About

They are freshwater birds also called Indian scissors-bill belonging to the Laridae family.

Laridae is a family of birds which includes terns, gulls, noddies, skimmers, and kittiwakes.

Scientific Name

Rynchops albicollis

Distribution

These birds are distributed in southern Asia with declining numbers.

In India they are found in widespread numbers  in winter in coastal estuaries of western and eastern coastal plains.

Habitat

These birds are distributed in southern Asia with declining numbers.

In India, they are found in widespread numbers in winter in coastal estuaries of western and eastern coastal plains.

Characteristics

Their length ranges between 40 to 43 cm.

Their upper parts are black in colour and the forehead, collar, and lower parts are white in colour.

Their bill has a yellow tip and they are long and thick.

Juveniles have a dusky orange bill with a blackish tip.

Breeding Habitat

They breed mostly on large exposed sandbars and islands.

Their breeding season is from February to May and They are often found to be nesting with other bird species like Terns.

Diet

They feed on surface-dwelling fishes, small crustaceans, and insect larvae.

Major Threats

Habitat degradation due to overfishing, sea transportation, coastal irrigation, pollution from agriculture and industry, etc.

Their habitat disturbance due to dams is another important threat. For instance, the damming of the Chambal River has reduced breeding success due to water level changes.

They are also vulnerable to predation by dogs and wild animals.

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Endangered

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

They are not listed in CITES.

Scientific Name

Catopuma temminckii

Common Names

They are known by other names such as Temminck's Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat, Fire Cat in Thailand and Burma and Rock Cat in parts of China.

Distribution

They are majorly found in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China.

Characteristics

They are medium in size and have a stocky build body.

They are solitary and territorial in nature.

They are diurnal, which means they are active both day and night.

However, they are also crepuscular. Crepuscular means being active during twilight, or the morning and evening hours.

Diet

They are carnivorous animals and prey on Indochinese ground squirrels, small snakes, reptiles, muntjacs, rodents, birds and young hares.

Mating/Breeding System

They are polygynous animals, which means one male mates with multiple females.

They have no specific breeding season, however, no births among them occur from April to June.

Their gestation period is approximately 81 days and their litter size is between 1 to 3 kittens.

Females mature at 18–24 months, while Males mature at 24 months.

Threats

They are threatened due to heavy poaching and habitat destruction, as Southeast Asian forests are  the region with the world's fastest regional deforestation.

Conservation Status

Conservation Status (IUCN): Near Threatened

Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Asiatic Golden Cat: 

1. They are solitary and diurnal cats.
2. They are found in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent.
3. They are conserved under Scheduled I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Which of the above  statements are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1, 2 and 3 only

D. None

Answer: C. 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: 

They are known by other names such as Temminck's Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat, Fire Cat in Thailand and Burma and Rock Cat in parts of China.

They are medium in size and have a stocky build body.

They are solitary and territorial in nature.

They are diurnal, which means they are active both day and night.

However, they are also crepuscular. Crepuscular means being active during twilight, or the morning and evening hours.

Statement 2 is correct: 

They are majorly found in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China.

Statement 3 is correct: 

Conservation Status (IUCN): Near Threatened

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I