Abstract

Three new species of Rheotanytarsus Thienemann and Bause are described and illustrated from India. R. nudicornus n. sp. belonging to the aquilus species group is described as adult male and pupa, R. spinicornus n. sp. in the muscicola group is described as adult male, pupa, and larva, and R. caputimberus in the trivittatus group is described as adult male with damaged pupa. A possible placement and inclusion of these three new species from India and other seven species recorded from the Oriental China in the key to males of genus Rheotanytarsus of Kyerematen et al. are proposed. A probable placement and inclusion of the 2 new species from India in the key to pupae of Rheotanytarsus of Kyerematen et al. are also stated. Diagnoses of the muscicola group and trivittatus group are emended.

1. Introduction

The genus Rheotanytarsus Thienemann and Bause is a diverse predominant group occurring in nearly all lotic water recorded from all biogeographic regions except Antarctica comprising more than 100 nominal worldwide species [1]. The larvae of Rheotanytarsus are rheobiontic, filter feeding using nets stretching between the anterior “arms” of their characteristic cases. The silk mesh retains suspended detritus from the water flowing past the case. Detritus are utilized as food and for dwelling material by the larvae [1]. Most larvae live in moderately fast-to-slow flowing rivers, streams, and creeks and rarely in stagnant water—more likely in near-shore habitats in wind—driven currents on lakes [2]. The larvae may be phoretic on a number of other aquatic invertebrates including naiads of odonates, may flies, larvae of caddis flies, megalopteran insects, and gastropod molluscs [3].

Most species are described based on male adults including their distinctive genitalia; fewer are also known from their immature stages as Lehmann [4] described many western European species with their pupae while Cranston [5] did for Australian ones. “Composition of tentative species groups” of the genus Rheotanytarsus based on both pupal exuviae and adult males made by Sæther and Kyerematen [6] has been followed here. Of the three new species, R. nudicornus n. sp. belongs to the aquilus species group described as adult male and pupa, R. spinicornus n. sp. in the muscicola group as adult male, pupa, and larva, and R. caputimberus n. sp. in the trivittatus group as adult male and damaged pupa. A possible position and insertion of these three proposed Indian species and other seven species reported from Oriental China [7] including four species, namely, R. bullus, R. liuae, R. polychaetus, and R. quadratus described by Wang and Guo [7], R. tamatertius Sasa of Palaearctic Japan, R. buculicaudus Kyerematen, Andersen & Sæther of Ghana and R. muscicola Thienemann of Holarctic Region including Palaearctic China in the key to known males of genus Rheotanytarsus of Kyerematen et al. [2] are proposed. A probable placement and inclusion of the 2 new species from India in the key to known pupae of Rheotanytarsus of Kyerematen et al. [2] are also provided. Moubayed described Rheotanytarsus orientalis [8] and Rheotanytarsus thailandensis [9] from Thailand. Kyerematen et al. [2] made a review of the 26 species of Oriental Rheotanytarsus. Chaudhuri et al. [10] recorded four species of the genus from India. Later Wang & Guo [7] reviewed the genus from China stating seven species from Oriental China. With the addition of three new species here described, the number of species now increases to seven from India and thirty-six from the Oriental Region. Diagnoses of the muscicola group and trivittatus group are emended after examination of Rheotanytarsus spinicornus n. sp. and Rheotanytarsus caputimberus n. sp., respectively.

2. Material and Methods

The larvae collected from the streams of the Darjeeling–Sikkim, Himalaya, were reared in the glass vials containing substratum of the natural habitat plugged with cotton. The specimens were mounted on microslides following the method of Hazra et al. [11]. Morphological terminologies and abbreviations follow Sæther [12] and Epler et al. [1]. Measurements are expressed in micrometers (μm) except the total length and wing length which are in millimetres (mm) with the ranges suffixed by “” in parentheses denoting the number of specimens considered.

Types of the new species specimens now retained with the entomological collections of the Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan (India), will be deposited at the National Zoological Collections (NZC), Kolkata, in due course.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. The aquilus Group [6]

Rheotanytarsus nudicornus n. sp. http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/4A09B167-16BE-43E4-ACE8-432D832DDBDF (Figures 1-2).

3.1.1. Studied Specimens

Holotype (male with pupal exuviae) (reared) (Type number B.U. Ent. 268), India, Sikkim, Jorethang (27°20′00′′N; 88°35′00′′E), 31/iii/1996, N. Hazra leg. Paratype (1 male), as holotype.

3.1.2. Etymology

From the Latin nudus, bare, and cornus, horn, referring to the bare thoracic horn of the pupa.

3.1.3. Description

Adult Male ( = 2) (Figure 1). Total length 2.40–2.5 mm. Wing length 1.56 mm. Total length/wing length 1.54–1.61. Wing length/length of profemur 2. Thorax light brown, abdomen and legs pale yellow.

Head. AR 0.48–0.50; flagellomere 12 (Fm 12) 192–196 μm long. Eye with 60–64 μm long dorsomedial extension. Temporal setae 6, including 2 inner verticals (IV), 2 outer verticles (OV) and 2 postoculars (Po). Clypeus with 17–19 setae. Tentorial length 105 μm, 19 μm wide at sieve pore, 9 μm wide at posterior tentorial pit. Palpomere lengths (I–V): 27 μm, 30 μm, 84 μm, 93 μm, 117 μm.

Thorax. Acrostichals 12–14; dorsocentrals 9-10; scutellars 9-10.

Wing (Figure 1(a)). Membrane covered with setae, especially in distal half. Costal length 1.59 mm. Costa not extended. CR 0.90. VR 1.51. Sc, M and Cu1 bare, with 16–18 setae; 7–9; 60–64; 54–56; 48–52; Cu 60–64; PCu 68–70; An 26–28. Cell m with 10–12 setae, about 68, about 10, cu and an combined about 40 setae. absent. RM well proximal to FCu.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia (ti) 22–24 μm long; spurs of mid ti unequal 20–22 μm and 32–34 μm long including 36–38 of comb; of hind ti spurs 26–28 μm and 36–38 μm long including 40–42 of comb. Width at the apex of fore tibia 36–40 μm; mid tibia 32–34 μm; hind tibia 38–40 μm. Lengths and proportions of leg segments as in Table 1.

Hypopygium (Figures 1(b)1(f)). Tergite IX with 16–18 setae, anal tergite band V-shaped, separate, not joined by basal tergite band. Anal point 40–42 μm long, 8–10 μm wide at base, 6 μm wide at apex. Crest narrowly V-shaped and basally open, 40–44 μm long. Phallapodeme 45 μm long, transverse sternapodeme 54 μm long. Superior volsella (Figure 1(d)) 45 μm long, oval with knob like little apical projection; median volsella (Figure 1(e)) relatively short, 33 μm long, subulate setae fused into plate, not extending beyond both superior and inferior volsella; inferior volsella (Figure 1(f)) 60 μm long with 11–13 setae at apex. Gonocoxite 81 μm long; gonostylus 87 μm long, 26–28 μm wide at mid point with distal part not abruptly narrowed. HR 0.93, HV 2.75.

Pupa ( = 2) (Figure 2). Total length 3.51 mm. Exuviae little dark.

Cephalothorax. Frontal apotome (Figure 2(a)) rugulose. Frontal setae 46–48 μm long, seated medially, arising from tubercles. Thoracic horn (Figure 2(b)) 216 μm long, slender, pointed at the apex and completely bare. Thorax smooth, wing sheath with prominent nose (Figure 2(c)), 18–21 μm long. Two antepronotals, one median antepronotal 36 μm long and one lateral antepronotal 18 μm long. Three precorneals, anterior one 63 μm long, lemelliform; median one 36 μm long and posterior 36 μm long. Dorsocentrals Dc1 and Dc2 paired 14–18 μm and 10–12 μm long respectively and Dc3 and Dc4 also paired, 20–24 μm and 6–10 μm long respectively; distance between two paired dorsocentrals 78–82 μm.

Abdomen (Figures 2(d)–2(g)). Tergite I bare. Tergites II–V with anterior pair of spines of circular patches. Tergites III–V with extensive shagreen present posterior of circular patches extending over and beyond the first dorsal seta, most pronounced on tergite V. Pair of circular patches on tergite V smaller than others. Median shagreen essentially absent, weak and sparse shagreen present caudolaterally on tergites IV-V. Number of spines on patches tergites II–V: 94–100; 84–88; 70–74; 44–48. Tergite II with additional few shagreen of very fine spinules just above the hook row; hook row small, not dividing medially, occupying 0.08 μm width of the segment width, containing about 36–40 hooklets (Figure 2(e)). Conjunctives without shagreen. Segment II with 2 L setae, III with 3 fine L setae; IV with 2 L setae and 1 posterior LS seta; V with 3 LS setae; VI-VII with 4 LS setae; VIII (Figure 2(f)) with 5 LS setae. Caudolateral spur (Figure 2(g)), single, 22–25 μm long. Shagreen present anterolaterally on anal lobe, 117 μm long and 163 μm wide with 34–36 taeniae in fringe, longest taenia 180–192 μm long. Anal lobe (Figure 2(f)) with one hair-like dorsal seta 36 μm long. ALR 1.45, G/F 1.71.

3.1.4. Remarks

Rheotanytarsus nudicornus n. sp. is close to Afrotropical species R. aquilus Kyerematen & Sæther [13] in number of flagellomeres, wing length, number of acrostichals, absence of basal tergite band, median volsella not reaching beyond the apex of superior volsella but differs in AR, HR, shape of median volsella, anal point and anal crest. The species may be separated from other species of the aquilus group including oriental species R. bullus Wang & Guo [7], R. kuantanensis Kyerematen, Andersen & Sæther [2], R. madarihatensis Kyerematen, Andersen & Sæther [2], and R. polychaetus Wang & Guo [7], with 12 flagellomeres and gonostylus not abruptly narrowed by the following combination of characters: (i) anal tergite band V-shaped not joined by basal tergite band, (ii) anal crest narrowly V-shaped and open at the base, (iii) superior volsella oval with knob-like small apical projection, (iv) subulate setae of median volsella fused to form a plate in adult male, and (v) bare thoracic horn, without a median bend, (vi) tergites II–V with anterior pair of spines of circular patches, (vii) posterior spinules on tergite II undivided, and (viii) anal lobe with hair-like dorsal seta of the pupa.

3.2. The muscicola Group [6]

Emended Diagnosis. Anal lobe of pupa with or without dorsal seta and superior volsella of male with or without knob-like or slightly hooked posterior extension.

Rheotanytarsus spinicornus n. sp. http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/CDE958CA-F272-4CB9-B8EA-2B85D6C3DB0A (Figures 35).

3.2.1. Studied Specimens

Holotype (male with pupal and larval exuviae) (reared) (Type number B.U. Ent. 269), India, West Bengal, Darjeeling (27°05′00′′N; 88°26′67′′E), 23/v/1996, N. Hazra leg; Paratypes (4 males with pupal exuviae) (reared), as holotype.

3.2.2. Etymology

From the Latin spina, spine, and cornus, horn, referring to the numerous/many spinules of the thoracic horn of the pupa.

3.2.3. Description

Adult Male ( = 5) (Figure 3). Total length 1.85–1.88 mm. Wing length 1.37–1.4 mm. Total length/wing length 1.34–1.35. Wing length/length of profemur 1.9–1.95. Thorax, abdomen and legs pale yellow.

Head. AR 0.31–0.38; flagellomere 13 (Fm 13) 106–110 μm long with a large seta 50–62 μm long. Eye with 42–50 μm long dorsomedial extension. Temporal setae 6-7, including 2 inner verticals (IV), 3 outer verticals (OV) and 1-2 postoculars (Po). Clypeus with 19–21 setae. Tentorium not measurable. Palpomere lengths (I–V): 18–20 μm; 26–34 μm; 56–68 μm; 86–102 μm; 98–126 μm.

Thorax. Acrostichals 12-13; dorsocentrals 11–13; scutellars 8.

Wing (Figure 3(a)). Membrane densely covered with setae, especially in distal half. Costal length 1.24 mm. Costa not extended. CR 0.90. VR 1.40. Sc, M and RM bare, with 22–26 setae; 28–32; 64–66; M1+2 48–52; M3+4 104–108; Cu 32–34; Cu1 22–26; PCu 46–48; An 25. Cell m with 5–10 setae, about 200, about 50, cu and an combined 25 setae. RM well proximal to FCu.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia (ti) 20–24 μm long; spurs of mid ti unequal 24–28 μm and 36–38 μm long including 12–14 of comb; spurs of hind ti 28–30 μm and 30–32 μm including 12–16 of comb. Width at the apex of fore tibia 26–28 μm; mid tibia 34–36 μm; hind tibia 32–36 μm. Lengths and proportions of leg segments as in Table 2.

Hypopygium (Figures 3(b)3(f)). Tergite IX with 11–13 setae and prominent shoulder. Anal tergite band V-shaped with medially joined 33 μm long basal tergite band. Anal point spatulate 58–62 μm long, 8 μm wide at base, 6 μm wide at apex; crest nearly V-shaped, open. Phallapodeme 27 μm long, coxapodeme 45 μm long, lateral sternapodeme 57 μm long, transverse sternapodeme 54 μm long. Superior volsella (Figure 3(d)) 50–52 μm long, 15 μm wide, ovoid; median volsella (Figure 3(e)) 40–42 μm long with subulate setae fused into a plate with apical point not extending beyond both superior volsella and inferior volsella; inferior volsella (Figure 3(f)) 42–44 μm long with 7-8 setae and microtrichia. Gonocoxite 56–58 μm long; Gonostylus 84–88 μm long, abruptly narrowed distally. HR 0.66–0.67, HV 1.67.

Pupa ( = 5) (Figure 4). Total length 3.07–3.11 mm. Exuviae pale with outer edge of cephalothorax and margins of tergite VIII darker.

Cephalothorax. Frontal apotome (Figure 4(a)) rugulose. Frontal setae 75–80 μm long, seated medially, arising from tubercles. Thoracic horn (Figure 4(b)) 518–526 μm long, 35 width at base, without a median bend with many spinules in distal 2/3, horn arising from oval base. Thorax smooth, wing sheath with prominent nose (Figure 4(c)), 15–24 μm long. Two antepronotals, one median antepronotals 136–140 μm long and one lateral antepronotals 40–44 μm long. Three precorneals, anterior one 150–156 μm long, lamelliform; median one 60–66 μm long, lamelliform and posterior one 64–68 μm long. Dorsocentrals Dc1 and Dc2 paired 32–36 μm and 12–16 μm long respectively and Dc3 and Dc4 also paired, 62–70 μm and 14–18 μm long respectively; distance between two paired dorsocentrals 38–42 μm.

Abdomen (Figures 4(d)–4(g)). Tergite I bare. Tergites II–V with circular anterior pair of spines patches; posterior spinules on tergite II undivided (Figure 4(e)). Tergites III–V with shagreen next to circular patches extending over and beyond the first dorsal seta. Pair of circular patches on tergite V smaller than others. Median shagreen essentially absent on tergites IV-V, weak and sparse shagreen present caudolaterally on tergites IV-V. Number of spines on patches on tergites II–V: 130–138; 100–110; 84–90; 50–54. Hook row small, not dividing medially, occupying 0.06 width of the segment width, containing about 26–30 hooklets. Conjunctives without shagreen. Segments II and III with 3 fine L setae; IV with 2 L setae and 1 posterior LS seta; V with 3 LS setae; VI-VII with 4 LS setae; VIII with 5 LS setae (Figure 4(f)). Caudolateral spur single (Figure 4(g)), 16–22 μm long. Shagreen present anterolaterally on anal lobe, 114–118 μm long and 180–186 μm wide with complete fringe of 34–36 lamelliform setae. Anal lobe (Figure 4(f)) with one dorsal seta, 32–36 μm long. ALR 1.26, G/F 1.71.

Larva ( = 2) (Figure 5). Total length 3.0–3.4 mm.

Antenna (Figure 5(a)). Length of antennal segments: 85–89 μm, 22–26 μm, 5–7 μm, 3.5–4.5 μm, 1.8–2.5 μm; AR 2.21–2.26; distance of ring organ and seta from base 1.85–2.96 μm and 5.55–6.29 μm respectively; style of segment II 3.7–5.5 μm long and opposite large Lauterborn organ 7.4–9.2 μm long placed on pedicels, not extending beyond antennal apex; blade 20–23 μm long with basally fused accessory blade 13–15 μm long.

Labroepipharyngeal Region. Labral lamella 20–23 μm long and maximum width 24–29 μm; pecten epipharyngis (Figure 5(b)) a single broad distally serrated plate; S I as in the Figure 5(c); premandible (Figure 5(d)) 55–74 μm long, apically bifid. Mandible (Figure 5(e)) 92–96 μm long with 1 dorsal, 1 apical and 3 inner teeth; seta subdentalis 37–44 μm long reaching near the apex of mandible; seta interna with branches, largest branch 44–47 μm and shortest one 20–24 μm long.

Maxilla. Maxilla as in the Figure 5(f).

Mentum (Figure 5(g)). Median tooth 66–71 μm wide with 2 indistinct notches laterally; ventromental plate 64–67 μm long, separated by a narrow gap with rectangular 33–35 numbers of strial markings.

Body. Procercus 22–29 μm long with 7 setae. Anal tubules 103–111 μm long and 51–59 μm wide.

3.2.4. Remarks

R. spinicornus n. sp. belonging to the muscicola group is nearer to R. foliatus Kyerematen & Andersen [14] in basal tergite band but differs in shape of anal point. The pupa appears similar to those of R. muscicola Thienemann [15] and R. photophilus [16]. Larval characters such as antenna, mandible, premandible, and mentum show resemblances with Rheotanytarsus sp. 1 described by Roback & Coffman [17] from Nepal Alpine zone. In spite of the above similarities, the following combination of characters separates the new species from other members of the muscicola group in (i) V-shaped anal tergite band with medially joined basal tergite band, (ii) anal crest roughly V-shaped and open, (iii) median volsella not reaching the apex of superior volsella with subulate apical setae fused into a plate, (iv) gonostylus longer than gonocoxite and abruptly narrowed distally in adult male, (v) numerous spinules on distal 2/3 of thoracic horn without a median bend, (vi) tergites II–V with anterior pair of spines of circular patches, (vii) posterior spinules on tergite II undivided, (viii) anal lobe with hair-like dorsal seta on pupa, (ix) pecten epipharyngis, a single broad distally serrated plate, (x) median tooth of mentum with 2 indistinct notches laterally, and (xi) mandible with 3 inner teeth on larva.

3.3. The trivittatus Group [6]

Emended Diagnosis. Median volsella reaching or not reaching beyond the apex of superior volsella and basal anal tergite band joined at the middle or interrupted in adult male.

Rheotanytarsus caputimberus n. sp. http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/044B8A86-BD12-4E4A-93D0-872184AA6201 (Figures 6-7).

3.3.1. Type Material

Holotype (male with damaged pupal exuviae) (reared) (Type No. B.U. Ent.270), India, Sikkim, Tadong (27°31′67′′N; 88°60′00′′E), 06/iv/1996, N. Hazra leg. Paratype (1 male), India, Sikkim, Ravangla (27°29′25′′N; 88°35′94′′E), 11/vii/2014, K. Sanyal leg.

3.3.2. Etymology

From the Latin caput, head and imber, shower, referring to shape of the inferior volsella similar to the head of hand shower, and the suffix – us denoting the gender of the genus.

3.3.3. Description

Adult Male ( = 2) (Figure 6). Total length 1.92–2.51 mm. Wing length 1.33–1.55 mm. Total length/wing length 1.44–1.61. Wing length/length of profemur 1.89–2.00. Thorax, abdomen and legs brownish yellow.

Head. AR 0.63–0.64; flagellomere 13 (Fm 13) 690 μm long. Eye with 90–96 μm long dorsomedial extension. Temporal setae 8, including 6 outer verticles (OV) and 2 postoculars (Po). Clypeus with 16–20 setae. Tentorium 66 μm long. Palpomere lengths (I–V): 21–24 μm; 27–30 μm; 72–75 μm; 72–84 μm; 144 μm.

Thorax. Acrostichals 12–14; dorsocentrals 8–11; scutellars 7-8.

Wing (Figure 6(a)). Membrane densely covered with setae, especially in distal half. Costal length 0.88–0.92 mm. Costa not extended. CR 0.67–0.92. VR 1.32–1.39. Sc, M and RM bare, with 13–15 setae; 20–23; 44–52; 30–33; 22–28; Cu 13–18; Cu1 16–21; PCu 45; An 25. Cell m with about 3 setae, about 300, about 34, cu and an combined 30 setae. RM well proximal to FCu.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia (ti) 21 μm long; spurs of mid tibia unequal 30 μm and 24 μm long including 17-18 of comb; spurs of hind ti 21 μm and 9 μm long including 14-15 of comb. Width at the apex of fore tibia 33 μm; mid tibia 36 μm; hind tibia 30 μm. Lengths and proportions of leg segments as in Table 3.

Hypopygium (Figures 6(b)6(g)). Anal tergite band nearly V-shaped with medially joined 27–30 μm long basal tergite band. Tergite IX (Figure 6(d)) with projections to each side of the anal point, 3-4 setae on the dorsal side and 3 caudal setae including 2 setae in each projection. Anal point 36–45 μm long, 9–12 μm wide at base 3–6 μm wide at apex; crest not visible. Phallapodeme 30–36 μm long, transverse sternapodeme 18–20 μm long., lateral sternapodeme 36 μm long. Superior volsella (Figure 6(e)) 27–30 μm long, 6 μm wide at base, 15 μm wide at apex, ovoid; median volsella (Figure 6(f)) 10–12 μm long with subulate setae fused into a plate reaching at the apex of superior volsella; shape of the distal end of inferior volsella (Figure 6(g)) like the head of hand shower, 38–45 μm long with 12–14 setae, extending beyond the junction of gonocoxite and gonostylus. Gonocoxite 63–66 μm long; gonostylus 81–84 μm long, abruptly narrowed distally and parallel sided. HR 0.78, HV 2.6–2.98.

Pupa ( = 1) (Mostly Damaged) (Figure 7). Exuviae pale with outer edge of cephalothorax and margins of tergite VIII darker.

Cephalothorax. Frontal apotome rugulose. Frontal setae 35 long, seated medially, arising from tubercles. Thoracic horn (Figure 7(a)) 114 long, 7 width at base without any median bend, bearing few spinules at the basal region. Thorax smooth, wing sheath with prominent nose (Figure 7(b)), 21 long. Antepronotals two, median one 136–140 long and lateral one 40–44 long. Precorneals three, anterior one 72 long, lemelliform; median one 48 long, lamelliform and posterior not seen. Dorsocentrals Dc1 and Dc2 paired 12 and 9 long respectively and Dc3 and Dc4 also paired, 12 and 18 long respectively; distance between two paired dorsocentrals 51.

Abdomen. Tergites II–V with circular anterior pair of spine patches. Tergites III–V with shagreen next to circular patches extending over and beyond the first dorsal seta. Pair of circular patches on tergite V smaller than others. Number of spines on patches on tergites II–V: 75–80; 67–70; 38–40; 34-35. Hook row small, occupying 0.057 width of the segment, containing about 12-13 hooklets. Most of the abdominal segments including anal lobe damaged except segment VI (Figure 7(c)); segment V with 4 LS setae; VI 4 LS setae.

3.3.4. Remarks

Rheotanytarsus caputimberus n. sp. shows affinity with other members of the group having projections to each side of the anal point except R. scutulatus Kyerematen & Andersen [14]. Similarly superior volsella of the new species is similar to other members of the group except R. ramirezae Kyerematen [14] and R. scutulatus Kyerematen & Andersen [14]. Gonostylus is abruptly tapered like other members except in R. ceratophylli [18] and R. trivittatus Johannsen [19] In spite of the above, the proposed species may be separated from other members of the trivittatus group including oriental species R. brevipalpus Wang & Guo [7], R. additus [19], and R. trivittatus Johannsen and may be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: (i) lateral projections on each side of the anal point, (ii) basal anal tergite band medially joined, (iii) superior volsella ovoid, (iv) median volsella not reaching beyond apex of superior volsella with subulate setae fused into plate, (v) inferior volsella typically like head of hand shower, and (vi) gonostylus abruptly tapered.

Key to adult males of Oriental Rheotanytarsus Thienemann and Bause (modified after Kyerematen et al. [2]) is shown in Table 4 while Table 5 shows key to pupae of Oriental Rheotanytarsus Thienemann and Bause (modified after Kyerematen et al. [2]).

Disclosure

The new names included in this paper are available under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. This work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank. ZooBank Life Science Identifier (LSID) for this publication is http://zoobank.org/References/9D3AF92A-43A6-4EE1-9319-3C4216740C12. The LSID registration and any associated information can be viewed in a web browser by adding the LSID to the portal “http://zoobank.org/.”

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to Dr. P. K. Chaudhuri, former Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, for kindly going through the paper and rendering helpful suggestions. The authors are grateful to the Head, DST–FIST, and UGC–SAP–DRS sponsored Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India, for laboratory and library facilities. Sincere thanks are due to the Ministry of Science & Technology, SERB, DST, Govt. of India (no. SR/S0/AS–135/2012) for providing financial support for the project. We are also indebted to Department of Forests, Govt. of West Bengal and Sikkim, for allowing carrying out the fieldwork.