KOTOMSAR (Cave near)
18.869200,81.934700
Description
A comparatively spacious and complex show cave, complete with a little cult spot, which attracts during the dry season motorised visitors in search of vehicle aided recreation. The show cave contains many but soot coated (dull, dark and soiled) speleothems in addition to a seasonal stream and a noteworthy cave fauna (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: No original (autochthonous) name, preferably in a local Gond language, has become known of the anonymous cave (note 1), which biospeleologists and journalists call after the nearby village of Kotomsar (also: Gupanpal, Gopansar, Kotamsar, Kotumsar, Kutumsar, etc). Searching the Google memory cache on 20th May 2008, I stumbled across 210 Kotumsar and 120 Kotamsar but not one single Kotomsar websites though both the village of »Kotomsar« and the »Kotomsar Cave« is indicated on Survey of India sheet 65/F-13 (1982 edition). SITUATION: »Kotomsar Cave« is shown on Survey of India sheet 65/F-13 (1982 edition) at a spot that lies about 4.5 km along the road and 2.5 km in a direct line approximately south-east from the Kotomsar Forest Rest House (note 3) and the three distinct populated places called Kotomsar. The slot-shaped, vertical rift entrance opens in the floor of a dry, forest covered glen, which lies about 20 to 30 m below the top of the adjacent plateau and approximately 90 m vertically above the riverbed (472 m asl near 18°52'05”N: 82°55'30”E Everest 1830, SI sheet 65-F/13, ed. 1982) but some 500 to 600 m in a direct line north to north-east from the Kanger Nala (Kanger River) inside the Kanger (Kanger Ghati, Kangerghati) National Park. 2007: Jayant Biswas (2007.05.28 nabn.info/fieldnews.html, accessed 2007.12.12) places »Kotumsar cave in the Kanger Valley National Park, 38 km far from Jagdalpur (District headquarter) of Chhattisgarh state, India (Lat.: 18º 52’09" N; Long. 81º 56’05" E) at an altitude of 560 meters« (note 4). 2006: RANGA REDDY, Y. (2006: 25, location map on page 24) places »Kotumsar Cave … on the bank of the River Kanger, flowing through the Kanger Valley National Park … near Jagdalpur town, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh state, India.« 1987: SKALSKI, A W (1987: 175) placed the cave entrance to »the Kotomsar cave … in the east slope of a hill on the right bank of the Kanger river at an altitude of 580 meters, about 20-30 meters below the top of the hill and approximately 70-80 meters above river table« or water level of the river. 1963: CROOKSHANK, H (1963: 105) placed one of the two most famous caves in »southern Bastar and Jeypore« (the other one is »Gupteswara« or Gupteshwar in Korapur district, Orissa) »about one mile [a kilometre or two] east of the village of Kotomsar (18°53': 81°55').«1959: A. M. Agarwal (1959.10.23 Mss: Letter to THINES 1969) is said to locate an unidentified »a cave« (no name mentioned) somewhere »in India« (GREENWOOD, P H 1976: 136; KOTTELAT, M 1990: 55). POSITION: Survey of India sheet 65/F-13 (edition 1982) shows »Kotomsar Cave« near N18°51'09”: E081°51'05”: 565 m asl (Everest 1830). KOZIK (1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 176) positioned »Kotomsar Cave« near N18°52'09": E081°56'05": 580 m asl (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830 coordinates) but SKALSKI (1990: 175) positioned the cave entrance 62 m in a direct line further south near N18°52'10": E081°56'04": 580 m asl (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830). When I visited the cave in January 1997, the forest canopy (including teak, Tectona grandis) prevented recording the position of the cave entrance with the help of a 4-channel GPS receiver (Garmin 4). PATI & AGRAWAL (2002: 1112) confuse with reporting the position »Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) 18°52'09” N: 81°56'05” E« (unspecified geodetic datum) but this is not the position of the National Park but that of the cave entrance itself (after KOZIK 1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 176). Additionally, they reduce the cave entrance's elevation of 580 m asl (KOZIK 1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 176) without explanation by 20 m to »an altitude of 560 m.« RANGA REDDY, Y. (2006: 25) repeats PATI & AGRAWAL (2002: 1112) after KOZIK (1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 176), again with an elevation reduced to »an altitude of 560 m.« MESSOULI et al. (2008: 44) repeat PATI & AGRAWAL (2002: 1112) after KOZIK (1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 176), once more with an elevation reduced to »an altitude of 560 m.« GEOLOGY: Kotomsar cave is developed in the flaggy Proterozoic (Algonkian) Kanger Limestones (Lower Indrawati Series, Upper Purana Group), which are generally interpreted as equivalent to the Raipur Series of Chhatisgarh (Chattisgarh, Chhattisgarh) region (DUTT 1963, KUMAR 1985). KARSTOLOGY: ADYALKAR & RADHAKRISHNA (1972, with plate 17 figure 6 confused with plate 16 fig. 3) attempt with little success, if any, to apply snippets of little understood karst terminology and ended up in concocting »Gupansar … is a majestic cavern, where an aven [sic! qua: entrance shaft] leads to the cavern, about 45 metres deep … It has at least three irregular benches of cavitation [karstification levels], with relatively smooth walls and growth of stalactites and stalagmites along its lower benches.« CAVE DESCRIPTION 1962: CROOKSHANK (1962: 105) visited the cave about one mile east of »Kotomsar (18°3': 81°55')« and summed up that »Caves often containing underground streams occur in a number of places in the limestone formation. The most famous of these are those situated about one mile east of the village of Kotomsar ( N18°53': E081°55') and at Gupteswara. Ladders are always in position so that one can easily descend to the bottom of the cave and examine it« (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1976: »… a subterranean cave at Kotumsar … The shaft leading to the interior is vertical and about 17 m deep. The interior has numerous stalagmites and stalactite formations and has several small pools fed by seepage water« (SINHA K M 1976: 369). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1987: »The entrance to the Kotomsar cave … is an almost vertical rift descending [to] rather horizontal passages at a depth of 15 m. The deepest surveyed point (sump) is at a level of 42 m below the entrance … The cave consists of a long main passage which ends in [sic! for: leads to] a sump, short side passages and large chamers. Passahes are [on] average 5-7 m wide and a few metres high. … In some places. passages are blocked by breakdown, boulders or flowstone cascades« (SKALSKI 1990: 175) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1992: »A vertical fissure in the wall of the hill provides a main entrance to the irregular chambers of this cave. It is a narrow but twisted opening measuring about 15 metres in length. In addition several narrow but twisted blowholes are also present. The main tunnel of the cave extends for more than 200 metres and there are many downsloping side passages that are partially explored by our team. The inner airfilled irregular chambers are floored with either large rock or surface derived soils. Dripstone formations [stalactite and stalagmite speleothems] are throughout the major portions of the cave and cover the cave walls, ceilings and even floors. The front of the cave is panoramic [picturesque?] on account of colourful dripstone formations. However, a major part of the floor is covered by a thick layer of clay deposits. Constant temperatures, high relative humidities, and perpetual darkness are features of the inner environment. Despite the absence of permanent streams, there are several pools fed throughout the year by seepage water. In addition, the deepest parts of the cave are remain moderately wet by drip water that ultimately forms a deep and long water ditch. However, flooding occurs during rainy seasons and underground drainage results in expelling excessive water in this cave. … Air temperature inside the cave remained fairly constant at 28° ± 1°C whereas the temperature of the cave water varied between 22.9° to 29.3°C with an annual mean of 26.33° ± 0.96°C« (BISWAS, J. 1992: 7-8). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1996: »Kotamsar caves, limestone caves situated about 35 m below the ground level and about 250 m long, with gleaming [read: dull] stalactites and stalagmites« (KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, s.a., circa 1996 forwarded in January 1997 by K. Murugan, DFO = Department of Forests officer, Director, Kanger National Park). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1997 (Gebauer 1997.01.31): Located on the east facing slope of the hill, the cave is entered by a vertical rift with the help of a cast-iron spiral staircase (note 6) descending to rather horizontal stream cave passages about 15 to 25 m below the entrance. The major part of the cave consists of a more meandering than zig-zagging, seasonally active stream cave passage (note 7), which, on average 5 to 7 m wide and a few metre high, generally drains NE to SE and runs, almost at right angles, into a ENE-WSW aligned rift where a precarious, wet and slimy 15 m climb down (ladder!) eventually leads to a sump at -42 m below the entrance. From the west and south-west arrive lateral passages to the main drag, which either descend from perched collapsed chambers (-10 m and -17 m below the entrance) or arrive from a distal chamber with a small cult spot in the far corner. The apparently once splendorous calcite formations were found to be severely vandalised and covered with soot all over. Physioclastic cave sediments, apparently of recent age, were found to contain a series of dark grey to black and up to 14 cm thick varved layers coloured like charcoal as if indicating catastrophic forest fires. On 30th January 1970, I found the cave was moist, but flowing water was absent while stagnant water was seen only in a few hydrologically perched pools at elevations well above the water table. Except of a few solitary bats (Hipposideros var.), obvious cave live seemed to be absent but my visit was a rather hurried one. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001: »Kotamsar cave, also known locally as Kutumsar or Gupanpal, is grouped on a par with the longest cave of the world -- Karlswar Cave in the US [note 8]. The inside temperature hovers at a sizzling 47 degree Celsius. Descend a flight of stairs to about 55 feet [16.8 m] below ground level and a magnificent sight of stalactites and stalagmites unravels. Their breath taking beauty is accentuated by the fact that no sunlight ever seems to reach the cave. The tribal people have many a tale woven into the history and mystery of the cave« (DUREJA 2001.03.12) CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002: »The Kotumsar Cave is … one of the largest caves in India, and one among several explored and unexplored natural limestone caves of KVNP [Kanger Valley National Park] that is open to tourists. […] The entrance to the cave is a vertical fissure in the wall of a hill. It is a narrow but twisted opening measuring about 15 m in length. The cave in general contains irregular chambers that make it appear honeycombed in structure (Figure 2). The main tunnel of the cave extends for nearly half a kilometre and there are many sideward and downward passages that have been partially explored. The roofs and walls of the different chambers are lined with colourful dripstone formations as result of precipitation of calcite-dissolved carbonate of lime. The chambers of this cave are floored with either rocks or pebbles of varying dimensions or surface-derived soil / clay deposits« (PATI & AGRAWAL 2002: 1112). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002: »Another cave Kotamsar is located within about 5 km distance from the Dandak cave. This cave is very big in size (about 500 m in length). As it is a tourist place, most of the speleothems have been broken down« (Yadava, M. G 2002 Mss: Thesis, chapter 1.4, page 23). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003: »Discovered in 1900, this cave was surveyed by Dr. Shankar Tiwari in 1951. The leading way inside the cave is 330 m long and 20 to 72 m wide. Limestone structures called stalactite (one hanging from the roof) and stalagmite (on deposited on the floor) are major attractions. These structures … offer important academic and meteorological insights about different periods and history. Numerous depressions at cave floor constitute small ponds that harbour 'blind' fish and frogs. In addition to this, many insects, reptiles, spiders, bats, crickets exist inside the cave. The rear end of the cave has a 'Shivaling' made of limestone depositions. A visit to cave is to be enjoyed with the help of compulsory guide and solar lamps« (KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, s.a., circa 2003: 3-4 forwarded by Daniel B. Harries 2004 December). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2006: »The Kotumsar Cave, a limestone cave, is one of the largest caves in India … The cave entrance is a vertical fissure in the wall of a hill. It has a narrow, twisted opening, measuring about 15 m in length. The cave is honeycombed in its structure, consisting of several irregular chambers. The main tunnel of the cave is nearly 500 m long and has several lateral and downward passages. The roofs and walls of the different chambers are lined with colorful dripstone formation, resulting from the precipitation of calcite-dissolved carbonate lime. The chambers are floored with either rocks or pebbles of varying dimensions or surface derived soil/clay deposits. [Pati & Agrawal 2002] … The cave is subject to frequent flooding during the monsoon activity, which generally begins in the middle of June« (RANGA REDDY, Y. 2006: 25). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2007a: »Kotumsar Cave … is one of the largest caves in India … The entrance to the cave is a vertical fissure in the wall of a hill and is a narrow but twisted opening, measuring about 15 m in length. The cave has several irregular chambers similar to that of a honeycomb. The main tunnel of the cave is nearly 500 m long and has several lateral and perpendicular passages. The roofs and walls of the different chambers are lined with colourful dripstone formations, resulting from the precipitation of calcite-dissolved carbonate of lime. The chambers are floored with either rocks or pebbles of varying dimensions or surface derived soil / clay deposits. [Pati & Agrawal 2002] … The cave is subject to frequent flooding when monsoon season begins around the middle of June« (Ranga Reddy, Yenumula in: MESSOULI et al. 2007: 44). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2007b: »A vertical fissure in the wall of a hill provides the main entrance into the irregular panoramic chambers of this cave. Colorful dripstone formation (Stalactites/ Stalagmites) inside this cave imparts a look of heaven. Deepest zones are always filled with water. No visitors are allowed there. Due to complete lack of light, the primary producers of ecosystem are totally absent. Probably the water ditches of the cave get connected with the adjacent river during monsoon« (Biswas, Jayant 2007.05.28 on nabn.info/fieldnews.html accessed 2007.12.12). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013: »Caves are like time machines, they enclose within the natural and cultural history of a particular region. The caves of Chhattisgarh also abound in particular life forms and mystifying pillars of stalactites and stalagmites formed by limestone dripping down with the water, said Dr. Jayant Biswas, Director of National Cave Research and Protection Organisation, India. Talking to 'The Hitvada,' Dr. Jayant Biswas said perpetual darkness, high humidity with almost constant geophysical factors are some of the abiotic factors, which make the cave ecosystem unique. The evolutionary adaptations of the organisms, which inhabit the usual and fragile ecosystems within caves, are of inherent interest to biologists and laymen. Cave organisms generally develop a high degree of physiological and behavioural [sic! qua: behavioral] adaptation for survival in the subterranean environment. Giving elaborated account of his research conducted in the caves of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Jayant Biswas said the Kotumsar Cave is (Contd on page 6)« (CHACHANE, R 2013.09.06). CAVE DESCRIPTIONS s.a. 1: »Kotumsar caves … The floor of the caves spans 1.0 km. They are truely limestone caves …« Page 95: »The leading way [guided visitors route] inside the cave is 330 m long and 20 to 72 m wide. Limestone structures called stalactite (one hanging from the roof) and stalagmite (one deposited on the floor) are major attractions. Numerous depressions at cave floor constitute small ponds that harbour 'blind' fish and frogs. In addition to this, many insects, reptiles, spiders, bats, crickets exist inside the cave« (Chhattisgarh Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, pages 76-77 online: cg.nic.in/cgbsap.htm> accessed 2008.05.20). CAVE DESCRIPTIONS s.a. 2: »Dark Dungeons« from the Kanger National Park, including one »Kutumsar [sic!] Cave: There are stairs at the entrance and once inside, you can see stalactite formations. No sunlight reaches the cave and in little puddles of water there live blind fish and frogs. The cave has many connecting compartments. At the end of the cave is a stalagmite Shiv-linga, which is revered by tribals and visitors alike« (gatewayforindia.com/tourism/bastar.htm (acessed 2008.05.23). SPELEOMETRY: According to KOZIK (1987 cave plan in SKALSKI 1990: 177), who should know, the cave was surveyed to a length 660 m (probably survey length) and to a maximal depth of -42 m below the entrance. MIKUSZEWSKI (1987), however, the excursion leader of the KANGER '87 EXPEDITION , decided to report a length of 600 m (perhaps passage length) at a depth -40 m. gatewayforindia.com/tourism/bastar.htm (acessed 2008.05.23) considers »Kutumsar Cave« a mind-boggling »underground cave« (as if there were caves above the ground and suspended in the air), and claims not only that it is »330 metres in length« but also »is known to be the second longest natural cave in the world« This is not the case (note 9). CAVE POTENTIAL: Till today, the topography of »the cave is not fully explored« (SKALSKI 1990: 175). The deepest point reached at -42 m (a sump at ca. 520 m asl) inside the cave (entrance near 565 m asl) still lies some 50 m vertically above local level of the Kanger River bed (downstream of the confluence •472 m asl near N18°52'05”: E082°55'30” Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 65-F/13 edition 1982) but some 500 to 600 m in a direct line north to north-east from the water course of the Kanger Nala (Kanger River). Hence, we can safely assume that only a fraction of the cave has been discovered so far. According to one Ram, a local cave guide (personal communication January 1997), the exploration of a an estimated 500 m long cave passage was abandoned due to the lack of oxygen masks -- one can rest assured that "lack of oxygen masks" indicates rather a need of psychological support than a lack of breatheable air. CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: According to GOSH (1960-1961), it was V. S. (Vishnu Shridhar?) Wakankar, who had explored in the archaeological 1960-61 season a »Gupansar« cave and found microliths »at some distance from the entrance« either inside the cave or in front of it. HUMAN USE: The cave is exploited as a show cave and a tourist attraction in the Kanger Valley National Park which is advertised in tourist guide books (e.g. LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 638) and many effective and more often than not useless Internet "websites" or webshites. CROOKSHANK (1962: 105): »Caves often containing underground streams occur in a number of places in the limestone formation. The most famous of these are those situated about one mile east of the village of Kotomsar ( N18°53': E081°55') and at Gupteswara [Gupteshwar, Koraput]. Ladders are always in position so that one can easily descend to the bottom of the cave and examine it.« RAMAKRISHNAN, M. (1987: 149): »Caves containing underground streams in these karsted [sic!] limestones at Kotomsar are a good tourist attraction.« dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03dec03/national.htm#2 (accessed 2006.09.17): »The stalagmite and stalacite formations of Kutumsar caves, Kailash cave and Dandak cave are popular attractions.«
ILLUMINATION: In January 1997 the cave was found to be quite grimy and much sooted. To illuminate the cave for tourists, however, the cave guides had recently changed from diesel fed petromax lamps to propane / butane- gas lamps. CROOKSHANK, H. (1963: 105) reported the use of bamboo torches (possibly aided by oil). A thorough wash-up would definitely brighten both the cave and the visitors' experience but the dirt washed away is likely to threaten the cave life in the pools and interstices. CAVE CLIMATE: The »air temperature inside the cave remained fairly constant at 28° ± 1°C whereas the temperature of the cave water varied between 22.9° to 29.3°C with an annual mean of 26.33° ± 0.96°C« (BISWAS, J. 1992: 8). At unspecified locations inside the »subterranean cave at Kotumsar« the »temperature in the interior varies between 24° and 29°C« at unspecified times (SINHA, K. M. 1976: 369). »The air temperature and several other abiotic parameters of Kotumsar Cave were monitored during six different months between May 1987 and March 1988. The air and water temperatures of the cave remain relatively stable at an annual average of 28.25 ± 1.23°C and 26.33 ± 0.96°C respectively (range = 25.0 to 32.7°C for air; 22.9 to 29.3°C for water). The water pools are distinctly alkaline. The annual average of pH values is 8.04 ± 0.36. Further, a statistically significant annual variation in the conductivity of water was found, with a peak during December and an annual average of 0.27 ± 0.03 m Mhos (BISWAS, J. 1992, Biome, 5: 39–43). The annual mean for dissolved oxygen and percentage saturation for oxygen in the cave water are 0.42 ± 0.52 ppm and 74.83 ± 5.91% respectively« (PATI, A. K. & AGRAWAL, A. 2002: 1112-1113). It is when we come to DUREJA (2001.03.12) that we are generously spread with bullshit stating how the »inside temperature hovers at a sizzling 47 degree Celsius« but then we are aware that she is a journalist in the pay of Buisness Line, the financial daily from The Hindu Group of Publications. BIOSPELEOLOGY: Among the cave dweller reported from the cave near the village of Kotomsar are the two bat species (Chiroptera) Hipposideros fulvus Gray 1838 and H. speoris Schneider 1800 (BISWAS 1990a, 1990b, 1990c, 1992; BISWAS & KANOJE 1991), the cavernicolous cricket Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae: Kempiola shankari (SINHA 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981; SINHA & AGRAWAL 1977) and a small, quite un-pigmented population of the otherwise epigean aquatic (stream) loach (note 10) Nemacheilus evezardi Day 1878 (BISWAS 1990a, 1990b, 1991, 1990d, 1992; BISWAS & RAMTEKE 2007; KOTTELAT 1990; PATI, A. K. & AGRAWAL, A. 2002; PRADHAN 1984; PRADHAN & BISWAS 1994). Chronological progress: CHOPARD, L (1970) described a cavernous Arachnomimus subalatus (Insecta: Orthoptera: Nemobiidae) from an uncertain »… grotte près du Jugdulpur, Basya State« which JUBERTHIE et al. (2001: 1797) corrupted into a »grotte près des Jagdalpur (Basyar state).« SINHA (1977) studied the maxillary palpal muscles of the cave cricket Kempiola shankari Sinha & Agrawal (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) collected from »Kotumsar cave«. SINHA (1978) studied the sound producing organ of the cave cricket Kempiola shankari Sinha & Agrawal (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) collected from »Kotumsar cave«. SKALSKI (1990) gives a systematic list of faunistic groupes encountered in »Kotomsar Cave« and the sort of neighbouring –>Green Chamber. BISWAS (1990) studied biological aspects in hypogean and epigean ecosystems by investigating metabolic efficiency and regulation of body weight of the cave fish Nemacheilus evezardi Day 1878. BISWAS, PRADHAN & PATI (1990) »… compared the burying behaviour of the eyeless cave-adapted fish Oreonectus evezardi [alias Nemacheilus evezardi Day 1878] with the epigean fish belonging to the same species inhabiting a stream adjacent to the cave. The authors found that the burying frequency was less among hypogean populations as compared to epigean relatives« (KOILRAJ & MARIMUTHU 1999: 339). SKALSKI (1992) described the cave-dwellig moth Kangerosithyris kotomsarensis (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) of a new genus belonging to the Tinea-monopsis group of Tineidae, which is closely related to Crypsithyris species. PATI & AGRAWAL (2002a) review the current knowledge on behavioural ecology and physiology of the hypogean form of Nemacheilus evezardi Day 1878 as a result of 15 years of laboratory and field studies. Concerning its systematic position, they explain (page 1113) »The nomenclature of the fish inhabiting Kotumsar Cave … has been a source of confusion. Kottelat [note 11] put it under the generic name Indoreonectes in place of Nemacheilus, without specifying any reasons. However, Proudlove [note 12] still continues to describe it as Indoreonectes evezardi. It was also called Oreonectes evezardi for some time [note 13]. In some of our earlier publications we described Nemacheilus as Oreonectus [note 14]. There were also disagreements regarding its systematic position. For example, Day [1878] included it within the family Cyprinidae, Biswas [note 15] included it within the family Cobitidae, and Eschmeyer and Bailey [note 16] placed it with the family Balitoridae. Prior to this, it was within the family Homalopteridae (Singh, personal communication). We believe it should be kept within the family Balitoridae.« RANGA REDDY, Y. (2006) gives a taxonomical description of the relatively small sized (1.25 mm) Chilibathynella kotumsarensis (Crustacea: Syncarida: Bathynellacea: Parabathynellidae Noodt 1964: Chilibathynella Noodt 1963). Pages 34-35: »Biogeographically, the new species is a significant find in that it extends the range of Chilibathynella to Asia and the northern tropical belt … The vicariance event involving the continental drift seems responsible for the apparent Gondwanan distribution of the three disjunct Chilibathynella species … C. kotumsarensis inhabits a far-inland locality, which apparently sustained no marine transgression during Cenozoic. The new species also occurs with strictly freshwater taxa such as a new family of crangonyctoid amphipods and a new harpacticoid copepod species of the genus Parastenocaris Kessler.« BISWAS & RAMTEKE (2007) observed how »Timed-feeding synchronizes circadian rhythm in vertical swimming activity in cave loach, Nemacheilus evezardi.« MESSOULI, HOLSINGER & RANGA REDDY, Y. (2007: 33-46) give a taxonomical description of Kotumsaridae, a new family of gammaridean amphipod crustaceans from India, with description of Kotumsaria bastarensis, which had been collected from »Kotumsar Cave« where »one of us (YRR) collected a series of tiny amphipod crustaceans from the sediments of a cave pool. A detailed examination of the specimens revealed a unique, new family of gammaridean amphipod crustaceans that is described below and provisionally, pending further study, placed in the superfamily Crangonyctoidea (sensu Bousfield 1982, 1983; see also Williams & Barnard, 1988). The description of the family Kotumsaridae is accompanied by descriptions of the new genus and species Kotumsaria bastarensis. This is the third stygobiotic amphipod species so far described from India, the other two being Indoniphargus indicus (Chilton, 1923) from various groundwater habitats (e.g., springs, well water, mine pit) in the north-eastern states of Bihar, Orissa, and West Bengal, and Bogidiella indica Holsinger, Ranga Reddy & Messouli (2006) from water wells in the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh.« KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 35) point out that »cavernicolous populations of Indoreonectus evezardi (Day) are present in the Bastar region [no cave name mentioned] of central India. These have been reported to show certain morphological, behavioral and physiological differences from neighbouring populations, e.g. Biswas et al. 1990, Pati and Agawal 2002 [note 17]. However, the degree of productive isolation is not established, and they do not show well developed troglomorphic characteristics.« The governmental Internet website cg.nic.in/cgbsap.htm (accessed 2008.05.20) features an anonymous (undated) »Chhattisgarh state biodiversity strategy and action plan« and arrives on page 95 at stating (literally quoted) that »Numerous depressions at cave floor constitute small ponds that harbour 'blind' fish and frogs. In addition to this, many insects, reptiles, spiders, bats, crickets exist inside the cave.« FISH MIGRATION: SKALSKI (1990: 177) interpretes the variability of pigmention of the Kotomsar cave fish to indicate »genetical exchange between endogean and epigean populations« due to »immigration of epigean individuals into the cave. But the route of immigration is unknown. The most probable is the route from the river outflow when rainfall flows through the cave, because [sic! for: in spite of there being?] both near entrance and inflow no surface streams and any other water reservoirs [sources?].« The fish in the cave is said to originate from the Kanger river though the lowest accessible point at -42 m (SKALSKI 1990: 176) in the cave (entrance near 565 m asl) lies at an elevation near 520 m asl and thus (at the present stage of downcutting) some 50 m (or 70 to 80 m, SKALSKI 1990: 175) vertically above local level of the Kanger River bed (downstream of the confluence •472 m asl near N18°52'05”: E082°55'30” Everest 1830 on Survey of India sheet 65-F/13 edition 1982) but some 500 to 600 m in a direct line north to north-east from the Kanger River (note 18). Dr. Jayant Biswas (Raipur 2008.05.29 personal correspondence) told me to »… belief that the loaches can cross several meters bit by bit against the current as when I was new in research, once I lost a bunch of cave fishes kept in a big aquarium. So nothing is impossible.«
NOTE 1: So far, I found the name of this cave spelled, edited or printed as Gupanpal DUREJA, M (2001.03.12) Gupansar Cave ADYALKAR, P G & RADHAKRISHNA, T S (1972); BISWAS, J (1992); SKALSKI, A W (1990: 175) [cave in] India GREENWOOD, P H (1976: 136 after THINES 1969); KOTTELAT, M (1990: 55) Jagdalpur [Grotte près des Jagdalpur], Basyar state (JUBERTHIE et al. 2001: 1797) Jugdulpur [Grotte près des Jugdulpur], Basya State (CHOPARD, L 1970) Kotamsar Cave KOZIK, A (1987a in SKALSKI 1990: 176); SKALSKI, A W (1990: 175); Yadava, M G (2002 Mss: Thesis); KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (circa 2003 s.a.: 3) Kotamsar Caves DUREJA, M 2001.03.12; KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (circa 1996 s.a.) Kotamsar Limestone Cave (AUTAR, K 1993: 1029) Kotmsar Cave cruisingindia.com (accessed 2007.12.14) Kotomsar [village] AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE (1963 U502 sheet NE44-07); CROOKSHANK, H (1963: 105); AMS sheet NE44-07 Malakanagiri (U502 series, 1963 edition); MIKUSZEWSKI (1987: 35); RAMAKRISHNAN, M. (1987: 149); SKALSKI, B (1992: 205); SURVEY of INDIA toposheet 65-F/13 (edition 1982); GEBAUER, H D (1997: 104; 2000) Kotomsar Cave KOTTELAT, M (1990: 55); KOZIK, A W (1987 in SKALSKI, B 1992: 176); SKALSKI, B (1990: 197); SURVEY of INDIA toposheet 65-F/13 (edition 1982); GEBAUER, H D (1997: 104; 2000) Kotumsar Cave SINHA, K M (1976: 369; 1976: 369; 1978: 243); PATI, PRADHAN & AGARWAL (1989: 245); PROUDLOVE (1997); PATI (1998); PATI & AGRAWAL, A (2002a); RANGA REDDY, Y (2006); MESSOULI et al. (2007); CHACHANE, Roshan (2013.09.06) Kutum Sar Cave 60kph.com/photo/photogallery/central/chhattis.htm (accessed 2007.11.08) shows a photograph (11-thumb.jpg) titled »Lion formed naturally on the walls of the Kutum Sar cave« Kutumbsar Cave chhattisgarh.com/commen/chhattisinfo/chhattisinfo.… (accessed 2009.01.16); royalbastarfarm.com/data/kutumbsarcave.jpg (2007.12.12) since »Nature's mysteries are many« but typing errors are more Kutumsar Cave ADRENALINE RUSH … (2012.04.03); DUREJA, M (2001.03.12); KOZIK, A W (1987a in SKALSKI, B 1990: 176) Kutumsar Caves dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03dec03/national.htm#2 (accessed 2006.09.17). NOTE 2: The »Kotumsar Cave« of the biospeleologists is one of the biologically most intensively researched caves of the South Asian subcontinent, second only to »Siju Cave« (Dobhakol, Siju village, South Garo Hills district, Meghalaya). Some biospeleological references: Agrawal, Arvind & Pati, Atanu Kumar 2002; Biswas, Jayant & Pati, Atanu Kumar & Kanoje, R. S. 1988; Biswas, Jayant & Pati, Atanu Kumar & Pradhan, R K 1990; Biswas, Jayant & Pati, Atanu Kumar & Pradhan, R K & Kanoje, R S 1990; Biswas, Jayant & Pradhan, R K & Pati, Atanu Kumar 1990; Biswas, Jayant 1990a, 1990b, 1991, 1992a, 1993; Biswas, J & Kanoje, R S 1991; Biswas, J & Pati, A K 1991; Chopard, L 1970; Greenwood, P H 1976; Kottelat, M 1990; Messouli, Holsinger & Ranga Reddy, Y 2008; Pati, A K 1998, 2001a, 2001b, 2002a, 2002b, 2002c, 2003a, 2003b, 2004a, 2004b; Pati, A K & Agrawal, A 2002a, 2002b; Pati, A K & Agrawal, S M 1985a; Pati, A K, Agrawal, A & Karkun, D 1996; Pesce, Giuseppe Lucio & Pace, Raffaella 1984; Pradhan, R K 1984; Pradhan, R K & Pati, Atanu Kumar & Agarwal, S. M. 1985a, 1985b, 1986, 1988, 1989; Pradhan, R. K. & Biswas, J 1994; Ranga Reddy, Y 2006; Sinha, K M 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981; Sinha, K M & Agarwal, S M 1977; Skalski, Andrzej W. 1990; Skalski, Andrzej W. 1992; Varghese, Elizabeth 1997. NOTE 3: The Forest Rest House near the settlements of Kotomsar is indicated as »RH (Forest)« near 18°53'23”N: 81°50'25”E (Everest 1830) on Survey of India sheet 65/F-13 (1982 edition) and lies at a travelling distance of 30 km from Jagdalpur / Jugdalpur (19°04'N: 82°02'E) generally south-west towards Konta (17°48'N: 81°23'E). NOTE 4: We can safely presume the position »India (Lat.: 18º 52’09" N; Long. 81º 56’05" E)« created by Dr. Jayant Biswas on nabn.info/fieldnews.html (accessed 2007.12.12) do not, as stated, position India but a spot somehow associated with the »Kotumsar cave in the Kanger Valley National Park.« NOTE 5: »The fine fibrous ash from these torches covers the floor in many places. Protected from the sun and wind this has retained its tensile strength, and superficially exmined, resembles a very fine wooly asbestos. It is this material which has given rise to the rumour, for there are no signs of real asbestos here or elsewhere in the limestone« (CROOKSHANK, H 1962: 105). NOTE 6: travel.webshots.com/photo/2464561300034997466cexGb… (accessed 2008.05.20) gives a photograph which is titled »Kotumsar Limestaone [sic!] caves entrance« and shows that the cast iron spiral staircase (January 1997 and older) has been replaced (before May 2008) by an obviously cheap and hopefully not durable but ugly re-inforced concrete flight of steps. NOTE 7: According to PATI, A K & AGRAWAL, A (2002: 1113), »This cave is subjected to frequent flooding when monsoon begins in the middle of June« but at -42 m (SKALSKI, B 1990: 176), the deepest point (ca. 520 m asl) reached inside the cave (entrance near 565 m asl) still lies another 50 m vertically above local level of the Kanger River bed (downstream of the confluence •472 m near 18°52'05”N: 82°55'30”E Everest 1830 on Survey of India sheet 65-F/13 edition 1982) but some 500 to 600 m in a direct line north to north-east from where the Kanger Nala (Kanger River) currently flows. NOTE 8: »Karlswar Cave« (DUREJA, M 2001.03.12) appears to reflect an attempt to refer to the Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico state, USA), a show cave with which Kotumsar cave is »on a par« (DUREJA, M 2001.03.12) insofar as the total cave passage length of Kotumsar cave is less than one percent of Carlsbad Caverns while the volume of the cave near Kotumsar is about 200 times smaller. NOTE 9: At a surveyed length of 330 m, it would be the 143rd longest known cave of India (January 2009) and even at a passage length of 660 m (SKALSKI, B 1990), the cave near Kotomsar is currently (January 2009) the 95ths longest known cave of India. Among the long caves of the world, I expect the cave near Kotomsar to range among the lesser of the 10'000 known longest caves. Thus, it is possibly a bit far fetched to claim that »the Kotumsar Cave … is one of the largest caves in India« (PATI & AGARWAL 2002a: 1112; subscribed by RANGA REDDY, Y 2006: 25; MESSOULI et al. 2007: 44). NOTE 10: KOTTELAT et al. (2007: Schistura papulifera …- Zootaxa 1393: 35): »Nemacheiline loaches are typically benthic [bottom living, ground-living] fishes inhabiting moderate to swift-flowing water bodies and spending most of their life near or under stones or in crevices. This and their usually slender body and feeding habits (predatory on small invertebrates) have preadapted them to colonize hypogean aquatic habitats.« NOTE 11: »Kottelat, M., ibid [Mem. Biospeleol.], 1990, 17, 49–55.« NOTE 12: »Proudlove, G. S., Environ. Biol. Fish., 2001, 62, 201–213.« NOTE 13: »Kottelat, M., ibid [Mem. Biospeleol.], 1990, 17, 49–55« and »Proudlove, G. S., Environ. Biol. Fish., 2001, 62, 201–213.« NOTE 14: »Biswas, J., Pradhan, R. K. and Pati, A. K., Mem. Biospeleol., 1990, 17, 33–41« and »Biswas, J. and Pati, A. K., J. Exp. Biol., 1991, 29, 933–936.« NOTE 15: »Biswas, J., Ph D thesis, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, 1990, p. 136.« NOTE 16: »Eschmeyer, W. N. and Bailey, R. M., in Catalog of the Genera of Recent Fishes, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, 1990, p. 697.« NOTE 17: »Pati and Agawal [sic!] 2002« (KOTTELAT et al. 2007: 35) and »Pati, A. K. & Agrawal, A. 2002« (KOTTELAT et al. 2007: 44) reflect attempts to refer to PATI, Atanu Kumar & AGRAWAL, Arvind (2002a). NOTE 18: SKALSKI (1990: 175) arrived at slightly different elevation levels: »The entrance to the cave is situated … at an altitude of 580 m … and approximately 70-80 m above the river table [level]. … The deepest surveyed point in the cave (sump) is at a level of 42 m below the entrance and 30-40 m above water table of the river.«NOTE 19: Professor Shankar Tiwari »was the father inventor of Kotumsar« who spent several months there in his time. One can imagine his affection for this cave when considering that his daughter's name is Caverna Tiwari: »During my study time once I recd. a letter in the green Chamber, in which it was written - "Dear inventor, please don't spoil the originality of this cave, try to keep it intact" -- Caverna Tiwari, daughter of this cave inventor. Further, Prof. S.M. Agrawal (in 1994-1998 Vice Chancellor of Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur) named the cricket Kemeola shanakri [sic! perhaps for: Kempeola shankari] to honour him (Shankar Tiwari) only« (Dr. Jyant Biswas, Raipur, 2008.05.17 personal correspondence). An anonymous journalist created a so-called »folklore« (sic!) according to which »… the caves were first discovered in 1951 by tribals who were hunting a porcupine and followed it inside the caves. However, as per the official version, the caves were discovered around 1958 by geographer Shankar Prasad Tiwari« (ADRENALINE RUSH … 2012.04.03). NOTE 20: THINES (1969) is said to cite »… correspondence he had with A. M. Agarwal regarding a population of N. evezardi Day from a cave in India (no other locality data were provided)« and explains there are in the collection of the »British Museum (Nat. Hist.) two N. evezardi (reg. no. BMNH 1960.6.2:1-2) collected by A. M. Agarwal from "A cave in India". One of these fishes is fully pigmented, and the other is colourless but with eyes that are not noticeably smaller or in any way degenerate (except for a total lack of pigment) when compared with those of the pigmented individual« (GREENWOOD 1976: 136). NOTE 21: Krishna AUTAR (1993: 1029) had been the Director of the Kanger Valley National Park from 24th July 1992 onwards. NOTE 22: »Holotype, adult male, dissected on four slides. Paratypes, adult male, dissected on four slides, and four juveniles, one of them dissected on two slides, three mounted as whole specimens on a single slide. Type material has been deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Paris …« (RANGA REDDY, Y 2006: 26). NOTE 23: »Holotype: disarticulated (sex unknown), 2.23 mm, in 70% ethanol (MHNM reg. no. Amph-061MHR). Paratypes: 3 specimens (2 of them disarticulated) in 70% etahnol deposited in the collection of the MHM , Marakesh« (MESSOULI et al. 2007: 36).NOTE 24: »PVC tube (length 70 cm, diameter 4 cm) was used for coring. The cores, taken from the sediment surface to a depth of about 10 cm of the cave pools, were put in a bucket and stirred well with the habitat water. The supernatant was filtered through bolting silk plankton net (mesh size 70 µm), and the filtrate fixed in about 5% formaldehyde. Specimens were isolated into 70% alcohol and subsequently transferred into glycerol« (RANGA REDDY, Y 2006: 24-25). »The material was collected with a plankton net (mesh size 70 µm) from water after disturbing the sediments of the cave pools manually. Also, a rigid PVC tube (length 70 cm, diameter 4 cm) was used for coring. The cores were collected from the sediemnt surface to a depth of about 10 cm« (MESSOULI et al. 2007: 33).
Documents
Bibliography 02/04/2016- Adyalkar P G & Radhakrishna T S 1972; Adrenaline Rush … 2012.04.03; Agrawal, Arvind & Pati, Atanu Kumar 2002; Archaeological Survey of India [edited by] Gosh, Asok K 1961 for 1960-1961; Autar, Krishna 1993; Bhargava H N, Jain A K & Singh D 1984; Biswas Jayant & Pati Atanu Kumar & Kanoje R S 1988; Biswas Jayant & Pati Atanu Kumar & Pradhan R K 1990; Biswas Jayant & Pati Atanu Kumar & Pradhan R K & Kanoje R S 1990; Biswas Jayant & Pradhan R K & Pati, Atanu Kumar 1990; Biswas Jayant 1990a, 1990b, 1991, 1992a, 1993; Biswas Jayant & Kanoje R S 1991; Biswas Jayant & Pati Atanu Kumar 1991; Biswas Jayant & Ramteke Anil 2007; Chachane, Roshan 2013.09.06; Chopard L 1970; Crookshank H 1963; Dureja, Mona 2001 03 12; Dutt N V B S 1963; Gebauer Herbert Daniel 1997b, 2000; Gosh A K 1961-1962; Greenwood P H 1976; Juberthie Christian, Decu Vasile, Cazals Monique & Lebreton Bernard 2001; Kanger Valley National Park s a, circa 1996, 2003; Kanoje R S & Pati Atanu Kumar & Biswas Jayant 1989a; Kottelat Maurice 1990; Kozik Andrzej W 1987a, 1987b; Messouli Mohammed, Holsinger John R & Ranga Reddy Yenumula 2007; Mikuszewski Jerzy 1987; Pati Atanu Kumar 1998, 2001a, 2001b, 2002a, 2002b, 2002c, 2003a, 2003b, 2004a, 2004b, 2008; Pati Atanu Kumar & Agrawal Arvind 2002a, 2002b; Pati Atanu Kumar & Agarwal S M 1985a; Pati Atanu Kumar, Agrawal Arvind & Karkun D 1996; Pesce Giuseppe Lucio & Pace Raffaella 1984; Pradhan R K 1984; Pradhan R K & Pati Atanu Kumar & Agarwal S M 1985a, 1985b, 1986, 1988, 1989; Pradhan R K & Biswas Jayant 1994; Proudlove Graham S 1997, 2006; Ramakrishnan M 1987; Ranga Reddy, Yenumula 2006; Sharma V P 1962; Sinha K M 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981; Sinha K M & Agarwal S M 1977; Skalski Andrzej W 1990, 1992; Thines G 1969; Varghese Elizabeth 1997.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1900: Somebody (no name known) is said to have »discovered« the cave (KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, circa 2003 s.a.: 3) that had been known since time immemorial to the indigenuous Gond people, who are familiar with the area. 1951: Shankar Prasad Tiwari (note 19) is said to have, in a sense, »surveyed« the cave (KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK circa 2003 s.a.: 3). 1958: »The cave was discovered in 1958« (PATI, A K & AGRAWAL, A 2002: 1112). 1959.10.23: Agarwal, A. M. (1959.10.23 personal correspondence in: THINES 1969) reported a population of 30 loaches (Noemacheilus evezardi Day), out of which four are pale, six totally colourless and »présentant une régression oculaire profonde, ley yeux n'étant visibles exterieurement que sous la forme de taches minicules« (note 20). 1960 - 1961: Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar (in GHOSH, A 1960-1961) claims to have sort of »surveyed« the archaeological potential. 1963: CROOKSHANK, H (1963: 105) reports to have had visited the cave a mile east of Kotomsar in view of evaluating what was thought to represent a possible "asbestos" deposit. This, however, turned out to consist of relic fibres originating from burned bamboo torches. 1964: AUTAR (1993: 1029): »… one famous Kotamsar Limestone Cave is already known to visitors since 1964.« (note 21) 1970 March 07: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 50 individuals of the cave cricket Kempiola shankari. 1970 March 20: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 40 K. shankari. 1970 April 10: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 40 K. shankari. 1970 May 06: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 31 K. shankari. 1970 November 06: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 50 K. shankari. 1970 December 20: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 70 K. shankari. 1970 December 26: SINHA, K M (1976: 370) collected 60 K. shankari. 1987: RAMAKRISHNAN (1987: 149) took it f or granted that »Caves containing underground streams in these karsted [sic!] limestones at Kotomsar are a good tourist attraction.« 1987 March: Andrzej W. Kozik, A. Maruszczag, J. Mikuszewski, S. Misztal, A. Skalski mapped and explored. 1992, in the last week of October (about two and a half months after taking over the charge as Director of the Kanger Valley National Park), AUTAR (1993: 1029) »I visited Kotamsar Cave after the rainy season … and was delighted to see magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations.« 1996 February: Madhusudan G. Yadava (2002 Mss "Thesis" chapter 1.4, page 23), assisted by the DFOs K. Kurugan and Kaushalendra Kumar, visited and took water samples. 1997 January 30: Herbert "Daniel" Gebauer, Werner "Baje" Busch and M. Narayana Reddy visited, assisted by K. Murugan, director, and several employees of the Kanger Valley National Park. 2004.11.25-30: A post-congress excursion brought biospeleologists »into the irregular panoramic chambers of this cave.« Dr. Jayant Biswas (2007.05.28 Mss) explains on nabn.info/fieldnews.html (accessed 2007.12.12) how »A national colloquium on cave organisms and adaptations was held in the vicinity of Kotumsar Caves, in Jagdalpur (Bastar district of Chhattisgarh), as a prelude to the XVII International Symposium on Biospeleology, which A. K. Pati of Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University organized from 25-30 November 2004 in collaboration with the International Society for Subterranean Biology. About 100 scientists from abroad attended this International Symposium and Kotumsar Cave occupied a prominent position in the cave maps of the world.« 2004.12.01: Prof. Yenumula Ranga Reddy (Department of Zoology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjunasagar , Andhra Pradesh) and Dr. M. Vijaya Koteswari collected not only five adult male and four juvenile specimens (note 22) of Chilibathynella kotumsarensis (RANGA REDDY, Y 2006) but also the holotype and three paratypes (note 23) of the amphipod (Crustacea) Kotumsaria bastarensis (MESSOULI, HOLSINGER & RANGA REDDY 2007), and a new harpacticoid copepod of the genus Parastenocaris Kessler 1913 from unconsolidated cave sediments deposited in shallow pools of water (note 24).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | GREEN CHAMBER CAVE | ||
| 1.8 | DANDAK CAVE | ||
| 3.3 | DEVGIRI CAVE | ||
| 3.3 | KANGER KARPAN CAVE | ||
| 3.3 | KANGER CAVE (Autar 1993) (aa -) | ||
| 7.3 | KAILASH CAVE, Kanger Valley | ||
| 20.4 | GUPTESHWAR CAVE, Koraput | ||
| 25.7 | KUMARGAON SPRING | ||
| 31.2 | CHITRAKOT CAVES (Cooper 1983) |