Paguma larvata ( Masked palm civet) - Sikkim Mammal

Paguma larvata ( Masked palm civet)

Venue: Himalayan Zoological Park,  Gangtok,  East Sikkim

Date: June 28, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Mammalia

Order:            Carnivora

Family:           Viverridae

Subfamily:      Paradoxurinae

Genus:            Paguma

Species:           P. larvata

Binomial name: Paguma larvata (Hamilton-Smith, 1827)

Other Names:  masked palm civet or gem-faced civet

Special feature: It is native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia

The genus Paguma was first named and described by John Edward Gray in 1831. All described forms are regarded as a single species.

In recent times, masked palm civets were considered to be a likely vector of SARS.

Paguma larvata is protected in Malaysia and Thailand. The population of India is listed on CITES Appendix III. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. (Source: Wikipedia)

Ailurus fulgens (Red panda) - Sikkim Mammal

Ailurus fulgens (Red panda)

Venue: Himalayan Zoological Park  Gangtok,  East Sikkim

Date: June 28, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Ailurus fulgens (Red panda)

Venue: Himalayan Zoological Park  Gangtok,  East Sikkim

Date: June 28, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Mammalia

Order:             Carnivora

Family:           Ailuridae

Genus:            Ailurus

Species:           A. fulgens

Binomial name: Ailurus fulgens F. Cuvier, 1825

Other Names:  red panda, lesser panda and red cat-bear

Bhalu Biralo/ Habre (Nepali), Saknam (Lepcha) , Kaala (Limbu), ye niglva ponva/wah donka (Sherpa)

Special feature: It is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China that has been classified as vulnerable by IUCN as its wild population is estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals.

The red panda is the only living species of the genus Ailurus and the family Ailuridae.

An anthropomorphic red panda was featured as Master Shifu, the Kung Fu teacher, in the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda and its 2011 sequel Kung Fu Panda 2.

Ailurus is adopted from the ancient Greek word αἴλουρος (ailouros), meaning "cat".[53] The specific epithet fulgens is Latin for "shining, bright".[54] Panda is the French name for the Roman goddess of peace and travelers, who was called upon before starting a difficult journey.(Source: Wikipedia)

Spirama retorta (Indian Owlet-moth) - Sikkim Moth

Spirama retorta (Indian Owlet-moth)

Place : Dalapchand, Rongli, East Sikkim,

Date:March 15,  2013
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:            Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                   Insecta

Order:                 Lepidoptera

Family:                Noctuidea

Genus:                 Spirama

Species:                S. retorta

Binomial name:    Spirama retorta (Clerck, 1764))

Other Names:

Special feature:

Nyctemera muelleri - Sikkim Moth

Nyctemera muelleri 

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:March 15,  2013
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:            Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                    Insecta

Order:                  Lepidoptera

Family:                Arctiidae

Genus:                 Nyctemera

Species:                N. muelleri

Binomial name:    Nyctemera muelleri ((Vollenhoven, 1863)

Other Names:

Special feature:

Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede) - Sikkim Insect

Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede)

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date: May 28, 2012
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Chilopoda

Order:            Scolopendromorpha

Family:           Scolopendridae

Genus:            Scolopendra

Species:           S. subspinipes

Binomial name: Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815

Other Names:  Chinese Red Head, Giant Centipede, Jungle Centipede, Orange Legged Centipede, Red Headed Centipede and Vietnamese Centipede.

Special feature: It is among the largest centipedes with a maximum length of 20 cm.

Bites from this species are very painful and may cause severe swelling, weakness or fever. S. subspinipes is the only species of centipede that is reputed to have a human death attributed to it. The reported fatal case was in Philippines in which the centipede bit a seven-year old girl on her head and she lived for another 29 hours. (Source: Wikipedia)