IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Choudhury, A. | |
| A systematic review of the mammals of north-east India with special reference to non-human primates | |
| 2001 Full Book | |
The northeastern (NE) India comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, northern West Bengal, Sikkim and Tripura forms part of a global biodiversity 'hotspot'. This part of India forms part of three zoogeographic subregions - the Himalayan, the Indian and the Indochinese, broadly falling within the Oriental or Indomalayan Zoogeographic Region. However, the Himalayan Subregion is also transitional to the Palaearctic Region while a small area in the extreme northern Sikkim actually forms part of the Palaearctic Region. As a result the species diversity is very high (in fact, the highest mammalian diversity in Indian subcontinent, 251 listed here out of around 350 at India level). The mammals of NE India are overwhelmingly affiliated with the Oriental fauna (96% of the species listed here). Among the Subregions, the Indochinese is the most important 78% followed by the Himalayan with 70%. In NE India, the Brahmaputra R has played a key role in determining the distribution pattern of many mammalian species. The distribution of primates such as _Hylobates hoolock_, _Macaca arccoides_ and _M. nemestrina._ This is the firstever systematic review and checklist of the mammals of NE India. In fact, such regional reviews have become important in view of lack of details in larger general reviews The three standard reviews used round the world were Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Corbet & Hill (1992) and Wilson & Reeder (eds) (1993). The first one has become a bit outdated although it is still extremely important as the first checklist relevant to this region. The latter works are now being referred all over. However, it is only in such regional works that the gaps in global or continental works could be filled (e.g., on issues such as erroneous type localities, accurate distribution, geographic variations among different subpopulations, etc). The present work is the result of both primary field research (two decade-long, during which this researcher not only completed Ph.D level work but also produced about 300 papers and articles [some are listed in Bibliography; pp.192-194]) and review of most of the relevant literature. A number of museum collections were also visited, both in India and abroad. This appears to be the first attempt to produce a comprehensive account on the mammal fauna of NE India as whole. For the state of Assam, this researcher had made a preliminary attempt earlier (Choudhury 1997e). This researcher's main objective in this work is to bring together in one place a systematic account of all the species of mammal recorded in this region or are likely to occur, based upon his own research as well as other relevant materials. Explanatory notes have been given wherever necessary on taxonomy, range, status, etc. A comprehensive bibliography relevant to the mammals of NE India is at the end. This work on the mammals of NE India should not, however, be viewed as final. While mammalian taxonomy is making significant advances, many new species might be recorded within the limits of this region after further field research. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |