A new country record of Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko Gekko lionotum (Annandale, 1905) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Bangladesh

We report a new record in Bangladesh of the Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko Gekko lionotum Annandale, 1905, recorded from a biodiversity hotspot area at Bandarban located at the southeastern side of the country. A freshly dead specimen was collected and donated to the Padma Bridge Museum for further identification and display. We confirmed identification by comparing morphometric and meristic characteristics with literature records. Gekko lionotum is distributed in Myanmar and northeast India, but was not recorded previously from Bangladesh. The camouflaging color pattern and cryptic lifestyle of this species, together with and absence of research efforts, likely account for the lack of previous records for this species in Bangladesh territory.

Distribution and morphometric measurements of Blanford’s Fox Vulpes cana (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A study on Blanford’s Fox was conducted from Tabuk Province, a poorly studied area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from December 2015 until May 2016. This study adds to our knowledge, where two survey methods were used, which are the live trapping and camera trapping methods. Five specimens were captured alive, in addition to a dead specimen reported during the survey period. Measurements of live, captured specimens were obtained and the skull of the dead specimen was measured. The information provided will serve as a basis for future monitoring of Blanford’s Fox in Saudi Arabia, and it will provide the foundation for future research in the species’ range of occurrence in the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, more attention shall be paid to establish a joint collaboration between scholars from Saudi Arabia and Jordan to assess the status of Blanford’s Fox along the sandstone escarpments Hisma plateau.

Range extension of Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous centralis Miller, 1899 (Mammalia, Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae), in Belize

Little is known about the Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous centralis (Miller, 1899). Here we present a new record of C. centralis in the Maya Mountain Massif of Belize, from camera-trap surveys covering an area of 200 km2 conducted yearly between 2002 and 2017 in lowland tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, and a dead specimen found adjacent to a highway. The record presented constitutes a range expansion of ca 65 km for C. centralis in Belize. This adds valuable data about a species for which the geographic distribution is poorly known.

First Report of Dealfish, Trachipterus arcticus (lampriformes: Trachipteridae), from Canadian Waters

In November 2014, a recently dead specimen of the meso-pelagic Dealfish, Trachipterus arcticus, was found on a fjord beach in northern Newfoundland. This represents the first record of the species in Canadian waters.

The Vulnerable clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Nepal: an update

The Vulnerable clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa is believed to be one of the most threatened felid species in Nepal. Information on its status and population size in the country mostly comprises crude estimates. We compiled information on the species’ status and distribution from published papers, grey literature, camera-trap images, direct observations, pelt, zoo and museum records, wildlife seizures and verified newspaper reports. All confirmed records of the species (three museum specimens, one dead specimen, 13 live records (including from camera traps), and 14 pelts) were from eastern and mid-central Nepal. Two unconfirmed reports from the western and far-western regions of the country need to be verified. Although the status of the species is still uncertain, the frequency of confirmed and unconfirmed reports and the extent of the area of occurrence indicate that it is not as rare as previously assumed. The main threats to the species are habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.

First record of Galeodes indicus Pocock, 1900 (Arachnida: Solifugae: Galeodidae) from Rajasthan, India

During a regular survey to collect soil arthropods in Lasiurus sindicus Henrard grassland by pitfall methods at Chandan Village near Jaisalmer City, Rajasthan, we found a dead specimen of Galeodes indicus in a sample. Galeodes indicus (Pocock, 1900) has been reported from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but so far was unknown to Rajasthan, India. In this communication, we report Galeodes indicus from Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India.

The First Report Of Steppe Polecat (Mustela Eversmanii Lesson, 1827) Documented In Moldova (Romania)

The Steppe Polecat lives in Europe, in a variety of relatively dry habitats. Its distribution is not sufficiently known in Romania. On the 22nd of February, 2014 we found a dead specimen of Steppe Polecat, north from Bucecea city. This is the first report of Steppe Polecat for North-East Romania.

A NEW SPECIES OF DRAKELLA (HETEROPTERA-TINGITIDAE)

A new species of this interesting and little-known genus was recently found at Goldstream, B. C. It was a dead specimen and was found among detritus washed up on the edge of the reservoir. It is close to D. ovata O. & D. but differs from it in many important characters. The specimen is brachypterous.

MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA

Slate color, tinged with ochreous; apex of the abdomen yellowish ; two longitudinal dusky lines on top of the abdomen, which, however, are invisible in the dead specimen. Al. ex.,6/16 inch. Kentucky.The case is ochreous, slender, cylindrical, tapering a little to each end, and compressed or pinched at the posterior end, so as to divide it into three small ridges. It is about half an inch long, and was found adhering to the bark of sugar trees (Acer saccharinum.)