Intraspecific trait variability and community assembly in hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: ) across an elevational gradient in the eastern Himalayas, India.

We investigated some aspects of hawkmoth community assembly at 13 elevations along a 200- to 2770-m transect in the eastern Himalayas, a little studied biodiversity hot spot of global importance. We measured the morphological traits of body mass, wing loading, and wing aspect ratio of 3,301 free-ranging individuals of 76 species without having to collect or even constrain them. We used these trait measurements and metrics to assess the strength of intracommunity ("internal") and extra-community ("external") filters which determine the composition of communities the regional pool of species.

Revalidation of Natrix clerki Wall, 1925, an overlooked species in the genus Amphiesma Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 (Squamata: Natricidae).

Natrix clerki Wall, 1925, previously known from its sole holotype and considered a synonym of Amphiesma parallelum (Boulenger, 1890), is resurrected in the genus Amphiesma on the basis of the analysis of morphological variation in 28 specimens of "Amphiesma parallelum" auctorum, plus six living, unvouchered specimens discovered in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, India, and one vouchered specimen from Talle Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. Specimens from northeast India (Nagaland), northern Myanmar, and China (Yunnan), previously identified as Amphiesma parallelum either in the literature or in museum's catalogues, are also here referred to A. clerki.