Distribution, population status, and threats of nationally threatened Cantor's leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros galeritus Cantor, 1846 in eastern India

This report provides information regarding the distribution range, population status, and threats of the nationally threatened Cantor's leaf-nosed bat from Odisha, eastern India. The study revealed six new roosting sites of the species with an estimated total population of 97 individuals. Roosting sites were mostly recorded within moist deciduous habitats, located in caves, old temples, and buildings. In most of the sites, bats are threatened from roost site disturbance and hunted for ethnozoological uses. We recommend long-term monitoring on population trends in relation to human activities. The information generated from the study will aid in reassessing the conservation status of the species in future

Record of six species of Mudskippers (Gobiidae : Oxudercinae) from the mangroves of Bhitarkanika, Odisha, east coast of India

1294-1301Present paper consists the record of six species of mudskippers along with their morphometric analysis and spatial distribution from Bhitarkanika mangroves of Odisha, in the east coast of India. The six species of mudskippers are distributed under six genera Apocryptes (A. bato), Baleopthalmus (B. boddarti), Parapocryptes (P. serperaster), Periophthalmus (P. novemradiatus), Pseudapocryptes (Ps. elongatus) and Scartelaos (S. histophorus). The study was conducted from November 2010 to March 2013 in Bhitarkanika Wildlife sanctuary covering four survey sites representing degraded mangrove in downstream seaward side, the mangrove region and degraded mangrove in upstream tidal riverward side. While Baleopthalmus boddarti and Pseudapocryptes elongatus are found in all four habitats, Parapocryptes serperaster and Scartelaos histophorus are found both from seaward side and riverward side. Apocryptes bato are exclusively from upstream tidal riverward side and Periopthalmus novemradiatus are found exclusively from mangrove regions. P. serperaster were found to be the longest, A. bato were the heaviest and P. novemradiatus were the smallest as well as lightest