VIDEO: Philautus ochlandrae (Please keep your speakers on)
Philautus ochlandrae is a recent addition to the list of frogs from Western Ghats. It was discovered in April 2007, from Kakkayam (Kozhikode), Kerala, by the Scientists of ZSI, Kozhikode and CES/IISC, Bangalore.
For more details, please refer ZSI e-NEWS, April 2009.
VIDEO: Arothron hispidus
The Stars and Stripes Puffer, Arothron hispidus, lives in tropical and warm temperate marine waters throughout the Indo-Pacific. Its habitats range from estuaries to coral reefs. It grows to 50 cm in length. Like all fishes in the family, this species contains a potentially lethal toxin (tetrodotoxin) in the skin and internal organs. It feeds on algae, corals, sponges, starfishes, molluscs, anemones and other invertebrates. This fish is also known as Stars and Stripes Toadfish. It has the ability to inflate itself with water as a defense mechanism [Videographed at MARC/ZSI, Digha].
VIDEO: Ostracoda
This metazoan Cyprid Ostracod (Phylum Arthropoda, Class Ostracoda) is a zooplankton with free swimming capability found in the fresh water. Between the two smooth valves of the bean shaped carapace is contained the body and the cirri constantly beat to create a water current that brings food (micro-organisms/detritus) to the animal. Ostracods are water quality indicators [Videographed at SRS/ZSI, Chennai].
VIDEO: Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus)
The Yellow – bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus), is a widely distributed species seen throughout the tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It prefers shallow inshore waters. It can swim backwards and forwards. The venom is neurotoxic and 10 times more venomous than that of a cobra. However, no human fatalities are known. This snake feeds on small surface-dwelling fish and eels. The maximum length recorded is 113 cm. [Videographed at ZSI, Calicut].
VIDEO: Exhibition on Invasive Alien Species
The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed on 22nd May 2009 at ZSI, Calicut by arranging an exhibition on the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of plants and animals in India. 35 species (19 of plants and 16 of animals, including live ones) were exhibited with explanatory charts, besides displaying pictorial charts of 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species.
VIDEO: Rotifera
Rotifers, commonly called "Wheel animalcules", are microscopic aquatic animals. But for a few, most species of rotifers are about 200 to 500 micrometers long. The name "rotifer" is derived from the Latin word that means "wheel-bearer" which has reference to the crown of cilia around the mouth of the rotifer, the rapid movement of which in some species makes them appear to rotate like a wheel. The diet of rotifers consists of dead or decomposing organic matter, unicellular algae and other phytoplankton which are primary producers in aquatic communities. Rotifers in turn, fall prey to carnivorous secondary consumers like shrimps and crabs. Of the 1984 species known to occur in the world, 330 are present in India [Videographed at SRS/ZSI, Chennai].
VIDEO: Freshwater Medusa
Limnocnida indica Annandale, 1912 is a freshwater medusa (Phylum: Cnidaria,
Class: Hydrozoa, Order: Limnomedusae, Family: Olindiidae) that can be found in pools and streams in the Western Ghats. The smallest medusa measures about 1.75mm in diameter and the fully grown ones, 15mm. The present video has been recorded at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, by the scientists of ZSI (WGFRS), Kozhikode (Calicut).
The Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), also known as Estuary cod, is a species of fish in the Serranidae family, inhabiting shallow tropical and subtropical waters around the world. It has a characteristic large mouth. Estuary cods are ambush predators of fishes and invertebrates. It attains a maximum length up to 3 m and weight up to 400 kg. They live for around 17 years. It is a commercial food fish. The specimen in the video is the oldest displayed animal in the aquarium of MARC, ZSI. It was collected from Digha in December 2005, when it had a length of 7cm. It is still surviving in the aquarium and has grown to 60cm in length [Videographed at MARC, Digha].
VIDEO: Grey Tufted Langur
Semnopithecus priam Blyth, the Grey Tufted Langur, was formerly considered as one of the races of the Hanuman Langur, Semnopithecus entellus. The species is distributed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh in India and is also found in Sri Lanka. It inhabits tropical dry evergreen forests, riparian forests, dry deciduous forests, plantations and gardens. This gregarious Langur lives in troops of 18-25 individuals consisting of both the sexes of all age groups. The species is known for its unique association in the forest with the Spotted deer, each warning the other on the approach of predators [Videographed at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala by the scientists of WGRC/ZSI, Kozhikode].
VIDEO: Indian Star Tortoise
The Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is found in the dry areas and scrub forests of north-western, south eastern and southern India. Outside India, it is also found in eastern Pakistan and northern and eastern Sri Lanka. It has a very convex, black carapace with yellow radiating streaks. It can grow 10 inches long. They are mostly herbivorous and will occasionally eat carrion. The species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade, though illegal to trade. A conservative estimate of the yearly toll on the Indian population is 10,000 to 20,000 animals, taken from the wild [Videographed at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala by the scientists of WGRC/ZSI, Kozhikode].
