Species in News Botany in News ------African------Cheetah ------4 ------15 Senna Spectabilis ------Saharan------Cheetah ------4 ------15 Wollemi Pines ------Snow------Leopard ------4 ------15 Mahua ------Black Panther ------4 ------16 Pinanga Andamanensis ------Fishing Cats------4 ------16 Eugenia Sphaerocarpa ------Asian Elephant------5 ------17 Goniothalamus Sericeus ------Sloth Bears------5 ------18 Memecylon Nnervosum ------Himalayan------Black Bear ------5 ------19 Sonneratia Alba ------Himalayan------Brown Bear ------6 ------19 Red Sandalwood ------Koala------Bears ------7 ------19 Eulophia Obtusa ------Red------Pandas ------7 ------19 Tiger Orchid ------Mugger ------7 ------20 Ground Orchid ------Gharial------8 ------20 Gastrodia Agnicellus ------Saltwater------Crocodile ------8 ------21 Pipeworts ------White Rhino ------8 ------21 Madhuca diplostemon ------Indian Rhinoceros------8 ------21 Heeng (Asafoetida) ------Kharai------Camel ------8 ------21 Himalayan Trillium ------White------Giraffe ------9 ------21 Globba Andersonii Plant ------Giraffe ------9 ------22 Blue Poppy ------Komodo Dragon ------9 ------22 Mission Lantana ------Pangolins------10 ------22 Brahma Kamal ------Nilgiri------Tahr ------10 ------23 Saffron ------Lion-tailed Macaque------10 ------23 Punjab Kinnow ------Golden------Langurs ------11 ------23 Muktoshri Rice ------Capuchin------Monkeys ------11 ------24 Pothos Boyceanus ------Popa------Langur------11 ------24 Roridomyces Phyllostachydis ------Hoolock Gibbons------11 ------24 Arunachal Kiwi ------Hard------ground swamp deer------11------25 Ischaemum Janarthanamii ------Indian Gaur ------12 ------27 Portulaca Laljii ------Siberian------Ibex ------12 ------27 Himalayan Ibex ------28 Zoology in News ------13 Indian Gazelle ------28 Asiatic Lion ------14 Himalayan Serow ------28 Indian Leopard ------14 Dhole ------28 Cheetah ------14
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Eurasian Otters ------Platypus------29 ------42 Minks ------Noctiluca Scintillans------29 ------42 Malayan Giant Squirrel ------Malabar Gliding------Frog ------29 ------42 Marmots ------Kalinga Frog ------30 ------43 Skinks of India ------Purple------Frog ------30 ------44 Bent Toed Gecko ------Myristica------Swamp Treefrog ------31------44 Sitana Dharwarensis ------Indian ------Bullfrog ------32 ------45 Assam Keelback Snake ------Leptarma------Biju ------32 ------45 Trimeresurus Salazar ------Horseshoe------Crab ------32 ------45 Craspedotropis Gretathunbergae ------Abortelphusa Namda------phaensis ------33 ------46 Giant African Snail Invasion ------Snake Eel ------33 ------46 Marine Species in News ------Bathynomus Raksas------34 ------46 Pilot Whale ------Tetrastemma Freyae ------34 ------46 Whale Shark ------Aviary------Species in News------34------48 Irrawaddy Dolphins ------Rare Stepp------e Eagle ------34 ------48 Gangetic Dolphin ------The------Amur Falcon------35 ------48 Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin ------Great Indian Bustard------35 ------48 Indus River Dolphin ------The Houbara------Bustard ------35 ------49 Chinese Pink Dolphins------Bengal Florican------35 ------49 Zebrafish ------Hornbill ------36 ------49 Schizothorax Sikusirumensis ------Himalayan Griffon------Vulture ------37------50 Hilsa Fish ------Greater Adjutant Stork------(Hargila) ------37 ------50 Band-tail Scorpionfish ------Indian Skimmer------37 ------50 Chinese paddlefish ------Macaws------38 ------50 Puntius Sanctus Fish ------Blue Macaws------38 ------51 Aenigmachanna Gollum ------Barn Owls ------(Tyto alba) ------38 ------52 Mahseer------Strawberry Finch ------39 ------52 Dugong ------Black Redstart ------39 ------52 Red Sea Turtles------House------Sparrow ------39 ------53 Peacock Soft-shelled Turtle ------Flame-Throated------Bulbul ------40 ------53 Kurma------Asian Koel ------40 ------53 Red-crowned roof turtle------Willow Warbler------40 ------53 Olive Ridley Turtles ------Pied Cuckoo------41 ------54 Travancore Tortoise ------Brown------Rock Chat ------41 ------54 Diego: The Giant Tortoise ------Striped Hairstreak------41 ------54 Sal Forest Tortoise ------Elusive------Prince ------41 ------55
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Golden Birdwing ------Paramacrobiotus------55 ------60 Ypthima Watsoni ------Tardigrades------55 ------61 Matheran Rare Butterfly Species ------Lichens ------55 ------61 Common Evening Brown ------Coccolithophores:------The Ancient Algae------56 ------61 Blue Pansy ------Troglomyces Twitteri------57 ------62 Danaid Eggfly ------Ophicordyceps Nutans Fungus------57 ------62 Kolar Leaf Nosed Bat ------Bioluminescent------Fungi ------58 ------62 Robber Fly ------Cicadas ------58 ------63 Dragonfly ------Desert Locusts ------58 ------64 Platylestes Kirani ------Furry------Puss Caterpillars and Murder------Hornets ------58 ------65 Platylestes Platystylus ------Charru mussel------(Mytella strigata) ------58 ------65 Others Species in News------Thanatotheristes------60 ------65 Halo-Archaea ------Oculudentavis khaungraae------60------66 Cyanobacteria ------Tanystropheus------60 ------66 Sub-Aerial Diatoms ------Kongonaphon------Kely ------60 ------66
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Botany in News
Senna Spectabilis Due to mass flowering and drying of bamboo species in Wayanad, lots of open spaces (78.91 sq km) has been occupied by Senna spectabilis. The plant has also started to invade the adjacent Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves in Karnataka and Mudumalai tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu. Senna spectabilis is a deciduous tree native to tropical areas of America. It grows up to 15 to 20 metres in a short period of time and distributes thousands of seeds after flowering. The thick foliage of the tree arrests the growth of other indigenous tree and grass species. Thus, it causes food shortage for the wildlife population, especially herbivores. It also adversely affects the germination and growth of the native species. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern.
Wollemi Pines The prehistoric Wollemi Pine grove, which exists in the Wollemi National Park northwest of Sydney, has been saved from bushfires in Australia. Wollemi Pines are thought to have existed even during the Jurassic period. The oldest fossil of the rare pine species dates back 90 million years. Wollemi National Park is the only place in the world where these trees are found in the wild. Approximately, less than 200 trees are left. The pines, which prior to 1994 were thought to be extinct. Their location was kept secret to prevent contamination. They have benefited from an unprecedented environmental protection mission. Wollemi National Park is a part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered.
Mahua Mahua is a large sized multipurpose forest tree that is found throughout the mixed deciduous forests of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries. The botanical name of Mahua is 'Madhuca indica' and it belongs to the family Sapotaceae. It is an important economic tree used as food, medicine and for other commercial uses such as soap and detergent manufacture, oil extraction, skincare, etc. Mahua flowers and seeds are edible. The fruits of the tree are used as vegetable. The seeds of the tree contain about 40% pale yellow oil. Mahua flowers contain about 65 to 70% sugar, cellulose, albuminous substances, ash, enzymes, yeast and water. Due to high sugar content, the flowers provide adequate energy on oral administration. An estimated 90 per cent of annual production of Mahuwa flower is used in the process of brewing beverages. Mahua tree is native to dry region of India. It is a multipurpose tree, mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas, in forests of North and Central part of India.
Pinanga Andamanensis
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A rare palm endemic to the South Andaman Island is finding a second home at Thiruvananthapuram-based Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI). The name is derived from ‘Penang’, the modern-day Malaysian state. Pinanga andamanensis is an IUCN critically endangered species and one of the least known among the endemic palms of the Andaman Islands. Its entire population of some 600 specimens naturally occurs only in a tiny, evergreen forest pocket in South Andaman’s Mount Harriet National Park. It was originally described by the Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari in 1934. His description was based on an old herbarium specimen collected by E.H. Man, a late-19th century assistant superintendent in the Andaman administration. After that first identification, it was thought to be extinct till 1992. Its uses are yet to be understood fully. But this palm holds promise as an avenue tree for gardens, pavements and homesteads. Threats:Natural calamities such as cyclones, earthquakes and rampaging by wild elephants among others.
Eugenia Sphaerocarpa A team of scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have reported the discovery in the evergreen forest patches of the southern end of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It belongs to the Myrtaceae or Rose apple family. A good population of Eugenia sphaerocarpa is growing in the Kakkayam area of the Malabar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala above 800m. The epithet ‘sphaerocarpa’ denotes to the large, showy lemon-yellow spherical fruits. The fruits of Eugenia species are known for their palatability.
Goniothalamus Sericeus A team of scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have reported the discovery in the evergreen forest patches of the southern end of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It belongs to the Annonaceae family of custard apple. A small number of Goniothalamus sericeus plants has been found in the Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu at an altitude of 1400m. Mature flowers with characteristic greenish-yellow to beige petals are fragrant while the fruits are very showy and an attractive golden yellow in colour. Sericeus refers to the presence of dense silky hair on petals.
Memecylon Nnervosum A team of scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have reported the discovery in the evergreen forest patches of the southern end of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It belongs to the Melastomataceae (Kayamboo or Kaasavu in local parlance) family. A small population of nervosum was also found at the Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu at an altitude between 700-900m. The species has showy purplish-blue flowers and mauve to purplish red fruits. Nervosum refers to the presence of prominently raised lateral and intramarginal veins on the lower surface of the lamina.
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Sonneratia Alba Maharashtra is set to become the first state in the country to declare Sonneratia alba as a state mangrove tree species. It is an evergreen mangrove tree in the family Lythraceae. Sonneratia alba grow up to five feet and bear white flowers with a pink base as well as green fruits that resemble apples and are used to make pickles. It grows naturally in many tropical and subtropical areas from East Africa to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, the Ryukyu Islands, Indochina, Malesia, Papuasia, Australia and the Western Pacific region. Its habitat is sheltered around sandy seashores and tidal creeks. They often grow on newly-formed mudflats and play an important role in combating land erosion. The flowers, which bloom at night, are pollinated by nocturnal creatures like bats. Note: Maharashtra already has the state tree (mango), state animal (giant squirrel), state bird (green pigeon), state butterfly (Blue Mormon) and state flower (jarul).
Red Sandalwood Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is endemic to South India. They are found in the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest of the Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh and also found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Red Sanders usually grow in the rocky, degraded and fallow lands with Red Soil and hot and dry climate. Benefits: It is known for its rich hue and therapeutic properties, is high in demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan, for cosmetics and medicinal products, wood-works and musical instruments. Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that a tonne of red sanders costs anything between Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore in the international market Conservation Status: IUCN: Near Threatened; CITES: Appendix II
Eulophia Obtusa A rare orchid species- Eulophia obtusa- also known as ground orchid has been rediscovered in India after 118-year hiatus in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The species was originally described from Uttarakhand in the 19th century, it was last recorded in Pilibhit in 1902. Later in 2008, the plant species was sighted in Bangladesh for the first time. Threat:habitat loss and reduction in the number of mature individuals in Bangladesh. Conservation Status: IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
Tiger Orchid Scientific name: Grammatophyllum speciosum [a rare orchid] It has large and resplendent flowers which resemble the tiger skin. It flowers in alternate years and remains in bloom for about a month. These epiphytic plants are not native to India, and are endemic to southeast Asia i.e. Indonesia and Philippines. The tiger orchid has an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records due to its massive size. Mature plant in its natural habitat weighs up to 2 tonnes.
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Ground Orchid Scientific name: Eulophia obtuse [a rare orchid] It has been rediscovered in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh after 118 years. It was last recorded in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh in 1902. The species is originally from Uttarakhand. It has white flowers and bright pink hues. Conservation Status: IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
Gastrodia Agnicellus It is a newly discovered orchid has been named the ugliest orchid in the world. Found in a forest in Madagascar, it feeds on fungi. and has no leaves. Although assessed as a threatened species, the plants have some protection because they are located in a national park.
Pipeworts Recently, the scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) have discovered two new species of pipeworts, a type of wetland plant, from areas along the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Eriocaulon is a genus of about 400 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Eriocaulaceae. It is commonly known as pipeworts widely distributed in tropical regions, particularly southern Asia and the Americas. The genus Eriocaulon is usually adapted to soft water. It is a quite small, very narrow-leaved and almost cushion-growing plant that demands good supply of light and carbon dioxide to develop. The species found in Maharashtra is named as Eriocaulon parvicephalum for its distinct minute inflorescence size. The Karnataka counterpart has been named Eriocaulon karaavalense indicating the Karaavali coastal region in the state.
Madhuca diplostemon It is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapotaceae, endemic to India. A tree species, long believed extinct, has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in Kollam district, Kerala. Scientists have identified the tree as Madhuca diplostemon (family Sapotaceae), a threatened species of the Western Ghats whose specimen was first collected in 1835. In 1835, Robert Wight, a surgeon-botanist with the East India Company, had collected three specimens of the species. Only one mature tree has been found so far, which makes this remarkable rediscovery extremely valuable from a scientific, environmental and conservation point of view. Since the species is represented only by one specimen in a single locality, it is eligible to be categorised ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN.
Heeng(Asafoetida) Recently, scientists from the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have planted hing saplings in Himachal Pradesh. It is a herbaceous plant of the umbelliferae family. It is a perennial plant which produces oleo-gum resin from the roots after five years of plantation. It thrives in dry and cold desert conditions.
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It is endemic to Iran and Afghanistan and they are the prominent global suppliers. It is one of the widely used spices in Indian cuisine since time immemorial. There is no production of heeng in India and currently it is being imported annually from Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan. It has a range of medicinal properties, including relief for digestive, spasmodic and stomach disorders, asthma and bronchitis. It is also commonly used to help with painful or excessive bleeding during menstruation and premature labour.
Himalayan Trillium The Himalayan trillium (Trillium govanianum), a common herb of the Himalayas was declared ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last week. In recent years, the plant has become one of the most traded commercial plants of the Himalayan region, due to its high medicinal quality. It is found in temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas, at an altitude from 2,400-4,000 metres above sea level. Their existence has also been traced across India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In India, it is found in four states only- Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. Often called Nagchatri, in local areas this herb grows to a height of 15-20 cm. Causes for decline are Overexploitation; Longer life cycle i.e. slow to reach reproductive maturity; Poor capacity for seed dispersal; Due to its high medicinal quality, it is vulnerable to trading.
Globba Andersonii Plant A team of researchers have “rediscovered” a rare species called Globba andersonii from the Sikkim Himalayas near the Teesta River valley region after a gap of nearly 136 years. It is characterised by white flowers, non-appendaged anthers (the part of a stamen that contains the pollen) and a “yellowish lip”. It is commonly as ‘dancing ladies’ or ‘swan flowers.’ The species is restricted mainly to Teesta River Valley region which includes the Sikkim Himalays and Darjeeling hill ranges The plant usually grows in a dense colony as a lithophyte (plant growing on a bare rock or stone). Micro-propagation, tissue culture of this taxon and multiplication of this species and its re-introduction in the natural habitat could be the key for it to survive and thrive in the future. Conservational Status:IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
Blue Poppy A recent study indicated that it is slowly depleting at lower altitudes and rocky moraines. Scientific name: Meconopis acculette. It is considered the Queen of Himalayan Flowers. It is found from Kumaon to Kashmir at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 meters. High alpine rock screes, small, loose stones, rock fragments and lateral periglacial moraines seem to be the core occupancy zone of the species. However, a recent comparative study of abundance of the species in alpine moraines at different elevations indicated that it is slowly depleting at lower altitudes and rocky moraines. Not only the Blue Poppy but several other flowering plants, found at very high altitudes, are facing the “climb higher or die” situation due to climate change.
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Mission Lantana A special drive to uproot the invasive lantana bushes in the famous Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district under “Mission Lantana” helped in ecological restoration of grasslands and saved biodiversity. Lantana camara is a small perennial shrub, which forms extensive, dense and impenetrable thickets. It is native toCentral and South America. It is an invasive species which was introduced in tropical regions as an ornamental plant (introduced in India in 1807). It is generally deleterious to biodiversity and is an agricultural weed. The thickets covered vast tracts of land, stopping the natural light and nutrition for other flora and fauna. The toxic substance in its foliage and ripe berries affected the animals. With the herbivores not getting sufficient forage, the prey base for carnivorous animals was declining, leading to ecological disturbances in the food chain. It has also invaded other wildlife reserves, river banks and the Project Tiger areas.
Brahma Kamal The rare Brahma Kamal, the only flower known to bloom after sunset and just once a year has been spotted in the higher reaches of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It is a species of flowering plant native to the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, India, Mongolia, Burma and southwest China. It is also the state flower of Uttarakhand. The flower is named after God Brahma who is believed to have created the universe. The flower only blooms for a few hours and is said to bring good luck and prosperity. The flower also finds itself mentioned in the scriptures and is offered in many holy shrines including Kedarnath, Badrinath and Tunganath. The flower is highly valued in Tibetan medicine and Ayurveda for its healing properties. It is extensively used by the local population to treat cuts and bruises.
Saffron The saffron bowl, which was so far confined to Kashmir, may soon expand to the North East of India. Plants from seeds transported from Kashmir to Sikkim and acclimatized there are now flowering in Yangyang in the Southern part of the North-East state. Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE. It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region. It is a very precious and costly product. It is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir. The features which differentiates it from other saffron varieties available the world over are: It is the only saffron that is grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m above mean sea level. It has longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing. It also has a high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness). There are three types of saffron available in Kashmir- Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron and Guchhi Saffron. Kashmir saffron is used globally as a spice. It also helps in revitalizing health. It is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.
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Punjab Kinnow The Punjab Agri Export Corporation recently launched the ‘Punjab Kinnow’ brand at the kinnow festival in Abohar. This brand of kinnow, which is considered the ‘king fruit’ of Punjab, is also said to be “pesticide-free”. Punjab being the largest producer of kinnow in the country, such branding will attract more consumers.
Muktoshri Rice Researchers from West Bengal’s have developed a rice variety called Muktoshri (IET 21845), that is resistant to arsenic. It has been jointly developed by the Rice Research Station at Chinsurah, under West Bengal’s Agriculture Department and the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. The variety yields 5.5 metric tons per hectare in the Boro (Winter) season and 4.5 to 5 metric tons per hectare in the Kharif season, respectively. The rice was long and thin, and aromatic.
Pothos Boyceanus Recently, the researchers at the scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) have identified Pothos Boyceanus in Western Ghats. It is a rare species of climber of the genus Pothos (family Araceae). The species has been christened Pothos boyceanus after Peter C. Boyce, an expert on Araceae of southeast Asia. It belongs to the same family as Colocasia. It is characterised by a ligule, slightly-winged petiole, asymmetric lamina, cylindric spadix and ovoid, milky- white berries. Pothos boyceanus belongs to the subgenus Allopothos and is closely related to Pothos crassipedunculatus. The surveys could locate fewer than 100 individuals found scattered in a 10-sq km area which qualifies it for categorisation as Critically Endangered as per IUCN.
Roridomyces Phyllostachydis A mushroom documentation project in the forests of Northeast India has led to a new discovery: a bioluminescent- or light emitting- variety of mushroom. The new species- named Roridomyces phyllostachydis- was first sighted on a wet August night near a stream in Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district and later at Krang Shuri in West Jaintia Hills district. It is now one among the 97 known species of bioluminescent fungi in the world. The new species is important because it is the first mushroom in the Roridomyces genus to be found in India. It was the only member in its genus to have light emitting from its stipe or stalk.
Arunachal Kiwi Recently, the ‘Wild’ Arunachal Kiwi has received organic certification by the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North East Region. The kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.) is a deciduous fruiting vine native to Yangtze River valley of south and central China. In Arunachal Pradesh, a domesticated variety of kiwi was introduced as a commercial fruit only in 2000.
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The Ziro Valley specifically located at 1,500-2,000 metres above sea level is the most ideal for kiwi. It is also called “China’s miracle fruit” and “Horticulture wonder of New Zealand”.
Ischaemum Janarthanamii Recently, a novel species of Murain-grass has been identified by scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), in the plateaus of Western Ghats of Goa. It is named as ‘Ischaemum janarthanamii’ in honour of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam who is famous for his contribution to Indian grass taxonomy. It has the ability to survive harsh conditions with low nutrient availability, and blossoms every monsoon. They are known for their ecological and economic importance, such as fodder. It grows on low altitude lateritic plateaus in the outskirts of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Goa. The Western Ghats have 40 species with the highest concentration of the Ischaemum (genus).
Portulaca Laljii Botanists have discovered a new species of wild Sun Rose from the Eastern Ghats in India. Discovered from Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. It has unique features such as a tuberous root, no hair in its leaf axils, a reddishpink flower, prolateshaped fruits, and copper brown seeds without lustre. The succulent nature of tuberous roots allows the plant to survive on rocky crevices. The plants belonging genus Portulaca are classified in the category Sun Rose because they flower in bright sunshine. The genus was described by Linnaeus in 1753 as a type genus of the flowering plant family Portulacaceae. It has been named to honour the contribution of Lal Ji Singh, an eminent botanist of the Botanical Survey of India.
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Zoology in News
Asiatic Lion Recently Government has decided to use around 8,000-10,000 cameras to carry out the 2020 lion census in Gujarat. According to June 5, 2020 census, the number of Asiatic lions have now risen by 29% over five years to an estimated 674 in the Gir forest region and other revenue areas of coastal Saurashtra. Scientific Name: Panthera Leo Persica. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions. The most striking morphological character is a longitudinal fold of skin running along belly of Asiatic Lions. At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. They live in a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Endangered. Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I The African Lion, IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Indian Leopard As part of its global tiger census, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is set to release a dedicated report on leopard sightings by the month-end. The Indian leopard is one of the big cats occurring on the Indian subcontinent, apart from the Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard. Scientific Name: Panthera pardusOrCommon Name: Indian leopard or Common leopard. In India, the leopard is found in all forest types, from tropical rainforests to temperate deciduous and alpine coniferous forests. It is also found in dry scrubs and grasslands, the only exception being desert and the mangroves of Sundarbans. Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix I Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule II Conservation Issues: The biggest threats facing the common leopard in India are increasing conflict with humans, poaching for illegal trade in body parts and loss of habitat. Census: The last formal census on India’s leopards was conducted in 2014 which estimated the cat’s population at between 12,000 and 14,000. They also estimated 8,000 leopards in the vicinity of tiger habitat.
Cheetah Cheetah is a keystone species of dry forests, scrub forests, and savannahs. Keystone species are those which have an extremely high impact on a particular ecosystem relative to its population. It has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance It was officially declared extinct in India in 1952. It is one of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors that can be traced back more than five million years to the Miocene era.
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It is also the world’s fastest land mammal. Problems like human-wildlife conflict, loss of habitat and loss of prey, and illegal trafficking, have decimated their numbers. The advent of climate change and growing human populations have only made these problems worse. Conservation Status: IUCN: African Cheetah- Vulnerable | African Cheetah- Vulnerable
African Cheetah Recently three African hunting cheetahs from South Africa has been introduced in Mysore zoo. The Mysuru zoo managed to get a male and two females from a cheetah conservation centre in South Africa under an animal exchange programme. The Mysuru zoo is the second zoo after Hyderabad zoo to have African cheetahs. Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild. They are bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah. Conservation Status CITES status: Appendix-I IUCN status: Vulnerable
Saharan Cheetah Critically Endangered Saharan Cheetah was seen in Hoggar Mountains national park Algeria for the first time in a decade The Saharan cheetah is quite different in appearance from the other African cheetahs. Its coat is shorter and paler in colour. Its face has few or no spots and tear stripes are almost absent. Its range is now limited to isolated pockets across the Sahara and Sahel from Mali in the west to the Central African Republic in the east. The main countries where it is found include Algeria, Chad, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. In 2012, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated the remaining population in Algeria at just 37 individuals.
Snow Leopard International Snow Leopard Day was observed on 23 October. The day aims to raise awareness on conservation and protection of snow leopards. The Snow Leopard is also known as Ghost of the mountains. It acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to their position as the top predator in the food web. The conservation centre will be built by the Uttarakhand forest department along United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uttarkashi forests as part of its six-year long project, SECURE Himalayas. The project aims at securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems. The project looks into conversation of snow leopards and other endangered species and their habitats, found in Himalayas. This project was started in 2017. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility United Nations Development Programme. The Snow leopard conservation centre aims to protect the animal with the help of local community and also give employment to locals from nearby villages through tourism. It also aims to conservation and restoration of Himalayan ecosystems.
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Habitation: The Snow Leopard lives at high altitudes in the steep mountains of Central and Southern Asia, and in an extremely cold climate. o They inhabit the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. India is a unique country to have a good presence of 5 big cats, including Snow Leopard. The other 4 are, Lion, Tiger, Common Leopard, and Clouded Leopard. Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh. Hemis National Park is the biggest national park of India and also has a good presence of Snow Leopard. Conservation status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES:Appendix I CMS:Appendix I Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972:Schedule I Threat: Factors that have contributed to the decline in the snow leopard populations include, reduction in prey populations, illegal poaching and increased human population infiltration into the species habitat and illegal trade of wildlife parts and products among others.
Black Panther A black panther was spotted in Goa’s Netravali Sanctuary. A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of any Panthera, particularly of the leopard in Asia and Africa, and the jaguar in the Americas. It is as shy as a normal leopard and very difficult to detect. It is mostly found in densely forested areas of southern India. Areas where black panther has been spotted earlier: Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh) Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (Goa) Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu)
Fishing Cats The Odisha Government has started a two-year conservation project for Fishing Cats in Bhitarkanika National Park. Scientific Name: Prionailurus viverrinus. In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats. It is twice the size of a house cat. It is nocturnal (active at night) and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals. Conservation Status IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. CITES: Appendix II Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I Threats:Habitat Destruction, Shrimp Farming, Hunting, Ritual Practices, Poaching, Poisoning. Conservation Efforts: The Fishing Cat Project, launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal. In 2012, the West Bengal government officially declared the Fishing Cat as the State Animal and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.
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In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.
Asian Elephant India is the natural home of the largest population of Asian elephants. It is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. There arethree subspecies of Asian elephant- the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan. The Indian has the widest range and accounts for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent. It usually resides in shrublands, artificial/terrestrial forests and grasslands. Escalation of poaching, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and mistreatment in captivity are some common threats to both African and Asian elephants. African elephants are listed as “vulnerable” and Asian elephants as “endangered” in IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The challenges confronting Asian elephant conservation in most elephant Range States are habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, and poaching and illegal trade of elephants.
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Sloth Bears Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus Also called honey bear, Hindi bhalu, it is a forest-dwelling member of the family Ursidae (comprises 8 species of bears) that inhabits tropical or subtropical regions of India and Sri Lanka. Conservation Status IUCN status: Vulnerable CITES status: Appendix-I Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule 1 Threats:Habitat loss, poaching for body parts and are sometimes captured for use in performances or hunted because of their aggressive behavior and destruction of crops.
Himalayan Black Bear Scientific Name: Ursus thibetenus Habitat: Also called Asiatic black bear, it inhabits mountainous and heavily forested areas across southern and eastern Asia. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix-I Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule I Threats:Illegal hunting for body parts, specifically the gallbladder, paws and skiing poses the main threat, together with habitat loss caused by logging, expansion of human settlements and roads.
Himalayan Brown Bear Recently, a study on the Himalayan brown bear has predicted a significant reduction in suitable habitat and biological corridors of the species in the climate change scenario. Scientific: Ursus arctos isabellinus. Also known as Himalayan red bear, isabelline bear or Dzu-Teh. It is found in 23 protected areas including Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Jammu and Kashmir. It is the largest carnivore in the highlands of Himalayas. Conservation Status IUCN: Least Concern. However, it isEndangered in the Himalayas and Critically Endangered in Hindu Kush. Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule I
Koala Bears According to recent study Koalas in the Australian could become extinct by 2050 unless the government immediately intervenes to protect them and their habitat. Koala bear is a "marsupial" which is a mammal with a pouch for the development of offspring. They are found in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia. They have grey fur with a cream-coloured chest, and strong, clawed feet, perfect for living in the branches of trees. Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
Red Pandas Genetic study reveals the endangered red panda is actually two separate species.
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The red panda is a small arboreal mammal found in the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China. The Red Pandas are called “Living Fossils” as they are the only living member of the Ailuridae mammalian family. In India, it is found in Sikkim, western Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling district of West Bengal and parts of Meghalaya. It is also the state animal of Sikkim. Conservation status: IUCN: Endangered Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I Himalayan red panda and Chinese red panda: Chinese red pandas are found in northern Myanmar as well as south-eastern Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China. Himalayan red pandas are native to Nepal, India, Bhutan and southern Tibet in China. The Himalayan red panda has more white on the face, while the face coat colour of the Chinese red panda is redder with less white on it.
Mugger The mugger crocodile, also called the Indian crocodile, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. It is a freshwater crocodile native to southern Iran to the Indian subcontinent. It is extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar. The mugger is mainly a freshwater species, and found in lakes, rivers and marshes. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix I Threats:Habitat destruction; Entanglement and drowning in fishing equipment and; Increasing incidents of conflict with humans.
Gharial The Gharial or fish-eating crocodile is native to the Indian subcontinent. Scientific name: Gavialis Gangeticu. The male gharial has a distinctive boss at the end of the snout, which resembles an earthenware pot. They are a fresh-water crocodile. They live in deep fast-flowing rivers. Globally Gharial is found only in India and Nepal. India: Girwa River, Chambal River, Ken River, Son River, Mahanadi River, Ramganga River Nepal: Rapti-Narayani River Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I CITES: Appendix I Small released populations are present and increasing in the rivers of the National Chambal Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Son River Sanctuary and the rainforest biome of Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Orissa. Threats:Hunting for skins, trophies and indigenous medicine, and their eggs collected for consumption, decrease of riverine habitat as dams, barrages, irrigation canals and artificial embankments were built; siltation and sand-mining changed river courses.
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Conservation Efforts:Breeding Centres of Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, National Chambal Sanctuary (Gharial Eco Park, Madhya Pradesh).
Saltwater Crocodile It is considered as the Earth’s largest living crocodile species native to saltwater habitats and brackish wetlands. It is found throughout the east coast of India, Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It is thelargest of all living reptiles. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern It is foundthroughout the east coast of India. Threats:Illegal hunting; habitat loss; antipathy toward the species because of its reputation as a man-eater.
White Rhino The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinocerosis the largest extant species of rhinoceros and second largest land mammal. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. The white rhinoceros consists of two subspecies: the southern white rhinoceros and the much rarer northern white rhinoceros.
Indian Rhinoceros The Indian rhinoceros, also called the greater one-horned rhinoceros and great Indian rhinoceros, is a rhinoceros species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They can be found in: Kaziranga National Park; Jaldapara National Park; Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary; Orang National Park; Gorumara Dudhwa National Park; Manas National Park; Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kharai Camel Also known as Swimming Camels. Found only in Gujarat’s Bhuj area. It has been recognized as a separate breed (one among nine such breeds found in India) of camel for better conservation. This camel is adapted to the extreme climate of Ran of Kachh where shallow seas and high salinity is prevalent. It can live in both coastal and dry ecosystems. It grazes on saline / mangrove trees and is tolerant to high saline water. It can swim up to three kilometers into the sea in search of mangroves, their primary food.
White Giraffe Poachers have killed two extremely rare white giraffes in northeast Kenya, leaving just one such animal in the world. The white giraffes were first spotted in 2016. The white appearance of the giraffe is due to leucism, a genetic condition that causes skin cells to have no pigmentation. Leucism is different from albinism where no melanin is produced at all. Melanin is a dark biological pigment found in skin, hair, feathers, scales, eyes, and some internal membranes.
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Giraffe Giraffes are most often found in savanna/woodland habitats and range widely throughout Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had classified giraffes as vulnerable in the Red List in December 2016, when it noted that their population had dropped by over 40% since 1985. According to IUCN, the four principal factors that have led to a population decline among giraffes are habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching and ecological issues. CITES: Appendix II
Komodo Dragon A recent study conducted by Australian universities has found out that the Komodo dragon could become extinct in the next few decades due to climate change. Scientific Name: Varanus komodoensis. They are the largest and heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. They have venom glands loaded with toxins which have been shown to secrete anticoagulants. They have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years. They prefer the islands’ tropical forests but can be found across the islands. Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is situated in the Island of Komodo (eastern Indonesia) and is the only habitat for this lizard species. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES:Appendix-I In August 2019, the Indonesian government ordered the relocation of the residents of the Island of Komodo in a bid to conserve Komodo dragons and the Komodo National Park. Threats:Anthropogenic factors; Small size of population; Less prey and higher inbreeding factors; Climate change is likely to cause a sharp decline in the availability of habitat, reducing their populations even further.
Pangolins Six persons, including a woman, were arrested for allegedly smuggling pangolins in Kolkata. Pangolins are the only mammals wholly-covered in scales and they use those scales to protect themselves from predators in the wild. If under threat, a pangolin will immediately curl into a tight ball and will use their sharp-scaled tails to defend themselves. A Pangolin’s tongue is longer than its body. They have no teeth and chew with gravel and keratinous spines inside the stomach. Of the eight species of pangolin worldwide, two are found in India. They are Chinese pangolin (manis pentadactyla), mostly found in northeast India and Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata). They certainly are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia and, increasingly, Africa. Pangolins are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam. Pangolins is smuggled for its scales as it believed that they possess magic or charms and have medicinal. Conservation Status: Indian Pangolin: IUCN: Endangered Chinese Pangolin: IUCN: Critically Endangered
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Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Nilgiri Tahr The population of the State animal, the endangered Nilgiri tahr, spilling over from its predominant range. It is the State animal of Tamil Nadu. It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It inhabits the open montane grassland habitats of the South Western Ghats. Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is home to the largest population. Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1
Lion-tailed Macaque The scientific name:Macaca silenus. It is also known under its original name of Sahyadri or Benevolent Mountains. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Although the species has a relatively wide range, its area of occupancy is small and severely fragmented. Lion-tailed macaques play important role in the ecosystem they live, as they disperse seeds of fruits and plants they consume. Primarily diurnal arboreal, it prefers the upper canopy of primary tropical evergreen rainforest. It can also be found in monsoon forests in hilly country and in disturbed forest. It play important role in the ecosystem they live, as they disperse seeds of fruits and plants they consume. Threats:Overpopulation; Habitat destruction; Hunting among others Conservation Status: IUCN Red list: Endangered. CITES: Appendix I Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Golden Langurs Primatologists have observed that the Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), endemic to the semi-evergreen and mixed-deciduous forests straddling India and Bhutan, induce stillbirth of babies killed inside the womb of females, besides practising infanticide. Scientific Name: Trachypithecus geei. The geographic range of golden langurs is limited to Assam, India and neighboring Bhutan where they live year-round. Golden langurs occupy moist evergreen and tropical deciduous forests as well as some riverine areas and savannas in Assam and Bhutan. Their hair ranges from dark golden to creamy buff and their faces are black and hairless except for a long pale beard. It has been noted that their fur changes colors according to the seasons. Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered
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CITES: Appendix I Threats: The main reason for low numbers of golden langurs is because of their localized habitat and the rapid loss of this habitat due to deforestation. Chakrashila sanctuary: Chakrashila is India’s first wildlife sanctuary with golden langur as the primary species. Chakrashila has about 600 golden langurs whose population is scattered across western Assam and the foothills of Bhutan
Capuchin Monkeys Scientific name: Cebus. Capuchin Monkeys, also called sapajou, is a common Central and South American primate found in tropical forests from Nicaragua to Paraguay. They are named for their “caps” of hair, which resemble the cowls of Capuchin monks. Conservation status IUCN: Vulnerable
Popa Langur Recently, the scientists have identified 'Popa Langur' from the forests of central Myanmar. It is newly discovered species of primate. It is a lithe tree-dweller with a mask-like face framed by a shock of unruly grey hair. It is named after an extinct volcano Mount Popa which is home to its largest population. Trachypithecus popa or T. popa, has a grey-brownish and white belly, with black hands and wrists that look a bit like gloves. Conservation status IUCN: Critically Endangered (200 left)
Hoolock Gibbons Hoolock Gibbons threatened with extinction in two Manipur districts. They are three primate species of genus Hoolock in the gibbon family. The primate is native to eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India and Southwest China. Gibbons are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal (live on trees). Diet: consists mainly of fruits, insects and leaves. They live together in monogamous pairs. Northeastern India is home to two ape species: eastern and western hoolock gibbons. Western hoolock gibbon: It inhibits in all the states of the north-east, restricted between the south of the Brahmaputra river and east of the Dibang river. And outside India, it is found in eastern Bangladesh and north-west Myanmar. IUCN: Endangered Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule I Eastern hoolock gibbon: It inhabits specific pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, and in southern China and north-east Myanmar outside India. IUCN: Vulnerable Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule I Threats:Deforestation for timber, forest fires and hunting.
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Hard ground swamp deer The population of Hard ground swamp deer (Barasingha) has increased to 800 in the Kanha National park and Tiger Reserve. Hard ground swamp deer is also known as Barasingha or Rucervus duvaucelii, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. Swam deer are already extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is now found only in south- western Nepal and central and northeastern India. There are three subspecies of swamp deer found in the Indian Subcontinent. The western swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) found in Nepal; The Southern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) found in central and North India and; The Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in the Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks. Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
Indian Gaur Wildlife researchers recently documented the presence of an Indian gaur in Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time in recorded history. The first population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division has revealed that more than an estimated 2,000 Indian gaurs inhabit the entire division. Gaurs are the world’s largest and tallest wild bovines, with 85% of their current population found in India. It is the State animal of Goa. Gaur are largely confined to evergreen forests or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, but also occur in deciduous forest areas at the periphery of their range. Gaur is highly threatened by poaching for trade to supply international markets. In India, the population was estimated to be 12,000–22,000 in the mid-1990s. The Western Ghats and their outflanking hills in southern India constitute one of the most extensive extant strongholds of gaur, in particular in the Wayanad- Nagarhole- Mudumalai- Bandipur complex. Conservation Status: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I IUCN Red List: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix I Threats: Hunting for consumption; loss of suitable habitat and; contract diseases transmitted by domestic cattle.
Siberian Ibex A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has proved that Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex. The study was funded through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies. The National Mission on Himalayan Studies is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Siberian Ibex is a species of wild goat and is distributed in diverse habitats, ranging from cold deserts, rocky outcrops, steep terrain, high-land flats and mountain ridges to low mountains and foothills. It is in Least Concern category under IUCN. From Mongolia, its distribution extends towards Altai, Hangai, Gobi-Altai, the Hurukh mountain ranges as well as Sayan Mountains near Russia and scattered populations in the small mountains of Trans-Altai Gobi.
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In Asia, Ibex is distributed in the montane habitats, ranging in elevations from 500 m to 6,700 m in countries like India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Southern Siberia and China. In India, the Ibex is distributed mainly in the trans-Himalayan ranges of the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh up to the river Sutlej.
Himalayan Ibex Himalayan Ibex, distributed in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, According to a recent genetic study by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Himalayan Ibex is found to be a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex. Identification of Indian Ibex (Himalayan Ibex) as a distinct species will prioritize the conservation of the species at global level.
Indian Gazelle Recently, the ornithologists and researchers from Pune have reported three successful incidents in which Chinkara fawns were rescued, examined, treated, and re-wilded during foaling season. The Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) is an antelope endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Chinkara are native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES:Appendix-I Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Himalayan Serow A Himalayan serow (Capricornis sumatraensis thar) has been sighted for the first time in the Spiti cold desert region, Himachal Pradesh. It is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis). It resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig. They are herbivores. It’s a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair. There are several species of serows and all of them are found in Asia; They are found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres (6,500 to 13,000 feet); They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas but not in the Trans Himalayan region. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Dhole A study has pointed out that Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh rank high in the conservation of the endangered dhole, in India. Geographical Distribution: The Dholes is a canid native to Central, South and Southeast Asia. Other names for the species include Asiatic wild dog, Indian wild dog, whistling dog, red dog, and mountain wolf. The dole is a highly social animal, living in large clans without rigid dominance hierarchies and containing multiple breeding females.
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Conservation Status IUCN: Endangered Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule II CITES: Appendix II Threats: Depletion of prey base, Habitat loss and transformation, Persecution of Dholes stems mainly from retaliatory killings due to livestock predation, Competition with other species like Tigers and Leopards for prey.
Eurasian Otters Researchers conducting a study in Odisha’s Chilika Lake have found the presence of a viable, breeding population of Eurasian Otters, a fishing cat in the brackish water lagoon. Species in India: Smooth-coated, Asian small-clawed and Eurasian Otters Smooth-coated Otters are foundall over India; Asian small-clawed Otters- are found only in the Himalayan foothills, parts of the Eastern and southern Western Ghats; Eurasian Otters are found inWestern Ghats and Himalayas. Diet comprises several small animals, mainly crabs and small fishes. Lives in small packs, is mostly nocturnal, but can be diurnal in areas which are less disturbed. Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened CITES: AppendixI Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II
Minks Denmark, which has recorded more than 55,000 cases of COVID-19 so far, has also recorded over 200 human cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants that are associated with farmed minks. Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera Neovison and Mustela, and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters and ferrets. More than 50 million mink a year are bred for their fur, mainly in China, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland. Mink oil is used in some medical products and cosmetics, as well as to treat, preserve and waterproof leather. There are two extant species referred to as “mink”: the American mink and the European mink. The European mink is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers.
Malayan Giant Squirrel Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in a first-of-its-kind study, has projected that numbers of the Malayan Giant Squirrel could decline by 90% in India by 2050, and it could be extinct by then if urgent steps are not taken. Scientific Name: Ratufa bicolor. It is one of the world’s largest squirrel species that has a dark upper body, pale under parts, and a long, bushy tail. Unlike the nocturnal flying squirrels, giant squirrels are diurnal (active during the day), but arboreal (tree-dwelling) and herbivorous like the flying squirrels. It is found mostly in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, from plains to hills at elevations of 50 m to 1,500 m above sea level.
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Globally it is distributed through Southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. In India, is found in the forests of Northeast and is currently found in parts of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. It is considered to be a forest health indicator species. Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened. CITES: Appendix II. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I. Threats: According to the study, the squirrel and its habitat are under threat from deforestation, fragmentation of forests, crop cultivation and over-harvesting of food, illegal trade in wildlife, and hunting for consumption.
Marmots Recently, reports of an outbreak of bubonic plague in Mongolia, China and far east Russia have emerged, caused mainly by Tarbagan Marmot (a species of Marmot). Marmot (genus Marmota) belongs to the squirrel family (Sciuridae) within the order Rodentia. Marmots are well suited for life in cold environments and have small fur- covered ears, short, stocky legs, and strong claws for digging. Marmots are diurnal (active during the day) and are almost entirely vegetarian. They are found primarily in the continents of Europe, Asia and North America. South Asia or the Indian Subcontinent is home to the Himalayan Marmot and the Long-tailed Marmot (both are Least Concerned in the IUCN Red List). Tarbagan or Mongolian Marmot (Endangered) is found in Mongolia, China and parts of Russia. While digging burrows, marmots increase aeration in the soil which increases nutrient circulation and helps different plants to propagate. Threats: Marmots are hunted for their meat and fur in China and Mongolia.
Skinks of India Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) brought a study on skinks (a kind of lizard), titled Skinks of India. It is the largest family of lizards, having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales. It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes. Skinks are non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving and actively forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates. They have a prominent role in maintaining ecosystems, however, not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology because identification of the species can be confusing. In India skinks are found in all kinds of habitats in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts. India is home to 62 species of skinks and about 57% of all the skinks found in India (33 species) are endemic. They are found in all kinds of habitats in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts. With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, making it the largest family of lizards, their occurrence in India is less than 4 % of the global diversity.
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Bent Toed Gecko The new species of lizard, zoologically named Cyrtodactylus urbanus, is discovered in Guwahati. It is markedly different in molecular structure, blotch and color from the Cyrtodactylus guwahatiensis, or the Guwahati bent-toed gecko, that was discovered two years ago. The bent-toed gecko, named Cyrtodactylus urbanus, was earlier thought to be same as the Khasi Hills lizard. All bent-toed geckos in Northeast India were thought to be a single species, the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis found primarily in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. The study on the urban bent-toed gecko provided additional information on the Guwahati bent-toed gecko, the first of the two Cyrtodactylus endemic to the areas covered by the city and the fourth from Assam. It was also the 12th recorded gecko from the Northeast.
Sitana Dharwarensis New species of a Fan-Throated Lizard, ‘Sitana Dharwarensis’ Discovered from Northern Karnataka. It is a new species of a fan-throated lizard; the new species is similar to a species Sitana laticeps. But Sitana dharwarensis bears a much larger throat fan or dewlap. This is the second species to be discovered from the open scrub and rock terrain of northern Karnataka after Hemidactylus vijayraghavani, a gecko.
Assam Keelback Snake More than a century after it was first seen, the Assam keelback- a snake species endemic to the region- was rediscovered in 2018 at the Poba Reserve Forest (RF) by a team from Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The species is small- about 60 cm long, brownish, with a patterned belly. This particular keelback does not belong to the generalized keelback snake of India but is rather a unique genus (Herpetoreas). It is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. It was discovered 129 years ago by Samuel Edward Peel, a British tea planter based in Upper Assam. The snake’s ‘lost’ status has a lot to do with the habitat it occupies- in this case, a lowland evergreen forest. These forests have been selectively degraded during the last 100 years: tea plantations have been made, selective logging has taken place, and many other activities such as oil exploration and coal mining.
Trimeresurus Salazar Team of researchers have discovered a new species of venomous snake in Arunachal Pradesh and named it Trimeresurus Salazar. It is the fifth variety of reptiles to have been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh in a little more than a year. It was discovered from the evergreen forests of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. The new species is named after J.K. Rowling’s fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s co-founder, Salazar Slytherin. The new species belongs to the group of green pit vipers. There are over 22 types of green pit vipers found in India.
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The proposed 49-km Seijosa-Bhalukpong road will cut through the habitat of the new species. Roads take a heavy toll on the life of fauna and data from various studies have highlighted the high mortality of snakes due to vehicular movement. Anthropogenic activities like road widening, construction of dams and hydropower plants threaten the forest and biodiversity throughout Arunachal Pradesh.
Craspedotropis Gretathunbergae A group of scientists have recently discovered a new species of land snail in Brunei. The new species reside in tropical rainforests and is sensitive to drought and extreme temperatures (which have become more frequent due to climate change). Hence as an honour to Swedish Climate Change activist Greta Thunberg, who has been making efforts to raise awareness about climate change, the new snail species was named as Craspedotropis Gretathunbergae. The two-millimetre-long snails have dark grey tentacles, a pale body and a concave shell, whose outer part is greenish-brown. Recently, a tiny species of beetle was also named after her as Nelloptodes Gretae. In 2018, a new species of beetle (Grouvellinus Leonardodicaprioi) was named after the actor Leonardo DiCaprio (an American actor, producer, and environmentalist).
Giant African Snail Invasion Study finds repeated waves of Giant African Snail invasion in Kerala. Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) is one of the worst invasive species declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is suspected to spread eosinophilic meningitis, septicaemia and peritonitis in humans. The Giant African Snail in Asia and Africa has had multiple episodes of invasion. New snail populations continue to arrive in India from snail-infested countries across the world. Its population found in India had a higher genetic variety than those in the native African continent. This genetic variety indicates that the snail continues to have multiple invasions in India, mainly Kerala, from different countries. A Study Conducted at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) with the support of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) between 2016 and 2020, the study was published in the biological journal of the Linnean Society.
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Marine Species in News
Pilot Whale Mass Pilot Whale Strandings was seen in Tasmania which is not common in this part of the world & of this scale are not uncommon either. However, exact reasons for stranding are unknown yet. Pilot whales are so named because it was once believed that each observed group was navigated by a pilot or leader. Their Latin name, Globicephala, means ‘round head’, which is one of the main identifying features of the species. There are two species of pilot whales The Short-finned pilot whales, which are mainly found in tropical and warm-temperate regions, and The Long-finned pilot whales, which inhabit colder waters. Both species are designated as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Whale Shark A 14.9 ft.-long whale shark died at the coast near Sunapur in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus. Whale sharks are the largest shark and they feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. Conservation Status IUCN: Endangered CITES: AppendixII Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I Threats:Oil & gas drilling, shipping lanes etc.
Irrawaddy Dolphins Recently, Odisha Forest Department has sighted 146 endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lake. Scientific Name: Orcaella Brevirostris They are oceanic dolphin found in brackish water near coasts, river mouths and estuaries in South and Southeast Asia. There habitat extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines. They are found in three rivers namely The Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong. They have a bulging forehead and short beak. They pop out their head out of the water to breathe followed by its back. Conservation Status IUCN: Endangered CITES: AppendixI The dolphin distribution in Chilika is considered to be the highest single lagoon population. Threat: They had been under stress in Chilika lake due to unregulated boating by tourists as well as illegal prawn enclosures.
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Gangetic Dolphin According to a census report prepared by Madhya Pradesh, dolphins’ number in Chambal River has been reduced by 13 % in four years. It is India’s national aquatic animal and is popularly known as ‘Susu’. Found in parts of the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. They are distributed across seven states in India: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Conservation Status IUCN: Endangered CITES: AppendixI Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin They prefer the shallow, near shore waters of countries in the Indian Ocean, ideally with a freshwater input. They can be found not far from shore in the coastal waters of South Africa in the south, northwards around the coast of East Africa, throughout the Middle East, and the west coast of India IUCN: Endangered
Indus River Dolphin They can only be found in the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan and in River Beas, a tributary of the Indus River in Punjab, India. They have adapted to life in the muddy river and are functionally blind. The dolphin is the state aquatic animal of Punjab. IUCN Status: Endangered
Chinese Pink Dolphins According to recent observations Chinese pink dolphins are making a comeback in the Pearl river estuary, one of the most heavily industrialised areas on Earth. Scientific Name: Sousa Chinensis. Coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This species is often referred to as the Chinese white/pink dolphin in China (including Macao), Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore as a common name. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has seen a decline in their numbers in the past 15 years by 70-80%. Dolphins use echolocation to find their way in the water. Echolocation is a technique used by bats, dolphins and other animals to determine the location of objects using reflected sound. This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles. Threats: Agricultural, industrial, and urban pollution; Overfishing; Marine construction; Transport; Selling into captivity at marine entertainment parks and aquariums. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
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Zebrafish Scientists at Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute have used the Zebrafish as a research model and identified genes that can promote heart regeneration. Scientific name: Danio rerio. Zebrafish- a tiny freshwater fish barely 2-3 cm long can efficiently regenerate its damaged heart within a short time period. It is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name Danio. Zebrafish is found in the tropical and subtropical regions. The fish is native to South Asia’s IndoGangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
Schizothorax Sikusirumensis A new species of fish has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh. The fish species is named as Schizothorax sikusirumensis. The fish species belongs to genus Schizothorax. The name of this fish species has been derived from the name of the rivers where it was found. This fish was collected from the junction of River Siku and Sirum near Gakang area under Mebo circle of East Siang District. The fish inhabits the water-logged area of torrential river drainage.
Hilsa Fish Fishermen in West Bengal are in for a pleasant surprise amid the COVID-19 gloom as they have exuded hope of a bumper yield of Hilsa, known as “maacher rani” (queen of fish). The Hilsa is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food fish in the Indian Subcontinent. It is the national fish of Bangladesh and state symbol in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura. Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters of the Ganges from the Bay of Bengal. It travels upstream of the river during themating seasons and returns to its natural abode after spawning. Conservation Status IUCN: Least Concerned
Band-tail Scorpionfish Recently, researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have found a rare Scorpionfish from Sethukarai coast in the Gulf of
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Mannar. This was the first time that the particular species was found alive in Indian waters. Scientific name: Scorpaenospsis neglecta. The band-tail scorpionfish (Scorpaenospsis neglecta) camouflages within the seagrass meadows. It is well-known for its stinging venomous spines and ability to change colour. The fish has the ability to change colour and blend with its surrounding environment to escape from predators and while preying. The fish is called ‘scorpionfish’ because its spines contain neurotoxic venom.
Chinese paddlefish Psephurus gladius, a Chinese paddlefish living in the Yangtze River (Asia's longest river), was declared extinct. Psephurus gladius was about 2 to 3 meters long, and could grow longer than 7 meters. The fish had existed for 15 million years. The Chinese paddlefish had also been on the critically endangered list since 1996. It was the largest freshwater fish in China might have gone extinct between 2005 and 2010. Experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that this unique and first-class protected fish had been extinct already. Two other notable Yangtze species reeves shad, a type of fish and the baiji, or Yangtze River dolphin were declared 'functionally extinct' in 2015 and 2006 respectively. From Jan 1, 2020, China began a 10-year fishing ban on key areas of the Yangtze River to protect biodiversity in the country's longest river.
Puntius Sanctus Fish Velankanni in Tamil Nadu has thrown up a new species of small freshwater fish. It is a new species of small freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. The silver-hued fish has been named Puntius Sanctus- ‘Sanctus’ is Latin for holy- after the popular pilgrim town. The Puntius species are known locally as ‘Paral’ in Kerala and ‘Kende’ in Tamil Nadu. The species is small in size and grows to a length of 7 cm, it bears lateral line scales and pre-dorsal scales. It found to use both as food and as an aquarium draw. Physical characteristics included a protractible mouth, a pair of maxillary barbels (a sensory organ near the snout), 24-25 lateral line scales and 10 pre-dorsal scales. They are purely freshwater fishes.
Aenigmachanna Gollum A 100 million-year-old fish has been discovered in Kerala which is named after the dark and conflicted character of JRR Tolkien’s epic saga movie ‘Lord of the Rings’. It belongs to an old family of fish, called dragon snakeheads, which retains its primitive characteristics after all these millennia. It is endemic to the Indian state of Kerala. It looks like a dragon, swims like an eel, and has remained hidden for a hundred million years. The closest relative of the family Aenigmachannidae is the Channidae, of which at least 50 species can be found in the streams and lakes of Asia and tropical Africa. Aenigmachanna is a Gondwanan lineage, which has survived break-up of the supercontinent, with India separating from Africa at around 120 million years ago.
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Unlike the Channidae, the Aenigmachannidae lack the suprabranchial organ that allows the former to breathe air and proliferate widely. The researchers say that the area where Aenigmachanna was collected is part of the Western Ghats i.e. Sri Lanka Hotspot, which is among the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Aenigmachanna mahabali is a sister species of the Aenigmachanna Gollum.
Mahseer Recently, a team of researchers from the Department of Zoology, Andhra University have sighted and fished out a rare fish 'Mahseer' from the upper part of Sileru river. It is a rare fish having its scientific name as 'Tor'. It is normally found in the Himalayan region in the rivers running through the cooler climes of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Bhutan. Golden Mahseer is a species of a rare Mahseer fish which is found in the Himalayan region, where the temperature around year does not exceed 20° Celsius. In the Godavari River there are about 135 recorded fish species and the Grey Mahseer is one of them. Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered
Dugong The dugong, commonly known as the sea cow, is fighting for its survival in Indian waters experts have said on the eve of ‘World Dugong Day’ on May 28, 2020. Dugongs are mammals, which means they give birth to live young and then produce milk and nurse them. It is the flagship animal of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. The dugong is the only strictly herbivorous marine mammal. It is a species of sea cow found throughout the warm latitudes of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. According to a 2013 survey report of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), there were only about 200 dugongs in the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Red Sea Turtles Turtle populations in the Red Sea could be turning overwhelmingly female because of a rise in sea temperatures caused due to anthropogenic climate change, a new study has showed. There are seven extant species worldwide, five of which can be found in the Red Sea: the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the olive ridley turtle and the leatherback turtle. In order to maintain a 50:50 ratio of male and female in the population, a temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius is pivotal. Above this, hatchlings would be predominantly female. The sand temperatures at four of the sites exceeded 29.2 degrees; leading the team to the conclusion that ‘feminization’ of the population could be already happening. Marine turtles- as all top predators- have a prominent role in maintaining balanced and healthy ecosystems, in particular seagrass beds and coral reefs.
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They also help in transporting nutrients towards naturally nutrient-poor ecosystems, and providing food and transportation for other marine species (e.g., barnacles and commensal crabs). Marine turtles also play an important role in the economy of the tourism industry.
Peacock Soft-shelled Turtle Recently, Peacock soft-shelled turtle (a turtle of a vulnerable species) has been rescued from a fish market in Assam’s Silchar. Scientific Name: Nilssonia hurum& Belongs to the family Trionychidae. They are generally omnivorous (predominantly carnivorous) and nocturnal. They have a large head, downturned snout with low and oval carapace of dark olive green to nearly black, sometimes with a yellow rim. This species is confined to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In India, it is widespread in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent. These are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with mud or sand bottoms. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I Threats: The species is heavily exploited for its meat and calipee (the outer cartilaginous rim of the shell).
Kurma Recently number of conservation agencies launched a mobile-based application called KURMA, aimed at turtle conservation. The Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN) in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance-India and Wildlife Conservation Society-India. It providesusers a database to identify a species and also provides the location of the nearest rescue center for turtles across the country. It has a built-in digital field guidecovering29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India. It has information on turtle identification, distribution, vernacular names, and threats. If anyone reports a turtle from any part of the country using KURMA, he or she receives advice about the species and its conservation.
Red-crowned roof turtle Red-crowned roof turtle has been brought at Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. It is also known as Bengal roof turtle, Red-crowned roofed turtle. It is one of the 24 species endemic to India, is characterised by the bright colours such as red, yellow, white and blue on the faces and necks of the males. Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle is a freshwater turtle species found in deep flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites and native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with a substantial population of the species, but even this Protected Area and habitat are under threat. Conservation Status IUCN: Critically Endangered CITES: AppendixII
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Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Olive Ridley Turtles Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea. The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. It inhabits warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive-ridley turtles followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica. Rushikulya rookeryis a major nesting site for the Olive Ridleys along the Indian coast. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: AppendixI Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I Threats: Olive-ridleys face serious threats across their migratory route, habitat and nesting beaches, due to human activities such as turtle unfriendly fishing practices, development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centres.
Travancore Tortoise The Travancore tortoise is a large forest tortoise growing up to 330 millimetres (13 in) in length. Distribution: Restricted to the Western Ghats, in the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Diego: The Giant Tortoise The Galapagos National Park called off the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative (GTRI), a captive breeding programme of the National Park as the tortoise population has gone up from 15 to 2,000. Diego joined the breeding programme in 1976. A member of the Chelonoidis hoodensis, or the giant tortoise species. Diego has a “long leathery neck, dull-yellow face and beady eyes”. Fully stretched out, he extends to about five feet and weighs about 176 pounds. The long neck is critical for his species’ survival, helping the tortoises crane their neck to feed on cacti. It is distributed to seven of the Galápagos Islands, part of Ecuador, located about 1,000 km west of the Ecuadorian mainland. It has an average life span of in the wild is over 100 years. Conservation Status IUCN: Critically Endangered CITES: Appendix I
Sal Forest Tortoise
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Over 90% of the potential distribution of the Sal forest tortoise falls outside current protected area’s network. Scientific name: Indotestudo elongate& Common name: Elongated tortoise, Yellow Tortoise and Sal forest tortoise. It is a species of tortoise found in Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian Subcontinent, particularly Northeast India. These up to 1-footlong tortoises have elongated somewhat narrow carapaces and yellow heads. Shells are typically a pale tannish-yellow to caramel color, with blotches of black. It is heavily hunted for food and collected both for local use, such as decorative masks, and international wildlife trade. In china, a mixture, made by grinding up the tortoise's shell, also serves as an aphrodisiac. Conservation Status IUCN: Critically Endangered [the population of the species may have fallen by about 80% in the last three generations (90 years)] Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Platypus Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus A study shows, devastating drought and other effects of climate change are pushing the duck-billed platypus towards extinction. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family, and genus, though several related species appear in the fossil record. It is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. A lot is not known about their distribution or abundance because of the species’ secretive and nocturnal nature. They were once considered widespread across the eastern Australian mainland and Tasmania. But the platypus remains unlisted in most jurisdictions in Australia- except South Australia- where it is endangered. Its habitat is Wetlands (Inland). Conservation Status: IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened
Noctiluca Scintillans The blooms of Noctiluca Scintillans, commonly known as “sea sparkle” are being witnessed along the coasts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Scintillans is a bioluminescent specie that brightens the seawater during the night. It grazes on other micro-organisms such as larvae, fish eggs, and diatoms. But the unicellular phytoplankton that lives inside it can photosynthesize, turning sunlight into energy. They help their host cell survive even when food was scarce. Thus, N. Scintillans acts as both a plant and an animal. The toxic bloom of Noctiluca Scintillans was linked to massive fish and marine invertebrate kills and has displaced microscopic algae called diatoms which form the basis of the marine food chain. However, The species does not produce a toxin. But it was found to accumulate toxic levels of ammonia which is then excreted into the surrounding waters possibly acting as the killing agent in blooms.
Malabar Gliding Frog
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Recently, a rare amphibian, Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) was spotted in Pullad, Kerala. Scientific name: Rhacophorus malabaricus. It is endemic to the rain forests of Western Ghats. It is a green frog with slender body, webbed feet, unusual body positions, very well camouflaged and gliding in the air. Males are smaller than females. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern Threats: The Malabar gliding frog population is declining due to deforestation, climate change, developmental activities, and toxic chemicals.
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Kalinga Frog Recently, Indian scientists from the Zoological Survey of India, Pune have reported a first-of-its-kind discovery of morphological phenotypic plasticity (MPP) in the Kalinga cricket frog. Scientific Name: Fejervarya kalinga. It is a recently identified species which was documented in 2018. It was thought to be endemic to the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats. But now, researchers have reported the Kalinga cricket frog from the central Western Ghats, with the evidence of considerable ‘morphological phenotypic plasticity (MPP)’ Cricket frogs are indicators of a healthy ecosystem and live in wide habitat ranges in agricultural fields, streams, swamps and wetlands. What is Morphological phenotypic plasticity?: MPP is the ability of an organism to show drastic morphological (physical features) variations in response to natural environmental variations or stimuli.
Purple Frog Recently, a senior forest officer has said that the proposal for declaring the purple frog as Kerala’s official amphibian, is in the active consideration of the state government. Scientific Name: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis& Common Name: It is also known as Purple Frog, Maveli frog or Pignose Frog. The purple frog is a frog species belonging to the family Sooglossidae. Its body appears robust and bloated and is relatively rounded compared to other flattened frogs. Compared to other frogs, N. sahyadrensis has a small head and an unusual pointed snout; Adults are typically dark purplish-grey in color; It lives almost its entire life in underground tunnels, comes out to the surface for a single day in a year to breed. Earlier thought to be restricted to the south of the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats, the species is now known to be quite widely distributed in the Western Ghats. Herpetologists believe that the species should be rightly called a ‘living fossil’ as it’s evolutionary roots suggest it could have shared space with dinosaurs going back almost 70 million years ago. Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered
Myristica Swamp Treefrog
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Myristica swamp treefrog, has been recorded for the first time in the Vazhachal Reserve Forest in Kerala’s Thrissur district. Scientific name: Mercurana myristicapalustris. These are endemic to the Western Ghats. These frogs are rare and elusive for the reason that they are arboreal and active only for a few weeks during their breeding season. Have a Unique Breeding Behaviour- The breeding season, unlike for other frogs, starts in the pre monsoon season (May) and ends before the monsoon becomes fully active in June. Before the end of the breeding season, the female frogs along with their male counterparts descend on the forest floor. The female digs the mud and lays eggs in shallow burrows in mud. After breeding and egg laying, they retreat back to the high canopies of the tree and remain elusive till the next breeding season.
Indian Bullfrog Scientific name: Hoplobatrachus tigerinus. It is endemic toSouth and South-East Asia. It is the largest frog found in the Indian Subcontinent. They often engage in cannibalism by feeding on smaller individuals of their own kind and on other frogs. Its loud croaking call, attracts the opposite sex, but also predators. Conservation Status IUCN: Least Concern Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Leptarma Biju Recently, the researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, have reported a new species called Leptarma Biju. It is a new species of tree-spider crab from a mangrove forest in Kasaragod, Kerala. The new species is named Leptarma Biju after A. Biju Kumar who is the head of Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala. It the first report of the genus Leptarma from India. Its characteristic features are its long ambulatory legs and short and hook-like dactylus that have adapted the crustacean for tree-climbing.
Horseshoe Crab Horseshoe crabs face an uncertain future in Odisha, their largest habitat in India, even as the world gets ready to celebrate the first-ever ‘International Horseshoe Crab Day’ on June 20, 2020. Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods. They are not true crabs, which are crustaceans. The crabs are represented by four extant species in the world. Out of the four, two species are distributed along the northeast coast of India. Only T gigas species of the horseshoe crab is found along Balasore coast of Odisha. The horseshoe crab is one of the oldest marine living fossils whose origin date back to 445 million years before the dinosaurs existed.
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One of their ecological functions is to lay millions of eggs on beaches to feed shorebirds, fish and other wildlife. Conservation Status: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Abortelphusa Namdaphaensis It is a newly discovered freshwater species of crab on the edge of a small stream in Namdapha Tiger Reserve. The genus (Abortelphusa) is named after the Abor Hills, the species (Namdaphaensis) is named after Namdapha. Of the 125 freshwater crabs in India, the north-east accounts for 37. Arunachal Pradesh has 15 and Assam has 21.
Snake Eel A new snake eel species residing in the Bay of Bengal has been discovered by the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) at Gopalpur in Odisha. The new marine species has been named as Ophichthus kailashchandrai to honour the vast contributions of Dr Kailash Chandra (Director of Zoological Survey of India) to Indian animal taxonomy. It is the eighth species of the Ophichthus genus found on the Indian coast. It lives at a depth of around 50 metres in the sea. It is 420 mm to 462 mm in length and light brown in colour, with white fins. The outer surface of their bodies is slimy but they are not poisonous. Their teeth are moderately elongated, conical and sharp and thus they feed on small fish and crabs.
Bathynomus Raksas Recently, scientists have reported the discovery of the first super giant isopod species in the eastern Indian Ocean named ‘Bathynomus raksasa’. The Bathynomus raksasa is a giant isopod in the genus Bathynomus. The giant isopods are distantly related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimps (which belong to the order of decapods), and are found in the cold depths of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The “cockroach of the sea” has 14 legs. It measures around 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) in length, which is big for isopods, which normally do not grow beyond 33 cm (just over a foot). Isopods that reach 50 cm are referred to as supergiant’s. The only member of the isopod species that exceeds the raksasa in size is the Bathynomus giganteus, which is commonly found in the deep waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. It is the first 'supergiant' isopod species to be discovered in the eastern Indian Ocean. The discovery takes the number of known giant isopods to 20.
Tetrastemma Freyae Recently, researchers have identified a new species of marine invertebrate i.e. 'Tetrastemma Freyae', found along the coast of Tamil Nadu. It feeds on dead and decaying material and helps to recycle nutrients in coastal and deep-water sediments.
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It is associated with sediments and is predatory as it has a role in maintaining the food chain. It uses its proboscis, similar to a butterfly which does to collect nectar. It has neurotoxins in its proboscis which could lead to developing drugs.
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Aviary Species in News
Rare Steppe Eagle A Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) has been sighted in Andhra Pradesh during Asian Bird Census. The sighting of this rare species highlights the need for exploration of the diversity of avian life in the State. The Steppe Eagle is a migratory raptor which has undergone extremely rapid population declines within all its range. It breeds from Romania east through the south Russian and Central Asian steppes to Mongolia. The European and Central Asian birds winter in Africa, and the eastern birds in India. The bird has moved from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Endangered’ under IUCN Red List. Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi- desert, steppes, or savannah. Steppe eagle is the second-largest migratory eagle species to India. The threats to the Steppe Eagle include habitat loss/degradation, electrocution on/ collision with energy infrastructure, poisoning through herbicides/ pesticides/ veterinary drugs in food sources, etc. The Steppe Eagle appears on the flag of Kazakhstan It is also the National bird (animal) of Egypt and appears on its flag.
The Amur Falcon Chuilon and Irang, the radio-tagged Amur Falcons have arrived in Manipur after completing one migratory journey that covered 29,000 km in 361 days. The Amur Falcon locally known as ‘Akhoipuina is the world’s longest travelling migratory raptors. They breed in East Asia and migrate to northeast India, Sri Lanka and sometimes to Thailand, Cambodia and up to the Arabian Sea and parts of Southern Africa. Doyang Lake in Nagaland is known as a stopover for the Amur falcons during their annual migration. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern Nagaland Government organises Amur Falcon festival to spread awareness about the need to provide safe passage to Amur falcons.
Great Indian Bustard Conservationefforts are having a positive impact on Great Indian Bustard population in India. The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps Habitat: Dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent; its largest populations are found in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Also found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Project Great Indian Bustard- state of Rajasthan- identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas. Conservation Status
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IUCN: Critically Endangered CITES: Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I Protected areas: Desert National Park Sanctuary- Rajasthan, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary- Andhra Pradesh Karera Wildlife Sanctuary– Madhya Pradesh. Threats: include agriculture; energy production & mining; transportation; human intrusions, and invasive and other problematic species.
The Houbara Bustard Pakistan has issued special permits to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two other members of the royal family to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustards during the hunting season 2020-21. Bustards are large, terrestrial birds that belong to several species, including some of the largest flying birds. Two Distinct Species of Houbara Bustard: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognises two distinct species found in: o North Africa (Chlamydotis undulata) and Asia (Chlamydotis macqueenii). It lives in arid climates. The population of the Asian houbara bustards extends from northeast Asia, across central Asia, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula to reach the Sinai desert (Egypt). After breeding in the spring, the Asian bustards migrate south to spend the winter in Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula and nearby Southwest Asia. Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable Reasons for Decline: Poaching, unregulated hunting, along with degradation of its natural habitat.
Bengal Florican The species has two disjunct populations, one in the Indian Subcontinent, the other in South-East Asia. The former occurs in Indian Subcontinent mainly in India (Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.) and terai region of Nepal. It inhabits lowland dry, or seasonally inundated, natural and semi-natural grasslands, often interspersed with scattered scrub or patchy open forest. It has a very small, rapidly declining population largely as a result of widespread loss of its grassland habitat. Conservation Status IUCN: Critically Endangered Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I CITES: Appendix I
Hornbill A study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh. Papum Reserve Forest (RF) adjoining Pakke Tiger Reserve (Pakhui Tiger Reserve) in Arunachal Pradesh was studied. The hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family of birds found in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.
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India is home to nine species of hornbills. The north-eastern region has the highest diversity of hornbill species within India. The great hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala. The Hornbill festival celebrated in Nagaland is named after the bird. Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Himalayan Griffon Vulture Recently, Himalayan griffon vulture has been sighted for the first time at the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district. Scientific name: Gyps himalayensis. It is an Old-World vulture in the family Accipitridae. It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors. This species is found along the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau. Himalayan vultures are also susceptible to toxicity induced by diclofenac, a drug whose residues in domestic animal carcasses. But their population have however not shown signs of rapid decline as witnessed in populations of other Gyps vultures across Asia. Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened CITES: Appendix II
Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila) The Assam State Zoo and wildlife NGO Aaranyak has jointly bred a pair of Greater Adjutant (Hargila) chicks in an artificial platform within the zoo enclosure. It is found in a few isolated pockets in Assam and Bihar in India and PrekToal in Cambodia. IUCN status: Endangered Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV.
Indian Skimmer Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis is a waterbird species. In India, the species can be sighted near the Chambal river in Central India, in few parts of Odisha and in Andhra Pradesh. The annual bird census has been commenced in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding wetlands in the Godavari mangroves on the east coast in Andhra Pradesh. The census aims at the documentation of migratory and resident birds so that a better management plan of the complex ecosystem supporting the waterbird species can be prepared. TheGodavari mangroves is one among the few places where the Indian Skimmer can be spotted. Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
Macaws The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a wildlife smuggling syndicate with seizure of a consignment of exotic macaws which had been smuggled from Bangladesh to Kolkata. Scientific Name: Psittacidae. Macaws are native to Central America and North America (only Mexico), South America, and formerly the Caribbean. Most species are associated
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with forests, especially rainforests, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats. Macaws are beautiful, brilliantly colored members of the parrot family. There are at least 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. The glaucous macaw and Spix's macaw may already be extinct in the wild. They are protected under CITES, with Hyacinth macaw being accorded the highest protection
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Blue Macaws Scientific Name: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus aka Hyacinth macaw It is a parrot native to central and eastern South America. With a length of about one meter it is longer than any other species of parrot. It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species. Conservation Status IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix I Threat:Habitat loss and the trapping of wild birds for the pet trade have taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild.
Barn Owls (Tyto alba) The Lakshadweep Administration had embarked on the ‘Pilot project on Biological Control of Rodents (Rats) by Using Barn Owls (Tyto alba) in Kavaratti Island’ The barn owl is the most widespread landbird species in the world, occurring in every continent except Antarctica. They are one of the most widespread owls in the Indian Subcontinent. These owls are medium-sized with long legs and wings and have a relatively shorter tail when compared to other similar sized owls. Barn Owl exhibits dark eyes, and a distinct heart-shaped facial disc. This owl doesn’t have the characteristic ‘woo-woo-woo’ hoot of owls and utters a screechy ‘shreeeeeeeee’ to protect its territory. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
Strawberry Finch A bird has been spotted in the vicinity of Akkulam Lake in Kerala. Strawberry finch is also known as red avadavat (Amandava amandava) or red munia. It is a sparrow-sized bird of the family Estrildidae. It is usually found in the open fields and grasslands of tropical Asia and is popular as a cage bird in their breeding season. The species name of amandava or avadavat has been derived from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat from where these birds were exported into the pet trade in former times. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
Black Redstart Black Redstart comes around the plains of India from the end of September through March every year for breeding. The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus.
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It is found almost throughout Europe, Asia and in the portions of Africa and breed in the high-altitude areas of Kashmir, Ladakh, Tibet and the Central Himalayan Range. In India, the bird sticks to areas near wetlands, open cultivation, scrubs, gardens and orchards. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
House Sparrow Every year March 20 is observed as the 'World Sparrow Day' to raise awareness about the bird. The Day was first celebrated in 2010. In India, House Sparrow is found throughout the country, up to the Assam valley and lower parts of the Assam hills. Towards the eastern Himalayas, the species is replaced by the Eurasian tree sparrow; The house sparrow is widespread across the world, inhabiting every continent, except Antarctica, China and Japan; It is native to Eurasia and North Africa; It is the State bird of Bihar and Delhi; It is known to stay close to human habitations, and is therefore among the most commonly found bird species in urban cities. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern Reasons for Decline: Unfriendly architecture of our homes; The use of chemical fertilisers in crops; Noise pollution; Exhaust fumes from vehicles.
Flame-Throated Bulbul The flame-throated bulbul, also called the Rubigula (State bird of Goa), has been chosen as the mascot of the 36th National Games. The 36th National Games will be held between October 20 and November 4 in the year 2020. The Flame-throated Bulbul is endemic to southern peninsular India where it is locally distributed in southern Andhra Pradesh, eastern Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, eastern Kerala and northern Tamil Nadu. The Flame-throated Bulbul prefer habitats like rocky, scrub-covered hills mostly in the Eastern Ghats and central peninsular India but also in some places in the Western Ghats. Conservation Status IUCN: Least Concern Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Asian Koel Asian Koel, the state bird of Puducherry, is now breeding across Delhi-NCR. The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, Indian cuckoos, and Pacific koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian Koel like many of its related cuckoo kin is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young. Sexual dimorphism is evident, where males are a glossy black with a greenish sheen to their bodies and females are brown with white dots on their wings and heavy streaking on their head and throat. In the bird world, the males are generally more pleasant looking than the females, considering they woo females Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
Willow Warbler
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Recently, Willow Warbler has been sighted for the first time in the country at Punchakkari in Kerala. Scientific name: Phylloscopus Trochilus. It is one of the longest migrating small birds which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic. It is a bird of open woodlands with trees and ground cover for nesting, including most importantly birch, alder and willow habitats. It is one of the longest migrating small birds. The bird weighs around 10 grams and its long wing feathers help it fly long distances. Warblers are generally difficult to identify owing to the small size and change in plumage twice a year. They are also the most difficult groups of birds to identify in the field for their striking resemblance to each other. They migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during early winter. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern. Threats: The species is affected by drought conditions in its wintering quarters and habitat alterations due to human population expansion.
Pied Cuckoo Recently, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has decided to study the migration of the Pied Cuckoo Bird by tagging the bird with satellite transmitters, as a part of IBIN project. It is a bird with black and white plumage (pied) with a fancy crest on the head. It is found in Africa and Asia. &In central and northern parts of India, pied cuckoos are migratory, they are seen only from just before the monsoon to early winter. They have high site fidelity, that is, they come back to the same location year after year. It is one of the few species that come to India in the summer, most other migratory species come in winter. Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concerned Farmers have traditionally relied on the arrival of the pied cuckoo as a signal of arrival of monsoon and seed sowing.
Brown Rock Chat Recently the Brown Rock Chat has almost disappeared from the heart of the National Capital, visible only on the outskirts. It is also called as Indian Chat which is a bird species of the family Muscicapidae. It is nearly endemic to India, distributed north of the Narmada, west to Gujarat and east to Bengal bordered on the north by the Himalayas. It is commonly found in agricultural fields, in buildings, and suburban areas. Conservation Status IUCN: Least Concern Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
Striped Hairstreak Recently, the lepidopterists have discovered the two new species of butterfly i.e. Striped Hairstreak and Elusive Prince in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Scientific Name: Yamamotozephyrus kwangtugenesis It is found in Vijaynagar village of Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Myanmar.
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It was a subject of interest for the lepidopterists as its genus is diversified into several genera (i.e. sub-divisions) and thus, difficult to trace. It was first recorded in Hainan province of China. It is also found in North America, from the Rocky Mountains
Elusive Prince Recently, the lepidopterists have discovered the two new species of butterfly i.e. Striped Hairstreak and Elusive Prince in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Scientific Name: Rohana tonkiniana. It is found in Miao subdivision situated on the periphery of the Namdapha National Park. In India only, a male specimen of the Elusive Prince was found. However, it was first recorded in Tonkin in north Vietnam. Initially, it was considered as a variant of the Black Prince, but the study revealed that it is different and not recorded in India before. The Rohana Genus: It has been represented in India by two species- the Black Prince (Rohana parisatis) and the Brown Prince (Rohana parvata).
Golden Birdwing Recently, a Himalayan butterfly known as Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) has been discovered as India’s largest butterfly after 88 years. The female Golden Birdwing was recorded from Didihat in Uttarakhand, the largest male was from the Wankhar Butterfly Museum in Shillong. A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest butterfly with a wingspan of 194mm. The hitherto largest Indian butterfly was Southern Birdwing, recorded by Brigadier Evans in 1932. The female of the species golden birdwing is marginally larger than Southern Birdwing (190mm). But the male golden birdwing is much smaller (106 mm). The only measurement used in the study of Lepidoptera is wingspan in which butterflies are measured from the wing base to the tip. The smallest butterfly is the Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora) with a wingspan of 18 mm.
Ypthima Watsoni Recently, a team of wildlife researchers has rediscovered ‘Ypthima watsoni’ butterfly. The species was last seen in the year 1958 in Manipur. The rediscovery was after 61 years near a village called Phuldungsei in Jampui Hills under the North Tripura district. It is a species of Satyrinae butterfly and commonly known as ‘Looped three-ring’. It was distributed in Assam, Myanmar and Thailand.
MatheranRare Butterfly Species Recently, Scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society published a research paper on the forgotten butterflies of Matheran in the community peer-reviewed ‘Biodiversity Data Journal. Scientists found 140 rare species of butterflies, including 77 new ones in Matheran after a long gap of 125 years. The last time butterflies have codified in this eco-sensitive zone was in 1894, when a researcher identified 78 species.
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The maximum diversity (125) of butterflies was recorded during winter, while the least (80) during monsoon; Biostatistical techniques were used by the team; The team used a barcode system to denote seasons and the activities of the butterflies; This system will help biologists studying butterflies present such data concisely and effectively. A long-term study of butterflies will surely help the scientific community to understand and conserve the health of the ecosystem.
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Common Evening Brown Recently, Coimbatore-based Darshan M Trivedi enters the India Book of Records for photographing a single butterfly i.e. Common Evening Brown, in 67 variations. It is a common species of butterfly known as 'Melanitis Leda’. It is found in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia extending to parts of Australia. It is only active at dusk and dawn and prefers to dwell on the thicket floor. It feeds on rotting fruits and tree sap.
Blue Pansy Recently, a Blue Pansy Butterfly was spotted by various environmentalists. It belongs to the largest butterfly family called Nymphalidae that has over 6,000 species worldwide. Scientific Name: Junonia orithiya that has a colouration as vibrant as the hybrid flower found most often in ornamental gardens. It is a species of bright blue butterflies found in parts of Southeast Asian countries, Australia and Africa. They prefer open habitats, like grasslands, wastelands, woodlands, open forest areas, and farmlands. The host plants, where they lay their eggs, belong to the family Acanthaceae like Peela Vajradanti (Barleria prionitis) and the Philippine Violet or Bluebell Barleria (Barleria cristata). Conservation Status: IUCN: Not Evaluated
Danaid Eggfly Recently, the Danaid Eggfly was being observed under the Cornell University initiative of monitoring rare sightings of birds. It belongs to the largest family of butterflies, Nymphalidae. The butterflies in this family are also called Brush-footed Butterflies, where the forelegs (first pair of legs) are reduced in size and covered with long hair, much like brushes. It is an inhabitant of open country with moderate rainfall; They are found across Africa, Asia, and Australia. The females of Danaid Eggfly mimic (in appearance) the similar-sized Plain Tiger, which is a toxic butterfly with the toxic Milkweed as its host plant. The Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus) has an evolutionary adaptation.
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Conservation Status: IUCN: Not Evaluated but protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972.
Kolar Leaf Nosed Bat The Karnataka Forest Department, along with the Bat Conservation India Trust (BCIT), is getting prepared to save the Kolar leaf-nosed bat from extinction. Scientific Name:Hipposideros hypophyllus. Geographic Range It is endemic to India. It is presently known only from one cave in Hanumanahalli village in Kolar district, Karnataka. Till several years ago, the Kolar Leaf-Nosed Bat was found in only two caves in the village of Hanumanahalli. For reasons that are still unknown, the bat became locally extinct in one of the two caves. Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered. Threats: Habitat loss from land use change, hunting, and stone quarrying in the region. Conservation Measures Karnataka Government has notified the 30 acres around the caves as protected area. Hence, any development work including construction of new infrastructure will need the permission of the National Board for Wildlife.
Robber Fly Robber flies belong to the family Asilidae. They’re named for their feeding behaviour: they ‘rob’ other insects of their lives. Like all true flies, robber flies have only 2 wings. Robber flies also have a distinctive hollow space between their 2 large compound eyes. This characteristic distinguishes robber flies from most other kinds of flies. Asilidae occur in all zoogeographical regions except Antarctica.
Dragonfly The first-ever State Dragonfly Festival, also known as Thumbimahotsavam 2020 will be organized in Kerala jointly by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India State unit and Society for Odonate Studies (SOS). It is an aerial predator insect most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world. Dragonflies act as important bio-indicators of the ecological health of an area.
Platylestes Kirani Recently, the scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified Platylestes Kirani in the wetlands of Kannur district. It is a new species of damselfly which is named after late C.G. Kiran, odonatologist and the author of the book Dragonflies of Kerala. It is a small dull colored damselfly with apple green eyes. The species is mainly found foraging inside the shoreline vegetation and occasionally resting on the stems or on the leaf blades of grasses and sedge. The species can be easily distinguished from all other species of Platylestes, by its unique coloration, distinct black marking on its synthorax and shape of anal appendages.
Platylestes Platystylus It is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. The species is known from old records from West Bengal in India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.
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Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern.
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Others Species in News
Halo-Archaea According to a study by a Pune-based institute, the colour of water in Lonar lake in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district turned pink in June 2020 due to a large presence of the salt-loving Haloarchaea microbes. Haloarchaea (or halophilic archaea) are aa class of the Euryarchaeota, found in water saturated or nearly saturated with salt. Halobacteria are now recognized as archaea, rather than bacteria and are one of the largest groups. These microorganisms are members of the halophile community, in that they require high salt concentrations to grow. Their high densities in the water often lead to pink or red colourations of the water (the cells possessing high levels of carotenoid pigments, presumably for UV protection).
Cyanobacteria Recently, the toxins in water produced by cyanobacteria killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana in 2020. Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are microscopic organisms found naturally in soils and all types of water. These single-celled organisms (bacteria) live in fresh, brackish (combined salt and freshwater), and marine water. These organisms use sunlight to make their own food. In warm, nutrient-rich (high in phosphorus and nitrogen) environments, cyanobacteria can multiply quickly. Not all produce toxins but scientists say toxic ones are occurring more frequently as climate change drives up global temperatures. Microcystin and Anatoxin are two of the more common toxins that are produced by Cyanobacteria and in high concentrations can be very harmful to other organisms living in the same aquatic environment.
Sub-Aerial Diatoms Recently, the seven new species of sub-aerial diatoms have been discovered from some areas of Western Ghats by city-based scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI). Diatoms are single-celled algae which generate nearly 25 per cent of global oxygen. They are commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes and seas. They are the only organism on the planet with cell walls composed of transparent, opaline silica. Diatoms have light-absorbing molecules (chlorophylls a and c) that collect energy from the sun and turn it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The diatoms remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through carbon fixation. o The CO2 is converted to organic carbon in the form of sugar, and oxygen (O2) is released. Diatoms produce long-chain fatty acids. Diatoms are an important source of energy rich molecules that are food for the entire food web, from zooplankton to aquatic insects to fish to whales.
Paramacrobiotus
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Recently, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore has said that a tiny tardigrade can survive intense ultraviolet radiation for an hour by glowing in the dark. Paramacrobiotus BLR strain has a protective fluorescent shield which helps it survive harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The animals with the fluorescent coat were found to survive longer than the control animals without. The team writes that Paramacrobiotus could have probably evolved this fluorescence mechanism to counter the high UV radiation of tropical southern India. The small fraction of non-fluorescent variants that co-exist in the same moss habitat may have other mechanisms to escape from UV radiation.
Tardigrades Tardigrades are colloquially known as water bears or moss piglets. They are a phylum of water-dwelling eight-legged segmented micro-animals. They have been found everywhere, from mountaintops to the deep sea and mud volcanoes, from tropical rain forests to the Antarctic. Tardigrades are among the most resilient animals known, with individual species able to survive extreme conditions. Tardigrades have survived exposure to outer space. Tardigrades are usually about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) long when fully grown. They are short and plump, with four pairs of legs, each ending in claws (usually four to eight) or sucking disks. Tardigrades are prevalent in mosses and lichens and feed on plant cells, algae, and small invertebrates. They are microscopic, multicellular, and one of the most durable forms of life on planet Earth.
Lichens Uttarakhand forest department has developed the country’s first lichen park in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand. The park has been developed with an aim to conserve, protect, and cultivate lichens and to create awareness among locals regarding their importance. More than 20,000 species of lichens are found in the world and India has around 2,714 of them. Uttarakhand is home to more than 600 species of lichens. Lichen is a composite organism that emerges from algae or cyanobacteria living among the filaments of the fungi, living in a symbiotic relationship. Whereas algae normally grow only in aquatic or extremely moist environments, lichens can potentially be found on almost any surface (especially rocks) or as epiphytes (meaning that they grow on other plants). In local parlance, these are called “jhula” or “pathar ke phool” Lichens are slow growing and can live for centuries. Some major uses of lichens: Lichens have the ability to separate minerals by eroding rocks; Lichen is also a key ingredient in many cuisines; They are used to prepare an indigenous perfume in Kannauj; They are also used in sunscreen creams, dyes, and some medicines; Some lichens are very tolerant to pollutants such as nitrogen and sulphur compounds, while others are very sensitive to the presence of one or both of these chemicals. Hence, the species act as bioindicators; Also, it absorbs and stores radioactive substances, such as cesium and strontium compounds, without apparent harm.
Coccolithophores: The Ancient Algae A study of microscopic ancient marine algae (Coccolithophores) has found that there is a decrease in the concentration of oceanic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the Southern Indian Ocean. Coccolithophores are single-celled algae living in the upper layers of the world’s oceans.
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They have been playing a key role in marine ecosystems and the global carbon cycle for millions of years. They calcify marine phytoplankton that produces up to 40% of open ocean calcium carbonate and responsible for 20% of the global net marine primary productivity. They build exoskeletons from individual CaCO3 plates consisting of chalk and seashells building the tiny plates on their exterior.
Troglomyces Twitteri A new species has just been identified on an old image on Twitter. It is named as Troglomyces twitteri. What is it: Troglomyces twitteri is a type of parasitic fungus. It belongs to an order called Laboulbeniales- tiny fungal parasites that attack insects and millipedes. Where does it live: These fungi live on the outside of host organisms; in this case, on the reproductive organs of millipedes. History: Laboulbeniales were first discovered in the middle of the 19th century. Foundational work on the Laboulbeniales was completed by the American mycologist Roland Thaxter (1858– 1932).
Ophicordyceps Nutans Fungus Researchers have found a fungi Ophicordyceps nutans for the first time in central India and show how it infects a stink bug. The fungus was found on its specific host insect Halyomorpha halys. The stink bug is known to damage the flower and fruits of soybean, green beans, apple, pear and etc. Also called the stink bug, this insect is a pest to forest trees and agricultural crops. The modus operandi of the fungi involves infecting the insect when alive, developing fungal mycelium inside its thorax, and when it is time for the spores to come out, kill the bug. Morphological studies showed that it was Ophicordyceps nutans which has been reported in India only from the Western Ghats. These fungi can be used as a pesticide will help reduce the harmful effect of chemicals in our fields
Bioluminescent Fungi Bioluminescence is the property of a living organism to produce and emit light. Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence. Bioluminescent organisms are usually found in the ocean environments, but they are also found on terrestrial environments. The colour of the light emitted by the organism depends on their chemical properties. In this case of fungi, the luminescence comes from the enzyme, luciferase. The [green] light emits when luciferans is catalysed by the enzyme luciferase, in the presence of oxygen. During the chemical reaction, several unstable intermediate products are released as excess energy that makes them visible as light. Such mushrooms may glow for a number of reasons, the simplest explanation could be that bioluminescence attracts insects, which helps in dispersing spores. It may also be a mechanism for the organism to protect itself from frugivorous (or fruit-eating) animals.
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Cicadas A brood of periodical cicadas, noisy insects that breed underground for as long as 13-17 years are expected to emerge into some states on the east coast of the US this year. Cicadas are insects that spend most of their lives underground and emerge from the soil mainly to mate. The insects are found in the America’s as well as New Zealand and Australia. Life span: Once out of the ground, their life span is fairly short, somewhere between two-four weeks. After emerging from the ground in billions, the cicadas shed their exoskeletons or outer skins to take their winged form. Male cicadas “sing” to attract the females, the collective chorus of these male cicadas is very loud and can reach up to 100 decibels, which is as much as a powered lawnmower. After mating, the females lay their eggs in twigs that are ½ to ¼ in diameter. One female is capable of laying over 400 eggs in 40-50 different sites. The eggs remain in the twigs for six to ten weeks before they hatch and after hatching the nymphs fall to the ground where they burrow 6-18 inches underground to feed and emerge 13 or 17 years later, depending on their grouping. Concerns: The egg-laying by the cicadas causes significant damage to small twigs. Theydamage many ornamental and hardwood trees, especially newly planted fruit and ornamental trees such as apple, dogwood, peach, cherry and pear among others, which are the most seriously damaged.
Desert Locusts They belong to the family of grasshoppers and have life span of 90 days. Four species of locusts are found in India: Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria**), Bombay Locust** (Nomadacris succincta) and Tree locust (Anacridium sp.). Desert locusts are usually restricted to the semi-arid and arid deserts of Africa, the Near East and South-West Asia that receive less than 200 mm of rain annually. They lay eggs in damp soil in the bare ground, which is rarely found in areas with dense vegetation. Desert locusts are “biphasic” animals, meaning they can take on two entirely different forms. In their “solitary” form, they are drab brown in colour and relatively harmless to crops. Under certain conditions (such as optimum moisture and vegetation), the insects can switch into a “gregarious form” and start forming swarms- turning electric yellow and displaying swarming behavior. A swarm may contain 40 to 80 million adults in one square km, and these can fly at 16-19 km an hour, depending on the wind, and cover up to 150 km in a day. They are omnivorous and one adult desert locust can eat roughly its own weight or about 2 gm of fresh food every day.
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In all there are three breeding seasons for locusts -Winter breeding [November to December], Spring breeding [January to June] and Summer breeding [July to October]. India has only one locust breeding season and that is Summer breeding
Furry Puss Caterpillars and Murder Hornets 0A vicious predatory insectpopularly dubbed the ‘murder hornet’ was first spotted in the US state of Washington. The furry puss caterpillar,named after the far less vicious house cat, is essentially a southern flannel moth in its larva stage. According to experts, after metamorphosis, the insect no longer poses a threat. Closely resembling a wig or toupée, the caterpillar is widely regarded as one of the most poisonous of its kind in the United States. Touching or accidentally brushing against the hairy coat of these insects could cause a painful reaction and trigger symptoms such as fever, muscle cramps or swollen glands. Murder Hornet are native to East Asia and Japan, these predators are infamous for ruthlessly ripping apart honeybees and decimating their hives. However, they also pose a threat to human beings. Their potent stingers deliver venom that has killed hundreds of people across the world.
Charru mussel (Mytella strigata) An invasive mussel native to the South and Central American coasts is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala. It is an invasive species native to the South and Central Americas. Why in India? The rapid spread of the Charru mussel (Mytella strigata) may have been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017. It can tolerate a wide variety of environmental conditions (salinity, water temperatures and oxygen levels) which helps them thrive in the new areas they colonise. Externally, the Charru mussel resembles the green and brown mussels (kallummekka in Malayalam) but is much smaller in size. Its colour varies from black to brown, purple or dark green. Worst-hit: Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar site in Kollam district. Threats:These smaller mussel are edible, the overall economic loss and impact on biodiversity are much bigger, it is pointed out. It is throwing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the livelihoods of fishermen engaged in shrimp fisheries.
Thanatotheristes Scientists have found that a dinosaur fossil, found in Alberta in Canada in 2010, belongs to a new species of tyrannosaur. They have named it Thanatotheristes, which means “reaper of death”. Tyrannosaurs were one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs to have ever lived, with very large and high skulls, and the best known among them is the Tyrannosaurus rex, celebrated in the Jurassic Park series. The 79-million-year-old fossil that the researchers have found is the oldest tyrannosaur known from northern North America. Thanatotheristes preyed on large plant-eating dinosaurs such as the horned xenoceratops and the dome- headed colepiochephale. The research suggests that tyrannosaurs did not have one general body type; rather different tyrannosaur species evolved distinct body sizes, skull forms and other such physical features.
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The fossil specimen is important to understand the Late Cretaceous period, which is the period when tyrannosaurs roamed the Earth.
Oculudentavis khaungraae A group of scientists may have discovered the smallest dinosaur ever found. They found the fossilized skull of a dinosaur- the size of a modern hummingbird- trapped in a 99-million-year-old amber in northern Myanmar. The animal in question would have weighed 2 grams, claimed the scientists in a paper published in the Nature journal. The fossil represented the smallest dinosaur from the Mesozoic era- about 250 million to 65 million years ago- according to the group. The discovery suggests miniature body sizes in birds evolved earlier than previously recognised. This may provide insight into how dinosaurs evolved to be small and shed light on the lowest limit of vertebrate body size. The animal’s skull was less than two centimetres long. It had several sharp teeth, which suggested it preyed on insects and other small invertebrates, scientists observed. For this reason, the new species has been given the scientific name of Oculudentavis khaungraae, derived from Latin for ‘eye-teeth-bird’. Unlike other predators, its eyes were on the sides of its head, which meant the dinosaur had little or no binocular vision. It had limited access to light into the eye, which scientists said was evidence that it was active in well-lit, daytime environments.
Tanystropheus A recent study has unveiled fresh details surrounding the Tanystropheus, that lived on Earth some 242 million years ago and had a remarkably elongated neck- longer than its body and tail combined. Tanystropheus, a reptile, are believed to have lived around the Monte San Giorgio basin on the Swiss- Italian border during the middle Triassic period (247-237 million years ago), and were originally mistaken to be a kind of Pterosaur- aflying reptile. Researchers concluded that Tanystropheus was a “ram-feeder”, its long neck allowing it to approach unknowing prey and then use its fang-like teeth to directly snap a bit off its prey.
Kongonaphon Kely Study found newly described species from Madagascar which suggests that dinosaurs and pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles) had extremely small ancestors- just 10 centimetres tall. Kongonaphon kely or tiny bug slayer was an extremely small ancestor to dinosaurs and pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles). The fossils of Kongonaphon Kely were discovered in 1998 as part of an expedition by an American–Malagasy crew made in Madagascar. Analysis of body size throughout the history of dinosaurs shows that ancestrally medium-sized animals evolved into very small animals. Kongonaphon, a triassic vertebrate would have been around 10 cm tall and about 30 cm long. This then evolved into dinosaurs and pterosaurs which could reach enormous sizes. From this study, it is concluded that all flying animals seem to have evolved from very small ancestors. Around 237 million years ago, Madagascar was directly attached to India as part of the supercontinent Gondwana.
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In India, Triassic vertebrate fossils of similar age have been found in a band of rocks extending across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, but thus far nothing like Kongonaphon has been found there.
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