PAMIANG (Synrang)

(Khliehriat - IN)
25.213300,92.363300
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 01/05/2016

NOTE 1: cave (English, noun) ka krem, ka synrang, ka pubon (SINGH, N 1920: 63); ka krem (BLAH, E 2007: 45). cavern (English, noun) ka pubon (SINGH, N 1920: 63); ka krem, ka thliew (BLAH, E 2007: 45). NOTE 2: ka synrang (Khasi, noun) has not only been translated as »the coping of a rock or cave« (SINGH, N 1906: 216) or »cave« (SINGH, N 1920: 63) and »refuge« (SINGH, N 1920: 428) but also as »nest« (BLAH, E 2007: 198). The word seems to signify an inhabitable cave, rock shelter or den, especially the "hole" or lair of an animal and the hideout of a "runaway" (fairy, freedom fighter, hermit, king, madman, robber, terrorist, etc.). NOTE 3: The Khasi and Synteng market ritual "pam iaw" is a sacrifice in the Khasi religion and the most important of the local sacrifices at Sutnga (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 326, 328). ka pamblang (Khasi, noun) literally: cut up food, is the name of the »Durga puja« (SINGH, N 1906: 150), a set of pious rites to appease Durga, the dangerous and powerful Hindu goddess. NOTE 4: »Synrang Ramiang, with a cave passage of 14.1 kms … The mighty Synrang Ramiang is the longest single cave passage in the world (7.6 kms), and with a vertical range of 313 metres. It is also the deepest cave in the sub-continent« (MEGHALAYA CAVES EXPLORED… 1999). NOTE 5: »Krem Synrang Pamiang (14,157 metres) … [is the] third longest cave in the country … Again in the list of the deepest caves in the country, Krem Synrang Pamiang 317 metres in depth is the deepest … (Source, Natures Exotic gift: the caves of Meghalaya, published by Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Government of Meghalaya)« (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2012.01.16). NOTE 6: peninsula (English, from Latin "paene", almost + "insula" island) has been clothed into Khasi words as "ka ri ba la jan kér-kut da ka um" (SINGH, N 1920: 371) and as "ka khyndew ba lajan ker kut da ka um" (BLAH, E 2007: 219). NOTE 7: Chiehruphi road junction near (±20 m) 25°12'36”N: 92°22'22”E: circa (±50 m) 920 m asl (barometric, Thommen 5000) lies about 5 km along the road north of Lumshnong (25°10'46”N: 92°22'49”E), a village between Khliehriat (25°21'15”N: 92°22'20”E) and Sonapur (25°07'N: 92°22'E) on the National Highway NH44 connecting Gauhati / Guwahati (26°11'N: 91°44'E) in Assam with Agartala (23°50'11”N: 91°16'30”E) in Tripura. NOTE 8: When the pyrite (FeS) occurring in underground coal deposits comes into contact with air (oxygen) and water, it decomposes into sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and iron oxides (hydro-oxides, etc). While the iron oxides cause initially bright orange coloured and later reddish brown coloured slurries and sediments (ochre, rust), the sulphuric acid reduces pH value of the water (turning it acidic) and turns limestone into gypsum. NOTE 9: Damocles, a legendary courtier who extravagantly praised the happiness of Dionysius I, ruler of Syracuse. To show him how precarious this happiness was, Dionysius seated him at a banquet with a sword hung by a single hair over his head. The phrase "sword of Damocles" is used to refer to a precarious situation. NOTE 10: The whole lot of these enigmatic »caves in the Jaintia« (KOTTELAT, M et al. (2007: 42) is the elusive »Lakadong Cave« (CHOPARD, L 1924) somewhere in the vicinity of Lakadong (25°11'02”N: 92°16'18”E) in the West Jaintia Hills district. NOTE 11: The whole lot of these enigmatic »Jaintia caves« (KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 42) is the one and only Syndai Cave (also Krem Jognindra, Krem Rupasor, Rupnath Cave, Rupmath Cave, etc.) and where R. Friel and W. Ballantine had collected in March 1918 specimens of Spelaeoblatta prob. caeca (sp. nov.) and Diestrammena brevifons (Chopard). NOTE 12: Taxonimical description of Dysderoides synrang Grismado and Deeleman, new species.- »Types: Female holotype from India: Meghalaya: Jaintia Hills, near Musianglamare, cave Synrang Pamiang, cave, 25.21333°N, 92.36333°E, Feb. 16, 1999, Christian Fischer (NMB Ar 2548 PBI_OON 30637); deposited in NMB. Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality. Diagnosis: The female of D. synrang resembles those of D. typhlos by its large size and well-sclerotized teguments and by having a small dorsal abdominal scutum and two transverse genital plates (figs. 13A, H, 14D), but differs by the T-shaped anterior genital sclerite narrower anteriorly and by the elongated tracheal spiracles (figs. 13H, 14D). Description: Female (holotype, PBI_OON 30637). Total length 2.26. Cephalothorax: Carapace pale orange, nonmarginal pars cephalica setae light, needlelike, in three rows; nonmarginal pars thoracica setae light, needlelike. Clypeus vertical in lateral view; setae absent. Remnants of eyes visible beneath the cuticle (fig. 13G). Sternum pale orange, posterior margin extending posteriorly beyond anterior edges of coxae IV as single extension; setae dark, evenly scattered. Mouthparts: chelicerae, endites, and labium pale orange. Cheliceral setae light; paturon inner margin unmodified. Labium anterior margin deeply incised (fig. 13E). Abdomen: Dorsum soft portions pale orange. Book lung covers round. Pedicel tube medium sized, ribbed. Dorsal scutum weakly sclerotized, pale orange, without color pattern, covering less than 1/2 of abdomen, between 1/4 and 1/2 of abdomen width. Postepigastric scutum pale orange. Spinneret scutum present, incomplete ring. Dorsum setae light. Epigastric area setae dark. Postepigastric area setae dark. Spinneret scutum with fringe of stout setae. Legs: Pale orange. Leg spination (all spines longer than segment width): leg I: femora pv0-1-0, tibiae v2-2-2-2-0, metatarsi v2-2-0; leg II: tibiae v2-2-2-2-0, metatarsi v2-2-0; leg III: tibiae p1-1, v2ap, metatarsi p1-1; leg IV: tibiae p1-1, v2ap, metatarsi p1-1. Tarsi I–IV superior claws tooth not examined in detail. Trichobothria not examined. Genitalia: Two procurved, transverse, well-sclerotized plates, posterior one with short lateral apodemes; anterior sclerite long, less widened anteriorly than in D. typhlos; posterior receptacle small, round; copulatory opening inconspicuous (figs. 13H, 14D). Male: Unknown. Other material examined: None. Distribution: Known only from a single cave in the type locality« (Grismado, J Cristian & Deleman Christa L in: GRISMADO, C J et al. 2014: 26, 27 figs. 13 A-H, 28 fig. 14 D). NOTE 13: The Zootaxa (ISSN 1175-5326 printed edition; ISSN 1175-5334 online edition) editor(s) of KOTTELAT, M et al. (2007) translated on page 36 »MHNG« into »Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Genève, Switzerland« but probably intended to refer to the »Musée d'Histoire Naturelle« there. NOTE 14: »CMK, collection of first author« (KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 36) or Maurice Kottelat, Route de la Baroche 12, case postale 57, CH-2952 Cornol, Switzerland (address for correspondence); and School of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260. E-mail: mkottelat@dplanet.ch. NOTE 15: According to FERRARIS, C J junior (2007: 152, 538), specimens of Horaglanis krishnai (Menon 1950: 64, pl. 1 figs. 1–3), holotype (ZSI F313/2), had been collected (SUBHASH BABU & NAYER 2004) from man-made, dug-out wells (excavated from unspecified host rocks) at two separate locations (FERRARIS, C J 2007: 152) in Kerala state (South-West India) somewhere (without adequate coordinates) in the vicinity of Ettumanur 09°40'N: 76°34'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) on AMS sheet NC43-12 Rajapalayam (U502 series, 1955edition) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 118 B2 B3) at a travelling distance of 12 km along the road north-east from Kottayam (09°35'N: 76°31'E), the district headquarters. NOTE 16: FERRARIS, C J (2007: 152, 538): Specimens of Horaglanis alikunhii (Subhash Babu & Nayer, 2004 : 296, fig. 1), holotype (ZSI Calicut. Regn. V/F 13137), had been collected (SUBHASH BABU & NAYER 2004) from a man-made, dug-out wells (excavated from unspecified host rocks) somewhere (without adequate coordinates) in the vicinity of Parappukara (10°24'08”N: 76°14'56”E wikimapia.org/529392 (accessed 2008.06.19) on AMS sheet NC43-07 Coimbatore (U502 series, 1959 edition) at a linear distance of about 15 km in a direct line approximately SSE from »Trichur« (Trissur; also: Thrissur 10°31'n: 76°13'e), headquarters of a district of the same name. NOTE 17: The »Meghalayan Adventurers Association« created by KOTTELAT, M et al. (2007: 36) is an attempt to refer to the Meghalaya Adventurers' Association (MAA).

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 01/05/2016

Synrang Pamiang is a typical interstratal cave which is formed in a limestone band sandwiched between a basal sandstone and a sandstone caprock. The upstream entrances are found exclusively where the about 25 m to 30 m thick Lakadong Sandstone caprock is breached and gives access to an interstratal stream cave passage with tributary inlets. The cave passages have formed in an apparently 25 m to 30 m thick band of Lakadong Limestone deposited on Sandstone termed Cherra (MEDLICOTT, H B 1869) and Therria (MATHUR & EVANS 1964). The basal sandstone limits downcutting (vertical cave development) and controls the drainage following moderarate dip of generally 3° to 4° initially from NE to SW (the northern two fifths of the cave), later from N to S (again about two fifths) and finally (the southern fifths) from NW to the edge of the limestone occurrence in the SE. As usual, it is easy to say but impossible to tell where the cave begins. For sure, however, the cave ends where the cave bearing rock ends, at the entrance. In the case of Synrang Pamiang, the cave bearing limestone dips southwards and the streamcave passage ends downstream with the entrance of the –>Valley Head Cave (in Pseudokhasi "Krem Khlieh Trai Lum" or Hill Foot Head Cave), which lies at the head of a valley with an unidentified name.EVALUATION: »Synrang Pamiang is an extensive system, with over 14 km of mapped cave passages and five known entrances. The main drain of the system is a large meandering streamway that extends for over 7.5 km before issuing to the surface near Krem Khlieh Trai Lum entrance (25°10'23”N, 92°21'20”E). The water then flows southwards in the basin of the Meghna river … a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, which it joins in the Ganges delta, which constitutes most of the lowlands of Bangladesh« (Harries, D B in: KOTTELAT, M et al 2007: 38). Single passage cavers dislike complex caves, loath labyrinthine mazes, and have praised Synrang Pamiang as »one of the world's finest cave passages« because the 7.63 km long main drag (christened Collaboration Canyon) lacks ramifications and serves gentlemen in need of long ones as the longest known single passage of the Indian Subcontinent. So far, some five or six entrances to the cave have become known: Entrance 1a Synrang Pamiang: Red River Inlet: 25°12'48”N: 92°21'48”E Entrance 1b Synrang Pamiang: Upper Red River Inlet, 10 m north of Entrance 1a. Entrance 2 Krem –>Musmari 25°12'30”N: 92°21'20”E Entrance 3 Shanty Shaft 25°11'53”N: 92°21'09”E: circa 740 m asl Entrance 4 Elephant Dung Cave 25°11'14”N: 92°21'03”E: circa 760 m asl Entrance 5 Valley Head Cave 25°10'23”N: 92°21'20”E: ca. 490 m asl, the final exsurgence. Entrance 6 is a lost or nowadays (1997 - 1999) impenetrable "Lost Entrance" is a blocked inlet that shows evidence of previous visitors, presumably coal miners. ETYMOLOGY: The Synteng Khasi (Pnar) cave name "Synrang Pamiang" seems to signify a Sacrifice Cave and translates literally as »Cut-up Cave« because "synrang" is one of the Khasi words for a cave (note 1), especially an inhabitable cave (note 2), the verb "pam" means to cut, to sever (SINGH, N 1906: 150) and the adverb "iang" up (SINGH, N 1906: 85). At a first glance, the cave entrance is quite suitably described as a cut-up hill side exposing the cave. On the other hand, the "pamiang" or cutting-up may originate -- but this is mere guesswork -- from a lost or suppressed tradition of using the partly daylight lit entrance area as a cult spot. It is sheltered inside a spacious coping of the rock and would serve as a stage for religious performances attended by onlookers (note 3). Synrang Pamiang, thus called on 20th February 1997 by Spindro Dkhar from Lumshnong, has also been referred to as Synrang Pamaing (BROOKS, S J 2000b: 3)Synrang Pamiang system (KOTTELAT, M et al.2007: 38) Synrang Ramiang (note 4) MEGHALAYA CAVES EXPLORED … (1999)Krem Synrang Pamiang (note 5) KHARPRAN DALY, B D (2012.01.16) Synrang Peninsula cave system (note 6) KOTTELAT, M et al.(2007: 38). SITUATION: The main entrance to Synrang Pamiang proper (25°12'48”N: 92°21'48”E), which lies north of the track from Chiehruphi (note 7) to Musianglamare (old church ±32 m 25°13'21”N: 92°21'26”E), is reached by descending from the grassy plateau down into the head of a jungle clad doline -- the last bit, in 1998 and 1999, on a wooden coal miner's ladder. By spring 2007 (Breitenbach & Marwan 2007.03.07), however, the wooden ladder, which had been there in 1998-1999, was eaten away but an other wooden ladder, about 8 m high and already in a rotting state of repair, had been put up on the western side of the entrance doline. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Below a caprock of Lakadong Sandstone (Middle Sylhet) a collapse into Lakadong Limestone (Lower Sylhet) gives access to 200 m of wet crawl (Red River), which leads to about 500 m of awkward, bouldery and wet thrutching followed by one of the world's finest cave passages, the 7.63 km long "Collaboration Canyon", a meandering streamway (5 m to 15 m wide and estimated 15 m to 30 m high: Red River, B.F. Good River, Collaboration Canyon, »Streamway Under Titanic Hall To Resurgence« renamed after the cook Myrkasim Swer Streamway) and chambers containg orange, red, black, grey, blue, green and white coloured calcite formations (speleothems). CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 1: Entrance up to the Shanty Shaft Squeeze (after Richard Frank): »The entrance of Synrang Pamiang (about 20 m wide and high) is reached by following a coal miners' path into a jungle clad doline and descending on a wooden ladder. The boulder strewn entrance area is mostly lit by daylight and soon ends collapsed, less than 50 m from the dripline. About half way in and not far from the western wall a gap in the collapse floor can be descended to the Red River [note 8], a rivulet which can be followed downstream by stooping or crawling –in any case cursing. Climbing up collapse 230 m from the entrance an impressive gallery (15 m wide, 10 m high) is gained. From this point onwards and downstream, the active and relic parts are mostly united but the stream course meanders considerably, circumflowing hills of giant collapse boulders or even leaving the main passage for some distance to rejoin later on. Progress is difficult anyway, no matter if following the meandering stream with a bend head or if clambering across collapse hills heavily breathing. Another 200 m further on the partly active White River bifurcates towards east. This 480 m long side passage peters out, initially much calcite and gypsum decorated, in wide but low and wet but sand filled crawls, impenetrable except for flatworms. Continuing along the Red River, the end of the cave is apparently reached 1,200 m from the entrance when the gallery runs into a sandstone collapse. The wet way, however, continues and following the stream is spacious cave regained with the Back Chamber where coal, exposed on the ceiling and littering the floor, creates eerie scenery. Descending this collapse hill the meandering creek, looping off the abandoned passage for the last time, is reached again. Following the stream a duck is passed and the main passage is regained by climbing an overhang. Some 100 m ahead (about 1,500 m from the entrance) the active and relic passages rejoin to stay happily together. The relic passage (square in cross-section, 12 m wide, 10 m high, richly calcite decorated) and the incised meandering passage (6 by 6 m) below result in a keyhole shaped cross-section (on average 15 m high, 12 m wide). Neglecting a short collapsed section and some threatening 'Damocles' [note 9] boulders 8 m in diameter is progress quickly in the streambed. Only 600 m ahead a serious collapse zone is met with when the stream disappears into bouldery debris. Climbing up guided by the air draught leads to the top of Bierzelt Block, a collapse boulder the size of a German beer-fest tent. Leaves, branches, a wooden wheel, and inscriptions (yes!) hint to a Lost Entrance nearby. There actually is a side passage entering from the north-west but this soon leads to a massive collapse. A coal mine, now abandoned, presumably breached here the cave. Some 100 m further ahead enters a tributary [i.e. Swabian Inlet, arriving from Krem –>Musmari] which is, at a width of 3 m and a height of 15 m, by itself a passage of acceptable dimensions. B.F. Good River: From this point onwards the main gallery's general appearance changes when the passage height increases and the upper, formerly distinct abandoned part of the gallery becomes fully integrated. A cross-section is to be envisaged, which is about 20 m high and at its base 3 to 4 m wide. Since the cave walls are inclined the passage leans off the base and therefore the 'full body' of the gallery results in the ground-plan in passage widths surpassing 10 m. The cave floor is tidily swept and descends considerably, spiced with rapids and waterfalls. Every one in a while pour waterfalls in from heights out of reach –further tributaries! Some 3 km from the entrance a collapse is met before the route continues in the stream. Sand banks turn up in increasing numbers and a back-up zone is passed. The water in the stream gets less and seems to disappear finally. This beach scenery ends abruptly at a huge collapse hill, littered at its foot with driftwood and remnants of baskets. Ascending the collapse hill the view opens into a 30 m high and 50 m long chamber, dimly lit by a daylight window [ –>Shanty Shaft] high up in the ceiling where a coal-mine has broken accidentally into the cave. The 20 m high main passage (Collaboration Canyon) continues, more and more meandering. Massive calcite flows pouring over the cave walls almost block the way on (8 m high) which is stuffed with stalagmites and calcite flags, and the reduced cross-section results in a strong air current [5.5 km from the entrance, 200 m lower].« CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 2: Collaboration Canyon: The original cave encroachers observed not only a large variety but also nice to add numbers based on survey tape lengths but also recorded interesting amounts caused by adding diverse numbers in view of yielding one or the other total survey length. BROOKS, S J (2000b: 3), for example, draws attention predominantly to lengthiness and composed a wording according to which not the survey but the cave itself, now called »Synrang Pamaing [sic!] was extended [in February 1998] from 1.6 km to just over 6.2 km in length, making it India's third longest cave. The current end of [the recently visited part of] Synrang Pamaing [sic! Pamiang] is wide open, being a canyon style stream passage some 5 m wide and up to [an estimated] 30 m high with considerable potential for further extensions. However, the cave [negotiation] is beginning to present logistical problems in that it is now 5 hours of hard caving from the entrance to the end of the surveyed passage« where the same cave passage continues unsurveyed. BROOKS, S J (2000b: 4) draws even more attention to lengthiness and points out that »Synrang Pamaing [sic!] was extended from its 1998 length of 6.2 km to just over 14 km, making it India's longest cave.« As before, the same was understood again, namely that one aspect of a known part of »the cave is characterised by a very long canyon style main stream passage that is between 5 to 10 m wide and up to [an estimated] 30 to 35 m in height.« CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 3: See: Krem –>Musmari. CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 4: See: –>Shanty Shaft (Cherlamet Pothole) CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 5: See: Elephant Dung Cave (Krem Eit Hati)CAVE DESCRIPTION - part 6: See: Valley Head Cave (Krem Khlieh Trai Lum). CULTURAL HISTORY - Cave snake legend (after Spindro Dkhar 1997.02.20 personal communication): A man was walking in the forest. A very large python attacked him and threatened to strangle him. The man pulled his dagger and beheaded the snake. Thus, he managed to free himself, but the snake was not dead. The snake wound itself around a tree and killed the tree. At this moment, the man died also. Instant experts undertstand clearly (Dunning Kruger effect) that this story is merely a nanny tale. Slow thinking people see through an allegory which points out that the human brain has no tool to distinguish between causality and coincidence. CAVE LIFE: Fischer, C. W. (1999 Mss) noted "lumps" of harvestmen (Opiliones), dark crayfish and crabs, brown crickets (Gryllida), occasional bats (Chiroptera), a lizard and a sort of slug or snail (possibly daudebardia sp). C. W. Fischer (personal correspondence 2001 February 09) lists: Main Entrance Passage: Spiders: Giant Crab Spider (Heteropoda spec.); Dwarf Sixeye Spider (Oonopidae indet. one specimen collected (in coll. Natural History Museum Bern, Switzerland); Pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones indet, one specimen collected, in coll. University of Ulm, Germany); Crabs (Telaphusa indet); Woodlice (cf. Oniscidae indet, nine specimen collected, in coll. Spelda, Stuttgart, Germany); millipedes (Trachyiulus spec. -- six specimens collected, in coll. Spelda, Stuttgart, Germany); Springtails: Of the three different species / nine specimens collected belongs one to the Entomobryidae family (in coll. Thibaut, Paris, France); Crickets: Two different species, one of them is probably a troglobite; ten specimens collected (in coll. Fischer, Ehingen, Germany); Beetles: Cholevidae spec., five specimens collected (in coll. Schawaller, Stuttgart, Germany); Flies: Mycetophilidae indet. Daniel B. Harries (in: KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 42) lists »fauna recorded in Synrang Pamiang … a slug (Pulmonata), a pseudoscorpion (Pseudoscorpiones), spiders (Heteropoda robusta [indet] and Ooonops spec.), clumps of harvestmen (Opiliones), troglomorphic harvestmen (Opiliones), shrimp (Macrobrachium sp.), crabs (Paratelphusa sp.?), woodlice (Oniscoidea, Philoscia sp.?), millipedes (Trayiulus mimus), springtails (Collembola spp, including a troglomorphic species), brown crickets (Rhaphidophoridae), troglomorphic cockroaches, beetles (Cholevidae), flies (Mycetophilidae), a gecko (Gekkonidae) and occasional bats (Microchiroptera) (Gebauer 2003, C. Fischer, pers. comm.). In general terms this is typical of many other caves in the Jaintia Hills. Spiders of the genus Heteropoda are routinely recorded from the entrance areas of caves, and appear to be present throughout Meghalaya. Darkly pigmented opilionids are often seen in large aggregations on overhanging rocks close to cave entrances, and troglomorphic species are occasionally recorded farther into the caves. Large shrimp (Macrobrachium sp.) are common in many caves and built burrows in moist gravel on cave floors. Woodlice are frequently encountered, especially near decaying vegetation deposited by monsoon floods. The milliped Trachyiulus mimus has been noted in most of the caves visited in the Jaintia Hills, and was originally described from Siju Cave in the Garo Hills. Large brown rhaphidophorid crickets are found in most caves. These are yet to be formally identified, but may turn out to be a species of Diestrammena described from caves in the Jaintia [note 10] by Chopard (1924). A troglomorphic cockroach, Speleaoblatta caeca, has been described from the Jaintia caves [note 11] by Chopard (1921). Bats are frequently noted in the caves and Hipposideros appears to be a common genus, It seems that the gecko and slug were accidental trogloxenes recorded near an entrance.« SPIDER: Cristian J. Grismado and Christa L. Delemann-Reinhold give a taxonomical description of the large (2.26 mm) female holotype of a goblin spider (Araneae: Oonopidae) Dysderoides synrang Grismado and Deeleman, new species, collected (1999.02.16) by Christian Wilhelm Fischer from the »cave Synrang Pamiang, cave, 25.21333°N, 92.36333°E« (GRISMADO, C J et al. 2014: 26, 27 figs. 13 A-H, 28 fig. 14 D): »Male: Unknown. Other material examined: None. Distribution: Known only from a single cave in the type locality.« (note 12). FISH: Both the holotype »MHNG [note 13] 2680.074 (45.1 mm SL)« (KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 36) and the paratype »CMK [note 14] 16040, 1 (48.7 mm SL)« of Schistura papulifera (Teleostei: Balitoridae), the "Wart-chinned Catfish", have been collected from one of the gour pools (without known survey station) in »a cave of the Synrang Pamiang system« (KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 35). This »cave« (cave entrance) near »25°11'14”N, 92°21'03”E« (KOTTELAT et al. 2007: 36) is Krem –>Eit Hati (25°11'14”N, 92°21'03”E) but said to be »Krem Umsngat entrance« (KOTTELAT, M et al. 2007: 36) though Krem Umsngat exists, unless it is fictitious, only as a bit of hearsay information and has not yet been identified whilst Krem Eit Hati is a well-known and, in cases, convenient cave entrance which leads via a tributary cave passage to the otherwise difficult to reach downstream third of Synrang Pamiang. »Fish were only observed in a still gour pool [no survey station mentioned] with sandy bottom, 1.5 x 7 m, 1 m deep. In February, the passage carries no water but would do so in the wet season (May October). Up to 20 individuals were seen on each of five trips to the area. They exhibited no response to light, but were disturbed by movements of water (A. Boycott, pers. comm.)« (Daniel B. Harries in: KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE 2007: 42). The Internet website SAVE-CAVE BLOGS (2007.03.11 after hzzp://practicalfishkeeping.co.uk accessed 2007) had narrated a tale according to which KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE, G (2007) described from Synrang Pamiang the balitorid loach »Schistula« (sic!) papulifera (Nemacheilinae): »… a name chosen due to the presence of small skin projections on the lower half of the head. Like most other cave-dwelling fishes, Schistula papulifera has a white body – it has no need for camouflage – and has vestigial eyes. […] India currently has four known stygobiotic fish species, including two clariid catfishes (Horaglanis krishnai Menon [note 15] and H. alikunhii Babu and Nayar [note 16]), and two synbrachid eels (Monopterus eapeni Talwar and M. roseni Bailey and Gans). … these four species are found in shallow phreatic ground water.«

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Bibliography 01/05/2016

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.02.20: Spindro Dkhar (Lumshnong) indicated the entrance to Andrew "Andy" Peter Tyler and George "Whiskey Jo" Lyngdoh but Simon Brooks wants »Andy, George and Spindro« to »find a cave called Synrang Pamiang« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 29) where they "surveyed" (sports caver standards) 230 m to a degree yielding a "survey" represented by total sum of survey leg lengths along with a crude sketch called cave plan. In the following days Simon J. Brooks, H. Daniel Gebauer, George 'Whisky Jo' Lyngdoh, Fairweather W. Mylliemngap, Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah, Richard Frank, Uwe Scherzer, Nicki Thapa and Andrew "Andy" Peter Tyler commenced mapping (1'655.34 m) and exploration. 1997.02.21: H. D. Gebauer (book), Uwe Scherzer, Fairweather Mylliemngap, A. P. Tyler, and Nicola Bayley surveyed some 740 m of passages (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 29). 1997.02.23: Richard Frank (book), Uwe Scherzer (compass & clinometer), Simon J. Brooks, A. P. Tyler and Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah »surveyed another 600 m down an impressively propotioned main passage …« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 29). 1998.02.19 - 03.07: Under the enthusiastic leadership of A.P. Tyler (team: Susanne Annette Becher , Boycott, Antony 'Tony', Eleazar "Leo" Blah, Lindsay B. Diengdoh, R. Frank, Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt, Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Thilo Müller, and Yvo Weidmann), a survey length of 6218 m at a vertical range of ±205 m (+4.10 / -200.78) was reached. So far, only one entrance had been known and the exploration culminated in a 15 hour overnight trip recorded by Jarratt (1998 Mss: Cave log Meghalaya): »After over 3.5 hours of continuous caving we reached the unsurveyed passage left by Andy and Ritschi previously. Brian stayed with these two to form a three man team to survey for the next 500 m to a point where Tony and I then explored to. Here we started our survey. The first section included a huge breakdown passage where lengths of timber and miners' baskets were found in the centre of the floor. With our lights off we could vaguely discern a tiny patch of lighter darkness some 30 m above our heads and assumed this to be a coal shaft which had … entered the main passage ceiling. From our point we surveyed some 780 m of 20 m high by 3 to 5 m wide sculpted canyon with the main stream in its floor and any side passages unreachable at the top. Some superb formations decorated the walls and the bright orange floor rock added more colour. A gobsmacking passage, later named Collaboration Canyon.« BROOKS, S J (2000b: 3) draws the attention of gentlemen with a taste for lengthened ones to a certain »Synrang Pamaing« (sic!) as this had been dramatically »extended from 1.6 km to just over 6.2 km in length, making it India's third longest. The current end of Synrang Pamaing [sic!] is wide open, being a canyon style stream passage some 5 m wide and up to [estimated] 30 m high with considerable potential for further extensions. However, the cave is beginning to present logistical problems in that it is now five hours of hard caving from the entrance to the end of the surveyed passage.« 1999.02.03 - 23: Richard Frank, supported by Thilo Müller, became the guiding force of the Pamiang survey, which grew by 7'940 m to a total passage length of 14.16 km and a vertical range of 317 m (+4/-313): 1999.02.03: Tom Chapman, Anthony 'Tony' R. Jarratt. 1999.02.03: R. Frank, Christian W. Fischer, T. Chapman. 1999.02.05: R. Frank, C. W. Fischer. 1999.02.08: R. Frank, T. Müller. 1999.02.08: T. Chapman, Estelle Sandford, Fraser E Simpson. 1999.02.12: R. Frank, T. Chapman, A. P. Tyler: Swabian Inlet, Krem Musmari 1999.02.15: R. Frank, T. Müller, C. W. Fischer. 1999.02.15: T. Chapman, A. Jarratt. 1999.02.15: A. P. Tyler, A. Boycott. 1999.02.16: R. Frank, T. Müller, Simon J. Brooks. 1999.02.16: T. Chapman, A. Jarratt. 1999.02.16: E. Sandford, F. E. Simpson, A. Boycott. 1999.02.18: Simon J. Brooks, A. R. Jarratt, T. Chapman. 1999.02.18: E. Sandford, A. P. Tyler. 1999.02.19: R. Frank, T. Müller, Neil Sootinck, Vanlalruata, C. W. Fischer, Georg Bäumler, Zuala Ralsun. 1999.02.19: T. Chapman, Simon J. Brooks. 1999.02.20: Simon J. Brooks, C. W. Fischer, E. Sandford. 1999.02.23: A. Boycott, Simon J. Brooks, G. Bäumler, C. W. Fischer. 1999.02.23: Simon J. Brooks, C. W. Fischer. Some time in February 1999 one (or more?) unacknowled member (unidentified) of the »Meghalayan Adventurers Association [note 17], Shillong« caught two (or more?) individuals of the nemacheiline »cavefish« (cave dwelling loach / cat fish or Pisces: Teleostei: Cypriformes: Balitoridae), which was named Schistura papulifera (KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE 2007), from »a cave of the Synrang Pamiang system« (KOTTELAT et al. 2007: 35), which, according to the coordinates 25°11'14”N, 92°21'03”E is Krem Eit Hati but said to be »Krem Umsngat entrance« (KOTTELAT et al. 2007: 36) though the latter is not yet identified. 2007.03..07: Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Norbert Marwan (both from GFZ = Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam) attempted connecting Krem Umsynrang to Synrang Pamiang but found the inlet passage of Red River filled almost to the ceiling with unhealthy sewage from the coal miners' village flourishing above the Synrang Paming entrance. Upon finding another entrance (1b) in the daylight-lit entrance hall, they mapped 132.84 m (including 13.75 m grade 2b survey) of predominantly small dimensioned horizontal passages (Upper Upper Red River), which, connecting to the earlier known Upper Red River below, ran into collapses, too low flat-out crawls and a too tight Upper Upper Red River Maze containing an excessively colourful and picturesque ochre slurry (2007 total: 14'229.50 m). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 01/05/2016

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
0.6PDIENG SA LAH (Krem)
0.6CHIEHRUPHI SINK, 1st
0.6CHIEHRUPHI SINK, 2nd
0.9UMSYNRANG (Krem)
1.0MUSMARI (Krem)
1.0CITRUS CAVE (aa -)
1.0UMKHLAW, Chiehruphi (Krem)
1.1UR BAN, Chiehruphi - Nongthymmei (Synrang)
1.1STINGSON SIANGSHAI (Krem U)