FIRST RECORD OF THE LARGE-BILLED CROW CORVUS MACRORHYNCHOS WAGLER, 1827 PREDEATING ON THE VULNERABLE INDIAN ROOFED TURTLE PANGSHURA TECTA (GRAY, 1831) IN INDIA

Abstract

The Vulnerable Indian Roofed Turtle Pangshura tecta(Gray, 1831) (Testudines: Geoemydidae) occurs in the Sub-Himalayan lowlands of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Little is known about its natural history, no studieshave been conducted revealing its natural predators. In this study, a group of Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 (Passeriformes: Corvidae) was observed hunting and predating on an Indian Roofed Turtle carcass in the bank of river Kuakhai, Bhubaneswar, India. The first record of this predation behaviour is reported and substantiated by photographic evidence.

Keywords

• crow
• first record
• natural predator
• river