Photographic evidence of the Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Two specimens of the Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogalepersonata were found in two different sites from Marshyangdi Rural Municipality, Ward No ۴, Srichaur, Tangring, Lamjung district, Nepal. The first individual was live capturing by the local people on ۴th January ۲۰۱۷ where the second was found dead on ۱۷th January ۲۰۱۷. The location was ۲۸° ۲۴' ۵.۰۴" N and  ۸۴° ۲۴' ۳۱.۶۸" E, which was the border region of Annapurna Conservation about ۲۰۳ km far from capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu and found in tropical forest along the riverside of Marshyangdi river. The specimens were examined carefully and the confirmation was based on the diagnostic large size of the upper fourth premolar and the relative size of the upper first and second premolars to one another. The species was recorded inside the Annapurna Conservation Area which was very near to the boundary separated by the Marshyangdi River. The distance between the live sighting and the dead individual was ۱۰۰ m approximately. This account represents the first authentic record of M. personata in the Annapurna Conservation Area moreover in Nepal too.

Keywords:

Lamjung , Marshyangdi Rural Municipality , Nepal , Tropical