Samuel Lalronunga | Mizoram University (original) (raw)

Papers by Samuel Lalronunga

Schistura andrewi, a new species of loach, is described from a tributary of Kaladan River in Mizo... more Schistura andrewi, a new species of loach, is described from a tributary of Kaladan River in Mizoram, northeastern India. It is distinguished from its congeners in having the following combination of characters: long axillary pelvic lobe; complete lateral line with 82–95 pores; 2 unbranched dorsal and anal fin rays; 6–7 broad, wider than interspace, black bars on the body; 2 rows of black spots horizontally across the dorsal fin; a deeply emarginate caudal fin, with 2 vertical rows of black spots across the fin, and 9 + 8 branched caudal fin rays.

This paper present the results of the nests survey of the King Cobra in the Aizawl District of Mi... more This paper present the results of the nests survey of the King Cobra in the Aizawl District of Mizoram, India with data collected between the 2009 and 2012 during the nesting seasons. A number of eighteen (18) nests were monitored during this period. Collection on the data of location, elevation, vegetation, nesting materials, nest dimensions, clutch size, egg size, temperature and relative humidity inside and outside the nest, and incubation periods were recorded. During the survey period, all nests were sighted between the months of April and July, and documentations on the various stages of the embryological development within the egg shells and the duration of the female King Cobra sitting on the nest were recorded. The range of clutch size 14 -35 in the wild is a new information on the biology of King cobra, where the existing literature reported the clutch size of between 20 -43. All the nests were found in between the elevation of 161 m to 1170 m asl. This finding also provided the habitats, distribution and extension range of King cobra in Mizoram.

A total of eleven species of wild silk moths belonging to eight genera were sampled from Hmuifang... more A total of eleven species of wild silk moths belonging to eight genera were sampled from Hmuifang community forest, a tourist spot near Aizawl, Mizoram from 2011 to 2013 using standard practices. These findings constitute 27.5 % and 45.83 % of India and northeast India respectively, depicting that the study area is high in diversity. However, several current development programs including laying of roads, construction of several concrete buildings like rest houses, cafeteria, auditorium, retaining walls etc. by departments of Tourism and Local Administrative Department (L.A.D.) and movement of heavy vehicles, labors and illegal fire woods collection by the local dwellers cause disturbance posing immediate threats to these habitats. This will cause widespread of negative effect not only on wild silk moths and the natural resources which they are dependent upon but also on other fauna. So there is an urgent need to conserve and restore the biodiversity of wild silk moths and other flora and fauna of this area so as to counter human impacts and to immediately implement monitoring schemes to evaluate their present status and their dynamics over time.

Artificial nest boxes were constructed by Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Network (BIOCONE) ... more Artificial nest boxes were constructed by Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Network (BIOCONE) using an indigenous wood Tetrameles nudiflora (Thingdawl). A total of 140 artificial nest boxes were constructed during the period of 2011 to 2013. The project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Mizoram. These artificial nest boxes were placed at random places in different localities within Aizawl city and other parts of Mizoram. The site of placement of these nest boxes were categorized into two groups: disturbed and undisturbed/protected areas. In the present investigation, three species of birds were recorded nesting in the artificial nesting boxes viz. Khawmual Chinrang (Oriental Magpie Robin -Copsychus saularis), Tuklo (Blue-throated Barbet -Megalaima asiatica) and White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus). It was also found that the highest nesting rate, 87.5% was observed during the period of 2012 to 2013. During the three years of observation, 100% nesting success was achieved without any predation or chick mortality. With the help of statistical analysis, it was found that the rate of nesting behavior in the nest boxes was higher in the disturbed area than that of undisturbed/protected area, which was assumed that the scarcity of nesting materials and suitable places in the disturbed area reflected and favors the occupation of artificial nests in the disturbed area.

Fishes of the genus Schistura McClelland are collected from the two major drainage of Mizoram viz... more Fishes of the genus Schistura McClelland are collected from the two major drainage of Mizoram viz. Barak and Kolodyne drainage. 12 species of Schistura are documented in this study, out of which 3 species could not be readily identified to the species level. 7 species are collected from Barak drainage and 5 species from Kolodyne drainage. The threat and conservation status of the genus is discussed and the key to the Schistura of Barak drainage and Kolodyne drainage of Mizoram is also given.

Psilorhynchus khopai, a new species of Psilorhynchidae, is described from Tuisi River, a tributar... more Psilorhynchus khopai, a new species of Psilorhynchidae, is described from Tuisi River, a tributary of Kaladan River, in Mizoram, India. The species is proposed to be a member of the Psilorhynchus homaloptera species group and can be distinguished from its congeners in having a forked caudal-fin with 9 + 9 principal caudal rays, 14-17 predorsal scale rows, 39-41 lateral-line scale rows, mid-lateral body with 9-12 indistinct small dark brown round markings forming a lateral stripe and, in life, a faint gold stripe along dorsal midline with 4-5 black spots between dorsal fin and caudal fin base.

Schistura maculosa, a new species of loach, is described from Tuingo and Pharsih Rivers, tributar... more Schistura maculosa, a new species of loach, is described from Tuingo and Pharsih Rivers, tributaries of Tuivai River (Barak drainage) in Mizoram, northeastern India. It is distinguished from other closely related Schistura species in having an axillary pelvic lobe; an incomplete lateral line; 20-30 narrow black bars on the body; 3-4 rows of black spots horizontally across the dorsal-fin; a slightly emarginate caudal-fin, with 5-7 rows of black spots more or less regularly arranged vertically on rays across the fin, and 8+8 branched caudal-fin rays.

Detailed structure of the oral morphology of various developmental stages in relation to feeding ... more Detailed structure of the oral morphology of various developmental stages in relation to feeding behaviour of Euphlytis cyanophlyctis (Dicroglossidae) was studied for the first time with the help of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Development of mouthparts began soon after hatching and at stage 25. There is no ontogenetic variation in labial teeth rows of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis. The labial teeth row formula (LTRF) i.e. 1/2 is constant throughout the larval stages until the metamorphs stage. It is hypothesized that as an individual grows larger, the morphological changes in its feeding apparatus, including the number of teeth and gape size, allow a wider selection of prey items. The present observation revealed that the tadpole of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis is more of a bottom dweller, scraping algae and also feeding on macrophytes with the help of its ventrally situated heavy and keratinized beaks. During the early stages of feeding, they feed mostly on detritus and plant materials and during the later stages of feeding they consumed both phytoplankton and zooplankton. Tadpoles soon stop feeding at stage 42 and after metamorphosis the froglet start feeding on a carnivorous diet. The detritus packed along the length of larval intestines was an indicative of its habitat as a benthic detritus feeder. It was also found that the tadpoles are facultative suspensionfeeders (Orton's type 4) and wide spectrum of food choices indicated that they are highly adapted to inhabit various types of habitat, stream, ponds, lake, loticconnected shallow standing pools and ponds.

Citation: Lalronunga, S., Lalnuntluanga & Lalramliana (2013). Garra dampaensis, a new ray-finned ... more Citation: Lalronunga, S., Lalnuntluanga & Lalramliana (2013). Garra dampaensis, a new ray-finned fish species (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Mizoram, northeastern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(9): 4368-4377; http://dx.

This study describes Pseudolaguvia nubila, a new miniature sisorid catfish from the Kaladan River... more This study describes Pseudolaguvia nubila, a new miniature sisorid catfish from the Kaladan River drainage in northeastern India. Pseudolaguvia nubila can be distinguished from congeners in having a combination of a mottled brown body with yellowish bands, a weakly projecting snout in which the premaxillary teeth are barely exposed when the mouth is closed, head width 19.7-21.7% standard length (SL), eye diameter 10.8-14.0% head length (HL), interorbital distance 25.6-31.8% HL, absence of a pale Y-shaped marking on the dorsal surface of the head and supraoccipital process, a smooth anterior edge of the dorsal spine, dorsal-fin spine length 16.4-19.3% SL, length of dorsal-fin base 15.1-17.3% SL, 7-8 serrations on the anterior edge of the pectoral spine, pectoral-fin spine length 18.1-22.0% SL, dorsal to adipose distance 13.1-16.8% SL, length of adipose-fin base 14.2-15.9% SL, pelvic-fin length 15.8-18.5% SL, body depth at anus 13.9-17.1% SL, caudal-peduncle length 15.7-20.2% SL, caudal-peduncle depth 9.1-11.1% SL, and caudal-fin length 20.3-25.3% SL.

During the extensive survey conducted in Mizoram University campus, (23 o 23 o o

Conference Presentations by Samuel Lalronunga

Catfish are a diverse group of fish representing more than 3,000 species under 478 genera and 36 ... more Catfish are a diverse group of fish representing more than 3,000 species under 478 genera and 36 families. They constitute 1/3 of the freshwater fish fauna of the globe. Diversity of catfish in India is the highest in Northeastern Hills, Gangetic River System and the Western Ghats. Mizoram, situated in the north eastern part of India, covers an area of 21,081km2 and all the rivers are draining into three major drainage namely Barak (Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin), Karnaphuli and Kolodyne basin. Kolodyne River (Chhimtuipui in Mizoram) is a drainage that flows between the Ganga-Brahmaputra drainage and Chindwin-Irrawaddy drainage which originates from the western face of the Chin Hills in Myanmar and flows into the Bay of Bengal near Sittwe in Myanmar. Ichthyological field survey was conducted during May 2010 to August 2011 from 5 randomly selected stations in 5 rivers flowing to Kolodyne drainage and their tributaries of Mizoram. A total of 10 species of catfish including two undetermined Pterocryptis sp. and Amblyceps sp. under 6 families and 8 genera were recorded during the study. Out of the 6 families, occurrence is dominated by Sisoridae (40%) followed by Bagridae (20%) and Siluridae, Schilbeidae, Amblycipitidae, Erethistidae (10% each). The study also revealed the new occurrence report of 3 genus of catfish viz. Pterocryptis, Amblyceps and Bagarius from Kolodyne drainage of Mizoram. Previous ichthyological studies from this drainage were also reviewed and 16 species of catfish under 6 families and 9 genera can be ascertained from Kolodyne drainage of the state. We identified liming and dynamite fishing to be the most destructive threats to not only catfishes but also all the freshwater fishes of this area. Overfishing and introduction of invasive exotic food fishes into dam reservoirs and lowland river areas were the other most critical threats.

During the extensive survey conducted in Mizoram University campus, (23 o 23 o o