Journal ofthe Bombay Natural HistorySociety, 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 329-363 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES A NOTE ON THE OBSERVATION OFA PALM SQUIRREL IN THEKKADY, I . PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE, SOUTHERN INDIA Kumaran Sathasivam1 '29Jadamuni Koil Street,Madurai625 001,Tamil Nadu. India.Email: [email protected] I have regularly seen Jungle Striped Squirrels Squirrel was much brighter in appearance than the Jungle Funambulus tristriatus in semi-evergreen/moist deciduous StripedSquirrel.Aboutthedifferencebetweenthetwosquirrels, habitat atThekkady in theTouristZone ofthe PeriyarTiger Wroughton(1905)observed,“F. tristriatusis muchthedarker Reserve, southern India. ofthe two, the palest specimen I have seen being darkerthan OnJune02,2008,whenIwaswatchingapairofJungle the darkestpalmarum., the rufous vertex ofthe head which is StripedSquirrels thathaddescendedto the ground in search withoutexceptionintristriatusisoftenabsentinpalmarum...” of food scraps left by tourists, a Palm Squirrel appeared Ihave notseen palm squirrelsatThekkadypreviously. suddenly. It chased off one of the Jungle Striped Squirrels Dr. P.O. Nameer (pers. comm.) writes that my recent and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The Palm observation is interesting and that he has not seen the two Squirrel I saw was probably of the three-striped species, squirrelsco-existing. Funambuluspalmarum,which isfoundinTamil Nadutothe ACKNOWLEDGEMENT east ofPeriyarTigerReserve. Seeing the two species close together provided an opportunity to appreciate how distinct they are. The Palm I thank Dr. Nameerforhis comments on this note. REFERENCE Wroughton, R.C. (1905): "The”commonstripedpalmsquirrel.J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc. 16(3): 406-413. 2. BURROW STRUCTURE OF INDIAN BUSH RAT GOLUNDA ELLIOTI AND BROWN SPINY MOUSE MUS PLATYTHR1X IN TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU P. Sakthivel1-2and P. Neelanarayanan1-3 'P.G. andResearchDepartmentofZoology, Nehru MemorialCollege(Autonomous),Puthanampatti621 007,Tiruchirappalli Dt., TamilNadu,India. 2Email: [email protected], [email protected] 3Email: [email protected]. [email protected] Rodentsoccurinvirtuallyeveryterrestrialenvironment rodents have been reported for Bandicota bengalensis thatsupportslife (wild, agriculturalorurban). Mostrodents (BarnettandPrakash 1975;SivaprakasamandDurairaj 1995; areinhabitantsofburrows.The subterraneanmodeofliving Neelanarayanan etal. 1996), Mus booduga (Sivaprakasam provides the rodents home, protection from predators and and Durairaj 1995; Neelanarayanan etat. 1996), Millardia alsohelpsinthermoregulation(Prakashetal. 1965). Studies meltada (Urs 1968; Sivaprakasam and Durairaj 1995; on the burrowing habit of rodent pests are required to Neelanarayananetal. 1996),andTateraindica(Chandrahas understand their social organization and behaviour of and Krishnaswamy 1974; Barnett and Prakash 1975; Goyal dominance (Barnettand Prakash 1975; Prakashand Mathur and Ghosh 1993; Sivaprakasam and Durairaj 1995; 1987). Further, they also help to distinguish rodents from Neelanarayananetal. 1996). otherburrowinganimals,forpopulationestimation,placing There is not much published information availableon poison baits and physical control (Neelanarayanan et al. the nature of burrow patterns of the Indian Bush Rat 1996). The nature and internal structure ofburrows offield Golunda ellioti and Brown Spiny Mouse Mus platythrix. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Therefore, thepresent study wasundertaken toexaminethe 1 cm=18cm burrow structure with reference to the morphology and >Broodchamber anatomy along with its dimensions, ofthese two species in Tamil Nadu. Study area The present study was earned out in Puthanampatti, Vellakkalpatti, Thirupattur and Siruganur villages of Tiruchirappallidistrict(10°00'-11°30'N;77°45’-78°50'E). MostareaswherewestudiedtheburrowpatternsofG. ellioti and M. platythrix were dry interspersed with forest and Fig. 1: Burrow structure of Golunda ellioti cultivated lands. TheTiruchirappalli district has both fertile to the burrows, diameter ofthe entrance, horizontal length andcomparativelydrytractsforcropcultivation.Thepresent ofthe burrow (whether the main and emergency entrances study was carried out in the dry tracts of Tiruchirappalli areclearlyseenornot),numberofmainandemergencyexits district. The terrain ofthe study area is slightly undulating. were recorded. Thereafter, the burrows were dug out and Thegroundwaterisutilizedforirrigatingthecultivatedcrops. theirroutes, numberofblind alleys, numberofinternal and external soil plugging, numberofbrood andfoodchambers Material and methods andthetypeofnestingmaterialswererecordedassuggested The burrows of G. ellioti and M. platythrix were by Sivaprakasam and Durairaj (1995). The diameter ofthe searched with the help of local and experienced rodent brood chamber was also measured and recorded. All trappers. The identified burrows were studied visually for measurementsweretakenusingathreadandlatercalibrated their structure and nature ofburrow entrance, and noted as withameasuringtape. Dataaregivenasmeanwithstandard suggestedbyNeelanarayananetal. (1996).Thecropsnearest deviation (SD). Table 1: Morphometric measurements (cm) and other characteristicsof burrowsof Golunda ellioti(n=40) Resultsand discussion The burrows of rodents provide a relatively stable Parameters Mean ±S.D. microclimate, suitable breeding site and protection from weatherextremesandpredators. Burrowsandtheirstructure Main burrowentrancediameter 8.3 ±2.4 (length, depth and diameter) depend upon the species’ (4.5-13.0) Emergencyburrowentrancediameter 5.8 ±1.3 biological requirements and soil properties like texture, (4.5-8.0) moisture, aeration and chemical composition (Parshad and Vertical depth ofthe burrowfrom the ground level 46.8 ±25.3 Tripathi 2004). According to Parshad and Tripathi (2004), (11.5-98.5) rodents dig elongated, deep, and complex burrows in clay Horizontalwidth ofburrow 56.4±37.1 and loamy soils, which persist for longer periods whereas, (20.0-127.0) Numberofburrowopenings* burrows in sandysoilsare lessdeepandcomplexbecauseof Main Entrance 1.0 ±0 the limited stability and integrity of their tunnels and Emergencyopenings 1.0±0 chambers. Numberofsoil plugging* BurrowsofG. elliotiwereobservedinthebarren lands External NIL Internal NIL to agricultural fields with crops of groundnut (Arachis Numberofblind alleys* 1.2±0.4 hypogea) andredgram(Cajanuscajan).Theburrowsystem (1.0-2.0) ofG. ellioti was simple and characterized by the absence of Numberoffoodchambers* NIL heap ofsoil and its entrance always remained open (Fig. 1). Numberof brood chambers* 2 Thenumberofburrowopeningsperburrowsystemwastwo. Diameterofthe broodchambers 13.2 ±3.4 Similar descriptions have been made for G ellioti by Prater (6.0-16.5) Male' 1.0 ±0 (1971).ThemainburrowentrancediameterofG. elliotiranged Female' 1.0±0 from4.5 to 13.0cm with amean (±S.D)of8.3±2.4cm.The Litter' 3.6 ±1.9 mean emergency burrow entrance diameterofG. elliotiwas foundto be 5.8 ±1.3 cm (Table 1). (1.0-7.0) Values in parenthesesindicate range G. ellioti digs its burrow at the ground level. The ‘Valuesare not measurements mean (± SD) vertical depth of burrows of G. ellioti was 330 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES M. platythrix burrows had two openings. To confirm the presence of animals in burrows with closed entrances, theburrowentranceswereexcavated(/?=18)andanoccupant (M. platythrix, n=18) was present in all ofthem. Thus, it is inferred that the burrow entrances of the M. platythrix are highlyspecies-specific.Further,withthehelpofthiskeyone canidentifytheoccupantM.platythrixunderfieldconditions. The burrow system of M. platythrix was simple. In general, the burrow system ofM. platythrixhad an entrance hole and an emergency opening. The mean (± SD) diameter ofmainandemergencyburrowentranceofM.platythrixwas 6.9 ±1.4 cm and 5.6 ±0.9 cm, respectively. Mean vertical depth ofburrows ofM. platythrix was 36.9 ±24.1 cm. The mean horizontal length ofburrow systems was 76 ±43 cm. The number of external and internal soil pluggings in the burrow system ofM. platythrix was 1 (/i=15) and 2 (n=3) respectively. We observed mean numberofblind alleys in a burrow ofM. platythrix was 1.4 ±0.06. Food chambers and Table2: Morphometric measurements (cm) and other characteristicsof burrows of Musplatythrix(n= 18) Fig. 2: Burrowstructure of Musplatythrix Parameters Mean ±S.D. 46.8 ±25.3 cm.Themeanhorizontal lengthofburrow system was 56.4 ±37.1 cm. There was no external and internal soil Main burrowentrancediameter 6.9 ±1.4 plugging in the burrow system of G. ellioti. It is generally (5.0-9.5) observedthatthe mean numberofblind alleysin aburrow of Emergencyburrowentrancediameter 5.6 ±0.9 G. ellioti was 1.2 ±0.4 (Table 1). Food chambers and food (4.0-7.5) Vertical depth ofthe burrowfrom the ground level 36.9±24.1 hoarding behaviour were not observed in the burrows of (17.0-92.0) G ellioti.Earlier,BarnettandPrakash(1975),andPrakashand Horizontalwidthofburrow 76.0±43.0 Mathur(1987)describedtheburrowsofthisspeciesassimple. (22.0-183.5) Invariably all theburrows (n =40) excavated had two Numberofburrowopenings* brood chambers. The mean diameterofthe brood chambers Main Entrance 1.0±0 was found to be 13.2 ±3.4 cm. The mean number of Emergencyopenings 1.0 ±0 individuals in a burrow was one male, one female and 3.6 Numberofsoil plugging* External 1.0±0 ±1.9 litters for G. ellioti. Further, a study on the diet of (n=15) G. elliotiisrequiredtoconcludewhetherthisspeciesisapest Internal 2.0 ±0 ofagricultural crops ornot. (n=3) The Brown Spiny MouseMusplatythrixhada unique Numberofblind alleys* 1.4 ±0.06 pattern of burrow entrance. The burrow entrance of (1.0-3.0) M.platythrixhadasmalltomediumquantityofheapofmore Numberoffoodchambers* NIL Numberof Brood chambers* 1.3 ±0.5 orlessuniformsizedpebbles(Fig. 2). Prater(1971),andSoni (1.0-2.0) and Idris (2005) also describe the presence of the heap of Diameterofthe Broodchambers 12.1 ±2.2 pebbles at the burrow entrances of M. platythrix. Besides, (9.5-20.0) the burrows ofthis species were located in the barren lands Male' 1.1 ±0.3 near to agricultural lands. Parshad and Tripathi (2004) (1.0-2.0) reported the occurrence of M. platythrix burrows in Female' 1.0 ±0 sandyandgravelplains.Thisrodentspeciesclosesitsburrow Litter' 3.0 ±2.1 (1.0-6.0) entrance after entering. This is in confirmation of earlier descriptions of Prater (1971). The observed behaviour Values in parentheses indicate range ofthisrodentpestmightbetopreventtheentryofpredators. 'Valuesare notmeasurements J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 331 1 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES foodhoardingbehaviourwasnotobservedinthe burrowsof ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS M. plcitythrix(Table 2). Burrows of M. plcitythrix had one to two brood Our sincere thanks are due to UGC, Hyderabad (Link chambers (1.3 ±0.5). The mean diameter of the brood no. 804/05-UGC-SERO-1804 dated February 2005) for chambers was 12.1 ±2.2 cm. The brood chambers were extendingfinancial support.Wearethankfultothe Principal furnished with a bed ofpebbles. The present observation is and Head of the Department of Zoology, Nehru Memorial in accordance with the report of Prater (1971). The mean College (Autonomous), forencouragement andsupport. We number of individuals in a burrow was 1.1 ±0.3 (male), are grateful to the burrow diggers and rodent trappers for 1 ±0 (Female), and 3 ±2.1 (litter). their help during ourfield work. REFERENCES Barnett,S.A.&I.Prakash(1975):RodentsofEconomicImportance and Control of Indian desert gerbil, Meriones hurrianae in India. Arnold Heinemann, New Delhi and London.175 pp. (Jerdon)T. BombayNat. Hist. Soc. 62: 237-244. Chandrahas, R.K. & A.K. Krishnaswami (1974): Studies on the Prater,S.H.(1971):TheBookofIndianAnimals(Eleventhimpression). ecologyoftheIndiangerbil, TateraindicaHardwickein Kolar BombayNatural HistorySociety, Mumbai. 324pp. (Mysore). IndianJ. Med. Res. 62: 971-978. Parshad,V.R.&R.S.Tripathi(2004):Soilecologyandrodents.Rodent Goyal, S.P. & PK. Ghosh (1993): Burrow structure of two gerbil Newsletter28(1-2): 2-3. species of Thar desert, India. Acta Theriologica 38(4): Sivaprakasam,C. &G. Durairaj (1995): Burrowecologyoffourrice 453-456. field Rodents ofTamil Nadu, India. International Journal of Neelanarayanan,R,R. Nagarajan&R.Kanakasabai(1996):Burrow EcologyandEnvironmentSciences21: 231-239. morphology offield rodents in cauvery delta. J. BombayNat. Soni,B.K.&M.Idris(2005): Burrowingbehaviourofrodentsinrocky Hist. Soc. 93: 238-241. habitats inaridzone. RodentNewsletter29(1-4): 7-8. Prakash, I. & R.P. Mathur (1987): Management of Rodent Pests. Urs, Y.L. (1968): Habits and Habitats of rodents. Pp. 25-35. Indian CouncilofAgricultural Research, New Delhi. 133 pp. In: Majumdar, S.K. (Ed.): Manual ofRodent Control. Central Prakash,I.,C.GKumbakarani&A.Krishnan(1965):Eco-toxicology FoodTechnological Research Institute, Mysore. DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF THE WILD WATER BUFFALO 3. BUBALUSARNEE IN BHUTAN AnwaruddinChoudhury1 'TheRhinoFoundationforNatureinNEIndia,c/oAssamCo. ltd., Bamunimaidam,Guwahati781 021,Assam, India. Email: [email protected], [email protected] The Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo Bitbahts amee Kerr Bhutanbeingmountainousdoesnothavemuchhabitat (bubalisLinn.),henceforthWildWaterBuffalo,isaglobally for the Wild Water Buffalo, which requires grassland with threatenedspeciesandhasbeenlistedas ‘Endangered’ (IUCN water bodies, preferably on flat terrain. Owing to its 2007).OncewidespreadoverlargepartsofSouthandSouth- occurrence in the Manas National Park in Assam, India eastAsia, this rare bovine is now mainly confined to north- (Gee 1964; Choudhury 1994), which is located on the eastern India with small numbers in Nepal and Indo-China internationalboundary,therewasalwayschanceofanimals’ (Corbetand Hill 1992;Choudhury 1994).Theoccurrencein crossing over. The observations made so far indicates southern Bhutan has been mentioned by Blower (1986), that there are nine areas in Bhutan where the Wild Water Choudhury (1994) andWangchuketal. (2004). Buffalo is still seen or seen till the recent past. These are: I had visited parts of southern Bhutan since October (1) Gabhorukunda (Gobarkanda) (26° 46'-48' N; 90°49- 1985 (notfrequently); from September2004 toJune 2007, 53' E), (itisnotapoint location butastretchofgrassyarea) made frequent visits as part ofmy official work as Deputy (2) Mathanguri (Matharguri) (26° 47' N; 90° 58' E), Commissioner of Baksa district in Assam (having common (3) Nunmati (26° 47' N; 90° 59'E), (4) Rabang nullah (26° borderwithBhutan).Duringthesevisits,Ihadtheopportunity 49' N;91°04’E), (5)EastofDoimari(26°49’N; 91°06’E), toobservewildbuffaloes. Inthisnote,thedistribution,habitat (6) Kukulong(26°47’N;90°45’E), (7)Kalamati (26°47'N; and status of the wild water buffalo in Bhutan have been 90° 40' E), (8) Saralbhanga (26° 52’ N; 90° 15’ E) and discussed. (9) Jamduar (26° 44' N; 89° 52' E). 332 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008