Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell) - Sikkim Butterfly

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:November 24, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:December 14, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                    Insecta

Order:                  Lepidoptera

Family:                 Nymphalidae

Genus:                  Aglais

Species:                 A. caschmirensis

Binomial name:    Aglais caschmirensis (Kollar, 1848)

Other Names: Indian Tortoiseshell

Special feature:  There are 3 species found in Himalaya.

Aglais caschmirensis are found across the foothills of the Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.

Mangina argus - Sikkim Moth

Mangina argus

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:July 16, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Mangina argus

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:November 24, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Insecta

Order:            Lepidoptera

Family:           Arctiidae

Genus:            Mangina

Species:           M. argus

Binomial name: Mangina argus (Kollar, [1847])

Other Names:

Special feature: 

Adults are pink except the white spotted markings on forewing, each with small black spot. The hind wings are darker pink with black spots.

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit) - Sikkim Bird

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam,  East Sikkim

Date: November 20, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:             Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Motacillidae

Genus:            Anthus

Species:           A. hodgsoni

Binomial name: Anthus hodgsoni (Richmond, 1907)

Other Names:  Olive-backed pipit, Indian pipit or Hodgson's pipit,

Special feature:  The scientific name of this bird commemorates the British ornithologist Brian Houghton Hodgson. (Source: Wikipedia)

Hestina nama (Circe) - Sikkim Butterfly

Hestina nama  (Circe)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim

Date: November 14,  2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Hestina nama  (Circe)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim

Date: November 14,  2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                    Insecta

Order:                  Lepidoptera

Family:                 Nymphalidae

Sub-Family:         Apaturinae

Genus:                  Hestina

Species:                 H. nama

Binomial name:    Hestina nama (Westwood, 1850)

Other Names: Circe

Special feature:  The genus Hestina consists of 11 species including several which were formerly included in Diagora or Diadema. Most are Batesian mimics of toxic Danaines - Hestina nama for example is a mimic of the Chocolate Tiger Parantica sita. (http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/)