Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor): Phylogenetic Position and Gene Rearrangement.

The complete mitogenome sequence of the Great Frigatebird, Fregata minor was sequenced for the first time in this study. The mitogenome (16,899 bp) comprises of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (CR). The mitogenome was AT-rich (55.60%) with 11 overlapping and 18 intergenic spacer regions. Most of the PCGs were started by a typical ATG initiation codon except for cox1 and nad3. A maximum-likelihood phylogeny of concatenated PCGs resulted in a well-resolved phylogeny of all the species of Suliformes and illuminates the sister relationship of F. minor with F. magnificens. The present mitogenome-based phylogeny clearly enlightens the evolutionary position of Suliformes and Pelecaniformes species. Unique tandem repeats were identified in both F. minor and F. magnificens, which can be employed as a species-specific marker. To illuminate the population structure of this migratory seabirds, the present study advocate more sampling and the generation of additional molecular data to clarify their genetic diversity. The present study also rejects an earlier hypothesis on the mitochondrial gene order of Suliformes and corroborated the typical avian gene order in frigatebirds.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus from India: phylogeny with other Larids.

The complete mitogenome sequence of the brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus was determined in this study. The 16,771 bp genome consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (CR). The decoded mitogenome was AT-rich (54.77%) with nine overlapping and 17 intergenic spacer regions. Most of the PCGs were started by a typical ATG initiation codon except for cox1 and nad3. Further, the usual termination codons (AGG, TAG, TAA, and AGA) were used by 11 PCGs except for cox3 and nad4. The concatenated PCGs based Bayesian phylogeny clearly discriminates all the Laridae species and reflects the sister relationship of C. brunnicephalus with C. ridibundus. The present mitogenome-based phylogeny was congruent with the earlier hypothesis and confirmed the evolutionary position of the brown-headed gull as masked species. The generated mitogenome of C. brunnicephalus is almost identical to the previously generated mitogenome from China except for two base pairs in CR. To visualize the population structure of this migratory species, we propose more sampling from different geographical locations and the generation of additional molecular data to clarify the reality.

A new Microhyla species (Anura: Microhylidae) from riparian evergreen forest in the eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, India.

A new frog species of the genus Microhyla (Anura, Microhylidae) is described from riparian mid-elevation (860 m asl) evergreen forest in Namdapha National Park, located in the eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species can be morphologically distinguished from other congeners by a suite of characters such as adult size, dorsal and lateral colouration and markings, snout shape, foot webbing, and digit tip morphology. Phylogenetically, the new species is more closely related to some of the smallest known members of the genus. It forms a deeply divergent sister lineage to the clade containing members of the Microhyla zeylanica species group that are restricted to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka, and shows sequential relationship with Southeast Asian species M. superciliaris, followed by clade containing M. aurantiventris + M. butleri. The discovery indicates that novel taxa representing distinct evolutionary lineages still remain to be formally described in the genus Microhyla, especially from less explored regions such as the eastern Himalayan forests in Northeast India.

Foraging technique and prey-handling time in black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus).

The foraging technique and prey-handling time of the black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) was studied in Dudhwa National Park, India, from January 1996 to June 1997. The habitat in which the storks foraged played an important role in selecting a particular technique to procure food. Black-necked storks mostly foraged using a tactile technique (>90%), but sometimes foraged visually. When the water level was estimated to be less than 60 cm, the storks foraged using tactile techniques. There was no difference in the feeding techniques of male and female storks. Foraging attempt rates varied between the sexes in summer (May) and during late winter (February) in 1997. The search time for prey increased when the water level was high and fish were widely distributed. Decreases in water level resulted in concentration offish in certain areas and this contributed to high fish-catching rates by black-necked storks. Males had a higher success rate offish capture than females. However, females captured longer fish than males. Prey-handling time increased in both sexes as fish length increased. Fish 4-6 cm long were most frequently taken by the foraging storks.