APRC-Itanagar - Zoological Survey of India

ANNUAL REPORT
01 APRIL 2010 TO 31 MARCH 2011
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
ARUNACHAL PRADESH REGIONAL CENTRE
ITANAGAR

Title: Taxonomy of wasps belonging to
Vespidae Vespidae and Eumenidae Eumenidae of Arunachal
Pradesh.
Team leader: Dr. G. Srinivasan, Scientist-B
Duration: April 2005 to September 2008
Progress: Manuscript submitted. The present report
includes the systematic y account of the family y Vespidae p from the state of
Arunachal Pradesh. The family Vespidae belongs to the superfamily Vespoidea
which represents true or hornet wasps.The super family Vespoidea belongs to
Aculeate Hymenoptera. They are characterized by having two pairs of
membranous wings, the hind wings smaller than the forewings. The mouth
parts are mandibulate or sucking type. They are small to large size
insects.Potter wasps (or mason wasps) belong to the subfamily Eumeninae of
th the ffamily il VVespidae. id Th The present t project j t report t deals d l with ith th the FFauna of f
Vespidae of Aculeate Hymenoptera of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The project
work deals with 18 species belonging to 8 genera and 3 subfamilies under the
family Vespidae Vespidae.Out Out of these a total of 13 species are new records from the
state. The keys to the subfamilies, genera and species are provided.

Title: Studies on Tettigonidae of Arunachal Pradesh. Pradesh
Team leader: Dr. G. Srinivasan, Scientist-B
Duration: April 2006 to September 2008
PProgress: PProject j completed. l d
Work in progress. Manuscript submitted.

Title: Bio Bio-acoustic acoustic studies on Avifauna
of Arunachal Pradesh.
Investigator: Dr. Anil Kumar, Scientist Scientist--BB
Period: April 2006 to June 2009.
Progress: g Data analysis y is in progress. p g
Twelve species of cuckoos, seven species of
laughing thrushes and six species of sunbirds
were shortlisted/edited h tli t d/ dit d for f further f th bioacoustic
bi ti
analysis and manuscript preparation. So far
more than than 180 180 species species (including (including few
few
unidentified species) have been shortlisted for
bioacoustic and final report p p preparation p
work.

Banded Bay Cuckoo Black-crested Bulbul

Title : Taxonomic studies on the
mammals l of f A Arunachal h l Pradesh. P d h
Party leader: Dr. Anil Kumar, Scientist Scientist-B
D Duration ti : April, April April, 2006 to to June, June 2009
2009
Progress : In connection with final report
compilation, review review of of the literature literature and and manuscript
manuscript
writing is in progress. More than 60 species have
been identified based on direct/indirect evidence.
However However, state supports supports more more than than 200 200 species species of
of
mammals including a large number of smaller
mammals and rodents.
Areas covered: D’Ering Memorial WL
Sanctuary, Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and
surrounding areas areas of of Itanagar Itanagar, Itanagar Itanagar, , Tawang chu
valley, Zimithang area, Dirang and
surrounding areas and Mouling National
P k

Dremomys lokriah
Arctictis Arctictis binturong binturong

Title: Studies on Pisces & Amphibians of
Arunachal Pradesh. (ongoing project)
Team: Dr. Anil Kumar, Scientist-B & Ms.
Debashree Dam, Zool .Asst.
Period: April 2006 to June 2009
Progress: Manuscript submitted. Total number of fish
examples studied – 1220 examples of fishes were
examined and a total of 99 species were identified
belonging to 8 orders and 26 families.
Present study encompasses a list of 55 species of
amphibians (appendix 2) reported from Arunachal
Pradesh.

Comments: A total of 1220 examples
were studied which revealed the record of
99 species (including a new species, a
new e sub-subspecies,1 sub subspec es, new e state record eco d
and an endangered species),belonging to
24 families. Bhavania arunachalensis
sp sp.nov. nov has been recorded as a new
species and Barilius bendelisis
arunachalensis au acaesshas as been bee communicated
co u cated
as a new sub species. Mystus tengara is
reported for the first time from the state
and Chaca Chaca chaca, chaca an endangered species
has been reported from two different
localities.

Title: Small mammals (rodenst, shrews and lagomorphs) of Arunachal
Pradesh.
Team: Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C
Duration: April 2008 to March 2010.
Progress: g One survey y had been undertaken from 03-09
January 2011 at Pakke Tiger Reserve. Malayan Giant
Squirrel Ratufa bicolor (Sparrman, 1778) was the most
abundant species p followed by y the Hoary-bellied y
Himalayan Squirrel Callosciurus pygerythrus (I.
Geoffroy Saint-Hillaire, 1831). Pellets of Indian Hare
Lepus p nigricollis g Cuvier, , 1823 were also collected from
the Seijosa river banks and a few pellets of the same
species were also collected from the forest roads within
the Reserve.

Malayan Giant Squirrel
MMalayan l Giant Gi t Squirrel
S i l
Unidentified mouse

Title: Water birds of Arunachal Pradesh w.r.t. to
high altitude lakes and wetlands.
Team: Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C
Duration: April 2008 to March 2010.
Progress: Two surveys have been conducted one each
during September and October 2010 at Eaglenest
Wildlife Sanctuary and Kalaktang areas of western
Arunachal Pradesh and another survey conducted in
March 2011 in two districts in Arunachal Pradesh Lower
Debang Valley and Dibang Valley covering areas such as
Roing, Myodiya, Hunli, Etalin and Anini. 16 species of
waterbirds and water water-dependant dependant species have been
recorded, although no new additions have been made.
Ms. Will be submitted soon.

Title: Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Team: Shri. P.T. Bhutia, Scientist-E, Dr. G.
Srinivasan, Scientist-B , Dr. Anil
Kumar, Scientist-B and Ms. Debashree
Dam Dam, Zool Zool. Asst Asst..
Duration: April 2000 to July 2008 (revised)
Progress: Manuscript submitted.
Pisces: The present enumeration of fishes comprised of
67 species belonging to 42 genera and 17 families. The
list also contains the number of specimens examined
with their corresponding registration number along with
the localities ffrom om where he e the they ha have e been collected collected. OOut t
of these 67 species, 37 species have been recorded in
our present collections. collections 12 species reported exclusively
from Senki stream,7 species from Pachin and 11 species
common to both Pachin and Senki.

AMPHIBIANS
Ten species of amphibians belonging 8 Genus and 4 families have
bbeen identified id tifi d from f It Itanagar Wildlif Wildlife Sanctuary. S t
AVES
In the present p study y total 88 species p belong g to 11 orders and 31
families were recorded. Most of the species (65.91 %) were
passerine birds such as drongos, laughing thrushes, babblers,
flycatchers flycatchers, redstarts redstarts, warblers warblers, fantails fantails, bulbuls and wagtails wagtails.
Most dominant order of birds was Passeriformes. Total 58
passerine species were recorded in the present study.
MAMMALS
On the basis of direct sightings and indirect evidences such as
pugmarks and interview with local people, 29 (including two
unidentified species of bats) species of mammals belong to 7
orders and 16 families were recorded in the area. In cases of
most large mammals the situation is same most probably due to
rapidly declining populations.

Title: Pakke WLS (Now Pakke Tiger Reserve).
Team: All Scientific staff APFS.
Duration: April 2002 to July 2008 (revised)
Progress: Manuscript submitted.
submitted
PISCES
The comprehensive checklist of fishes of Pakke Tiger Reserve
(PTR) is represented by 54 species belonging to 32 genera,13
families and 4 orders. This list has been compiled based on the
detailed taxonomic studies of the collected specimens and also
those available as per literature records. Out of 54 species, 46
species have been exclusively reported in the present study and
the rest 8 has been added from the list of 15 species reported by
Sen (2006). The classification given by Menon,1999 is followed
while nomenclature was after FishBase(http/ / www.fishbase.org).
Status of some of the species has been given as per
BCPP,C.A.M.P.(1999).

Ambhibia Ambhibia: In total 27 species belong to 5 familes have identified.
Reptilia Reptilia: In total 35 species belonging to 2 Orders and 11 Families
have been recorded from Pakke Tiger Reserve.
Aves: A total of 279 species of birds belong to 15 orders and 51
families have been recorded in PTR and peripheral area. In the
present survey total 127 species belong to 14 orders and 36
families were recorded. In the present survey 5 species of bulbuls,
6 species spec es o of warblers, a b e s, 4 spec species es o of mynas, y as, 2 spec species es o of wagtails, agta s, 2
species of sparrows, 4 species of laughingthrushes
laughingthrushes, , 6 species of
woodpeckers, 2 species of barbats barbats, , 3 species of kingfishers, 4
species of owls owls, 2 species of hornbills hornbills, 2 2 species species of doves doves, 2
species of plover/ lapwings, 2 species of sparrows and 2 species
of munias were identified. Two species of aquatic water birds
(family Anatidae) were also observed.

Title : Pictorial Hand Book (Butterflies of Arunachal Pradesh)
TTeam : All Scientific S i tifi staff t ff of f A.P.F.S., A P F S Itanagar. It
Duration : April p 2000 to September p 2007
Progress : This work has been assigned to Mr. Pramod of
NRC NRC, Dehradun as decided by the Chairman
and the scientific committee.

Title: Programatic view of short-horned
grasshopper g pp diversity, y, its impact p on landscape p
change and predatory complex in Arunachal
Pradesh
Team: Dr. D. Suresh Chand, Scientist-C
Duration: April April, 2009 to March, March 2011
Progress: PI has been transferred to Sundarbans
RRegional i l Centre. C t Ms. M Under U d finalization. fi li ti PI
Transferred to Sundarbans Regional Centre,
ZSI ZSI, CCanning. i Around A d 397 examples l belonging b l i
to 33 species of Acrididae and 6 species of
TTettigonidae tti id from f 14 Genera G and d 2 Families F ili
were collected.

Title: Avifauna of Tawang Chy Valley, western Arunachal Pradesh
Team: Dr. Anil Kumar, Scientist-C
Duration: April, 2009 to March, 2012
Progress: Two surveys were undertaken from
(i) from 09-05-2009 09 05 2009 to 26 26-05-2009 05 2009
(ii) from 10-05-2010 to 28-05-2010
During first survey one hundred and twenty eight species of
birds were observed and identified in the study area during the
first field survey conducted from 09-05-2009 to 26-05-2009.
These were comprised of 8 orders and 21 families families.
During second survey one hundred and thirty one species of
birds were observed and identified in the study area during the
second survey. Twenty two species (16.8 %) were observed in
hi high h altitude ltit d area, while hil 21 species i (16 %) were common at t
both gradients.

Extensive Surveys
Five tour were undertaken; Two scientific
tours to Tawang and the surrounding
places were conducted by Dr Dr. DD. Suresh
Chand, Scientist-C and Dr. Anil
Kumar, Scientist-B of the Centre; one
from 10-21 May, y, 2010 and another from
10-28 May, 2010, on short and long-
horned grasshoppers and avifauna of
Tawang-Chu Valley of Arunachal
Pradesh Pradesh, respectively
respectively.

Three different tours were undertaken by Dr. Gopinathan
Maheswaran, Scientist-C & Officer-in-Charge one each to
KKalaktang l kt and d Eagle E l Nest N t Wildlif Wildlife Sanctuaries S t i for f 15 days d
from 24 September 2010 to 08 October 2010 to study
waterbirds of high altitude lakes and rivers; one to Pakke
Tiger Reserve to small mammals for 7 days 03 January
2011 to 09 January 2011 and the third one to Roing and
AAnini i i areas of fAArunachal h lP Pradesh d ht to study t d water t birds bid for f
14 days 31 March 2011 to 13 April 2011.
Two scientific tours to Tawang and the surrounding places
were conducted o du d by scientists of o the Centre; ; one o from o 100
21 May, 2010 and another from 10-28 May, 2010, on
short and long-horned grasshoppers and avifauna of
TTawang-Chu Ch Valley V ll of f Arunachal A h l Pradesh, P d h respectively.
ti l

Documentation/Computerization
Team: All Scientific staff of APFS, Itanagar
Data: Vertebrate and invertebrate collection in
APFS, ZSI, Itanagar.
Progress: So far 2342 entries have been made.

Conference/Symposium/Seminars/ Training Course
1) Dr Dr. Anil Kumar, Kumar Scientist Scientist-CC of the Centre had participated in the debriefing function at
NCAOR for 27th and 28th Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica on 5th April 2010.
2) Ms. Debashree Dam, Zool. Asst. of the Centre had participated in a training course on
e-Granthalaya from 19-20 April 2010 at Western Ghats Regional Centre, Calicut,
Kerala.
3) Ms. Debashree Dam, Zool. Asst. of the Centre had undergone a training programme
on ‘Management and Leadership Development’ from 16-20 August 2010 at Lal
Bahadur Shastri National Academy of administration, Mussoorie.
4) Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C of the Centre had attended a book release
function at Raj Bhawan in August 2010, wherein a book on strengthening ‘Indian
environmental i t l laws-new l llessons and d approaches’ h ’ was released l d by b the th Governor G of f
Arunachal Pradesh.
5) Dr Gopinathan Maheswaran Scientist C of the Centre had attended a meeting of the
5) Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C of the Centre had attended a meeting of the
State Board for Wildlife, Arunachal Pradesh on 4 December 2010 under the
chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

PAPERS PUBLISHED
1. Maheswaran, G. (2010) Birds of Leh and the surrounding places in Ladakh.
ENVIS ENVIS Newsletter Newsletter (ZSI) (ZSI) 16 (1&2): 55-12 12.
2. Maheswaran, G., Deuit, K. and Khan, R.A. (2010) Occurrence, abundance
and ecology gy of Indian Sarus Crane Grus antigone g antigone g in Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar. Rec. Zoo. Survey of India 110(1): 71-81.
3. Chand, D.S. & M.C. Muralirangan (2010) Yield loss in two rice cultivars by
the small rice grasshopper Oxya nitidula (Walker). Journal of Environ. &
Sociobiology 7(1): 65-68.
44. Dam, D DD. and d AA. Kumar K (2009) Record R d of f occurrence of f a rare species i of f fish fi h
Chaca chaca (Hamilton, 1822) from two different localities in Arunachal
Pradesh. Bulletin of Arunachal Pradesh Forest Research 25(1&2): 10-13.
5. Nath, P., Dam, D., and Kumar, A. (2010) A new fish species of the genus
Barilius (Cyprinidae: Rasborinae), from river Siang, D’Ering Memorial Wildlife
Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Rec. Rec. Zool. Zool. Surv. Surv. India India 110(3): 19 19-33. 33.

Papers communicated for publication
1 1. Kumar, Kumar A A. Communication Communication value value of of displays displays and and postures postures in
in
Red Red-vented vented Bulbul Pycnonotus Pycnonotus cafer cafer (Linnaeus, 1766), Order:
Passeriformes, Family: Pycnonotidae. (communicated)
2. D.S. Chand, and M.C. Muralirangan. 2010. Yield loss in two rice
cultivars by by the the small small rice rice grasshopper grasshopper Oxya Oxya Oxya Oxya nitidula nitidula nitidula nitidula (Walker) (Walker).
J. Env. & Scoiobiology (Communicated).

Development of National Zoological Collection
In November 2010, Dr. G. Srinivasan, Scientist-C of HQ had returned to our
Centre 229 examples of Hymenoptera specimens especially of wasps after
proper identification and labeling.
In February 2011, we received 103 identified examples (comprises of 22
species) of amphibian specimens from ZSI, WGRC, Calicut. The specimens
were collected from Namdapha Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh by Dr.
K.P. Dinesh, Zool. Asst of WGRC who was one of the participants of the
expedition team. Some of the significant species include Rhacophorus
maximus, i AAmolops l himalayanus, hi l DDuttaphrynus tt h hi himalayanus l and d
Raorchestes namdaphaensis.
In March 2011, we received identified samples of Odonata examples along
with a list of species from Mrs. Emiliyamma, Scientist-C of ZSI, WGRC,
Calicut. These specimens were collected from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve
of fA Arunachal h lP Pradesh d hd during i November N b 2009. 2009Some S of fth the significant i ifi t
species include Anotogaster basalis, Diplacodes trivialis, Vestalaria
smaragdin and Indocnemis orang.

Identification and advisory services
1) In June 2010, two research manuscripts were received and reviewed for the
Director, ZSI on birds by Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C of the
Centre.
2) In November 2010, Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C of the Centre had
given reviews/comments on four scientific papers received from the BNHS,
Mumbai.
3) In December 2010, Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C of the Centre gave
his expert opinions to concerned authorities on the effective management of
th the RRaiganj i j SSanctuary, t Uttar Utt Di Dinapur, WWest t Bengal B l in i framing f i a management t
plan. Raiganj Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest heronries of India and known
to have existed/observed from as early as 1960s with 4 nesting species such
as Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger, Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax, Little egret Egretta garzetta and Asian Openbill Stork
Anastomus oscitans.
4) In March 2011 Dr Gopinathan Maheswaran Scientist C and Officer in Charge
4) In March 2011, Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, Scientist-C and Officer-in-Charge
of the Centre has been included in the state committee set up by the Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests (WL) to conserve vultures in the state of
Arunachal Pradesh under an initiative by the MoEF, Government of India.

Miscellaneous
In June 2010, 2010 a scientist from G.B. G B Pant
Institute of Himalayan Environment and
DDevelopment, l North-east N h unit i had h d
deposited one holoptye and two paratype
of a new species of catfish Glyptothorax
dikrongensis dikrongensis to our museum and
registration numbers were given to him
accordingly for publication in international
journal.

Progress regarding implementation of Hindi
Regular reports are being to sent to Official
L Language Implementation I l t ti Centre C t at t Guwahati.
G GGuwahati h ti

Administrative
(a) (a) Staff Staff strength
strength
Group Sanctioned Current Vacant
A 4 1 3
B 1 - 1
C 5 4 1
D 4 2 1* 1
*-Group Group-D D posts have been abolished by the Ministry, hence, two
posts are still lying vacant.
(b) (b) List of vacant post
post
Group A : Three post
Group Group-B : One post
Group-C Go Group ppC
: One post
post
Group Group-D : One post
(c) Superannuation : Nil

Postings and transfers: Two; Dr. Anil Kumar,
Scientist-C of the Centre has been transferred
to High Altitude Research Centre, Solan in May
2010 and Dr. D. Suresh Chand, , Scientist-C has
been transferred to Sundarbans Regional
Centre, , Canning g in September p
2011.

Capital Construction
The CPWD, Tezpur has completed the
renovation works of residential
complex as approved by the
administrative Ministry. Another work
for construction of 100m boundary wall
at residential work has been approved
bby our o administrative administ ati e Ministry Minist in March Ma ch
2011. However, the work has not yet
started by the CPWD.

VII. Development of Library 2007 2007-2008 2008
1. No. of books added : 121 (Accession
numbers 1726 to 1846)
2. No. of Journals added : 175 (9 (
different journals)
33. Expenditure E dit incurred: i d ` 11,90,448/- 90 448/
4. We have ordered for 15 volumes (of the total 16) of
the ‘Hand Book of the Birds of the World’ by Lynx
Edicions of Spain.

Insect cabinet
Special Special Grant G ant
Compact Insect Insect Storage System has been
installed in our Centre as a part of
modernization programme under administrative
administrative
Ministry’s special grant.
New vehicle
vehicle
We have purchased on new Tata Sumo for
survey purpose

THANK THANK THANK THANK YOU YOU
YOU YOU