Amitava Majumder

Owls (order Strigiformes) represent a highly specialized lineage of nocturnal raptors, within which the genus Strix (family Strigidae) comprises several widely distributed species despite the limited availability of comprehensive mitogenomic data. In this study, the complete mitogenome of the Mottled Wood-owl, Strix ocellata (Lesson, 1839), was characterized to investigate its genomic organization, structural features, and patterns of gene rearrangement. Furthermore, the phylogenetic position of S. ocellata was evaluated within the broader lineage of Strigiformes using concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs), and among congeners using partial COI and Cytb genes. The circular mitogenome of S. ocellata was 19,135 bp in length and comprised the typical vertebrate mitochondrial complement of 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and two non-coding control regions (CRs). The selective pressure analyses revealed strong purifying selection acting across all PCGs, whereas codon usage analysis demonstrated biased synonymous codon preferences, with arginine, leucine, and serine representing the most abundant amino acids. The CR retained the three characteristic conserved domains, while variation in tandem repeat motifs suggested evolutionary divergence among the examined taxa. The phylogenetic inference based on complete mitogenome datasets strongly supported the monophyly of the genus Strix . Notably, S. ocellata occupied a putatively basal position relative to other Strix species based on both complete mitogenomes and partial mitochondrial markers. The comparative examination of mitochondrial gene arrangements revealed a largely conserved genomic architecture across Strigiformes, with observed transposition and duplication events involving ND6, Cytb, several tRNA genes, and the CRs. Collectively, this study provides the first mitogenomic characterization of S. ocellata as well as evolutionary relationships within Strix and the broader Strigiformes lineage. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the need for additional complete mitogenome sequences and whole-genome datasets from broader taxonomic and geographic sampling. Such expanded genomic resources will improve phylogenetic resolution and facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary history and diversification of this owl lineage.

This study was aimed at documenting the winter bird diversity in the pine and secondary forest dominated landscape of Walong Reserve Forest in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China and Myanmar. Walong is one of the least explored regions in India but rich in bird diversity, as it is part of Ditchu Reserve Forest, designated as one of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. This is the first comprehensive study that highlights important species found in this region, as no published bird list is available for the region. We conducted random surveys in 2021, 2022 and 2023, especially during winter months and documented 117 species belonging to 77 genera, 42 families and 11 orders during our surveys in the Walong area of Arunachal Pradesh. Family Muscicapidae was the dominant group with 9 genera and 21 species with an RDi value of 17.9%, followed by Leiothrichidae (5 genera and 7 species) and Phylloscopidae (1 genus comprising 7 species of warblers) with an RDi value of 6%. Sighting of the Critically Endangered White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis was the highlight of the survey, as Walong is the new extended range for the species, further north of its earlier known distribution in India. We also recorded a further nesting record of the Lord Derby’s Parakeet Psittacula derbiana, as the species has extended its range to India from the neighbouring China.

Present paper is the first consolidated work on the Indian and Sri Lankan Trictenotomidae beetles, a peculiar, small and rare family of Coleoptera, providing re-descriptions, information on types, as well as images, distribution records and identification key. A total of five species (Autocrates aeneus (Westwood, 1846), Trictenotoma childreni Gray, 1832, T. grayii Smith, 1851, T. mniszechi Deyrolle, 1875, and T. templetonii Westwood, 1848) of the family Trictenotomidae have been examined from India and Sri Lanka. India harbors four species, of which three belong to the genus Trictenotoma Gray, 1832 and single species in the genus Autocrates Thomson, 1860. Sri Lanka has only one rare and endemic species, namely Trictenotoma templetonii Westwood, 1848. The lectotype for Trictenotoma aenea Westwood, 1846 (= Autocrates aeneus (Westwood, 1846)) has been designated and situation surrounding the author of Autocrates aeneus is clarified and fixed during the present study. For Trictenotoma childreni Gray, 1832, T. templetoni Westwood, 1848 and T. grayii Smith, 1851 specimens that were labelled as ‘Type’ or ‘Syntype’, were fixed as holotype by monotypy. Similarly lectotype designations have been done for Trictenotoma mniszechi Deyrolle, 1875.

A new species of longhorn beetle, Pelossus indicus sp. nov., is described from Chhattisgarh State, India. This is the first report of this genus from India and the sixth species of Pelossus from Asia. Images of the habitus and genitalia have been provided.

Five species of Prioninae from the Indian state of Mizoram were studied: Megobaralipton kalimantanum (Komiya & Makihara, 2001); Nepiodes bowringi (Gahan, 1894); Anomophysis hainana (Gressitt, 1940); Eurypoda (Eurypoda) nigrita Thomson, 1865 and Eurypoda (Neoprion) batesi Gahan, 1894. New country records are provided to: Megobaralipton kalimantanum (Komiya & Makihara, 2001); Anomophysis hainana (Gressitt, 1940); Eurypoda (Eurypoda) nigrita Thomson, 1865; Eurypoda (Neoprion) batesi Gahan, 1894. Nepiodes bowringi (Gahan, 1894) is record for the first time from the Indian state of Mizoram. Detailed taxonomic position of all species, their host plant, and images of dorsal habitus are provided.

A new species of Sarmydus Pascoe, 1867, S. bagh sp. nov., is described from north India and adjacent countries based on the habitus of both male and female, and male genitalia characters. Detailed taxonomic investigations reveal previous misidentification of several specimens from India of the new species as S. antennatus Pascoe, 1867. Accordingly, Sarmydus antennatus Pascoe, 1867 is removed from the Indian fauna. Photographs of the holotype of S. antennatus are provided, and the characters of this species discussed in detail. DNA barcoding analysis of the Himalayan Sarmydus species has been done for the confirmation of the new species. This analysis depicts significant genetic divergences of >14% between S. bagh sp. nov. and its congeners, thus, sufficiently supporting morphological interpretations.

The adult male and female of a new species of longhorn beetle, Sarmydus nicobarensis sp. nov. are described from the Great Nicobar and Camorta Islands, India. Illustrations of habitus and male genitalia of the new species, as well as photographs of the holotype of S. paukstadtorum Drumont, 2011 are provided.

Morphology including genitalia of three species of genus Eupterote Hübner, [1820] viz. E. bifasciata Kishida, 1994, E. mollifera (Walker, 1865) and E. undata Blanchard, [1844] collected from Chhattisgarh, India are discussed here for first time with illustrated images. Among these three species, E. bifasciata and E. mollifera are newly recorded from the Central Indian Landscape. An updated list of 14 Indian species of genus Eupterote with their distribution is also provided. Six E. undata morphs with their images are illustrated here for first time. With the present record of E.bifasciata, we extend its distribution range significantly to the south in more or less plain habitat of the Deccan Peninsular biogeographic zone and confirm its occurrence in India.