Agave attenuata (Fox tail agave) - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:             Asparagales

Family:           Asparagaceae

Genus:            Agave

Species:           A. attenuta

Binomial name: Agave attenuata Salm-Dyck (1834)

Other Names:  Fox tail or Lion tail or Swan's neck agave

Moulting in cockroach

 

In order to grow, cockroaches like many other arthropods shed their old skin. This moulting process helps the insects to grow. This photograph was taken in Shantinagar, Singtam by Arpan Pradhan.

Asiatic water snake (Xenochrophis piscator)

.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Genus: Xenochrophis

Species: X. piscator

Binomial name: Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799)

Other name : Checkered Keelback, Doodhe Saap (Nepali)

Special Feature :  It is a common species of nonvenomous snake. This snake is found in or near freshwater lakes or rivers. It feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs