EXPERTISE INFORMATION
Research Group
Areas of Interest
1. Developmental Biology 2. Faunal Diversity
Dr. Cuckoo Mahapatra
Assistant Professor-II, Zoology
M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.
cuckoomahapatra@gmail.com
9437277576
Total Publications
Google Scholar H-Index
Google Scholar I10-Index
Scopus H-Index
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Dr Cuckoo Mahapatra has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Baripada, Odisha, India, since 2016. She was awarded a Gold Medal for her Master’s in Zoology from Utkal University in 2005. She completed her PhD in Zoology from Utkal University in 2013, after receiving a CSIR-UGC Junior Research Fellowship in 2006. In 2010, she was honoured with the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Pre-Doctoral and Professional Fellowship to pursue advanced studies at the University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. She is continuing her research in the field of Regenerative Biology of amphibians and reptiles. Her other primary research areas include examining the impact of high natural background radiation and environmental contaminants on fauna, as well as assessing faunal diversity. She has completed two projects funded by DST-SERB and UGC, the Government of India, and is presently working on projects supported by BRNS, Government of India, in collaboration with BARC, CSIR-ASPIRE Women Scientist Scheme, and MRIP, Govt. of Odisha. She has more than 40 publications, including books, book chapters, and papers in indexed, peer-reviewed journals. She has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences in India and abroad. She has awarded three PhDs and is mentoring three scholars for their PhDs. She also serves as a manuscript reviewer for many peer-reviewed national and international journals.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology) – 2013, Utkal University
- Master of Philosophy (Zoology) – 2006, Utkal University
- Master of Science (Zoology) – 2005, Utkal University
- Bachelor of Science (Zoology Hons.) – 2003, Utkal University
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Assistant Professor – Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
Duration: 16.05.2016 – Present -
Lecturer – Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur
Duration: 06.08.2014 – 14.05.2016
- Google Scholar H-Index: 07
- Google Scholar I10-Index: 04
- Scopus H-Index: 05
Books Authored (04)
- Saha, N., Das Mahapatra, A., Mahapatra, C., Mohapatra, P.P. and Prakash, M. (2024). Amphibians of Godda. Godda Forest Division, Jharkhand. ISBN: 978-81-971536-7-9.
- Raj, P., Mohapatra, P.P., Mahapatra, C. and Dutta, S. K. (2023). Amphibians of Eastern Ghats. Teerataranga Publication, Bhubaneswar. ISBN: 978-81-19802-58-6.
- Mohapatra, P. P., Dutta, S. K. and Mahapatra, C. (2019). Odishara Sapa Katha (In Odia). Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Angul. ISBN: 819382600-0.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P. K. (2013). Role of Lysosomal Enzymes During Anuran Tail Regression. Scholar’s Press, Saarbrucken, Germany.
Books Edited (03)
- Sahu, H. K., Parida, P., Debata, P. R., Mahapatra, C. and Mohanty, G. (Eds.) (2025). Advancements in Zoological Research. Newredmars Education, pp. 1–340. ISBN: 9978-93-93620-70-5.
- Thatoi, H., Sahu, H. K., Mahapatra, C., Sahu, S. C. (Eds.) (2025). Communities, Biodiversity and Conservation of Similipal. Daya Publishing House, pp. 1–283. ISBN: 978-93-5919-453-0.
- Thatoi, H. N., Bastia, A. K., Sahu, H. K., Biswal, A. K., Patra, A. K. and Mahapatra, C. (Eds.) (2017). Facets of Similipal. North Orissa University, Baripada, Odisha, India. pp. 1–270.
Total Publications (37) – Journals
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Saha, N., Das, S., Patra, A., Das Mahapatra, A., Jena, S. K., Prakash, M., Mahapatra, C., Deuti, K. and Mohapatra, P. P. (2026). Addressing the Wallacean shortfall: anuran (Amphibia, Anura) diversity and new state records from Godda Forest Division, Santhal Parganas, Jharkhand, India. Check List 22(1): 57–74.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15560/22.1.57
- Torres-Sánchez, M., Goutte, S., Liedtke, H.C., Allain, S.J., Ahammed, M.S., Calatayud, N., Comeault, A., Elmer, K., Eterovick, P.C., Gilbert, E., Guayasamin, J.M., Hernández-Poveda, M., Kotharambath, R., Paredes, P.L., Mahapatra, C., Mulder, K.P., Nadaline, J., Najafi-Majd, E., Pollet, N., Rubio, A.O., Sachslehner, A.P., Sanz-Sobrino, L., Siu-Ting, K., Snead, A.A., Strowbridge, N., Themudo, G.E., Barreto, D.V., Wogan, G.O.U., Valero, K.C.W. and The Amphibian Genomics Consortium (2025). Comparative biology needs de novo transcriptome assemblies: drawing attention towards amphibians. Amphibia-Reptilia 1(aop): 1–19.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mishra, C. (2024). Seasonal assessment of biomarkers in Channa punctata from Tampara Lake, Odisha, India and toxicity of thorium nitrate on fish. Regional Studies in Marine Science 103914.
- Pradhan, J., Mahapatra, C., Tudu, P.C. and Balakrishnan, S. (2024). New record of Bar-toothed Nereid, Perinereis nuntia (Lamarck, 1818) from the coastal waters of West Bengal, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India 124(1): 45–50.
- Mahapatra, C. (2024). Letter to editor on “Assessment of toxicity in the freshwater tadpole Polypedates maculatus exposed to silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles: A multi-biomarker approach”. Chemosphere 356: 141817.
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Sarkar, V., Thangkhiew, R., Mahapatra, C., Mohapatra, P.P., Nair, M.V. and Hajong, S.R. (2024). Discovery of the cicada genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the description of a new species from Meghalaya. Zootaxa 5432(1): 96–108.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5432.1.7
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Achary, A.S. and Mahapatra, C. (2024). Reactive nitrogen species-mediated cell proliferation during tail regeneration and retinoic acid as a putative modulator of tissue regeneration in geckos. Cells and Development 177(1): 203901.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203901
- Mahapatra, C., Naik, P., Singh, M. and Mohapatra, P.P. (2023). Commercially available Vitamin A Palmitate is toxic and teratogenic to the tadpoles of Microhyla nilphamariensis (Anura: Microhylidae). Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research 57(3): 813–821.
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Mahapatra, C., Naik, P., Swain, S.K. and Mohapatra, P.P. (2023). Unravelling the limb regeneration mechanisms of Polypedates maculatus, a sub-tropical frog, by transcriptomics. BMC Genomics 24: 122.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09205-8
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Mahapatra, C., Achary, A.S. and Patra, D. (2022). Protein S-nitrosylation: Nitric oxide signalling during anuran tail regression. Acta Histochemica 124(5): 151899.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151899
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Mishra, C. and Mahapatra, C. (2021). Physiological assessment of fish health in mineral-rich areas of Ganjam, Odisha, India, and chronic toxicity of zirconium oxychloride on the fishes of Channa punctata. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 193: 679.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09451-x
- Sarkar, V., Mahapatra, C., Mohapatra, P.P., Nair, M.V. and Kunte, K. (2021). Description of three new species of the genus Mata Distant, 1906 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Oncotympanini) with notes on their natural history from Meghalaya, India. Zootaxa 4908(1): 1–28.
- Mahapatra, C., Achary, A.S., Baliarsingh, J., Swain, S., Patra, D., Majhi, S., Patra, D.K. and Si, J. (2020). Toxic and teratogenic effects of vitamin A on anuran tadpoles of four sub-tropical species. Pranikee – Journal of Zoological Society of Orissa 32: 16–32.
- Khan, A., Sailo, S. and Mahapatra, C. (2020). Sphaerotheca rolandae (Roland’s Burrowing Frog) and Uperodon globulosus (Indian Balloon Frog): Interspecific amplexus. Herpetological Review 51(2): 307.
- Mohapatra, P.P., Khandekar, A., Dutta, S.K., Mahapatra, C. and Agarwal, I. (2020). A novel, diminutive Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a sacred grove in Odisha, eastern India. Zootaxa 4852: 485–499.
- Sarkar, V., Mahapatra, C., Mohapatra, P.P. and Nair, M.V. (2020). Additions to the cicada (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadidae) fauna of India: first report and range extension of four species with notes on their natural history from Meghalaya. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12: 16021–42.
- Khan, A. and Mahapatra, C. (2020). Anophthalmia in a Common Asian Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae), from the Eastern Ghats of India. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 27(1): 44–45.
- Mahapatra, C. and Achary, A.S. (2020). Tail resorption in the tadpoles of Uperodon globulosus (Gunther, 1865) (Anura: Microhylidae). NOUJST.
- Mohapatra, P.P., Behera, S.R., Dutta, S.K., Mahapatra, C. and Upadhyay, H.S. (2019). Mammals of Odisha, India: Updated checklist, distribution and conservation status. Pranikee – Journal of Zoological Society of Orissa 31: 1–112.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2015). Role of melanocytes during cell death in the resorbing tail of anuran tadpoles. Pranikee XXVII: 70–94.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2015). Interspecific variations in duration of tail regression in two tropical anurans. Journal of Histology 2015: 1–8.
- Mahapatra, C., Patro, A. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2015). Dose and stage-specific effects of thyroxine on the tadpoles of Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Anura: Bufonidae). International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 7(8): 171–175.
- Patnaik, N., Mahapatra, C., Dutta, S.K. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2012). Role of acid and alkaline phosphatases during vitamin A induced abnormal tail regeneration in the tadpoles of the Indian tree frog. International Journal of Current Research 4(11): 115–120.
- Mahapatra, P.K., Jamdar, S.N., Mahapatra, C., Dutta, S.K. and Harikumar, P. (2012). Interspecies variation in activity of lysosomal cathepsins during tail regression in the tadpoles of three sympatric anurans. Russian Journal of Herpetology 19(3): 232–238.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2012). Immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin D and a possible role of melanocytes during tail resorption in tadpoles of a tropical toad. Journal of Morphology 273: 791–800.
- Mahapatra, C., Dutta, S.K. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2011). Inter-populational differences in activity of acid phosphatase in the tails of the tadpoles of Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Anura: Bufonidae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 18(2): 105–110.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2011). Involvement of cathepsin D during tail regression in tadpoles of the common Indian tree frog, Polypedates maculatus (Anura: Rhacophoridae). Acta Histochemica 113: 756–762.
- Dutta, S.K., Nayak, S., Mahapatra, C., Das, M. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2011). Skeletochronology of Anura (Amphibia). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India B 81(1): 83–102.
- Mahapatra, P.K. and Mahapatra, C. (2009). The activity of acid phosphatase in the tail of the tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus. Manjari – Journal of Science & Social Science 1: 33–36.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2007). Tail regression in tadpoles of Bufo melanostictus. Pranikee – Journal of Zoological Society of Orissa 24: 85–96.
Book Chapters
- Mohapatra, P.P., Mahapatra, C. and Dutta, S.K. (2025). An overview of conservation history and mammalian diversity of Similipal Biosphere Reserve. In: Thatoi, H., Sahu, H.K., Mahapatra, C. and Sahu, S.C. (eds) Communities, Biodiversity and Conservation of Similipal. Daya Publishing House: 13–30.
- Pradhan, J., Baisakhi, B. and Mahapatra, C. (2022). Nano-chitosan in aquaculture and fish health management. In: Sundaray, J.K. and Bhat, R.A. (eds) Research Trends in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. AkiNik Publications: 79–95.
- Dutta, S.K., Mohapatra, P.P., Dash, P.K., Mahapatra, C. and Mishra, A.K. (2021). Ensuring biodiversity conservation and local livelihood outside protected areas in Odisha: A critical analysis. In: Thatoi, H.N. and Debata, P.R. (eds) Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Management. Daya Publishing House: 343–354.
- Sarkar, V., Manral, U., Mahapatra, C., Mohapatra, P.P. and Nair, M.V. (2020). Sounds and the Garo tales: A study on the cicada diversity and its cultural influence on the Garo tribe of Meghalaya. In: Chakraborty, P., Roy, A. and Ghosh, S. (eds) Heritage Conservation in Asia: Case Studies Linking Nature and Culture. IUCN-WCC.
- Mahapatra, C. (2019). Anuran tail resorption as a model to study lysosomal enzyme mediated cell death. In: Thatoi, H.N. and Nayak, S.K. (eds) Biotechnology for Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources. Daya Publishing House: 191–202.
- Mohapatra, P.P., Mahapatra, C. and Dutta, S.K. (2017). Studies on amphibians of Odisha: An overview. In: Das, A. (ed) Diversity and Ecology of Amphibians of India. ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas, Vol. 19. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun: 11–32.
- Mahapatra, C. and Mahapatra, P.K. (2012). Anuran tail regression as a model to study cell death during development. In: Khillare, Y.K., Natarajan, P. and Kulkarni, G.K. (eds) Sustainable Development of Fisheries and Livestock for Food Security Vol-I: Innovations in Aquaculture and Animal Research. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi: 69–76.
M.Sc.
- ZO-102, ZO-403 – Non-Chordata: Structure and Function
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-106 – Indian Knowledge System
Teaching Years: 2024–Till Date - ZO-202, ZO-404 – Developmental Biology
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-206, ZO-OE 412 – Fundamentals of Cell Biology (Open Elective)
Teaching Years: 2021–Till Date - ZO-302 (B), ZO-503 (B) – Cell and Molecular Biology (Elective I)
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-303, ZO-505 – Biochemistry
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-401, ZO-502 – Chordata, Comparative Anatomy, Evolution and Animal Behaviour
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-402 (B), ZO-504 (B) – Cell and Molecular Biology (Elective II)
Teaching Years: 2019–Till Date - ZO-404, ZO-508 – Project
Teaching Years: 2016–Till Date
M.Phil.
- ZO-601 – Research Methodology
Teaching Years: 2016–2022 - ZO-602 (B) – Physiology, Biochemistry and Animal Biotechnology
Teaching Years: 2016–2022 - ZO-603 – General Theory
Teaching Years: 2016–2022 - ZO-604 (B) – Physiology, Biochemistry and Animal Biotechnology
Teaching Years: 2016–2022 - ZO-605 – Practical
Teaching Years: 2016–2022 - ZO-606 – Dissertation
Teaching Years: 2016–2022
Pre-Ph.D.
- ZO-801 – Research Methodology I
Teaching Years: 2016–Till Date - ZO-802 – Research Methodology II
Teaching Years: 2016–Till Date - ZO-803 – Review Paper
Teaching Years: 2016–Till Date
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Teacher-in-Charge, Research Club
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2021 – Present -
Member, Board of Studies (Zoology)
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2021 – Present -
Member, Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2021 – Present -
Superintendent, Ladies Hostel No. 1
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2022 – Present -
Associate Officer, Research & Development (R&D)
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2022 – Present -
Associate Officer, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2022 – Present -
Member, Subject Research Committee (SRC), Zoology
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2023 – Present -
Member, Anti-Ragging Committee
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2024 – Present -
Member, Student Advisory Board
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2024 – Present -
Assistant Director, Centre for Similipal Studies
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2020 – 2022 -
Assistant Superintendent, Ladies Hostel No. 4
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2016 – 2022 -
Associate Officer, University Archives
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada
2016 – 2020
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2nd Prize in Poster Presentation (Biological Sciences Category)
Odisha Research Conclave-2025, held at Berhampur University
Awarding Institute: Odisha State Higher Education Council
Year: 2025 -
Women Scientist Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Biological Sciences
Awarding Institute: Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
Year: 2025 -
International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme Award
To attend the “Unconventional and Emerging Experimental Organisms in Cell and Developmental Biology” meeting in the United Kingdom.
Awarding Institute: DST-SERB, India
Year: 2023 -
Early Career Research Award
Awarding Institute: DST-SERB, India
Year: 2018 -
Travel Award
To attend the Society for Developmental Biology West Coast Regional Meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Awarding Institute: West Coast Society for Developmental Biology, USA
Year: 2011 -
Fulbright-Nehru Professional and Doctoral Fellowship
For research at the University of California, Irvine, California, USA.
Awarding Institute: United States-India Educational Foundation and the Fulbright Commission, USA
Year: 2010 -
Joint CSIR-UGC Junior Research Fellowship
Awarding Institute: University Grants Commission, India
Year: 2006 -
Gold Medal
For securing 1st Position in First Class in the Master of Science examination.
Awarding Institute: Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
Year: 2005 -
Sudarshan-Pramila Prize for Meritorious Student
Awarding Institute: Utkal University Zoology Alumni Association
Year: 2005
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A comparative study on appendage regeneration in amphibians and reptiles (Principal Investigator)
Funding Agency: UGC, India (UGC-BSR Start-up Grant)
Amount: ₹10.0 lakhs
Duration: 2 years (2018–2020)
Status: Completed -
Comparative transcriptome analysis of blastemas of regenerating and regeneration-deficient limbs of Indian tree frog Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1830) (Principal Investigator)
Funding Agency: DST-SERB, India (Early Career Research Award)
Amount: ₹47.0 lakhs
Duration: 3 years (2018–2021)
Status: Completed -
Effects of high-level natural background radiation on amphibians around the Chatrapur beach placer deposits, Odisha, India (Principal Investigator, in collaboration with Dr. Anu Ghosh, BARC, Govt. of India)
Funding Agency: BRNS, DAE, India
Amount: ₹44.7 lakhs
Duration: 3 years (2022–2025)
Status: Completed -
Synthesis of Fluorescent CDs-Hydrogels, Nanocomposites for Sensing and Removal of Toxic Heavy Metal Ions (Co-Investigator)
Funding Agency: BRNS, DAE, India
Amount: ₹37.8 lakhs
Duration: 3 years (2022–2025)
Status: Completed -
Impact of Water Quality on the Population of Small Edible Fish and Mollusca and Their Utilization in the Development of Nutraceuticals (UFIRP) (Co-Principal Investigator)
Funding Agency: MSCB University
Amount: ₹10.00 lakhs
Duration: 2 years (2024–2026)
Status: Completed -
Impact of Microplastics and Their Role as Endocrine Disruptors in the Anurans of Baripada, Odisha (CSIR-ASPIRE Research Scheme) (Principal Investigator)
Funding Agency: CSIR, India
Amount: ₹27.59 lakhs
Duration: 3 years (2024–2027)
Status: Ongoing -
Role of Canonical and Non-Canonical Wnt Signalling and Its Modulation by Glycosaminoglycans During Limb Regeneration in Tadpoles of Indian Tree Frog, Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1830) (Principal Investigator)
Funding Agency: MRI, OSHEC, Odisha
Amount: ₹10.00 lakhs
Duration: 2 years (2025–2027)
Status: Ongoing
- Member, Amphibian Genomics Consortium
- Member, International Society for Regeneration Biology
- Life Member, Indian Society for Cell Biology
- Member, Indian Society for Developmental Biology, India
- Life Member, Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata, India
- Life Member, Zoological Society of Orissa, India
- Member, Utkal University Zoology Alumni Association, Odisha, India