The genus Typhonium Schott comprises more than 70 species with a vast geographic range, extending from Mongolia through tropical regions of Asia and reaching as far south as northern and eastern Australia.The genus consists of small, seasonal geophytic herbs with a (sub)globose tuber or short rhizome. Leaves vary in number and shape, ranging from simple to decompound with diverse leaflet forms. Inflorescences typically emerge after leaf development on a short or long peduncle. The spathe, ovate to lanceolate, is divided by a constriction below the staminate zone, with a limb often coloured pale to deep purple, rarely whitish or pinkish. The spadix includes a basal pistillate zone, a sterile zone with staminodes, a staminate zone, and a sterile appendix that varies in length, shape, and orientation, from erect to pendulous, narrowly conical to tail-like.
Submitted date: 2 August 2024 Accepted date: 21 April 2025 Published date: 31 May 2025 Pp. 79–81.
Courtship and mating observation of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
K. Silambarasan*, A. Tiburtius, A.J. Chembian, C. Babu & P. Kumar *Corresponding author. E-mail: silambuplankton@hotmail.com
Sea turtles spend most of their time below the water surface, making it difficult to observe their reproductive behaviour, particularly in open ocean habitats. Olive ridley sea turtles, Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829), and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii (Garman, 1880), are the only species of the genus Lepidochelys, and tend to form large aggregations at nesting sites. Olive ridley sea turtles are unique in that some populations nest en mass, while others are solitary nesters. Irruptive nesting events are known as arribadas, where thousands of females come ashore to nest simultaneously. While other sea turtle species are also present in marine areas near nesting grounds, olive ridleys are distinctive in forming large aggregations during arribadas, while spending inter-nesting time in the open ocean. These nearshore areas provide rare opportunities for observation and facilitate research on their reproductive behaviour. However, studying their behaviour in offshore waters remains challenging, as mating events are typically brief and infrequent, making detailed studies of their mating rituals difficult.
Submitted date: 24 December 2024 Accepted date: 21 April 2025 Published date: 31 May 2025 Pp. 77–78.
First record of shining bronze cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus) west of the Wallace Line
A.C. Herwanto, H. Susanto & R. Eprilurahman *Corresponding author. E-mail: rurybiougm@ugm.ac.id
As part of bird monitoring activities in the working area of the Yogyakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Yogyakarta), particularly in Gunungkidul Regency, officials unintentionally documented the presence of a Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Chalcites lucidus (Gmelin, 1788). We photographed a single individual on 21 June 2024 that we initially misidentified as a Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo, Chalcites basalis
A recent study by Parmar & Kaiser (2024) linked unusual morphs in Russell’s Vipers and Wolfsnakes to the spark/spark genotype mutation. We report a similar aberrant pattern for the first time in a sea snake observed in India (Bharuch District, Gujarat). During a marine reptile survey on January 26, 2019, near Aliabet, Bharuch District, in the Gulf of Khambhat (21.5958°N, 72.4408°E), fishermen caught 24 Annulated Sea Snakes (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) and one Little Filesnake (Acrochordus granulatus). One sea snake had an unusual pattern, differing from all other sea snakes. This individual measured 1030 mm in SVL with a tail length of 110 mm.
Submitted date: 16 December 2024 Accepted date: 21 February 2025 Published date: 31 May 2025 Pp. 71–74.
Pelung chicken research: A bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2024
R.F. Yuneldi*, A.Y. Prawira, C.M. Airin, S. Sarmin & P. Astuti *Corresponding author. E-mail: rizk056@brin.go.id
Pelung chicken, Gallus gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758), is an Indonesian endemic species of poultry from Cianjur, West Java. The characteristics of the Pelung chicken are that it has (1) a distinctive voice of long duration, (2) relatively fast growth, and a large physical shape, (3) good meat quality, which can be seen from the improvement in muscle mass and strength, and (4) growth performance in line with high testosterone levels. This species has been defined under the 2918/kpts OT.140/6/2011 decree issued by the Ministry of Agriculture as a native Indonesian free-range chicken that is to be protected and conserved, as well as a national asset. The chicken is reportedly threatened due to decreased population size.