Grey Hornbill, Spotted Owlet, Gold-fronted Chloropsis, Brown- headed Barbet and Black-shouldered Kite were sighted rarely with 3-5 sightings during the study period. The birds such as Forest Wagtail, Bonellie’s Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black-headed Oriole, Short-toed Snake Eagle, White-cheeked Barbet, Jerdon’s Chloropsis and Rufous-bellied Babbler were sighted only once or twice during the entire survey period.

3.1.1 ENDEMIC AND IWPA (INDIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972) BIRDS OF THE STUDY AREA Out of total 114 species of birds recorded in the area, two bird species namely Blue-winged Parakeet (Psittacula columboides) and White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis) are endemic to hills of Western Ghats in Southern India and Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) is endemic to India. Two bird species namely Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) and White-headed Babbler (Turdoides affinis) are endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. Loten’s Sunbird (Nectarinia lotenia) andJerdon’s Chloropsis(Chloropsis cochinchinensis) recorded during the study are distributed only in India and Sri Lanka (Kazmierczak, 2000 and Grimmett et al. 2001).

One bird species recorded during this study ie Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)is protected under “Schedule I” category of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

3.1.2 DIVERSITY INDEX

3.1.2.1 Transect method Diversity is the key indicator of healthy ecosystem. To estimate the diversity of the birds in the area, stratified random sampling was done using line transects. Seven random transects were laid throughout the campus by covering different landscapes and 2 replica counts were made on these transects.Based on transect count method, a total of 69 species of birds (1431 individuals) were recorded. The diversity was estimated using different indices such as Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, Fishers Alpha diversity index etc.Shannon-Wiener diversity index for avifaunal community in the study area is 2.5617. The Simpson index of diversity is 0.91. The Fishers Alpha diversity is 12.969.

Table 2. List of avifauna recorded in Amrita University campus

Family /Common Name Scientific Name Status Abundance Guild Phalacrocoracidae Little Cormorant Phalacrocor ax niger LM O C P Ardeidae Little Egret Egretta garzetta R U C Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LM U I Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii R U C Accipitridae Family /Common Name Scientific Name Status Abundance Guild Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus LM U C Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus LM U C Black Kite Milvus migrans R OC C Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus R OC C Shikra Accipiter badius R U C Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus LM U C Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus LM R C Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus LM R C Booted Eagle Aquila pennata WM R C Falconidae

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LM R C Phasianidae Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus R C O O Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii R CO O Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus R CO O Rallidae White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus R U O Charadriidae Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus R U I Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus R U I Columbidae Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia R U G Little Brown Dove Streptopelia senegalensis R CO G Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis R A G Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto R U G Yellow-legged Green-Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera R R F Psittacidae Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri LM U F Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala R U F Blue-winged Parakeet Psittacula columboides R A F Cuculidae Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus LM U O Brainfever Bird Hierococcyx varius LM U O Indian Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus LM OC O Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea R CO O Small Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris R CO O Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis R U C Strigidae Family /Common Name Scientific Name Status Abundance Guild Spotted Owlet Athene brama R CO I Apodidae Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis R C O I House Swift Apus affinis R CO I Alcedinidae Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo atthis R U C White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis R U C Meropidae Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni LM U I Small Bee-eater Merops orientalis R A I

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti LM U I Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus WM VR I Coraciidae Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis R U I Upupidae Common Hoopoe Upupa epops R C O I Bucerotidae Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris LM R O Capitonidae Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica LM O C F White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis LM OC F Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala R CO F Picidae Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus R O C I Common Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium javanense R U I Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense R CO I Pittidae Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura WM O C I Alaudidae Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea LM C O I Jerdon's Bush-Lark Mirafra affinis R U O Eastern Skylark Alauda gulgula R U O Hirundinidae Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica LM R I Common Swallow Hirundo rustica WM CO I Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii R R I Motacillidae Family /Common Name Scientific Name Status Abundance Guild Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus WM R I Large Pied Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis R CO I Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava WM R I Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus WM CO I Campephagidae Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina melanoptera LM O C I Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus R CO I Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei R R I Pycnonotidae Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer R A O

White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus R A O Irenidae Common Iora Aegithina tiphia R A O Jerdon’s Chloropsis Chloropsis cochinchinensis R A N Gold-fronted Chloropsis Chloropsis aurifrons R A N Laniidae Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus WM R I Rufous-backed Shrike Lanius schach LM R I Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus R R I Turdinae Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis R O C I Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata R CO I Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata R CO I Timaliinae Rufous-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra R VR I Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus R OC I Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi R OC O White-headed Babbler Turdoides affinis R A O Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense R OC I Sylviinae Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis R C O I Plain Prinia Prinia inornata LM U O Blyth’s Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum WM R I Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius R CO I Greenish Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides WM U I Muscicapinae Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica WM O C I Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina WM OC I Family /Common Name Scientific Name Status Abundance Guild Monarchinae Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi R C O I Dicaeidae Tickell’s Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos R C O F Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile R VR F Nectariniidae Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica R A O Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica R CO O Loten’s Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia R R O Estrildidae

White-throated Munia Lonchura malabarica LM U G White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata R U G Spotted Munia Lonchura punctulata LM OC G Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca LM U G Passerinae House Sparrow Passer domesticus R C O O Ploceinae Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus LM O C G Sturnidae Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum LM C O O Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus WM OC O Common Myna Acridotheres tristis R CO O Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus R CO O Oriolidae Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus LM O C O Black-headed Oriole Oriolus xanthornus R CO O Dicruridae Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus R O C I Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus LM U I White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens LM U I Artamidae Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus R C O I Corvidae Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda R C O O House Crow Corvus splendens R CO O Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos R CO O Where: R-Resident; LM-Local Migrant; WM-Winter Migrant; CO-Common; OC-Occasional; RE-rare; A- Abundant; U-Uncommon; VR-Very Rare; C-Carnivorous; P-Piscivorous; G-Granivorous; F-Frugivorous; N- Nectarivorous; I-Insectivorous; O-Omnivorous Figure 4.Pictures of selected trees, which attract birds in the University campus

Ficus benghalensis Santalum album

Ficus binnendijkii Tecoma stans

Mimusops elengii Butea monosperma

3.2 BUTTERFLIES A total of 91 butterfly species belonging to 61 genera and spreading over 5 families were recorded in the campus (Table 3). Among the 5 families, Nymphalidae is the dominant one with 30 species, followed by Pieridae 20 species.The family Hesperiidae represented with least number of butterfly species (n=10) (Figure 5). Figure 5.Family wise representation of butterfly species in the university campus.

0 Number of species of Number

Name of the Family

Of the 91 butterfly species recorded in the campus, species such as Crimson Rose, Common Rose, Blue Tiger, Lemon Pansy, Tawny Caster, Chocolate Pansy, Common Cerulean, Common Emigrant, Common Leopard, Common Pierrot, Common Mormon, Common Banded Peacock, Tiny Grass Blue, Plain Tiger, Common Crow, Danaid Eggfly, Small Grass Yellow and Lime Butterfly are commonly seen in the campus.

The following butterflies viz., Blue Mormon, Southern Birdwing, Common Bluebottle, Common Baron, Common Mime, Tailed Jay, Small Salmon Arab, Common Sergeant, Joker and Paris Peacock are rarely seen in the campus.

3.2.1 ENDEMIC BUTTERFLIES Among the total 91 species of butterflies recorded in the study area, two butterfly species such as, Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) and Tamil Yeoman(Cirrochroa thais) are endemic to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) is endemic to India and Sri Lanka (Kehimkar, 2008).

Table 3. List of butterflies recorded in Amrita University campus

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Family 1. Common Bluebottle Graphium sarpedon Papilionidae 2. Common Mime Chilasa clytia Papilionidae 3. Red Helen Papilio helenus Papilionidae 4. Paris Peacock Papilio paris Papilionidae 5. Common Banded Peacock Papilio crino Papilionidae 6. Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Papilionidae 7. Common Jay Graphium doson Papilionidae 8. Common Mormon Papilio polytes Papilionidae 9. Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Papilionidae 10. Crimson Rose Pachliopta hector Papilionidae 11. Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Papilionidae 12. Southern Birdwing Troides minos Papilionidae 13. Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon Papilionidae 14. Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Pieridae 15. Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Pieridae 16. Common Grass yellow Eurema hecabe Pieridae 17. One Spot Grass Yellow Eurema andersonii Pieridae 18. Three Spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda Pieridae 19. Common Albatross Appias albina Pieridae 20. Common Gull Cepora nerissa Pieridae 21. Common Wanderer Pareronia valeria Pieridae 22. Small Salmon Arab Colotis amata Pieridae 23. Crimson Tip Colotis danae Pieridae 24. Great Orange Tip Hebomoea glaucippe Pieridae 25. Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Pieridae 26. Psyche Leptosia nina Pieridae 27. Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta Pieridae 28. Spotless Grass Yellow Eurema laeta Pieridae 29. Small Orange Tip Colotis etrida Pieridae 30. Plain Orange Tip Colotis eucharis Pieridae 31. White Orange Tip Ixias marianne Pieridae 32. Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene Pieridae 33. Pioneer Belenois aurota Pieridae 34. Angled Castor Ariadne ariadne Nymphalidae 35. Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Nymphalidae 36. Chocolate Pansy Precis iphita Nymphalidae 37. Common Baron Euthalia aconthea Nymphalidae 38. Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra Nymphalidae 39. Common Bush Brown Mycalesis perseus Nymphalidae 40. Common Castor Ariadne merione Nymphalidae 41. Common Crow Euploea core Nymphalidae 42. Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda Nymphalidae

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Family 43. Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha Nymphalidae 44. Common Nawab Polyura athamas Nymphalidae 45. Common Sailer Neptis hylas Nymphalidae 46. Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Nymphalidae 47. Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis Nymphalidae 48. Double-branded Crow Euploea sylvester Nymphalidae 49. Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea Nymphalidae 50. Joker Byblia ilithyia Nymphalidae 51. Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina Nymphalidae 52. Blue Pansy Junonia orithiya Nymphalidae 53. Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Nymphalidae 54. Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Nymphalidae 55. Peacock Pansy Junonia almana Nymphalidae 56. Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Nymphalidae 57. Striped Tiger Danaus genutia Nymphalidae 58. Tawny Coster Acraea violae Nymphalidae 59. Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta Nymphalidae 60. Common Threering Ypthima asterope Nymphalidae 61. Common Fourring Ypthima huebneri Nymphalidae 62. Common Lascar Pantoporia hordonia Nymphalidae 63. Tamil Yeoman Cirrochroa thais Nymphalidae 64. Common Cerulean Jamides celeno Lycaenidae 65. Dark Cerulean Jamides bochus Lycaenidae 66. Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Lycaenidae 67. Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus Lycaenidae 68. Common Shot Silverline Spindasis ictis Lycaenidae 69. Forget-Me-Not Catochrysops strabo Lycaenidae 70. Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis Lycaenidae 71. Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax Lycaenidae 72. Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra Lycaenidae 73. Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha Lycaenidae 74. Peacock Royal Tajuria cippus Lycaenidae 75. Red Pierrot Talicada nyseus Lycaenidae 76. Common Hedge Blue Acytolepis puspa Lycaenidae 77. Grass Jewel Freyeria trochylus Lycaenidae 78. Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Lycaenidae 79. Pea Blue Lampides boetocis Lycaenidae 80. Zebra Blue Syntarucusplinius Lycaenidae 81. Small Cupid Chilades pandava Lycaenidae 82. Brown Awl Badamia exclamationis Hesperiidae 83. Common Banded Owl Hasora chromus Hesperiidae 84. Dark Palm Dart Telicota ancilla Hesperiidae 85. Bush Hopper Ampittia dioscorides Hesperiidae

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Family 86. Bevan's Swift Pseudoborbo bevani Hesperiidae 87. Rice Swift Borbo cinnara Hesperiidae 88. Common Grass Dart Taractrocera maevius Hesperiidae 89. African Marbled Skipper Gomalia elma Hesperiidae 90. Pale Palm Dart Telicota colon Hesperiidae 91. Small Branded Swift Pelopidas mathias Hesperiidae

3.3 MAMMALS Total 21 species of mammals are recorded in and around the campus based on direct sightings and secondary information from local people who are residing in and around the University campus (Table 5).Out of these 21 species, 2 species (Common Langur &Sloth Bear) are included in the list based on secondary information gathered from local people.

Mammals such as Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Black-napped Hare, Three-striped Palm Squirrel, Indian Flying Fox, Short-nosed Fruit Bat, House Rat and Greater Bandicoot Rat are commonly seen in and around the campus. Apart from these, Elephant is one of the frequent visitors of the campus. Indian Pangolin is rarely seen in the campus and was recorded only once in the periphery of the campus during the survey. Table 4. List of mammals recorded in the university campus

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Common Name 1. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus Yaanai 2. Wild Boar Sus scrofa Kaatu Pandri 3. Spotted Deer Aix axis Pulli Maan 4. Jungle Cat Felis chaus Kaatu Poonai 5. Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis Muyal 6. Leopard Panthera pardus Siruthai 7. Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum Anil 8. Jackal Canis aureas Kulla Nari 9. Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata Kurangu 10. Common Langur* Semnopithecus entellus Karuvai Manthi 11. Common or Grey Mangoose Herpestes edwardsi Keeri Pillai 12. Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus Periya Vowaal 13. Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx Vowaal 14. Common Palm Civet or Toddy Cat Paradoxurus Mara Naai hermophroditus 15. House Rat Rattus rattus Sundeli 16. Indian Mole-rat Bandicota bengalensis Peruchali

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Common Name 17. Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Erumbuthinni 18. Dhole Cuon alpinus Sennaai; Kaattu Naai 19. Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis Kulla Nari 20. Sloth Bear* Melursus ursinus Karadi 21. Indian Porcupine Hystrix indica Mullam Pandri *Secondary information

3.4 REPTILES A total of 17 reptiles are recorded in the University campus and its environs(Table 5). Of these, species such as Common Rat Snake, Monitor Lizard, Green forest Lizard, Indian Garden Lizard, Spectacled Cobra, Common Vine Snake and Common skink are frequently seen in the University campus. On the other hand, three species viz., Saw-Scaled Viper, Russell’s Viper and Common Krait are seen very rarely in the campus with 1-2 sightings only.

Indian Rock Python also rarely visit the campus and the species has been included based on the secondary information gathered from local people. It was spotted near the New Bachelor’s quarters in the campus.

Table 5. List of reptiles found in the university campus

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Local Name 1. Saw-Scaled Viper Echis carinatus Suruttai Virian 2. Russell’s Viper Daboia russelii Kannadi Virian 3. Sand Boa Eryx johnii Mannulumbi Paambu 4. Common Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Saarai Paambu 5. Indian Rock Python* Phython molurus Malai Paambu 6. Common Krait Bungarus caeruleus Kattu Virian 7. Spectacled Cobra Naja Naja Naga Paambu 8. Common Indian Bronzeback Dendrelaphis tristis Komberi Moorken 9. Common Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasuta Pachai Paambu 10. Common Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis Paul Virian 11. Fanthroated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Veeseri Oonan 12. Indian Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Oonan 13. Common Indian Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis Udumbu 14. Green Forest Lizard Calotes calotes Pachai Oonan 15. South Asian Chameleon Chamaeleon zeylanicus Pachondhi 16. South Indian Rock Agama Psammophilus dorsalis Sentahalai Oonan 17. Common or Brahminy Skink Mabuya carinata Aranai *Secondary information

4 Detailed Description of Birds

Black-shouldered Kite Scientific Name: Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789) Tamil Name: Karuppu Vellai Valluru It is a widespread common resident and local migrant species distributed throughout India except in few parts of northwest and northeast. It is small sized Kite with grey and white colored body with black shoulders. Flight is buoyant with much hovering. Juvenile has brownish-grey upper parts with less prominent black shoulder patch. This is one of the rare species and seen only thrice on the electric transmission line near Playground of the University campus.

Brahminy Kite Scientific Name: Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) Tamil Name: Karuda Parundhu; Semparundhu Brahminy Kite is a widespread common resident species distributed throughout India except in few parts of northwest and northeast. It is a small sized kite with white head, neck and breastwith streaks, chestnut wings and rounded tail. Wings usually angled at carpels. Juvenile is mainly brown in colour with pale streaking on head, mantle and breast. This is one of the rare species in the campus and seen only once while flying across the campus near New Gymnasium.

Black Kite Scientific Name: Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) Tamil Name: Parundhu; Kalla Parundhu It is a widespread resident bird of prey. It is a dark brown, with under parts faintly streaked with variable whitish crescent at primary bases on under wing and pale band across the median coverts on the upper wing. In flight, it can be easily distinguished by its forked tail and slightly down curved primaries or flight feathers and much maneuvering of arched wings and twisting of tail in flight. In the campus, it is commonly seen near play ground and Academic block 3.

Shikra Scientific Name: Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 1788) Tamil Name: Valluru Shikrais a most common resident bird of prey in India and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Males are with blue-grey wings and tail, white below cross-barred with rusty brown and smaller than females. Females are brown and rufus with broad brown vertical streaked on the underside. It is a powerful hunter can take anything that it might overpower. In Amrita campus, It can be seen in the forest edges and wooded areas.

Short-toed Snake-Eagle Scientific Name: Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788) A common resident Eagle distributed throughout India except few parts of northwest, northeast, Coromandel Coast and higher Himalayas. It has broad and rounded head, long and broad wings pinched at base and rather long tail. It is a highly polymorphic species often with dark head and breast, barred under body and broad subterminal tail-band. This is one of the very rare species and seen only once in well wooded areas and forest edges of ARC godawn of the University campus.

Bonelli’s Eagle Scientific Name: Hieraaetus fasciatus (Vieillot, 1822) Bonelli’s Eagle is a common and widespread resident bird species, distributed throughout India except in most of northeast and east. It is a medium sized Eagle with long and broad wings, distinctly protruding head and long square-ended tail. It has pale under body and forewing, blackish band along under wing coverts and whitish patch on mantle. This is one of the rare species and seen in well wooded areas and forest edges of the University campus, especially near

Academic block and ARC godown surroundings.

Oriental Honey-Buzzard Scientific Name: Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821) Oriental Honey-Buzzard is a common and widespread resident species, distributed throughout India except in most of northeast, northwest subcontinent and southeast India. It has narrow neck and small head with small crest, long and broad wings and tail. It is a highly polymorphic species and very variable in plumage with under parts and under wing coverts ranging from dark brown through rufus to white. It is one of the rare species recordedonly twice and seen in well wooded areas and forest edges of the University campus, especially near Academic block and ARC godown surroundings.

Changeable Hawk-Eagle Scientific Name: Spizaetus cirrhatus (Gmelin, 1788) It is a common and widespread resident species, distributed throughout Indian subcontinent except in most of west, northwest, northeast subcontinent and entire Coromandel Coast. It has most prominent crest, boldly streaked under body, narrower and more edged wings. It is a highly polymorphic species and very variable in plumage with under parts and under wing coverts ranging from dark brown to white. It is one of the rare species recorded in well wooded areas and forest edges near Academic block 3 of the University campus.

Common Kestrel Scientific Name: Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 Common Kestrel is one of the winter visitors from the Himalayas and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the small and slender Falcons with grey head and brick red wings above and light buff below with brown spearhead spots. In flight, it can be easily identified by the presence of the pointed black wings and rounded grey tail with broad black terminal band. In the University campus, it is very rarely seen on the Palm trees near the play ground.

Booted Eagle Scientific Name: Aquila pennataVieillot, 1817 A common winter visitor distributed throughout India except in parts of northwest, northeast and east. It is a small Eagle with long wings and long square-ended tail. It has whitish head, body and wing- coverts and white-crescent on uppertail coverts. In flight, it always shows white shoulder patches. It is one of the very rare birds and recorded only once in the flight near Playground of the University campus.

Grey Francolin Scientific Name: Francolinus pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789)

Tamil Name: Kavuthari It is one of the ground game birds, breeding residents and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except north east, all along the grass lands and scrub jungles of drier parts. It is a stub-tailed grayish brown game bird with chestnut blotching above and fine wavy black and buff vermiculations and chestnut tail. It can be commonly seen throughout the campus, amidst the grasses and scrubs where human disturbance is less.

Yellow-eyed Babbler Scientific Name: Chrysomma sinense(Latham, 1790) Yellow-eyed Babbler is a common, resident Babbler distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid and higher Himalayan regions. It has a short,stout bill and a long graduated tail. Upper parts of the body are brownish and the wings are cinnamon coloured. Lores and supercilium are white and the rim of the eye is orange-yellow in colour. The beak is black. The underside is whitish buff. The central tail feathers are about twice as long as the outermost one. This species is occasionally seen along the open scrubs of the University campus especially near Acdemic block-3 surroundings.

Grey Junglefowl

Scientific Name: Gallus sonneratii Temminck, 1813 Tamil Name: Kattu Kozhi Grey Junglefowl is one of the breeding residents and distributed in the Peninsular India. It has a more resemblance to domestic fowls. Male has shawl of white and pale golden-yellow spotting and long sickle-shaped, purplish-black tail. Female has buffish face, bold white streaking on under parts and yellowish legs. In the university campus it can be rarely seen all along the forest edges and also near academic block and ARC Godown.

Indian Peafowl Scientific Name: Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Mayil It is one of the common breeding residentspeciesand distributed throughout Indian subcontinent and almost universally familiar birds. The fan shaped crest of spatula tipped wire-like feathers together with the brilliant glistening blue neck and breast and the sweeping metallic bronze-green tail. Females are smaller, similarly crested but without the sweeping tail. This bird can be commonly seen throughout the campus.

Red-wattled Lapwing Scientific Name: Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) Tamil Name: Sivappu MookkuAalkatti Red-wattled Lapwing is a common resident bird distributed all over India. It is one of the common plovers with black-tipped redbill, crimson-red wattle and eyelids and bright yellow legs. Head, neck and breast are black. The wings are bronze-brown. This bird can be occasionally seen along the open grass land and meadow land areas of the university campus and agriculture areas of the periphery also.

Yellow-wattled Lapwing Scientific Name: Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) Tamil Name:Manchal MookkuAalkatti It is a common resident bird species distributed mainly in Peninsular India, rarely in foot hills of Himalayas and northeast and absent in west and northwest and higher range of Himalayas. It has yellow wattles and legs with black bill, white supercilium, dark cap and brown breast-band. This is one of the rare birds in the University campus and recorded only twice, near the main Security office and the periphery areas near new gymnasium.

Blue Rock Pigeon Scientific Name: Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 Tamil Name: Maadappura It is a most common breeding resident bird that needs no description and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Blue Rock Pigeon is a very familiar slate grey bird with glistening metallic green, purple and magenta sheen on neck and upper breast. Two dark bars on wings and a band across end of the tail is a prominent character of this bird. In the campus, it is one of abundant species and seen in throughout the built up areas.

Yellow-legged Green-Pigeon Scientific Name: Treron phoenicoptera (Latham, 1790) Tamil Name:Pachaipura It is a common and wide spread resident species distributed throughout India except in most of the Himalayas, northwest and few parts of northeast and Coromandel Coast. It is one of the large sized Pigeons with broad olive-yellow collar, greenish- yellow belly, pale grayish-green upper parts, mauve shoulder patch, yellowish band at base of tail and yellow legs and feet. It is not a very common bird and recorded only once with single individual on the Ficus benghalensistree near the main block of the University campus.

Little Brown Dove Scientific Name: Streptopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Pazhuppu Pura; Thavittu Pura A widespread breeding resident Dove and commonly seen throughout the country except higher Himalayas and northeast. It is a slim and small bird with fairly long tail. The head is brownish-pink and under parts, uniform brown upper parts and black stippling upper breast. It is one of the rare Dove in the University campus, recorded once near the effluent treatment plant and its surroundings & also seen near the Academic block 3.

Spotted Dove Scientific Name: Streptopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) Tamil Name: Pura; Pulli Pura Spotted Dove is one of the most common breeding resident birds distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except the arid northwestern parts. It is a white- spotted pinkish-brown bird and grey under parts and white and black on hind neck are leading clues to its identity. It is one of the most common birds in the university campus and distributed in all the habitats of the University campus.

Eurasian Collared-Dove Scientific Name: Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) Tamil Name: Pura The common breeding resident species distributed throughout the drier parts of the Indian subcontinent and unrecorded in the most of the Himalayas and southwestern most India. It is pale grey and brown dove with prominent narrow black half- collar or ring on the hind neck. The bird has been seen only twice in the campus near the Aerospace lab and in the northeast corner of the play ground.

Rose-ringed Parakeet Scientific Name: Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) Tamil Name: Pachai Kili The very common breeding resident species of the parrot and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. This species can be readily identified by the presence of pale green colour with a long pointed tail. Male develop the distinct rose-red ring on the neck when they are about three years old. It is one of the most common species of the University campus and distributed throughout the campus.

Plum-headed Parakeet Scientific Name: Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Sivappu Thalai Kili; Senthalai Kili It is a widespread breeding resident bird occurs throughout the subcontinent except northwest and part of northeast. Male has plum- red and purplish-blue head with yellow upper mandible and blue-green tail. Female has grayish head, yellowish collar and upper breast. Plum-headed Parakeet is a very rare bird in the campus and sighted only once in the campus near backside of MBA block.

Blue-winged Parakeet Scientific Name: Psittacula columboides (Vigors, 1830) Tamil Name: Neela Rekkai Kili Blue-winged Parakeet is a widespread breeding, endemic resident bird and restricted only to the Western Ghats. Male has pink bill, blue-grey head with green lores and cheeks, blue- green collar, pale blue-grey breast with yellow-tipped blue tail. Female similar, but has blackish bill, lacks blue- green collar. This is a very rare bird in the campus, recorded only once near the forest edge near Academic block 3.

Pied Crested Cuckoo Scientific Name: Clamator jacobinus (Boddaert, 1783) It is one of the widespread breeding residents with partial migrant cuckoos distributed throughout the country except Himalayan region. This small cuckoo is black in colour with white belly and prominent crest, slender tail, grayish throat and breast. Tail is blackish with white tip. In the campus, it can be commonly seen in the cattle shed areas and its surroundings, around CIR block and also near the main security gate.

Brainfever Bird Scientific Name: Hierococcyx varius (Vahl, 1797) A common resident, Shikra like cuckoo, but subject to local migratory and nomadic movements especially during the rainy season and occur throughout the subcontinent. It is an ashy-grey bird tipped with rufous tail and with 4 or 5 whitish and black bars, the terminal one broadest. It has rufous bars on lower side. The call, Brainfever,Brainfever, is typical identity for this bird. It is rarely seen in the forest edges of the campus near Academic block 3 and ARC Godown.

Asian Koel Scientific Name: Eudynamys scolopacea (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Kuyil Asian Koel is breeding resident bird with nomadic and local migrant and distributed throughout the country except Assam. It is a large bird with a long tail. Male is bluish-black with pale- yellowish green bill, red eyes and grey legs and feet. Female is dark brown above, with spots and bars. It also has olive green beak and red eyes. This is a very common bird found throughout the University campus

Small Green-billed Malkoha Scientific Name: Phaenicophaeus viridirostris (Jerdon, 1840) A common breeding resident cuckoo, restricted only to the Peninsular India and Srilanka, roughly north up to Baroda. Small Green-billed Malkoha is an untidy looking greenish ashy-grey cuckoo suffused with rufous on the upper parts, bright green bill, naked blue patch around eyes and long, broad graduated tail with conspicuous white tip to the feathers. It is rarely seen along the forest edges.

Greater Coucal Scientific Name: Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 1815) Tamil Name: Semboothu A common widespread breeding resident cuckoo distributed throughout India. Greater Coucal is a clumsy glossy black bird with conspicuous chestnut wings and long, broad graduated black tail. Upper mantle and underside are purplish black. Females are slightly larger. The eyes are ruby red. It is recorded in the campus near MBA block, main gate, new bachelor quarters, IT block, Agasthiya bhavanam and Academic block 3 surroundings.

Spotted Owlet Scientific Name: Athene brama (Temminck, 1821) Tamil Name: Aandhai A common breeding resident Owl distributed from the Afgan frontier eastward through Punjab and Jammu in the plains and along the Himalayan submontane tract through Nepal and throughout India. It is familiar squat, white-spotted grayish brown little owl with the typical large round head and yellow forwardly directed string eyes. Spotted Owlet is one of the very rare birds in the University campus and recorded only twice, one in the coconut farm near Aerospace lab and another near CIR block.

Asian Palm-Swift Scientific Name: Cypsiurus balasiensis (J.E. Gray, 1829) Tamil Name: Panai Uzhavaran

It is a common breeding resident swiftdistributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It has long, slender bow-like wings. The deep fork in the tail is particularly noticeable when bird wheels or banks in its flight. In the University campus it is commonly seen all over the campus, especially the areas, where tad Palmyra palms are present.

House Swift Scientific Name: Apus affinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) Tamil Name: Naattu Uzhavaran

House Swift is a common winter visitor to this area and it is distributed patchily throughout the Indian subcontinent except northwest. It is a small stocky, smoky-black bird with white throat, white rump, short square tail and long narrow wings. It is gregariously flying in the entire University campusfor catching the insects, especially during the dusk hours.

Small Blue Kingfisher

Scientific Name: Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Chinna Meenkothi It is a common elegant, breeding resident Kingfisher and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Small Blue Kingfisher is a dapper, dark blue and green little Kingfisher with deep rust-coloured under parts, with short stumpy tail and a long straight pointed bill. A brown patch near its eyes is a prominent character of this species for differentiating it from its closely allied species. This is seen only one near the swimming pool.

White-breasted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Meenkothi An elegant, common and widespread breeding residentKingfisher and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a brilliant turquoise- blue kingfisher with deep chocolate brown head, neck and under parts, a conspicuous white breast and long, heavy, pointed straight red bill. This species can be easily differentiated from its closely allied species by the presence of white breast and white prominent wing patch in the flight. This species is seen occasionally in the campus near Saraswathy statue, swimming pool, new bachelor quarters, MBA block surroundings and cattle shed areas.

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Scientific Name: Nyctyornis athertoni (Jardine & Selby, 1828) Tamil Name: Kaattu Panchuruttan Blue-bearded Bee-eater is a rare breeding resident Bee- eater, distributed in Himalayan foot hills, northeast and east India, Western Ghats and hills of West Tamil Nadu. It is a very large green Bee-eater with broad square-ended tail. It has blue foreheadand bearded,green upper parts, broad greenish streaking on yellowish-buff belly and flanks. It is one of the very rare bird in the campus, recorded only once near the forest edge near the Academic block 3.

Small Green Bee-eater Scientific Name: Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 Tamil Name: Pachai Panchuruttan A common breeding resident bird distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a dainty grass-green Bee-eater tinged with reddish brown on head and neck. Central pair of tail feathers prolonged in to blunt pins. Sometimes chin and throat is blue in colour. It also has slender, long and slightly curved bill and conspicuous black necklace. This bird can be seen commonly throughout the campus, especially near open areas near play ground and CIR block surroundings.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Scientific Name: Merops philippinus Linnaeus, 1766 Tamil Name: Neelavaal Panchuruttan Blue-tailed Bee-eater is a resident and local migrant. It is a winter visitor to this area from October onwards and distributed throughout the country. It is a comparatively larger bee-eater than Small Green Bee-eater, and it has black stripes through the eyes, deep chestnut throat breast extends to the ear- coverts, blue rump and long blue tail. The forehead and crown are mainly bronze-green. This is one of very rare birds in the campus and recorded only twice near MBA block and CIR block surroundings.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Scientific Name: Merops leschenaulti Vieillot, 1817 Tamil Name: Senthalai Panchuruttan A common resident and partial migrant bird and is a winter visitor to this area from November onwards. It is distributed mainly in Himalayas, northeast, east, southwest and southeast India. It has bright chestnut crown, nape and mantle, yellow throat, turquoise rump and broad tail with shallow- fork. Presence of chestnut crown, nape and mantle is a characteristic feature of this species for easy identification. In the University campus the birds can be seen mainly near CIR block, Play ground, Academic block 3 surroundings and periphery areas of the campus.

Indian Roller Scientific Name: Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Panangkaadai

Indian Rolleris a common widespread breeding resident bird distributed throughout the India from Himalayan foot hills to southernmost end. It is a striking, elegant, Oxford-and- Cambridge-blue bird, with biggish head, thick and heavy black bill, rufous-brown breast and pale-blue abdomen and under tail. The dark and pale blue portions of the wings show up as brilliant band in the flight. In the University campus the bird is sited near Aerospace lab and periphery areas.

Common Hoopoe Scientific Name: Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Kondalaathi

Common Hoopoe is a common widespread breeding resident bird distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a fawn colourd bird with black and white zebra markings on back, wings and tail. A conspicuous fan-shaped crest with black-tip and long, slender, gently curved bill are the characteristic features of this bird. It is seen in open places near the play ground and cattle shed surroundings in the campus.

Indian Grey Hornbill Scientific Name: Ocyceros birostris (Scopoli, 1786) Tamil Name: Arivaal Mookkan; Iruvaachi Indian Grey Hornbillis a common widespread breeding resident bird distributed throughout the India except northwest, northeast, few parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat and southern end. It is a very large grayish bird with broad grayish supercilium, dark ear-coverts and white-tipped tail. It has a prominent blackish casque and more extensive black at base of bill. Female is similar to male, but it has smaller casque with less pronounced tip. A pair of this bird has been recorded twice during the survey near Saraswathy statue and Estate office in the University campus.

Brown-headed Barbet Scientific Name: Megalaima zeylanica (Gmelin, 1788) Tamil Name: Senthalai Kukkuruvan

Brown-headed Barbet is a common widespread breeding resident/local migrant bird distributed throughout the India except northwest, northeast and few parts of Coromandel Coast, Rajasthan and Gujarat. This bird has fine whitish streaking on head and breast, brown chin and throat and virtual absence of streaking on belly and flanks the most extensive bare orange patch around eye which extends to the bill and deeper reddish-orange bill are the important characteristic features of this bird. It is a very rarely seen and recorded only once in the forest edge near Academic block 3 of the campus.

Coppersmith Barbet Scientific Name: Megalaima haemacephala (P.L.S. Müller, 1776) Tamil Name: Semmarbu Kukkuruvan It is a very common widespread breeding resident brightly coloured Barbet and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a small dumpy grass-green barbet with yellow-throat, crimson breast and forehead and green-streaked yellowish under parts. It has short truncated tail and distinctly triangular shape in outline during flight. It is one of the very common birds in the University and distributed throughout the campus, seen near Saraswathy statue and main security office and surroundings areas.

White-cheeked Barbet Scientific Name: Megalaima viridis (Boddaert, 1783) Tamil Name: Venthaadai Kukkuruvan White-cheeked Barbet is one of the breeding resident endemic birds and its distribution is restricted only to the Western Ghats and hills of Tamil Nadu. It has shorter brownish bill, whitish chin and throat, bold white cheek patch and white supercilium contrasting with black around eye and dark brown crown and nape. The wings are olive-green and belly also pale green in colour. It is recorded only once in the campus near the coconut farm near CIR block.

Common Golden-backed Woodpecker (Common Flameback) Scientific Name: Dinopium javanense (Ljungh, 1797) Tamil Name: Maramkothi Common Golden-backed Woodpecker is a breeding resident Woodpecker distributed in the hills of southwest and northeast India. It has black hind neck, golden rump and back, reddish or brown eyes and three toes. It has an irregular line of black spotting down centre of throat and breast. This species can be occasionally seen in the well wooded areas throughout the campus.

Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker (Black-rumped Flameback) Scientific Name: Dinopium benghalense (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Maramkothi A common breeding resident species distributed throughout India except northwest, northeast and few parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Black lower back and rump with different head pattern is the characteristic feature of this species. It has golden-yellow and black upper plumage, white- spotted black throat and black stripe through eye, lower buff more streaked with black. It has been recorded only once in the campus in the coconut farm near CIR block.

Rufous Woodpecker Scientific Name: Celeus brachyurus (Vieillot, 1818) It is a common and widespread resident bird species distributed in Himalayas, northeast, eastern and southwestern India. Rufous Woodpecker is a rufous-brown bird with short, stout black bill and shaggy crest, prominent black barring on the wings and scarlet patch on ear-coverts. This species is rarely seen in the well wooded areas and forest edges of Academic block and ARC godown surroundings in the University campus.

Paddyfield Pipit Scientific Name: Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818

Paddyfield Pipit is one of the common and widespread resident bird species distributed throughout India except in parts of northeast and northwest subcontinent. It has comparatively short and stout pale bill, pale lores, and well streaked breast and wings. When flushed, it has comparatively week, rather fluttering flight.

Indian Pitta Scientific Name: Pitta brachyura (Linnaeus, 1766) Indian Pitta is one of the winter visitors arrives in September. It is distributed throughout India and breeds over a wide area in north and central India. It is mainly an abundant south-west monsoon or winter visitor and/or passage migrant in Peninsular India. It is a gaudy stub-tailed bird, green, blue, fulvous, black and white, with crimson abdomen and under tail. In flight, a round white-spot near tip of wing is the characteristic feature of this bird. It has been recorded thrice in forest edges of the University campus near Academic block 3 and ARC Godown.

Jerdon's Bush-Lark Scientific Name: Mirafra affinis Blyth, 1845 Jerdon's Bush-Lark is a common breeding resident bird distributed in Southern Peninsular India except few parts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is comparatively larger and stockier with larger and longer bill and shorter tail. It has heavily spotted breast, buffish wash to under parts and buffish lores, prominent rufous on wing and outer tail feathers. This bird is occasionally seen amidst the grasses in open areas and on electric wires of the University campus especially near the playground and its surroundings.

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Scientific Name: Eremopterix grisea (Scopoli, 1786) Tamil Name: Karuppu Kazhuthu Vanampadi It is a widespread common breeding resident or partially local migrant distributed throughout Indian subcontinent except few parts of northwest and northeast India. It is a small squat, thick-grayish billed crestless Lark. It has prominent black belly and eye stripes through eye, sandy brown upper parts black under parts with ashy crown and whitish cheeks. This is a common bird of the University campus seen amidst the grasses in open areas especially in playground and adjoining open areas.

Eastern Skylark (Oriental Skylark) Scientific Name: Alauda gulgula Franklin, 1831 Tamil Name: Chinna Vanampadi It is a very common widespread breeding resident/winter visitor or partially local migrant distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a highly polymorphic species and highly variable in colour and has prominent streaking on both upper and under parts. It has broad fulvous dark streaks on the upper plumage, fulvous and narrowly streaked blackish brown on breast. It also has much finer and shorter bill than other Bushlarks. This species is commonly seen amidst the grasses in the open areas of the entire University campus, especially in Play ground and Academic block 3 surroundings.

Common Swallow (Barn Swallow) Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Thagaivilan It is an abundant widespread winter visitor in Southern India to the extreme tip of the Peninsula and breeds in Himalayas and northeast India. It has steel blue or purplish blue above, pale pinkish-white below with chestnut forehead and throat, the latter bordered by a broad glossy black pectoral band, deeply forked swallow tail, especially prominent in flight. This species is commonly seen in the open areas in the entire University campus.

Wire-tailed Swallow Scientific Name: Hirundo smithii Leach, 1818 Tamil Name: Neenda Vaal Thagaivilan It is a common, widespread resident, distributed throughout Indian subcontinent except in parts of the northwest, northeast and southwest subcontinent. It has chest crown, bright blue upper parts, glistening white under parts and fine filamentous projections to outer tail feathers. The presence of very long wire-like tail streamers is the distinguish character of this species. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only twice in the

university campus near the open areas near playground.

Red-rumped Swallow Scientific Name: Hirundo daurica Linnaeus, 1771 Tamil Name: Sivappu Pitta Thagaivilan It is a widespread resident bird with local migrants in south and eastern plains, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The presence of rufous rump varies from white-chestnut, distinguish this species from all other swallows. It has rufous-orange neck, sides and rump, buffish- white, with fine streaks on throat and upper breast. This species is occasionally seen in the open areas of the University campus near play ground and Academic block 3 surroundings.

Large Pied Wagtail Scientific Name: Motacilla maderaspatensis Gmelin, 1789 Tamil Name: Karuppu Vellai Vaalaatti It is a common and widespread resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northwest and northeast. A large Wagtail with a combination of black mantle and black head with supercilium separates it from all other subspecies. It has prominent white eyebrow. The black and white plumage resembling in pattern that of the familiar Oriental Magpie Robin. In the female, the black portions are duller and browner. This bird is occasionally seen in the campus near main block and swimming pool areas.

Forest Wagtail Scientific Name: Dendronanthus indicus (Gmelin, 1789) Tamil Name: Kaattu Vaalaatti Forest Wagtail is a winter visitor to northeast and south west India. It is a forest dwelling wagtail, differentiated from other Wagtails by the presence of a combination of broad yellowish- white median and greater covert wing-bars and white patch on wings, double black breast band, lower and broken at centre of breast, olive upperparts, white supercilium and whitish under parts. It is one of the rarest species of the campus and recorded only once near the forest edges of ARC godown.

Yellow Wagtail Scientific Name: Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Manjal Vaalaatti Yellow Wagtail is a widespread winter visitor distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Yellow Wagtail is a slim, long-tailed bird with mainly yellowish or olive-green upper parts, prominent eyebrow, broad white wing bars, yellowish under parts, yellow throat, black and white long tail. Some times with grey upper parts and white under parts also. It is rarely seen in the campus recorded twice with two individuals near swimming pool.

Large Cuckoo-Shrike Scientific Name: Coracina macei (Lesson, 1830) Tamil Name: Keechan Kuruvi

It is a common and widespread resident species distributed throughout India except in parts of northwest and northeast. It is a largest Cuckoo-Shrike and has paler with longer and thicker, hook-tipped bill and grayish wings with broader, whitish fringes to wing feathers. Male has grey throat and breast and barred under parts and female has barring on belly and flanks. It is one of the rare birds of the University campus and recorded only twice near forest edges of Academic block and ARC godown surroundings.

Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike Scientific Name:Coracina melanoptera (Rüppell, 1839) Tamil Name: Karunthalai Keechan It is a resident and local migrant but arrives and departs like a regular long distant migrant distributed almost throughout India south and east of a line from Mount Abu through Sambhar in Rajasthan to Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and also parts of northeast India. Male has dark slate- grey head, neck and upper breast, contrasting with pale-grey mantle and rest of under parts. Wings are darker grey than mantle. Female has grey head and barred black and white under parts. Black-headed Cuckoo- Shrike is one of the common bird species and distributed throughout the University campus.

Common Woodshrike Scientific Name:Tephrodornis pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789) Tamil Name: Kaattu Keechan It is a common, widespread breeding resident species distributed throughout India from south of Himalayan foothills. It is a pale grayish brown bird with a dark stripe below the eye and a distinct whitish supercilium. It has brown iris, hook-tipped bill and short dark brown square tail with white sides. This bird is occasionally seen on the Prosopisjuliflora thickets and scrubs in open areas near Play ground and Agasthiya Bhavanam surroundings.

Red-vented Bulbul Scientific Name: Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Chinnan It is a very common, widespread resident bulbul, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except higher range of Himalayas. Red-vented Bulbulis a perky smoky-brown bird with partially crested black head, scale-like markings on breast and back, a conspicuous crimson patch below root of white-tipped black tail. The presence of white rump is conspicuous character of this species for its identity. This is one of the most common species and distributed throughout the University campus. This species is mainly depending on the following fruiting trees viz., Bridelia crenulata,Ficus benghalensis, F. religiosaandSantalam albumfor food.

White-browed Bulbul Scientific Name: Pycnonotus luteolus (Lesson, 1841) Tamil Name: Venburuva chinnan White-browed Bulbul is a most common widespread, breeding resident species distributed in Peninsular India south of a line from about Baroda to Midnapur, Bengal. It is a brownish-green bird, with paler under parts, white-streaked ear- coverts, yellowish chin and malar patch and conspicuous white forehead and eyebrows. Pale grayish-olive breast merges in to yellowish-white belly. It is one of the common birds and occurs throughout the University campus. The major fruit plants of this bird include Bridelia crenulata, Ficus benghalensis, F. racemosa, F. religiosaandSantalam album.

Common Iora Scientific Name: Aegithina tiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Manjal Chittu It is a common widespread, breeding resident species distributed throughout India except in the northwest and western India. It is a small black and yellow bird with two white wing bars. In non- breeding plumage, both male and female are largely greenish-yellow with whitish wing bars and later with black tail. This species is commonly seen in the University campus especially in forest edges and well wooded areas near Main block, CIR block, ARC godown and academic block 3 surrounding

Gold-fronted Chloropsis Scientific Name: Chloropsis aurifrons (Temminck, 1829)

Gold-fronted Chloropsisis a common resident bird distributed in Himalayas, northeast, east, south and southwest India. It is a greenish or yellowish- green bird, with golden-orange forehead, more extensive black throat patch. This is one of the rare birds in the University campus seen only near ARC godown.

Jerdon’s Chloropsis Scientific Name: Chloropsis cochinchinensis (Gmelin, 1788) It is a common resident species and its distribution is restricted only to the Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. It is a greenish bird with greenish wings and tail, smaller black throat patch. Male has diffuse yellow border to turquoise throat and on forehead. It is one of the very rare birds of the University campus and recorded only once during the survey period in front of CIR block on the tree Mimusops elengii.

Bay-backed Shrike Scientific Name: Lanius vittatus Valenciennes, 1826 Tamil Name: Venthalai Keechan Bay-backed Shrike is widespread, common resident species distributed throughout India except northeast. This is the smallest Indian Shrike with hook-tipped bill, grey and white head with broad black band across forehead and backward through eyes, chestnut maroon back, white under parts, black and white graduated tail, whitish rump and white reflection on black wing quills. This is one of the common birds seen in open areas near playground, old Gymnasium and Academic block 3 surroundings.

Brown Shrike Scientific Name: Lanius cristatusLinnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Pazhuppu Keechan It is a common widespread long- distant winter visitor distributed throughout India. It has reddish brown above except white- forehead and supercilium, a black line through eye to eye- coverts, rufous-brown tail, brownish-black wings, white chin, cheek and throat and pale- fulvous crescentric bars on breast and belly. This species is seen occasionally in the campus near open areas of play ground and old Gymnasium surroundings.

Rufous-backed Shrike (Long-tailed Shrike) Scientific Name: Lanius schach Linnaeus, 1758 Tamil Name: Seemudhugu Keechan Rufous-backed Shrike is a common widespread resident and also seasonal migrant to some parts of India, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It has typical, stout hooked bill, grey mantle, a black band through the eyes, rufous scapulars and upper back, grey or narrow black forehead rufous sides and black tail. Under parts washed with rufous colour. It is one of the common species of the campus seen in open areas near Academic block 3, cattle shed surroundings, play ground and old Gymnasium surroundings.

Oriental Magpie-Robin Scientific Name: Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Karunchittu

A common widespread resident bird distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except most of the northwest. It is a trim black and white bird with white wing patch and white at sides of the frequently cocked tail. Male has glossy blue-black head, upper parts and breast. Female has bluish-grey head, upper parts and breast. Juvenile has indistinct orange-buff spotting on upper parts and orange-buff wash and diffuse dark scaling on throat and breast. It is seen in open areas near playground and Academic block- 3 surroundings in the campus.

Indian Robin Scientific Name: Saxicoloides fulicata (Linnaeus, 1776) Tamil Name: Karunchittu A widely distributed common resident species occur in the entire Indian subcontinent except northwest and north east India. It is a sprightly black bird, has rusty-reddish vent and cocked black tail. Male has white shoulders and black under parts and female has white shoulders grayish under parts. The white patch is more conspicuous in flight. It is a common bird found in the open areas of entire University campus.

Pied Bushchat Scientific Name: Saxicola caprata (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Karuppu vellai Pudhar Chittu It is a wide spread resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent, except few parts of northwest, northeast and southeast end. Male is entirely black except white rump and white patch on wings. Female has dark brown upper parts and rufous brown under parts with rufous-orange rump. This species can be commonly seen in the open areas of the entire University campus, especially in Prosopis thickets.

Rufous-bellied Babbler Scientific Name: Dumetia hyperythra (Franklin, 1831) Tamil Name: Pazhuppu Chilamban It is a common resident bird distributed in the entire Peninsular India. It is a rufous coloured and fairly long tailed babbler with rufous-buff forehead and forecrown, orange-buff under parts and sides of head, olive-brown mantle and brown wings and tail. Eye is pale and pale, pinkish-brown. This is rarely seen in the University campus and recorded only once near the old Gymnasium with six individuals.

Jungle Babbler Scientific Name: Turdoides striatus (Dumont, 1823) Tamil Name: Kaattu Chilamban Jungle Babbler is a widespread resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northeast and northwest India. It has stockier appearance shorter and broader tail, mottling on throat and breast and pale- yellowish eye and iris, and yellowish bill. It is occasionally seen in the forest edges of the campus and also near Agasthiya Bhavanam and old Gymnasium surroundings and commonly seen in periphery areas of eastern side, adjacent to Nachiketa Bhavanam and other hostels.

Large Grey Babbler Scientific Name: Turdoides malcolmi (Sykes, 1832) Tamil Name: Naattu Chilamban It is a wide spread resident species, distributed in Peninsular India except southern most end and of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Northern parts of Andhra and Odissa. It is large, pale-grey babbler with darker grey mottling upperparts and prominent white sides to tail. It has grayish-pink throat and breast, pale grey forehead, dark grey lores, pale yellow iris, dull-coloured bill and brownish-grey legs and feet. This species is recorded in Agasthiya Bhavanam, old gymnasium and agriculture field in peripheral areas.

White-headed Babbler Scientific Name: Turdoides affinis (Jerdon, 1847) Tamil Name: Venthalai Chilamban It is an abundant breeding resident species distributed in Andhra Pradesh from south of Godavari and Penganga rivers and more south to Western Karnataka from Belgaum and entire parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is a dingy cream coloured crown contrasting with the darker ear covers as well as its sharper and musical call are distinguished this species from its closely allied species. It has dark mottling on throat and breast, Pale grey panel on wings and pale bluish- white iris. It is one of the abundant species and seen throughout the University campus.

Ashy Prinia Scientific Name: Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832 Tamil Name: Saambal Kathirkuruvi It is a common and widespread breeding resident species, distributed throughout India except few parts of northwest and northeast. It has ashy slate upper parts fulvous white under parts. The loose, longish, graduated black and white tipped tail is carried partially erect and constantly shaken up and down. This species is occasionally seen in the opens areas and scrubs especially near Auditorium and MBA block surroundings.

Plain Prinia Scientific Name: Prinia inornata Sykes, 1832 Tamil Name: Naattu Kathir Kuruvi Plain Prinia is a widespread breeding resident bird distributed throughout India except northwest and parts of northeast. It has black bill, longer rufous tail, rufous wings, grey-brown upper parts and whitish under parts. This species is occasionally seen in the open areas and scrubs of University campus, especially near playground, MBA block and Academic block-3 surroundings.

Common Tailorbird Scientific Name: Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) Tamil Name: Thaiyal Chittu It is common breeding resident bird occur in the entire Indian subcontinent except few parts of northwest and northeast. It is a small restless olive-green bird, has slightly down curved, long pale bill, rufous-pinkish forehead and forecrown, greenish upper parts, dull or whitish under parts with two elongated pinpointed feathers in the tail. This bird is very commonly seen in all types of landscapes of the University campus.

Greenish Leaf-Warbler Scientific Name: Phylloscopus trochiloides (Sundevall, 1837) Tamil Name: Pachai Kadhirkuruvi It is a common, widely distributed migratory warbler seen in almost throughout the Indian subcontinent, breeds in Himalayas and northeast Indian hills. It has single faint wing bar. It is dull greenish above and whitish below, with a well marked yellowish supercilium and dark eye streak. Cheeks mottled olive and yellowish. This species is commonly seen in the open areas and Prosopis thickets and other bushes in the entire University campus.

Blyth's Reed-Warbler Scientific Name: Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth, 1849 Tamil Name: Naanal Kadhir Kuruvi It is a common and widespread winter visitor and passage migrant, seen in throughout Indian subcontinent. It has longer blackish bill, olive-brown to olive- grey upper parts, warm olive cast to upper parts and uniform wings. Supercilium is comparatively indistinct and barely apparent behind eye. This bird is commonly seen in the Prosopis thickets, other bushes and open areas of the entire University campus

Asian Brown Flycatcher Scientific Name: Muscicapa dauurica Pallas, 1811 Tamil Name: Eepidippan A common winter visitor to south, central and eastern India, breeds in Himalayan foot hills and hills of central and western India. Asian Brown Flycatcher is a grey- brown bird with short tail, large head and huge eye with prominent white eye ring. It has Dirty white below, clear bright yellow lower mandible and black legs. This is rarely seen in the University campus and recorded only twice near Saraswathy statue and effluent treatment plant.

Verditer Flycatcher Scientific Name: Eumyias thalassina (Swainson, 1838) Tamil Name: Neelaeepidippan It is a widespread winter visitor and summer visitor to Himalayas and northeast India and distributed throughout India. Male is entirely greenish blue with brighter forehead and throat and black lores. Female is duller and greyer and has dusky lores. Juvenile has buff spotting on brown upper parts and white under parts with black scaling. This bird is occasionally seen in the forest edges of the University campus near Academic block-3 and ARC godown surroundings.

Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Scientific Name: Terpsiphone paradisi (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Arasal Vaal Eeppidippan Asian Paradise-Flycatcher is elegant widespread resident and local migrant in south, west and central India and summer visitor to some parts of central, north and northeast India. Male has black head and crest with white or rufous upper parts and very long tail-streamers. Female are similar to rufous male but have shorter crest and short square-ended tail. It is one of the occasional birds and distributed in the entire University campus and periphery.

Thick-billed Flowerpecker Scientific Name: Dicaeum agile (Tickell, 1833) Tamil Name: KaattuMalarkothi Thick-billed Flowerpecker is a common widespread resident bird distributed throughout India except in parts of northeast, northwest and east subcontinent. It has stout bluish-grey bill, indistinct dark malar stripe, lightly streaked breast, comparatively long and broad fairly dark tail with white tip and orange-red iris. This is one of the rare birds of the university campus and seen near main block, CIR block surroundings and near Amrita Vidyalayam boys hostel.

Tickell’s Flowerpecker Scientific Name: Dicaeum erythrorhynchos (Latham, 1790) Tamil Name: Malarkothi A common breeding, widespread resident bird distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except in the parts of northeast and northwest subcontinent. It is a diminutive, restless, olive- brown bird with grayish white under parts with variable yellowish-buff with short, slender, slightly curved flesh-coloured bill. Tickell’s Flowerpecker is one of the very common species seen throughout the campus.

Purple-rumped Sunbird Scientific Name: Nectarinia zeylonica (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Then Chittu Purple-rumped Sunbird is a very common breeding resident bird distributed in central and southern India north to Bombay, east to Kolkata. Adult male has glistening crimson, green and purple upper parts and breast, metallic-green shoulder patch and yellowish lower parts. Rump is metallic purple. Female has grayish-white chin and brighter yellow lower parts. It is an abundant species seen throughout the campus and it mainly feeds on nectar of the flowers of Mimusops elengii, Tecoma stans and Butea monosperma.

Purple Sunbird Scientific Name: Nectarinia asiatica (Latham, 1790) Tamil Name: OothaThen Chittu It is a widespread very common breeding resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except few parts of northeast and northwest subcontinent. Male is metallic dark blue and purple with bright yellow and scarlet pectoral tufts. Belly and vent are black in colour. Female is brown to olive-brown above, pale dull-yellow below. It is one of the abundant bird species occur throughout the university campus and it feeds mainly on the nectar of flowers of Mimusops elengii, Tecoma stans and Butea monosperma

Loten’s Sunbird Scientific Name: Nectarinia lotenia (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Neenda Alagu Then Chittu It is a common resident and partially local migrant distributed in western and south Indian Peninsula of a line from Nasik in Maharashtra to West Bengal. Male is black above with metallic green and purple sheen. Metallic green throat, metallic purple on breast and bright yellow tufts on sides of breast are conspicuous. Female is dull olive above and dull yellow below. It is one of the rare bird species and it can be seen near Effluent treatment plant, CIR block and IT block areas of the university campus and it feeds mainly on the nectar of flowers of Mimusops elengii, Tecoma stans and Butea monosperma

White-throated Munia (Indian Silverbill) Scientific Name: Lonchura malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Venkazhuthu chillai White-throated Munia is a common resident bird distributed throughout India especially in the drier parts except northwest and northeast subcontinent and Himalayas. It is a plain earthy brown, thick billed bird with white rump and long, pointed black tail. Male has fawn brown upper parts, whitish face and barred flanks under parts. Female is duller with plainer face and flanks are less barred. It is a not very commonly seen in the campus and recorded only twice in the open areas near playground and near new Gymnasium in the University campus.

White-rumped Munia Scientific Name: Lonchura striata (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Venmarphu Chillai It is a common widespread resident bird distributed throughout Indian subcontinent except northwest and west, northeast and few parts of central India. It has blackish face, throat and breast, white rump and streaked upper parts. The bill is broad, grayish, short and thick. This bird has been seen occasionally in the well wooded areas of the campus especially near Main block, MBA block, CIR block, Estate office and IT block.

Spotted Munia (Scaly-breasted Munia) Scientific Name: Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Pullichillai Spotted Munia is a widespread, common resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except few parts of Central India and northwest. Adult has chocolate-brown upper parts with faint pale shat-streaks, white rump and tawny-olive tail. Sides of head, neck and lower throat are chestnut in colour, chin and throat much darker on under parts. Breast and flanks spotted black and white. It is one of the rare species in the University campus and recorded near Academic block 3 surroundings, old Gymnasium and waste water treatment plant.

Black-headed Munia

Scientific Name: Lonchura malacca (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Karunthalaichillai A common resident bird distributed in Peninsular India south of about Madhya Pradesh. Black- headed Munia is a small chestnut, black and white Munia with typical short, heavy, conical bill. Head, neck and upper breast, vent, thighs and under tail-coverts black, abdomen white and wings are chestnut-rufous brown. This can be seen very rarely in the campus and recorded twice near MBA block and main security office.

House Sparrow Scientific Name: Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Chittu Kuruvi House Sparrow is, an undoubtedly our most familiar bird, common breeding resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent also with almost cosmopolitan distribution. Male bird has grey crown and black lores around eyes, neck and upper back are chestnut brown behind the eyes and black-streaked rufous-chestnut back. Female is ashy grey-brown above. It is not very commonly seen in the University campus. It was recorded near Saraswathy statue, Agasthiya Bhavan, Gargi Bhavan

and Nachiketas bhavanam areas.

Baya Weaver Scientific Name: Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Thookkanan Kuruvi It is a widespread breeding resident bird distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northwest and northeast. Female and non-breeding male almost looks like House sparrow with stout conical bill, short square-cut tail, dark- streaked fulvous-brown above and plain whitish fulvous below. Breeding male has bright yellow crown and upper parts streaked with yellow and breast is yellow. This bird is rarely seen on Palmyra trees of the University campus near play ground and New Gymnasium.

Brahminy Starling Scientific Name: Sturnus pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789) Tamil Name: KondaiCholakkuruvi Brahminy Starling is one of the very common seasonal migratory birds, distributed throughout India except few parts of Himalayas, Northeast and northwest. It is a typical starling, grey above and fawn below with glossy black crown and long recumbent crest and black wing quills. Tail is brown with white ending at tip conspicuous when spread out. It is rarely seen in the University campus near CIR block and ARC Godown.

Rosy Starling Scientific Name: Sturnus roseus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Cholakkuruvi Rosy Starlingis a common winter visitor to India. Adult bird has blackish head with shaggy crest, pinkish mantle, pinkish bill and under parts and blue-green gloss to wings. Juvenile is mainly sandy- brown, with stout yellowish bill and broad pale fringes to wing feathers. This species is occasionally seen in cattle shed areas and agriculture areas which lie close to the new Gymnasium of the University campus.

Indian Plaintive Cuckoo Scientific Name: Cacomantis passerinus (Vahl, 1797) Tamil Name: Sudalaikkuyil Indian Plaintive Cuckoo is a common and widespread resident with winter visitor distributed throughout India except northwest and summers in Himalayas. Grey adult is grey with white vent and under tail coverts. On hepatic female, base colour of under parts is mainly white, upper parts are bright rufous with sparsely barred crown and nape only and unbarred tail. Juvenile is either grey with pale barring of under parts or similar to Hepatic female. This species is rarely seen in the Cattle shed areas and near the main security office of the University campus.

Common Myna Scientific Name: Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Naattu Naganaavai Common Myna is an abundant breeding resident Myna distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except high ranges of Himalayas. It is a familiar perky, well-groomed dark brown bird with bright yellow bill, legs and bare skin round eyes. A large white patch in wing is conspicuous in flight. It is very common bird and distributed throughout the University campus

Jungle Myna Scientific Name: Acridotheres fuscus (Wagler, 1827) Tamil Name: Kaattu Naganaavai It is a common breeding resident bird distributed in Himalayas south of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Western India and some parts of Northeast. It is also sparsely distributed in few parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Jungle Myna is grayish-black bird and has more prominent frontal crest, white path at the base of wings and white tip to tail. Eye is pale in colour

and bill is orange with dark blue base. It is a rare species and occurs in well wooded areas of the University campus especially in forest edges of Cattle shed areas, Academic block 3 surroundings, CIR block and ARC Godown.

Eurasian Golden Oriole Scientific Name: Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Pon Maankuil Eurasian Golden Oriole is a seasonal migrant to south India and resident to north and central India and summer visitor to Himalayas and northern plains. It is an arboreal dweller, bright golden yellow bird with golden-yellow head and body, pinkish bill, black wings and tail and a conspicuous black streak through the eye. Female is duller and greenish yellow with blackish bill. It is commonly seen in the entire campus of well wooded areas especially near Saraswathy statue, Estate office, CIR block and Volleyball court surroundings.

Black-headed Oriole Scientific Name: Oriolus xanthornus (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Karunthalai Maankuil It is one of the common widespread, resident Oriole species and distributed almost throughout India except some parts of west, northeast and entire northwest. It has crimson- red eye, glossy black head contrasting with golden yellow body, bold yellow edges to black wings and tail. Female is duller and has olive-yellow mantle. This is a very rare bird in the campus and seen only once in forest edges near Academic block-3.

Black Drongo Scientific Name: Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 1817 Tamil Name: Rettai Vaal Kuruvi; Karung Karichan Black Drongo is a very common, widespread, breeding resident species and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northwest and northeast. It is a slim and agile dark and glossy black bird with long and deeply forked tail. It has blacker upper parts and shiny blue-black throat and breast merging in to black of rest of under parts. This bird can be easily identified from its closely allied species by the presence of small white rictal spot below the eyes. It is a very common species in the University and distributed throughout the campus

Ashy Drongo Scientific Name: Dicrurus leucophaeus Vieillot, 1817 Tamil Name: Rettai Vaal Kuruvi It is a common seasonal migrant species, breeds in Himalayas and northeast Indian hills and winters in plains and Peninsular India. It is a slim glossy slate black Drongo with long deeply forktail. It has dark grey under parts and slate-grey upper parts with blue-grey gloss. Presence of crimson eyes is the diagnostic feature of this species. This species is occasionally seen in the University campus, especially near ARC Godown and cattle shed areas and rarely near IT, CIR and Academic block-3.

White-bellied Drongo Scientific Name: Dicrurus caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Ven VayiruRettai Vaal Kuruvi It is a resident bird or sometimes subject to seasonal local and altitudinal movement and distributed in almost throughout the India except northeast. It is a typical Drongo with deeply and shallowly forked tail. It has glossy indigo colour above, brownish grey below with white belly and undertail coverts. This species is rarely seen near ARC Godown, cattle shed areas and CIR block of the University campus.

Ashy Woodswallow Scientific Name: Artamus fuscus Vieillot, 1817 It is a widespread, common resident bird species distributed mainly in east, southeast, and south subcontinent and sparsely distributed in the central and north subcontinent except northeast. It has a heavy, bluish sparrow-like bill and a slightly dumpy but sleek slate grey bird with paler under parts and pale rump. When perched, the closed wings reach the end of the tail. This species can be seen near Old Gymnasium, Agathiya bhavanam, Annex hostel and open space near the playground of the campus.

Indian Treepie Scientific Name: Dendrocitta vagabunda (Latham, 1790) Tamil Name: Marakakkai; Neenda Vaal Marakkakkai A common widespread, breeding resident bird distributed throughout India except northwest and northeast. It is a long- tailed and chestnut brown bird with sooty head and neck. Black-tipped silver grey tail, rufous rump, and grayish white wing patches conspicuous in flight. Flight is undulating-a swift noisy flapping followed by a short glide on outspread wings and tail. This species is commonly seen in well wooded areas, throughout of campus.

Jungle Crow Scientific Name: Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 Tamil Name: Andangkakkai Jungle Crow is a common and widespread breeding resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a glossy jet-black crow with a heavy bill that has more pronounced curve to culmen, and deep hoarse ‘caw’ call. This is one of the very common species occurring in the entire University campus.

House Crow Scientific Name: Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 Tamil Name: Kakkai; Kakam It is an abundant, widespread breeding resident species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with two-toned appearance with paler grey neck, nape and breast and collar is well defined. Adult has gloss to black of plumage and becomes paler with wear. This is one of the abundant species and distributed throughout University campus.

White-breasted Waterhen Scientific Name: Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) Tamil Name: Kulakkozhi; Neerkkozhi

A common, widespread resident Waterhen distributed all over India except high ranges of Himalayas and arid regions. It is a slate-grey and silky-white bird species with greenish-yellow bill, base of upper mandible red. Forehead, supercilia and sides of head are white. Upper parts are dark slate grey and under parts are silky-white. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only once near the effluent treatment plant of the University campus with a single individual.

Little Cormorant Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) Tamil name: Neer Kakam; Neer Kakkai It is a widespread, aquatic resident bird, found throughout India except, Northwest and Northeast subcontinent and Himalayas. The male and female look alike, the adult has a black body with white chin and upper throat. During breeding season chiefly during November to February, there is a blue green sheen on its body, silky white feathers appear on the fore crown and sides of head. In the campus, the bird is seen only once, with 3 individuals, during the survey period while flying across the campus over Main block.

Cattle Egret Scientific Name: Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) Tamil Name: Maattu kokku; Unni Kokku Cattle Egret is widespread resident of the country, except northwest and northeast subcontinent, and is one of the white herons. The bird gets its name from its ecological relationship with cattle. While walking through the grasses, cattle disturb various insects, which are the chief food of this bird. It feeds mainly on grasshoppers, beetles, earthworms and flies. It can be easily identified from other egrets by the presence of yellow beak and legs and white body. Breeding adults have buffy orange plumes on the head, neck and back. Non-breeding adults lack this plume. In the campus, it is commonly seen in open grassy areas, where cattle grazing are commonly seen.

Indian Pond-Heron Scientific Name:Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) Tamil name: Kuruttu kokku Indian Pond-Heron is a widespread resident and unrecorded in parts of northwest and northeast subcontinent. It often waits near shallow water for feeding mainly on small fish, frogs and worms. While resting, it is well camouflaged among its dirty brown surroundings. The legs are greenish and the beak bluish at base, yellowish at the centre with a black tip. In breeding plumage, the adults are buffy brown head and neck. The chin and upper throat white and the back is rich maroon. Non-breeding adults are streaked dark brown on the head and neck with grey brown back and shoulders and more white in the plumage. In the campus, it is commonly seen near Saraswathy statue, waste water treatment plant and also near all artificial water bodies/ponds.

Little Egret Scientific Name: Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) Tamil Name: Chinna vellai kokku It is a widespread resident water bird, and unrecorded in parts of northwest and northeast subcontinent. It is a slender, snow white, slim and graceful heron with black bill and neck with yellow feet and grayish or yellowish lores. In breeding plumage it has two elongated nape plumes and mantle plumes and lores and feet become reddish during courtship. In the campus, the bird has been seen only twice, during the survey period while flying across the campus. However, it is commonly seen in the periphery of the campus.

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Rosy Starling

Black-headed Oriole

Indian Roller

White-breasted Kingfisher

Jungle Myna

Black Drongo

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Small Green Bee-eater

Black-shouldered Kite

Small Green-billed Malkoha

Brahminy Starling

Pied Bushchat

Little Brown Dove

Red-wattled Lapwing

Indian Pond Heron

Loten's Sunbird-Male

5 Detailed Description of Butterflies

Angled Castor Scientific Name:Ariadne ariadne

Angled Castor is an uncommon butterfly distributed throughout India except north, northwest and arid regions. It has dark rusty brown upper parts on both wings with the wingspan of 45-60 mm, regular black lines, slender and much apart and regular angled at veins. This is one of the rare butterflies of the University campus seen along the wayside thickets and open scrubs especially in Academic block-3 surroundings.

Common Castor Scientific Name:Ariadne merione

It is one of the common butterflies distributed throughout India except northwest and arid regions with a wingspan of 45-60 mm. It has light rusty brown upper parts on both wings with double and wavy lines on the wings. Under parts are greyish brown in colour with dark brown narrow bands. This species is occasionally seen along the wayside thickets, well wooded areas, garden areas and

open scrubs of the University campus.

Tawny Coster

Scientific Name: Acraea violae

It is one of the very common butterflies distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 50-65 mm. It has brick red upper parts and black spots on cell and disc with narrow black border on forewing and broader black border with white spots on hindwing. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus

Blue Tiger Scientific Name:Tirumala limniace

Blue Tiger is one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 90-100 mm. it is strikingly marked with pale blue streaks and spots against a black or dark brown background. Under hindwing has a thin black, narrowly forked streak in the middle. This species is very commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas in the entire University campus.

Dark Blue Tiger Scientific Name:Tirumala septentrionis

A common butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India (up to southern Maharashtra) Odissa, Himachal Pradesh eastwards up to Arunachal Pradesh with a wingspan of 75- 95 mm. It is very similar to Blue Tiger but has narrower and darker markings. Upper parts are overall black with pale blue markings. Hindwing has a long “Y” shaped marking in the cell formed by two streaks joined at base. It is a rare species seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas in the entire University campus.

Glassy Tiger Scientific Name:Parantica aglea

An uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 70-85 mm. It has bluish white transparent markings on dark brown upper parts. Two fine dark lines divide the pale streak in forewing cell. This species is occasionally seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Plain Tiger Scientific Name:Danaus chrysippus

Plain Tigeris a very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 70-80 mm. It has pale orange with black marginal borders and black upper forewing tips having a subapical white band of elongated spots and three or four small black discal spots on hindwing.This species is very commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Striped Tiger Scientific Name:Danaus genutia

A common handsome tawny butterfly species with a wingspan of 75-100 mm distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It has bold black veins, black wing margin with small white spots along border and broadly black apex with white elongated subapical spots. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire

University campus.

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Common Crow

Scientific Name:Euploea core A very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 85-95 mm. It has dark velvety brown upper parts and paler under parts with all wings bordered by two rows of small white spots and the inner spots are larger in both wings and elongated on hindwing. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Double-branded Crow Scientific Name:Euploea sylvester A common butterfly species is distributed in southern India (Maharashtra southwards) Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh and northeast with a wingspan of 95-105 mm. It has dark velvety brown upper parts and paler under parts with all wings bordered by two rows of small white spots and the inner spots are larger in both wings and elongated on hindwing. Male has two parallel and longer brands on upper forewing and female has s spot in cell on under forewing. This species is rarely seen in garden areas near CIR block and Main block of the University campus.

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Common Baron Scientific Name:Euthalia aconthea It is one of the common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 55-85 mm. It has deep olive green upper parts outer discal band of small black dots on upper hindwing. Under parts are white with sparse black markings. This is one of the very rare butterfly species and recorded only once with 2 individuals feeding on the fruits of Anthocepahlus cadamba near Estate office of the University campus.

Joker Scientific Name:Byblia ilithyia

Joker is one of the common butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and few parts of northeast India with a wingspan of 45-55 mm. Male has tawny with narrow black markings and female has dark brown markings on the wings. It also has prominent black outer discal band and black veins on the wings. This species is rarely seen along the wayside thickets and open scrubs of the entire University campus.

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Common Palmfly

Scientific Name:Elymnias hypermnestra

It is a common butterfly distributed throughout India except northwest, north, high ranges of Himalayas and few parts of Coromandel Coast with the wingspan of 60-80 mm. Male has brownish-brown upper parts with purple gloss, broad diffuse chestnut border and a series of blue spots on the wings. Female has broader black border and black stripes on upper parts of the wings. This species is very rarely seen on ornamental palms in the University campus especially on Areca palms.

Common Threering Scientific Name:Ypthima asterope

Common Threeringis a common species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions with a wing span of 30-37 mm. It has very small and fine brown striations on under parts with discal and marginal bands meeting to form a prominent loop or a pale patch below the eyespot. This species is occasionally seen along the wayside thickets and open scrubs of the entire University campus.

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Common Fourring Scientific Name:Ypthima huebneri

Common Fourring is a very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and higher ranges of Himalayas with a wing span of 30- 40 mm. It has grayish-brown upper parts and grayish-white under parts with a large yellow ringed eyespot near apex and indistinct dull brown bands. This is one of the very common species seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Common Bush Brown Scientific Name:Mycalesis perseus

It is a common butterfly distributed in Peninsular India up to Gujarat, northeast, central and eastern India and Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh.Common Bush Brown is a highly polymorphic, dark brown butterfly with dull brown upper parts and a wingspan of 35-55 mm. This species is occasionally seen in the University campus along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas.

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Common Evening Brown

Scientific Name:Melanitis leda

It is a common butterfly distributed throughout India except in extreme northwest, few parts of Himalayas and arid regions. Common Evening Brown is a large brown butterfly with a wingspan of 60-85 mm, black eyespots surrounded by orange patches and each with a large white pupil. Under parts are grey with dark brown striations and a series of prominent white-pupilled eyespots of varying sizes. This species is occasionally seen in the University campus along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas

Common Leopard Scientific Name:Phalanta phalantha

Common Leopard is a common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 50-60 mm. It has tawny upper parts with rows of small black spots and wavy lines and pale brownish under parts with indistinct markings. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Common Sailer

Scientific Name:Neptis hylas

Common Sailer is a common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 50-60 mm. It has dark black upper parts with prominent three white lines of prominent short and broad white markings on both wings and pale black under parts. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Danaid Eggfly Scientific Name:Hypolimnas misippus

A common butterflydistributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except high range of Himalayas with the wingspan of 70-85 mm. Male has black upper parts with oval or egg- shaped patches on blue shot areas of the wings. Under part is rusty brown with a narrow and a broad white band. Female has tawny upper parts with black apex having white spots and bands. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Great Eggfly Scientific Name:Hypolimnas bolina

An uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and high range of Himalayas with the wingspan of 70-110 mm. Male has black upper parts with white-centered blue oval spot on the wings. Female has dark brown upper parts with outer discal row of small white spots on the wings. This species is occasionally seen in the garden areas of the entire University campus.

Blue Pansy Scientific Name:Junonia orithiya

Anuncommon butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 45-60 mm. It has brilliant blue upper hindwing and with velvety black inner area. Upper forewing has white bands. Female is comparatively larger than the male and with more prominent eyespots. This species is occasionally seen in the open areas and thickets especially near Play ground surroundings of the University campus.

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Chocolate Pansy Scientific Name:Precis iphita

It is a very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid and high range of Himalayas with the wingspan of 55-80 mm. It is a pale to dark brown butterfly with darker brown bands and a row of small eye spots. This species is very commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Grey Pansy Scientific Name:Junonia atlites

An uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and higher Himalayas. Grey Pansy is a creamy grey butterfly has a wingspan of 55-65 mm with dark brown lines and complete row of discal eyespot on wings. This is one of the very rare species of the University campus and recorded only once with a single individual in garden areas of Main block.

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Lemon Pansy Scientific Name:Junonia lemonias

A one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 45-60 mm. It is overall brown butterfly with several eyespots and black and yellow spots on upper parts. This species is one of the very common species seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Peacock Pansy Scientific Name:Junonia almanac

It is a common and elegant butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except drier areas with a wingspan of 60-65 mm. It is a tawny orange butterfly with prominent very large and smaller eyespots and three narrow black lines along border on the wings. This species is occasionaly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Yellow Pansy Scientific Name:Junonia hierta

A very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except high ranges of Himalayas with the wingspan of 45-60 mm. It has bright yellow upper parts with black margin on the wings. Female is similar to male but has large blue-pupilled eyespots. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Tamil Yeoman Scientific Name:Cirrochroa thais

A common and endemic butterfly species and its distribution restricted only to the in Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka with the wingspan of 60-75 mm. It has tawny upper parts with black narrow outer margin broadening towards apex, one or two wavy marginal black lines across the wings and a series of very small six black spots. This species is very rarely seen in the University campus and recorded only once in garden areas of Main block.

Common Nawab

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Scientific Name: Polyura athamas

Common Nawab is one of the uncommon butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India, Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast and Andaman Islands with a wingspan of 60-75 mm. It has pale greenish yellow, wide discal band of the variable width and large pale green spot near apex on both wings and on both sides. This is a rare species of the University campus and recorded only once with single individual in the well wooded areas near CIR block.

Common Lascar Scientific Name: Pantoporia hordonia

A common butterfly species distributed in Southern India, Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh and northeast with a wingspan of 45-50 mm. It has dark brown upper parts with only one narrow prominent orange bandwith black marginal border. Under parts are orange-yellow with reddish brown bands and fine brown streaks. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only once in the Garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings of the campus.

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Common Bluebottle Scientific Name:Graphium sarpedon

It is a common butterfly and distributed almost throughout India except few parts of Himalayas and central India. It is fast restless flier with wing span of 80-90 mm, greenish blue central band running from inside Forewing and broken in to spots towards FW apex. This species is very rarely seen in the campus along the thickets and garden areas and recorded only twice near CIR block and Saraswathy statue.

Common Mime Scientific Name: Chilasa clytia

An uncommon tailless swallowtail butterfly species with a wingspan of 90-100 mm, distributed in Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh, Southern, Central and Eastern India. It has an elongated arrowhead-shaped streaks, submarginal series of crescents and narrow yellow or white terminal spots between the veins. This extremely rare butterfly species has been recorded only twice in the garden of areas near the Main block and CIR block surroundings of the University campus.

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Red Helen Scientific Name: Papilio helenus

A common swallowtail butterfly with a wingspan of 110-130 mm, distributed in almost entire southern India and from Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh. It is a large, black, tailed butterfly species with conspicuous large patch on Upper Hind Wing, three large creamy white spots and marginal row of dull red crescents. This is one of the very species of the campus and recorded only once in the garden of areas near Main block.

Common Banded Peacock Scientific Name: Papilio crino It is one of the uncommon butterfly species and distributed in southern India up to southern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. It is a dark swallowtail, heavily dusted with iridescent green scales, clearly defined bluish green band on both wings with the wingspan of 80-100 mm. It is one of the occasional species and distributed seen throughout the campus in garden areas, thickets and open scrubs especially near the Garden areas of Main block, MBA block, CIR block and Academic block surroundings.

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Paris Peacock Scientific Name: Papilio paris

An uncommon butterfly with the wingspan of 90-140 mm, distributed in southern India up to southern Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal to Sikkim and Assam. It has prominent blue patch on its wings near base, a narrow, short, green central band and sharply defined and curvedinner edge of Upper Hind wing. This is a rare species and seen in the garden areas of Main block, CIR block, Academic block 3 and also near Swimming pool in the campus.

Blue Mormon Scientific Name: Papilio polymnestor

It is an uncommon large butterfly species, distributed peninsular India, Central India, Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal. It has strong dipping flight, flashing its pale blue colours with the wingspan of 120-150 mm. It has large, black tailless with pale blue markings, pale blue discal band and intersected black stripes along veins and two rows of large black spots. This is one of the common species and distributed throughout the University campus.

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Common Jay Scientific Name:Graphium doson

Common Jay is a common butterfly distributed throughout India except few parts of north, northwest, northeast and central India. It has a wingspan of 70-80 mm, overall black with pale blue partially transparent central band consisting of large spots and a marginal row of smaller spots along the band. This species is occasionally seen in the campus along the garden areas near Saraswathy statue and CIR block surroundings.

Common Mormon

Scientific Name:Papilio polytes

It is a very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 90-100 mm. Male is velvety black with a row of white spots along central region and also have a series of smaller white spots on the margins of the wings. Female is larger than male with strongly marked red marginal crescents and broad interrupted irregular white band. This species is commonly seen in open scrub areas and gardens of the entire University campus.

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Common Rose Scientific Name:Pachliopta aristolochiae

Common Rose is one of the very common species distributed in throughout India. It is a large, black, red-bodied swallowtail has very elongated and black on both sides with paler grayish stripes, white areas made up of five elongated spots and a series of deep red brownish red spots outer margins with the wingspan of 80-110 mm. This species is very commonly seen in open and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Crimson Rose

Scientific Name:Pachliopta hector

Crimson Rose is one of the abundant species distributed in Southern India, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal of India. It is a large, glossy, bluish black with bright crimson spots, white apical bands with the wingspan of 90-110 mm. It is one of the very common butterflies and occurs along the wayside thickets, open areas and scrub areas of entire University campus.

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Lime Butterfly Scientific Name:Papilio demoleus

It is one of the very common swallowtail butterflies distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 80-100 mm. It is a tailless, yellow-spotted black butterfly with broad irregular yellow discal band, broken in to large irregular spots and patches, marginal and terminal rows of yellow spots on both wings. This species is very commonly seen in the entire University campus.

Southern Birdwing Scientific Name:Troides minos

Southern Birdwing is a rare species distributed in throughout Peninsular India. It is a large, black and golden yellow butterfly with a wingspan of 140-190 mm. It has velvety black with white bordered black veins and border and large triangular black spots in discal area and along the margin. This is one of the very species in the University campus along the garden areas and recorded only twice near Swimming pool and Saraswathy statue areas with only 4 individuals.

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Tailed Jay Scientific Name:Graphium Agamemnon

This is one of the common species, distributed almost throughout India except few parts of northwest and higher Himalayas. It has black with bright green spots and streaks on wings, with a wingspan of 70-90 mm short stumpy Hind Wing tail and two red spots near the base. This species is occasionally seen in the garden areas of campus near Saraswathy statue, CIR block, MBA block and Swimming pool surroundings.

Common Emigrant Scientific Name: Catopsilia Pomona

A very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a yellow-translucent greenish white butterfly with a wingspan of 55-80 mm. It is a highly polymorphic species with highly variable markings. It has red-ringed silver spots on centre of the wings.This species is commonly seen in the open scrubs, wayside thickets, and garden areas of throughout the University campus.

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Mottled Emigrant Scientific Name:Catopsilia pyranthe

A common butterfly species with a wingspan of 55-80 mm, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions. It is a chalky white to greenish yellow butterfly species and under parts closely mottled with fine brown or green lines. Sometimes it has distinct red-ringed silver spots in the center of under hindwing. This species is occasionally seen in the campus along open scrub, wayside thickets and garden areas.

Common Jezebel Scientific Name:Delias eucharis

Common Jezebel is a very common butterfly species and distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and high range of Himalayas. It is an elegant butterfly has a wingspan of 65-85 mm and yellow with black veins and a black border containing large, white-ringed red spots which are pointed towards the outer margin of the wings. This species is commonly seen in the open scrub, wayside thickets, and garden areas of entire

University campus.

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Common Grass yellow Scientific Name: Eurema hecabe

It is an abundant, small yellow butterfly species, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Male is bright yellow in colour with broadly black wing apex with narrow black terminal border and a wingspan of 40-50 mm. Female is similar but has broader black border. This species is commonly seen along the open scrubs, gardens and wayside thickets of throughout the University campus.

Spotless Grass Yellow Scientific Name:Eurema laeta A common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 30- 45 mm. It has bright yellow upper parts and black dusting on under parts. Upper hindwing has narrow, terminal black border and under hindwing has a small black spot at the end of the cell. This species is rarely seen along the open scrubs and thickets near Auditorium surroundings of the University campus.

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One Spot Grass Yellow Scientific Name: Eurema andersonii An uncommon butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India, Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh and northeast and Andaman Islands. It is a greenish yellow butterfly with a wingspan of 38-45 mm, black marginal border, two dark transverse streaks near apex and a single spot in cell. It is a rare butterfly species seen in well wooded areas and forest edges near ARC godown and CIR block of the University campus.

Three Spot Grass Yellow Scientific Name:Eurema blanda

A common yellowish butterfly species distributed in throughout Peninsular India and Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh. It has very variable markings with three unmistakable black spots in cell of under forewing and a wingspan of 40-45 mm. This species is commonly seen in wayside thickets, open scrub and garden areas of throughout University campus.

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Small Grass Yellow Scientific Name:Eurema brigitta

A very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and high ranges of Himalayas. It is a bright yellow butterfly species with a wingspan of 30-40 mm, broadly black apex and outer margin with inner edge of border evenly curved along costa on upper forewing. It has two very small black spots at end-cell on under forewing. This species is commonly seen in open areas with grasses, wayside thickets and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Common Gull Scientific Name:Cepora nerissa

It is one of the very common butterflies with a wingspan of 40-65 mm, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Male has white with grey scaling at base and black veins on upper parts. Upper forewing is with black terminal outer border, broader at apex and often bearing white spots. Female has extensive black markings and dark veins, especially on cell margin. This is one of the abundant species seen in open scrub, garden areas and way side thickets of the entire University campus.

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Common Wanderer Scientific Name:Pareronia valeria

It is an uncommon butterfly species with a wingspan of 65-80 mm, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and high ranges of Himalayas. Male has pale blue or bluish upper parts with narrow black margins, prominent marginal spots that increase in size towards apex on upper forewing. Female is whitish with less blue. This species is rarely seen in the well wooded areas of the University campus especially near CIR block and

ARC godown.

Common Albatross Scientific Name:Appias albino

It is an uncommon butterfly species distributed in throughout Peninsular India and eastwards from Sikkim with a wingspan of 60-75 mm. It is a white butterfly with pointed forewing. It has narrow dark apical and terminal markings on upper forewing and with small spots at the end of the vein of upper hindwing. Female has four or five apical white spots on upper forewing. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only once with two individuals along the open scrub and thickets near Auditorium of the University campus.

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Small Salmon Arab Scientific Name:Colotis amata

It is a common butterfly species with a wingspan of 35- 50 mm, distributed throughout India except northeast and arid regions. It has Salmon pink on upper parts. Upper forewing and Upper hindwing are with black coastal border touching the black spot at cell and apical half bearing spots of ground colour. This species is rarely seen in the University campus along the wayside thickets and open scrubs near playground surroundings.

Psyche Scientific Name:Leptosia nina

It is a common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a white butterfly has a wingspan of 35-40 mm with black apex and large discal spot on upper forewing. Under forewing is streaked with fine greenish lines. This species is occasionally seen in the open scrub and wayside thickets areas mainly near the playground surroundings of the University campus.

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Crimson Tip

Scientific Name:Colotis danae

An uncommon butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India up to Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat to Punjab with a wingspan of 40-50 mm. Male has whitish upper parts with inwardly black bordered, broad, bright crimson tip on upper forewing. Female has dark dusting upper parts at base of both wings. This species is occasionally seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Great Orange Tip Scientific Name:Hebomoea glaucippe

Great Orange Tip is a largest among the Indian Pierides and common butterfly distributed in Peninsular India, Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, northeast and Andaman Islands with a wingspan of 80-100 mm. Both male and female have white upper parts with large black-edged orange patch, white base and mottled red or brown apex. This species is rarely seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University

campus.

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Small Orange Tip Scientific Name:Colotis etrida A common butterfly species distributed throughout India except northeast and high ranges of Himalayas with a wingspan of 25-45 mm. Male has white upper parts with broad, black-edges, orange apical patch with very small black cell spot on upper forewing and sparse black dusting at base of the wings. Female is similar, but with dense grey dusting at the base and darker markings. This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Plain Orange Tip Scientific Name:Colotis eucharis

Plain Orange Tip is a very common butterfly species, distributed in Peninsular India to central India with a wingspan of 40-45 mm. male has white upper parts and upper forewing has broad orange- yellow apical patch not completely enclosed by black border. Female has black apical area enclosing three or four elongate orange to yellow spots on upper forewing. Upper hindwing has grey dusting at base with prominent discal and terminal spots. This species is rarely seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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White Orange Tip Scientific Name:Ixias marianne

A common white butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions with a wingspan of 50-55 mm. Apical half of upper forewing is black, enclosing a large orange patch and upper hindwing has black terminal border. Upper forewing of female has orange patch containing four black spots.This species is commonly seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Yellow Orange Tip Scientific Name:Ixias pyrene

It is one of the common butterflies distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 50-70 mm. Male has yellow upper parts, under part is yellow with brown blotches, and upper forewing with black apical half enclosing a large orange band. Female has white or yellow upper parts, under part is yellow with brown blotches. White female has white apical band and yellow female has apical band reduced in size and bearing two black spots. This species is rarely seen along the garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Pioneer Scientific Name:Belenois aurota Pioneer is a common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northeast and arid regions. It has a characteristic hockey-stick shaped black discocellular bar on both sides of the forewing, white-streaked black apexand white-spotted black border with prominent black veins on its wings and a wingspan of 40-55 mm. This species is commonly seen in the open scrub and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Common Cerulean

Scientific Name:Jamides celeno A very common species distributed throughout India except northwest and arid regions with a wingspan of 27-40 mm. It has grayish white under parts and three narrow white marginal lines and four more vertical discal lines. Upper parts are pale bluish white with thin black border. This species is rarely seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, well wooded areas, forest edges and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Dark Cerulean Scientific Name:Jamides bochus

Dark Cerulean is a common butterfly species distributed throughout India except northwest and arid regions with a wingspan of 25-35 mm. It has earthy brown under parts with dull parallel lines broken in to smaller bars. Female has prominent tail and tail is rare in male. Upper parts are iridescent blue with basal areas pale milky blue and broad black border. This species is occasionally seen along the thickets, forest edges, garden areas and open scrubs of the throughout University campus.

Common Pierrot Scientific Name:Castalius rosimon A very common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except northwest and arid regions with a wing span of 25-35 mm. It has white upper parts, with dark borders and black spots and the base is dusted with metallic blue scales and white-tipped black tails. Under parts are white and marked with black spots and streaks. This is one of the very common butterflies and seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

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Red Pierrot Scientific Name:Talicada nyseus

A common butterfly distributed throughout Peninsular India, Mumbai southwards, Orissa and northeast with a wingspan of 30-36 mm. Red Pierrot is a tailed butterfly and has blackish brown upper parts with broad orange-red area on the lower half of the Upper hindwing. Outer half of the under hindwing is black with white spots and has orange-red marginal band. This species is rarely seen along the open scrubs and garden areas near Academic block and main block surroundings of the campus.

Common Silverline Scientific Name:Spindasis vulcanus Common Silverline is a common butterfly species distributed throughout India except northeast and drier northwest with a wingspan of 25-35 mm. It has two tails and one tail lobe. Under parts is light yellow in colour with brilliant reddish bands bordered by black or brown line and these bands have central silver lines and hence it got this name. This species is occasionally seen in the campus in open scrubs and thickets of the University campus especially near playground surroundings.

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Common Shot Silverline Scientific Name:Spindasis ictis

Anuncommon butterfly species distributed throughout Peninsular India and Sri Lanka with a wingspan of 25-35 mm. It has two tails black tornal spot. Upper parts are dark brown in colour with blue dusting and has orange patch on wing apex. Under parts is dull yellowish brown with traces of silver and yellow lines and the outer basal band broken in to three spots. This species is occasionally seen on the flowers of Tecoma stans, while feeding the nectar in throughout University campus.

Tiny Grass Blue Scientific Name:Zizula hylax Tiny Grass Blue is one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a second smallest butterfly in India with a wingspan of 16-24 mm. It has pale greyish brown under parts with fine small, distinct, dark brown or black spots. Upper parts are pale blue with narrow black border on upper hindwing and broad diffused black border and covering most of the apex on upper forewing. This is one of the very common butterflies and seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, forest edges, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

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Dark Grass Blue Scientific Name:Zizeeria karsandra

A common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of with a wingspan of 18-25 mm. It has greyish brown under parts with small distinct rounded black spots. Upper parts are dark blue with dark brown broad border. This is one of the very common butterflies and seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, forest edges, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

Pale Grass Blue Scientific Name: Pseudozizeeria maha

Pale Grass Blueis a common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 26-30 mm. This is comparatively larger among the grass blues. It has greyish white to pale greyish brown under parts with rounded black spots, an end-cell spot. Upper parts are pale milky blue with broad pale brown border and narrow border on both wings. This is one of the very common butterflies seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, forest edges, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

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Lesser Grass Blue Scientific Name: Zizina otis

It is one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 19-26 mm. It has pale greyish brown with rounded dark spots. On under hindwing, first two spots from costa are separate and a curve is formed by only the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th spots. Upper parts are dark blue with fairly distinct black border and broadening towards apex. This is one of the very common butterflies seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, forest edges, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

Gram Blue Scientific Name:Euchrysops cnejus Gram Blue is avery common butterfly species distributed throughoutIndian subcontinent with a wingspan of 30-36 mm. It is a tailed butterfly species and has two prominent orange-crowned black tornal spots with metallic silver centres on the wings. It has pale- violet-blue upper parts with dark thin line border and light grey under parts marked with thin lines and spots. It is one of the common species seen along the wayside thickets, forest edges, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

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Zebra blue Scientific Name:Leptotes plinius Zebra blueis a common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 20-30 mm. It has typical zebra-like marking on under parts is with alternatively broad and narrow irregular brown bands and the bands being broken up in to spots and small tail. The markings of under parts seen on upper parts are visible through translucent pale-violet wings. This species is commonly seen in the campus recorded only on Plumbago auriculata and it never visits other nearby plants for their feeding in the garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings.

Forget-Me-Not Scientific Name: Catochrysops strabo An uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 25-35 mm. It is an elegant and comparatively larger butterfly and has narrow wings and tail. Under parts are pale grey with white-edged bars and has two white-ringed black spots. Upper pats are pale blue with black line border. This species is occasionally seen along the thickets and open scrubs of the entire University campus.

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Peacock Royal Scientific Name: Tajuria cippus Peacock Royal is an elegant and uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a white butterfly species with the wingspan of 30-45 mm. It has two black white-tipped tails and base of tails have two prominent black spots bordered by orange band. Under parts is pale-grey-white with a series of interrupted thin black lines near outer margin of the wings. This is one of the very rare butterfly species and recorded only once with single individual in the Garden areas near Saraswathy statue.

Common Hedge Blue Scientific Name: Acytolepis puspa It is a common butterfly species distributed in Peninsular India up to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradeshand northeast with a wingspan of 28-35 mm. It has glossy pale blue upper parts with white patch at centre and iridescent blue at base. Under parts are white with coarse black markings. This species is rarely seen along the wayside thickets, open scrubs, forest edges and well wooded areas of throughout University campus.

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Grass Jewel Scientific Name: Freyeria trochylus

Grass Jewelis avery common butterfly distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 15-22 mm. It has grey to light brown under parts, two black spots and few dark brown spots on under hindwing and black spots crowned with metallic green and orange. Upper parts are dark brown with three or four orange crowned black spots. This is one of the common butterflies seen along the open scrubs, wayside thickets, forest edges, well wooded areas and Garden areas of entire University campus.

Pea Blue Scientific Name: Lampides boetocis

Pea Blueis one of the common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 25-36 mm. It has pale brown under parts with darker brown bands rimmed with white on both wings and has tail. Upper parts are dark violet-blue in colour with two black spots. This species is occasionally seen along the thickets, garden areas and open scrubs of the entire University campus.

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Small Cupid Scientific Name:Chilades pandava

It is one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 25-35 mm. It has small white- tipped tail. Under parts are slightly darker than brownish grey with marginal and discal rows of linked spots on the wings. Upper parts are bright lavender blue with darker outer border and darkened veins. This species is rarely seen along the garden areas and open scrubs of the University campus especially near main block and IT block surroundings.

Brown Awl Scientific Name:Badamia exclamationis

An uncommon butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent except arid regions and higher ranges of Himalayas with a wingspan of 50-55 mm. It has dark brown upper parts with paler bases, pale brown under parts and very narrow and long, with slender whitish elongated transparent spots. This species is occasionally seen along the Garden areas in main block, CIR block, Academic block and Swimming pool surroundings of the University campus.

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Common Banded Owl Scientific Name:Hasora chromus

It is one of the common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with the wingspan of 45-50 mm. Male has unmarked, dark brown upper parts, while female has two small semi- transparent yellowish white spots and both sexes have purple gloss over brown under parts. It has bluish white outwardly diffused band across under hindwing. This species is occasionally seen along the open scrubs and Garden areas in main block surroundings of the University campus.

Dark Palm Dart Scientific Name:Telicota ancilla

A common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 33-37 mm. On upper parts, wings black with much darkened orange- yellow band. Under parts are ochreous yellow with faintly outlined markings. This species is occasionally seen along the open scrubs, thickets, well wooded areas and Garden areas in main block and CIR block surroundings of the University campus.

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Pale Palm Dart Scientific Name: Telicota colon

It is one of the very common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 32-36 mm. It is a highly polymorphic species has brownish upper parts with pale yellowish orange markings. It has yellow veins on upper forewing and the yellow colour extends through the dark border to the edge of the wings. It is a common species seen along the thickets, open scrubs and garden areas of the entire University campus.

Common Grass Dart Scientific Name: Taractrocera maevius Common Grass Dartis a common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 22-28 mm. It has tawny brown upper parts, with prominent white, semi-transparent spots on forewing. Upper forewing has a large white streak. Under parts are ochreous brown in colour with white pale brown veins with white margins. This species is occasionally seen in the garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings of the University campus.

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Rice Swift Scientific Name:Borbo cinnara

A common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 30-36 mm. It is a grey brown skipper with a small white spot in cell and a row of three white spots and three white spots in upper forewing. Upper hindwing has one or two white discal spots. Under parts are paler. This species is rarely seen in the garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings and open scrubs near Playground surroundings of the University campus.

Bevan's Swift Scientific Name: Pseudoborbo bevani An uncommon species distributed in southern India up to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kashmir to Assam, further northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a wingspan of 32-36 mm. Upper parts are golden brown and wings are broader. It has pale white spots. The spotting is sometimes nearly indistinct on the wings. This species is rarely seen in the garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings and well wooded areas of CIR block surroundings of the University campus.

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Small Branded Swift Scientific Name:Pelopides mathias

A common butterfly species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent with a wingspan of 32-38 mm. It has brown upper parts with a golden sheen, more pointed forewing with greenish wing base. Upper forewing has white transparent post discal spots and two cell spots. Under hindwing more grey than most species with very small spots. This species is rarely seen in the garden areas near Saraswathy statue surroundings of the University campus.

African Marbled Skipper Scientific Name: Gomalia elma

African Marbled Skipper is an uncommon butterfly species distributed in south India up to Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh with a wingspan of 25-30 mm. It is a small Skipper and has olive-brown under parts. Under hindwing is whitish with two straight-edged, dull brown-greenish bands and a third outer submarginal band. It has narrow black discal band on Upper forewing going across wing near base. This species is very rarely seen along the open scrubs and thickets of the University campus in Academic block surroundings.

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Bush Hopper Scientific Name: Ampittia dioscorides It is a very common butterfly species distributed in throughout Peninsular India, West Bengal and Sikkim to northeast with a wingspan of 22-28 mm. The attractive golden tone over the brown ground colour is very different from that of other orange Skippers. It has brown forewing and hindwing with conspicuous yellow markings. This species is rarely seen in the Garden areas near Main block, CIR block and Academic block surroundings of the University campus in Academic block surroundings.

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Dark Blue Tiger

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Danaid Eggfly

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Red Pierrot

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Indian Sunbeam

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Joker

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Common Leopard

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Crimson Rose

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Peacock Royal

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Common Silverline

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Common Nawab

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Tailed Jay

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Peacock Pansy

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Three Spot Grass Yellow

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Common Jay

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Lime Butterfly

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6 Detailed Description of Reptiles

Saw-Scaled Viper Scientific Name: Echis carinatus Local Name: Suruttai Virian A common highly venomous snake distributed almost throughout the Indian subcontinent and unrecorded in Cochin and Travancore areas of Kerala and Sri Lanka. The length varies from 45 cm to 61 cm. The body is cylindrical, short and stout, rough from the serrated flank scales tapering towards both neck and vent. It is largely diurnal and is capable of quick movement when necessary. The venom of this species is highly toxic and mainly acts as an anti-coagulant, a destroyer of blood cells and a cardiac depressor. This species is rarely seen

amidst the stones and boulders near the forest edges of the University campus

Russell’s Viper Scientific Name: Daboia russelii Local Name: Kannadi Virian; Ratha Nauli A common highly venomous snake distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The length varies from 120 cm to 165 cm. It has massive, cylindrical body narrowing at both ends. Head is flat, covered with small scales and without shields, triangular with short snout, large gold flecked eyes with vertical pupil and large open nostrils. Neck is constricted. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only once in forest edges near academic block-3 surroundings of the campus

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Common Rat Snake Scientific Name: Ptyas mucosus Local Name: Saarai Paambu A very common non- venomous snake distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. The length is ranges from 1.25 to 3.52 m and usually males are longer than females. Head is rather elongate, eyes are large and lustrous. It is a diurnal snake can swim vigorously, dives and climbs with equal facility, normally tries to escape when sighted, but if provoked and brought to bay, attacks with courage and determination.This species is commonly seen in the bushes, forest areas and thickets and coconut farms of the University campus.

Sand Boa Scientific Name: Eryx johnii Local Name: Mannulumbi Paambu; Iruthalai Paambu A common non- venomous snake and widely distributed in the plains of the Indian subcontinent. The length is up to 1.25 m. It is a heavy and muscular snake with little constriction at the neck and has a mental groove, the pronounced angular ridge on the muzzle, the blunt tail and larger number of scales. It is a deft and speedy burrower, noising its way into the earth by using the transverse ridge on its snout as a digging implement. The movement above ground is slow and clumsy. This species is very rarely seen in the campus and recorded only once in the open space cattle shed areas of the University campus.

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Indian Rock Python Scientific Name: Python molurus Local Name: Malai Paambu An uncommon non- venomous snake distributed throughout Peninsular India up to Sind in the West and Bengal in the East and Sri Lanka. It is a largely built snake and its length (up to 19 feet) is considerably exceeds that of all other snakes. It is rounded in outline and thickset in the middle tapering towards head and anus. It is normally a diurnal and/or nocturnal, jungle dweller, a lethargic and slow moving snake even in its native haunts, exhibiting little, if any, timidity and rarely rousing itself seriously to escape when attacked, it climbs the trees,swims deftly and strongly when necessary. This species is rarely seen in the campus and people have seen this snake near new bachelor quarters at recently and included in the list based on the secondary information from local people.

Common Krait Scientific Name: Bungarus caeruleus Local Name: Kattu Virian: Yennai Virian; Panai Virian; Yettadi Virian A common venomous snake distributed throughout the Peninsular India from Sind to West Bengal plains and south to Cape and Sri Lanka. The length is varies from 1.2 m to 1.7 m. The body is long and cylindrical with small eyes and short tail. The enlarged hexagonal vertebral scales, entire subcaudals, uniformly white belly and the narrow white crossbars on the back are distinctive character of this snake. During the day, it is sluggish and generally docile.However, at night, the snake is very active.Common kraitfeeds primarily on other snakes, including "blind worms".Krait venom is more toxic than that of the Cobra and acts both as a neurotoxin and haemotoxin, paralyzing the respiratory centre and considered to be 15 times more virulent than Cobra’s venom and one of the deadliest among the venomous snakes of the world. The commmon krait'svenom consists mostly of powerful neurotoxins, which are highly toxic. The species is rarely seen and recorded only once along the open scrubs near Agasthiya bhavanam hostel back side of the University campus.

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Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra Scientific Name: Naja Naja Local Name:Nalla Paambu; Naga Paambu A common venomous snake distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The length is varies from 137 cm to 225 cm and extremely variable in colouration and markings. The cobra can be easily distinguished from other land snakes by the presence of a small cuneate scale, very rarely the cuneate scale may be absent. It is yellowish, brownish or black above with or without a black and white mark on hood, a black and white spot on the inside of the hood with one or two black crossbars below hood. Cobras very rarely attack people unprovoked, but when disturbed, they deadly bite. Young cobras have the same amount of venom as the adult ones. Before attacking, a cobra always warns its enemy with a threat display by lifting and expanding its hood and makeing a whistle-like noise. Cobras prey on other snakes, birds and small mammals, while its main natural predators are other snakes and mongooses. This species is occasionally seen along the forest edges, Prosopis thickets, open scrubs and well wooded areas near ARC godown and Academic block-3 surroundings of the University campus.

Common Vine Snake Scientific Name: Ahaetulla nasuta Local Name: Pachai Paambu; Kankothi Paambu A vey common non-venomous snake distributed throughout the Peninsular India and Sri Lanka excluding Ganga Valley and west of Patna. The length is varies from 130 cm to 195 cm. it is a long, very slender snake with elongated snout and terminating in a projecting dermal appendage. Eyes are large, iris powdered with gold. The green colour, horizontal pupil and the pointed snout are the prominent character of this species. This species is commonly seen along the forest edges, thickets, well wooded areas and open scrubs throughout the University campus.

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Common Indian Bronzeback or Tree Snake Scientific Name: Dendrelaphis tristis Local Name: Komberi Mookken A common non-venomous snake distributed throughout the Peninsular India (very common in southern India and along the Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka. The length this snake varies from 1.3 m to 1.7 m. It is an elegant snake with an elongate head, bluntly rounded snout, small nostril and large lustrous eyes with golden iris and round pupil. It is a lively and plucky, diurnal snake, its rapidity of movement and tenacious grip make it difficult to capture. It also has ability to spring.This snake is occasionally seen on the trees along the forest edges, Prosopis thickets and well wooded areas near New Bachelor quarters, ARC godown and cattle shed areas of the University campus.

Common Kukri Snake Scientific Name: Oligodon arnensis Local Name: Paul Virian A common non- venomous snake distributed throughout the Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The length varies from 45-65 cm. It is a highly polymorphic species with variable colour and band pattern. It has cylindrical, short, smooth and even-sized body with short tail somewhat compressed at basally. This is a very rare species and recorded only once in the open scrubs near the cattle shed areas of the University campus.

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South Asian Chameleon Scientific Name: Chamaeleo zeylanicus Local Name: Pachondhi South Asian Chamaeleon is an uncommon species distributed throughout the Indian Peninsula south and west of the Ganga. It is a laterally compressed arboreal lizard, with a conical casque on top of the head. Body is covered with granular scales. Eyes are covered by the granular, scaled lid. It has the ability to change its colour with the background, almost instantaneously, so that, it can escape from its enemies. The change of colour may be in response to light, heat, the emotional state of the animal and the colour of the environment.This species is commonly seen along the thickets, forest edges and well wooded areas of the University campus.

Indian Garden Lizard Scientific Name: Calotes versicolor Local Name: Oonan A very common species distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a medium sized arboreal lizard with oval head and laterally compressed body. The male has muscular and swollen cheeks, a distinctive dorsal crest of lance-shaped scales from nape to vent and two distinct spines on each side of head. Tail is long, cylindrical and swollen at base. It is mainly diurnal and an agile climber, it moves with speed and dexterity when necessary, adept at making itself inconspicuous by its immobility and colour.This species is very commonly seen throughout University campus.

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Green forest Lizard Scientific Name: Calotes calotes Local Name: Pachai Oonan An uncommon species and widely distributed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka of southern Peninsula and Sri Lanka. It is a slender, long-tailed arboreal species. It has bright grass-green body with whitish or creamy transverse stripes on the body. The scales of the back point are backwards and upwards. Because of presence of grass-green colour, it is very well inconspicuous with its plant’s green background, so that it escapes from its enemies.This species is occasionally seen along the thickets, forest edges and well wooded areas of the University campus.

Common Indian Monitor Lizard Scientific Name: Varanus bengalensis Local Name: Udumbu

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A very common diurnal lizard species widely distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The length varies from 100 cm to 1750 cm. It has long and flattened body, long tail, long neck and extremely elongated, slender, forked tongue. This species is distinguished from all other Monitor Lizards by the presence of the compressed tail, nostril being nearer to the eye than to the tip of the snout.This species is very rarely seen in burrow of the Termites near main security office of the University campus.

Fanthroated Lizard

Scientific Name: Sitana ponticeriana Local Name: Veeseri Oonan A common Agamid species distributed throughout the Indian Peninsula from Kanyakumari to the foot hills of the Himalayas except the highly rainfall forests and deserts. A small lizard, easily distinguished by the presence of four toes as against five toes in all other Agamid species. The fan-like throat appendage in the male is an additional distinguishing character of this species. This species is occasionally seen along the thickets, open scrubs, forest edges and well wooded areas of the entire University campus.

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South Indian Rock Agama or Peninsular Rock Agama Scientific Name: Psammophilus dorsalis Local Name: Sentahalai Oonan It is a common Agamid species distributed throughout Peninsular India from Bihar in Eastern India and along the hills of the Eastern Ghats south to Kanyakumari. A medium sized lizard distinguished by the regularly arranged scales, flattened body and the presence of a fold in the skin of the throat. The colouration is cryptic, particularly of the female, exactly matching that of the rocks among which they live. The male maintains the territory and displaysfrom a conspicuous location by press-ups and nods of the head. This species is very rarely seen and recorded only twice in the rocky areas of the forest edges especially near Academicc block 3 and ARC godown surroundings.

Common Skink or Brahminy Skink Scientific Name: Mabuya carinata Local Name: Aranai A very common and widely distributed skink species occurs throughout the Indian Peninsula but rare or absent in northwest India. It is a diurnal lizard, and it actively searches throughout the ground litter for prey, more often hearted than seen as it creeps through the litter on the ground, occasionally surfacing to survey the surroundings.This species is distinguished from other skinks bythe presence of well-developed limbs and supranasal shields. It has scaly lower eyelid. This species is very commonly seen in all the strata of the entire University campus

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7 Detailed Description of Mammals

The Bonnet Macaque Scientific Name: Macaca radiata Local Name: Kurangu It is a medium-sized, long- tailed macaque, distributed throughout Southern India as far north as Bombay on the west and Godavari River on the east. A bonnet of long hairs radiates in all directions from a whorl on its crown. The bonnet does not quite cover the forehead, where the hairs are short and neatly parted in the centre. The coat of the Bonnet Macaque is variable both among the individuals and with the season. It is rarely seen in the entire University campus.

The Common Langur or Hanuman Langur Scientific Name: Semnopithecus entellus Local Name: Mandhi;Vellai Mandhi This is the long-limbed, long-tailed, black-faced monkey, distributed throughout the India from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin except the western deserts. It has lot of variation in their size, heaviness of the coat and details of colour. It is heavily whiskered and coated, their pale almost white head standing out in sharp contrast to the darker colour of the body. It is venerated by Hindus as god, it is commonly recognized by most Indians.This species has been included based on the secondary information from local public.

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The Leopard or Panther Scientific Name: Panthera pardus Local Name: Siruthai; Siruthai Puli A typical panther from the Indian Peninsula is a sleek short-haired animal and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. It has fulvous coat marked with small close-set black rosettes. However there is considerable variation in colour and coat. Animals from desert zone are paler and from North India have soft-furred grey buff coats with small, thick-rimmed rosettes. This species can be seen in the forest areas, which are adjacent to the University campus.

The Jungle Cat Scientific Name: Felis chaus Local Name: Kattu Poonai This is the common wildcat of India and is found throughout the India from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin. Jungle cat has a very distinctive appearance by the presence of long legs and comparatively short tail and grizzled-grey brown coat. Its pale green eyes give it a coldly cruel expression. The colour of its fur varies from sandy grey to yellowish grey. The paws are pale yellowish, black or sooty brown underneath. The ears are reddish, ending in a small pencil of black hairs. This species is rarely seen in the forest edges near by the forests which is located close to the University campus.

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Common Palm Civet or Toddy Cat Scientific Name: Paradoxurus hermophroditus Local Name: Mara Naai It is a black or blackish-brown civet found in Kashmir, the Himalayas and Assam southwards through the whole of the Peninsula, except in the desert zones of Sind and Punjab. It has long coarse hair with whitish, buff or rich yellow under wool, usually hidden in the heavier winter coat. The limbs are black or dark brown. Facial markings variable, the most usual pattern is a white patch or spot below the eye. It is a diurnal omnivore, it is very fond of the fruit of palms and honey, thus earning its reputation for having a “sweet tooth”.This species is rarely seen in the periphery areas where Palmyra trees are present.

Common Mongoose or Grey Mongoose Scientific Name: Herpestes edwardsi Local Name: Keeri Pillai; Keeri It is one of the very common Mongooses in India and distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent from Himalayan foot hills to Cape Comorin. It is a tawny yellowish-grey Mongoose without stripe on the side of its neck. It has light and dark rings on its hairs. The tail, which is as long as its body, is tipped with white or yellowish-red colour. The fur is reddish in colour. This species is occasionally seen in the scrubs and thickets of University campus and its entire periphery.

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Jackal Scientific Name: Canis aureus Local Name: Nari Jackal is a medium sized Canid distributed throughout Indian subcontinent from Mid-Himalayas to Cape Comorin. It has Scraggy, buff-grey coat which interspersed with black hair while the underside, throat and the area around the eyes are white and the black-tipped tail. The Jackal’s long-drawn, eerie howling at dusk or just before dawn is perhaps more familiar to most people than the animal itself. This species is occasionally seen in the forest edges near the peripheral areas.

Asian Elephant Scientific Name: Elephas maximus Local Name: Anai;Yaanai Asian Elephant is the largest land mammal in India and distributed in Western Ghats from Mysore southwards, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Himalayas in Uttarakhand and Assam. It has grey wrinkled skin, long trunk and sail-like ears, four nails on each hindfoot and single lip in end of the trunk. Generally only the males have large tusks and the tusks of females scarcely protrude or perhaps protrude a few inches. In some males, the tusks are no longer than the females. Many of the tuskless males or Makhnas are very large in build with extra-

ordinarilywell- developed trunks. It is revered by Hindus due to its association with the Lord Ganesha. It has very poor sight; the senses of smell and hearing are highly developed more so than in most animals. This species is commonly seen in the forest areas which lie close to the University campus. It rarely visits the campus near Cattle shed areas and old Gymnasium surroundings.

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Wild Boar Scientific Name: Sus scrofa Local Name: Kattu Panni. Wild Boar is a largest forest pig, distributed throughout India except Jammu & Kashmir, high ranges of Himalayas and deserts. The colour of the animal is black, mixed with grey, rusty-brown and white hairs. It has sparser coat and fuller crest or mane of black bristles reaching from the nape down the back, visible naked tail, thin legs, long snout and well developed curved tushes project from mouth. The young one is browner and old is greyer in colour. This species is commonly seen in forest edges especially in Academic block 3 and ARC godown surroundings of the University campus.

Spotted Deer or Chital Scientific Name: Axis axis Local Name: Pulli Maan. This is India’s most common and beautiful and visible deer is also the only predominantly spotted deer in the country and distributed throughout India except Jammu & Kashmir, high ranges of Himalayas and deserts. Its coat is a bright rufous-fawn profusely spotted with white at all ages and in all seasons. Aged deers are more brownish in colour and darker. The graceful antlers have three tines, a long brow tine set nearly at the right angles to the beam and two branch tines at the top. This species is commonly seen in the forest edges and periphery and also a frequent visitor

of the University campus.

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Blacknaped Hare or Indian Hare Scientific Name:Lepus nigricollis Local Name: Muyal Blacknaped Hare is comparatively a larger hare distributed throughout India except high altitudes and mangroves. Blacknaped Hare is distinctive in having a dark brown or black patch on the back of its neck from the ears to the shoulder and upper surface of tail is black. It has long ears and rufous coat and rarely sandy-yellow in colour. This species is commonly seen in the open scrub and short grassy patches of the University campus especially near Playground, Academic block 3, ARC godown surroundings.

Three-striped Palm Squirrel Scientific Name: Funambulus palmarum Local Name: Anil A small, common squirrel and distributed throughout Peninsular India from Madhya Pradesh and in the moister parts of western and eastern India and also in Bihar. Three-striped Palm Squirrel is grayish-brown or olive-brown with pale under parts. It has three pale parallel lines on its back from head to tail. Legs are short and its bushy black and white bottle brush tail has a bold, reddish- brown mid-ventral line running through it. This is one of the very common species seen throughout the University campus.

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Indian Pangolin Scientific Name:Manis crassicaudata Local Name: Erumbuthinni; Alungu

Indian Pangolin is an elongated, armour-plated insectivore distributed throughout India except few parts of northwest and northeast. It has a faint pinkish-white skin that is covered dorsally by a costume of dirty yellow scales. The large, overlapping scales are sparsely covered with reddish- brown hairs and the skin is visible only on its lower body and face. The hind legs have a calloused sole and short blunt nails in sharp contrast to its powerful forelimbs armed with very long claws. In defense the animal curls itself in to an armoured ball. This species was seen only once during the survey period, in the open scrub near Academic block 3 of the University campus.

Dhole or Indian Wild Dog Scientific Name: Cuon alpinus Local Name: Sennaai; Kaattu Naai It is a unique reddish-brown forest dog, much like a domestic dong in general appearance, distributed in Peninsular, central and northeast India and Trans- Himalayas from Ladakh to Sikkim. Dhole has long, lank body with shorter legs, a more bushy tail and a thicket muzzle. The ears are more rounded at the tip and having six molar teeth in the lower jaw. It varies from light sandystone to rust-red. Very distinctive character of this species is its red coat which varies in tone with season and locality. Dholes hunt in packs of six or seven and start

eating their prey before it is dead, cleaning it to the bones within a few hours. They whistle as they hunt and also yelp and whine. This species is occasionally seen in the scrub forests which lie close to the University campus especially near ARC godown and Academic block surroundings

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Sloth Bear

Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus Local Name: Karadi A common bear and widespread Indian Bear distributed in the forest tracts of India from the base of the Himalayas in the north to Sri Lanka in the south. Sloth Bear is a shaggy black bear with a long snout and lumbering gait. It has elongated muzzle and lower lip, long unkempt hair and short hind legs. Sometimes it may have “V” shaped breast patch also. The claws always longer are ivory white in colour. This species is included in the list based on the secondary information from the local public and it rarely visits the surroundings of the campus especially near cattle shed areas.

Indian Porcupine Scientific Name: Hystrix indica Local Name:Mullam Pandri The most common and largest porcupine in India and distributed throughout India from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin and Ceylon. This thickset rodent is covered with long black and white quills with a long crest of spines flowing from the forehead to the middle of the back. Its tail is end in a bunch of thick white quills. This species is rarely seen along the open scrubs, forest edges and amidst the tall grasses in the cattle shed surroundings of the University campus.

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Indian Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes bengalensis Local Name: Kulla Nari This is the common fox of the Indian plains, distributed throughout India from the foothills of Himalayas to Cape Comorin. It is a pretty, smaller and slender- limbed animal, has black-tipped tail, black patches of hair on muzzle in front of the eyes and grayish appearance. Its legs are look slightly browner than the body and the ears are brown with a black fringe. This species is commonly seen in the forests, forest peripheries and open scrubs of the University campus near Academic block 3, Cattle shed areas, ARC godown and open areas near to playground surroundings.

Indian Flying Fox or Indian Fruit Bat Scientific Name: Pteropus giganteus Local Name: Periya Vowvaal It is the best known large sized bat in India distributed almost throughout India and comparatively rare in West Rajasthan, Cutch and Sind. It has usually reddish-brown Head with a darker, sometimes blackish, snout and large black ears and huge black wings that it often folds over its tan or orange belly. Hind neck and shoulders are pale brownish-yellow to straw. Its back is blackish brown with scattered pale hairs. Chin, neck, vent and flanks are darker. The chestnut colour of the body can be fully covered by the wings, giving the dark appearance. It is commonly seen on very large trees of the University campus especially near Agasthiya Bhavanam hostel surroundings.

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Short-nosed Fruit Bat Scientific Name: Cynopterus sphinx Local Name: Vowvaal Short-nosed Fruit Bat is a smaller and common bat in India and distributed throughout the country except deserts and high ranges of Himalayas. It has large, fur-lined, coffee-brown ears and dark brown wings. The white margined, nearly naked ears, and divergent nostrils with small tail and half free of the membrane between the thighs are the distinctive characters of this species. Male has orangish on chin, sides of the chest, belly and thighs, whereas female has a paler-grey belly and tawny-brown collar. This species is occasionally seen in the campus on fruiting trees especially in ARC godown and cattle shed surroundings.

House Rat Scientific Name: Rattus rattus Local Name: Sundeli This is the most common long-tailed rodent in the world distributed throughout India along human habitation and forests. It is a medium sized dark brown polymorphic rat with great variations. It has black dorsal fur with spines and smoky-grey belly. The tail is as long as or longer than its body length. The coat is dark brown or black. This species is commonly seen throughout the University campus and its adjoining periphery.

Indian Mole-rat or Bandicoot Rat Scientific Name:Bandicota bengalensis Local Name: Peruchali It is one of the larger rats distributed throughout India alongside human habitation and farms except in deserts and mountains. It has rounded head, rounded pinkish ears, short and broad muzzle and black feet and tail. The tail is shorter than its head and body length. The colour of its coat is dark grayish brown speckled with buff, undersides paler. This species is rarely seen in the entire University campus.

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