New species of cat fish found in Mizoram

AIZAWL, June 27: Zoologists claimed to have discovered a new species of sisorid cat fish in Mizoram. The species of cat fish named Pseudolaguvia virgulata is recently discovered from the Barak river drainage in Mizoram, said Dr Lalramliana, Assistant Professor of Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram. This finding has been published in Zootaxa by Dr Heok Hee Ng, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore. ''Members of the sisorid genus Pseudolaguvia are small catfishes found in rivers draining the sub-Himalayan region and Myanmar,'' Dr Lalramliana said.

''They superficially resemble miniature species of Glyptothorax in overall morphology and in having a thoracic adhesive apparatus with a median depression, but can be distinguished in having prominent postcoracoid processes,'' he added.

Dr Lalramliana told reporters that eleven species of Pseudolaguvia are considered valid so far and with this it become twelve. The new species can be distinguished from congeners in having a brown body with two or three narrow, pale longitudinal stripes and a pale Y-shaped marking on the dorsal surface of the head. Dr Lalramliana highlighted that fish fauna in Mizoram is poorly documented and credit should be given to Dr Tawnenga, Principal Pachhunga University College as he is the one who gave support to document the fish fauna of Mizoram which is undertaken by department of Zoology of the institution.

Zoologists have also recently discovered a new frog species at a national lake in Mizoram, about 100 kms from the state capital Aizawl.

The new frog species - Leptolalax Tamdil, named after the lake in which it was found - is diagnosed with unique features such as eyelids with tubercles, distinct tympanum and unusual folds, undiluted toe tips with dermal fringes, long hind limbs and distinct colour patches. (Agencies)

Cuckoo signals warmer Manipur - Environment experts see signs of climate change in bird sighting

KHELEN THOKCHOM

A cuckoo: Rare sighting Imphal, June 27: The vagrant cuckoo that carefully chooses its temporary resting grounds depending on climate and food has been sighted in Manipur after several decades — a sure sign of the state's warmer weather. "It was recently reported that cuckoos (locally known as kokil) were sighted by villagers in the hills. Though people said there were cuckoos in Manipur, they were not sighted in the past several years in the state," environmentalist and ornithologist Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said. Experts said cuckoos are found in other parts of India, which are normally warmer. They can also be spotted in the Corbett National Park, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Pench National Park and Barwala Bird Sanctuary. "Drifting species like cuckoo is normally found in warmer places. Their arrival in Manipur simply says that the state's climactic condition has undergone a sea change and the temperature is becoming similar to hotter cities like Calcutta," Ranjan Singh said. The state, which normally received heavy rainfall, has been suffering from rain deficit for the past 30 years, according to experts. It even experienced a draught last year. As a fallout, the temperature shot up. About two decades ago, the maximum temperature hovered around 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. Last year, the maximum temperature rose to 36 degrees Celsius. In the early 20th century, Manipur had about 500 wetlands. Today, the few remaining ones — 19 according to a recent survey — are on the verge of drying up because of the climate change. The change is also affecting fish, with a number of local species, nganap, ngamu, ngaton and khabak now on the verge of extinction. Widespread deforestation could also be one of the reasons for the gradual rise in temperature, experts said.