Discoveries of two new Mogrus species (Araneae: Salticidae) and notable records from India
This study provides taxonomic contributions to the genus Mogrus Simon, 1882 from India, with the descriptions of two new species: Mogrus shushka Tripathi, Kadam & Prajapati sp. nov. and Mogrus pune Tripathi, Kulkarni & Kadam sp. nov. Furthermore, the male of Mogrus rajasthanensis Caleb, Chatterjee, Tyagi, Kundu & Kumar, 2017 is described for the first […]
Trait-mediated responses of frog communities to urbanisation in a tropical biodiversity hotspot, the Western Ghats of India
The paper demonstrates that while frog species’ richness peaks at the urban–forest edge, specialized reproductive modes, such as arboreal and fossorial types, face high vulnerability to urban changes and habitat loss in the Western Ghats. The study highlights that functional traits, rather than just species identity, are critical for determining survival in rapidly expanding tropical […]
River interlinking and biodiversity risks in Indian freshwater ecosystems
India’s National River Linking Project (NRLP) is one of the world’s most ambitious engineering feats. But what is the cost to our ancient river biotas? New research in Scientific Reports reveals that connecting isolated basins could act as ‘ecological highways’ for invasive alien species (IAS).
Further notes on Indian Langelurillus Próchniewicz, 1994 (Araneae: Salticidae), with the description of two new species
We describe two new species, Langelurillus sahyadri Sanap, Tripathi, Thackeray & Caleb sp. nov. (♂♀) from Maharashtra and Langelurillus udaipurensis Tripathi, Sanap & Caleb sp. nov. (♂) from Rajasthan. Additionally, the previously unknown females of L. lacteus Sanap, Joglekar & Caleb, 2017 and L. onyx Caleb, Sanap, Joglekar & Prajapati, 2017 are described for the […]
Woodpeckers as indicators of non-picid bird diversity across seasons in the non-protected forests of Eastern Himalaya
Woodpeckers, as keystone species, are critical indicators of forest ecosystem health due to their cavity excavation and sensitivity to habitat changes. Woodpecker diversity is hypothesized to correlate with that of other bird groups due to their role as indicators of habitat quality, resource availability, and ecological integrity. This study evaluates the potential of woodpeckers as […]
A Rare Case of the Presence of Ocelli in a Worker of Aenictus pachycerus (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
The worker caste in species of the genus Aenictus Shuckard, 1840 is entirely blind, devoid of compound eyes and ocelli. In contrast, males of the same species possess large compound eyes and three prominent ocelli, which facilitate orientation and navigation during nuptial flights. In a rare observation, the presence of ocelli was documented in a […]
Tough Toad Ahead: Ontogenetic Variation in Thermal Tolerance Defines Life-stage Vulnerability in Duttaphrynus Melanostictu
Environmental temperature can critically impact the performance and survival of ectotherms. Assessing the ability to tolerate increasing temperatures and determining coping strategies, especially in vulnerable taxa such as amphibians, is therefore crucial. Yet, little is known about the thermal traits of amphibians in megadiverse regions such as Asia.
Technopolitics of water appropriation: How Mumbai claims hydrological dominance
Examines water appropriation at the metropolitan scale, foregrounding inequities in intra-metropolitan water distribution Mumbai appropriated water within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region through formal planning mechanisms A river basin development approach was strategically used to control mainland water resources for a city on an island Water originally reserved for irrigation was diverted to Mumbai by framing […]
Technopolitics of water appropriation: How Mumbai claims hydrological dominance in its metropolitan region
Increasing urbanisation and unsustainable water use practices are intensifying water demand in cities, with over 80 large cities worldwide experiencing severe water shortages over the past two decades.In the past, cities could tap unclaimed water resources. However, with increasing water demand from urban, industrial, and irrigation sectors, along with growing competition for water, this is […]
Reading the Aravallis through maps and law [Analysis]
A spatial analysis across Aravalli states shows profound consequences of reframing the definition of what counts as a hill and range in one of the world’s oldest mountain systems. In Rajasthan, over 70% of the current Aravalli extent would lose protection with the new definition, if passed. In Gujarat and Haryana, the figure rises to […]
