Thursday, 26 March 2020
3-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - CHITAL (SPOTTED DEER) (FEMALE) (Axis axis)
The chital (Axis axis; /tʃiːtəl/), also called spotted deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach 90 cm (35 in) and females 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. While males weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb), females weigh around 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.
The vernacular name "chital" (pronounced /tʃiːtəl/) comes from cītal (Hindi: चीतल), derived from the Sanskrit word citrala (चित्रल), meaning "variegated" or "spotted". The name of the cheetah has a similar origin. Variations of "chital" include "cheetal" and "cheetul". Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer (or simply the spotted deer) and axis deer.
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Tribe Baorini)
Baorini is a tribe in the Hesperiinae subfamily of skipper butterflies.
2-3-2020 KANHA, INDIA - YELLOW FOOTED GREEN PIGEON (Treron phoenicopterus)
The yellow-footed green pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus), also known as yellow-legged green pigeon, is a common species of green pigeon found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. It is the state bird of Maharashtra. In Marathi, it is called Haroli or Hariyal. It is known as Haitha in Upper Assam and Haitol in Lower Assam. The species feeds on fruit, including many species of Ficus. They forage in flocks. They are habitat generalists: in the early morning, they are often seen sunning on the tops of emergent trees in dense forest areas, especially Banyan trees, but they have also been spotted in natural remnants in urban areas. Their population is currently increasing.
3-3-2020 KANHA, INDIA - COMMON HAWK CUCKOO (Hierococcyx varius)
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The common hawk-cuckoo, known colloquially as the brainfever bird, is a medium-sized cuckoo roughly the size of a pigeon, measuring approximately 34 cm in length. Its plumage is a muted ashy grey on top, with a paler underside marked by brown cross-bars. The tail is conspicuously barred. Both sexes exhibit a distinctive yellow eye ring, and while they appear similar, males are generally larger.
Upon first glance, one might easily mistake the common hawk-cuckoo for a hawk due to its striking resemblance to the Shikra, particularly in flight behavior and landing. Subadults display streaked breasts akin to immature Shikras and bear large brown chevron marks on their bellies. The large hawk-cuckoo could be confused with this species, but it can be distinguished by dark streaks on its throat and breast, and young large hawk-cuckoos have a black chin, as opposed to the pale chin of the common hawk-cuckoo's young.
The common hawk-cuckoo favors arboreal habitats, seldom descending to the ground. It thrives in gardens, tree groves, and both deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.
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This species is widespread across the Indian subcontinent, from Pakistan to the Himalayan foothills, and extends eastward to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Northeast India, reaching south into Sri Lanka. Some Indian populations migrate to Sri Lanka in the winter, while the subspecies in central Sri Lanka's hills is resident.
The common hawk-cuckoo is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of babblers, particularly those in the genus Turdoides. The breeding season aligns with that of its host species, from March to June. The hatchling often evicts the host's eggs and is raised by the foster parents, following them for nearly a month.
The male's call is a loud, repetitive three-note sound, reminiscent of the phrase "brain-fever," with the second note being longer and higher pitched. These calls, which can continue throughout the day and into moonlit nights, rise to a crescendo before ending abruptly. The female's call consists of a series of grating notes.
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During the breeding season, the common hawk-cuckoo lays a single blue egg, mimicking the appearance of the host's eggs. The chick may evict the host's eggs and is reared to maturity by the foster parents.
The common hawk-cuckoo primarily feeds on insects, specializing in hairy caterpillars. It has developed a method to remove the caterpillar's guts, which often contain toxins, by pressing and rubbing the caterpillar on a branch before consumption. The ingested hairs are later regurgitated as a pellet.
The IUCN Red List has classified the common hawk-cuckoo as Least Concern, indicating that it currently faces no significant threat of extinction.
2-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - ARBOREAL BI-COLOURED SLENDER ANT (Tetraponera rufonigra)
Tetraponera rufonigra, is a species of ant belonging to the subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae. It is distributed across Southeast Asia Commonly called the bi-coloured arboreal ant, they are arboreal and build small nests which are excavated holes usually in dried parts of trees. They are active hunters and hunt small insects. They have a well developed sting and when stung can cause allergic reactions in human beings.
The ant is known as "Hath polayaa" in Sinhala.
4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - BENGAL SACRED LANGUR MONKEY (Semnopithecus entellus)
The northern plains gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus), also known as the sacred langur, Bengal sacred langur and Hanuman langur, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae.
The northern plains gray langur belongs to the genus Semnopithecus along with the other Indian langurs. The southern plains gray langur was once classified as a subspecies of S. entellus, i.e., S. entellus dussumieri and later regarded as a separate species, i.e., S. dussumieri, but is now regarded as an invalid taxon. Most of the specimens that had been regarded as Semnopithecus dussumieri fall within the revised range of Semnopithecus entellus.
The fur of adults is mostly light colored, with darker fur on the back and limbs, and the face, ears, hands and feet are all black. Infants are brown. Body size excluding tail ranges from 45.1 cm (17.8 in) to 78.4 cm (30.9 in) long, and the tail length is between 80.3 cm (31.6 in) and 111.8 cm (44.0 in). Adult males weigh between 16.9 kg (37 lb) and 19.5 kg (43 lb) while adult females weigh between 9.5 kg (21 lb) and 16.1 kg (35 lb).
The range of the northern plains gray langur covers a large portion of India south of the Himalayas south to the Tapti River and the Krishna River. They have also been reported from Tharparkar in Pakistan. It is thought to have been introduced to western Bangladesh by Hindu pilgrims on the bank of the Jalangi River.
The northern plains gray langur is diurnal, and is both terrestrial and arboreal. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Females groom members of both sexes but males do not groom others.
The northern plains gray langur can live in several different types of groups. It can live in groups of multiple males and females, one male and multiple females or multiple males with no females, and males can also live alone without a group. Single male groups are most common. Group size can exceed 100 monkeys. Upon reaching maturity, males typically emigrate from their natal group while females typically remain. Young adult females are typically dominant over older females. When a new male takes over a group it may engage in infanticide of young fathered by the previous male or males, but this is less common when the takeover occurs slowly over several months.
The northern plains gray langur eats primarily fruits and leaves. It is able to survive on mature leaves, which is a key to its ability to survive throughout the dry season. It also eats seeds, flowers, buds, bark and insects, including caterpillars. It is also fed fruits and vegetables by humans, and some groups get a substantial portion of their diets from food provided by temples and from raiding crops.
Groups that have access to abundant food year-round, for example those that are provisioned by temples or are able to raid crops year-round, also breed throughout the year. Other groups, such as those living in forests, typically give birth between December and May. The gestation period is about 200 days. Females other than the mother alloparent the infant for the first month of its life. Weaning occurs at about 1 year and males reach maturity at about 6 to 7 year old.
The northern plains gray langur often associates with chital deer. Both species respond to each other's alarm calls. The chital seem to benefit from the vigilance of male langurs watching for predators in the trees, while the langurs seem to benefit from the chital's better senses of smell and hearing. It also has been observed engaging in grooming sessions with rhesus macaques.
3-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - JUNGLE BABBLER (Turdoides striata)
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The Jungle Babbler (Argya striata) is a bird of the Leiothrichidae family, native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a robust, non-migratory species with a general drab brownish-grey plumage and a distinctive yellow bill. Both sexes appear similar, and the bird is often seen in groups, which has led to its colloquial name "Seven Sisters" or "Seven Brothers" in various regional languages.
To identify the Jungle Babbler, look for its brownish-grey coloration, with the upper parts being slightly darker. The throat and breast may show some mottling. The yellow bill is a key distinguishing feature. The subspecies T. s. somervillei has a rufous tail and dark primary flight feathers. The Jungle Babbler can be differentiated from the White-headed Babbler by its dark loreal zone and the absence of a contrasting light crown. Its nasal calls are also distinct from the high-pitched calls of the White-headed Babbler.
The Jungle Babbler is commonly found in forests and areas of cultivation. It adapts well to urban environments and can be frequently observed in gardens within large cities.
This species is widespread across the Indian subcontinent, with several subspecies occupying geographically isolated regions. It ranges from the northern parts of India, extending to Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bhutan, Assam, Odisha, and northeastern Andhra Pradesh.
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Jungle Babblers are highly social and gregarious, often found in flocks of seven to ten birds or more. They are known for their noisy demeanor, characterized by harsh mewing calls, chattering, squeaking, and chirping. They exhibit territorial behavior, defending their area against neighboring groups. These birds also display sentinel behavior while foraging and are known to mob predators such as snakes.
The Jungle Babbler's calls are harsh and nasal, a cacophony that often betrays the presence of a flock.
Breeding occurs throughout the year, with peaks observed between March–April and July–September in northern India. The nest is built within dense foliage, and the clutch typically consists of three to four deep greenish-blue eggs. The species is known to be parasitized by the Pied Crested Cuckoo and sometimes by the Common Hawk-Cuckoo.
The diet of the Jungle Babbler includes insects, grains, nectar, and berries. They play a significant role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations.
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