SPR 2023 | SPECIES IN NEWS

Senna Spectabilis

Context

• Kerala has come out with a management plan to eradicate Senna spectabilis, the exotic invasive plant that is posing a severe threat to the State’s wildlife habitat.

About

• 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 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.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Indian Star Tortoise

Context

• A new study on the Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) has found that illegal trade and unscientific translocations are causing major losses to the species' genetic diversity and habitat.

About

• They are found across the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, in the Central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka. 
• It is typically found in dry, open habitats such as scrub forests, grasslands, and rocky outcroppings.
• Also, according to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, 90% of the trade of Star Tortoise occurs as part of the international pet market.They face twin challenges of a threat to its habitat at one level and loss of its genetic diversity at the other.
• Their highly fragmented habitat of the species is greatly influenced by an increased level of urbanization and agricultural practices.
• Due to subsequent hybridisation of these species over the years, Indian star tortoises have lost genetic diversity.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• WPA, 1972- Schedule IV
• CITES- Appendix I

Spot Bellied Eagle Owl

Context

• Recently, Spot Bellied Eagle Owl (Bubo Nipalensis) was spotted for the first time in Seshachalam forest, and for the third time in Andhra Pradesh.

About

• Also known as the Forest eagle-owl, it is a large owl species typically found in wooded areas, such as forests and rocky hillsides, and are known for their distinctive spots on their belly.
• The spot-bellied eagle-owls are large, very powerful and bold predatory birds.
• The bird makes a strange scream similar to humans and it is hence called the ‘Ghost of the Forest’ in India.
• Distributed in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern
• CITES- Appendix II

White Tufted Royal Butterfly

Context

• Recently, a team of butterfly observers and researchers have found the White Tufted Royal Butterfly, a rare butterfly species in Kannur, Kerala which was earlier spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.

About

• The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm.
• Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant belonging to the Loranthaceae family.
• The species had been previously spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
• It is also known as Pratapa deva.
• It is found in Indomalayan realm.
• There are eight species of this butterfly where 2 are common and others rare.
• WPA, 1972- Schedule 2

Pandgolin

Context

• A new report by TRAFFIC and World Wide Fund for Nature-India revealed that 1,203 pangolins were poached for illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018-2022.

About

• Pangolins are nocturnal mammals that dig burrows and feed on ants and termites, and play a vital role in ecosystem management, mostly in aerating and adding moisture to the soil.
• Pangolins are known for their unique appearance. They have scales made of keratin that cover their entire body.
• When threatened, they can roll into a ball to protect themselves.
• There are eight species of pangolin:
  • 4 Species in Africa: Black-bellied pangolin, White-bellied pangolin, Giant Ground pangolin and Temminck's Ground pangolin.
  • 4 Species in Asia: Indian pangolin, Philippine pangolin, Sunda pangolin and the Chinese pangolin.
• It is adaptable to a wide range of habitats including primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural fields.
• The Indian Pangolin is found across the Indian subcontinent; Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam also have the presence of Chinese pangolin.
• Threats- habitat loss and rampant poaching for its skin, scales, and meat.
• IUCN Status
  • Indian Pangolin- Endangered
  • Chinese Pangolin- Critically Endangered
• WPA, 1972- Schedule 1
• CITES- Appendix I

Meizotropis Pellita

Context

• Three medicinal plant species (Meizotropis pellita, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea) found in the Himalayas have been added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following a recent assessment.

About

• It is commonly known as Patwa, is a perennial shrub with a restricted distribution that is endemic to Uttarakhand.
• Threats- deforestation, habitat fragmentation and forest fires
• The essential oil extracted from the leaves of the species possesses strong antioxidants and can be a promising natural substitute for synthetic antioxidants in pharmaceutical industries.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered

Fritillaria cirrhosa

Context

• Three medicinal plant species (Meizotropis pellita, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea) found in the Himalayas have been added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following a recent assessment.

About

• It is commonly known as Himalayan fritillary, is a perennial bulbous herb.
• In China, the species is used for the treatment of bronchial disorders and pneumonia.
• The plant is also a strong cough suppressant and a source of expectorant drugs in traditional Chinese medicine.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable

Dactylorhiza hatagirea

Context

• Three medicinal plant species (Meizotropis pellita, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea) found in the Himalayas have been added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following a recent assessment.

About

• It is commonly known as Salampanja, is a perennial tuberous species endemic to the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Threats- habitat loss, livestock grazing, deforestation, and climate change
• Significance- It is extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other alternative systems of medicine to cure dysentery, gastritis, chronic fever, cough and stomach aches.
• IUCN Status- Endangered

Jaguar

Context

• Recently, the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) celebrated the International Jaguar Day.

Jaguar

• It is the largest carnivore and only big cat in Latin America, encompassing 18 countries from Mexico to Argentina.
• Its scientific name is Panthera Onca.
• While many cats avoid water, jaguars are great swimmers, and have even been known to swim the Panama Canal.
• They have experienced over 50% loss in its natural habitat range
• IUCN- Near Threatened
  • Extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay
• CITES: Appendix I

Binturong

Context

• The police and forest officials in Manipur's Ukhrul town have been scanning “gambling dens” following reports of wild animals (dead or alive) such as Binturong being offered as prizes for raffle draws (a lottery in which the prizes are goods rather than money).

About

• Also called bear cat or cat bear, they are catlike omnivore of the civet family (Viverridae), found in dense forests of Southeast Asia.
• It has long shaggy hair, tufted ears, and a long, bushy, prehensile tail. The colour generally is black with a sprinkling of whitish hairs.
• It is principally nocturnal and crepuscular (that is, active during twilight).
• It is found most often among the trees, using its prehensile tail as an aid in climbing.
• It feeds mainly on fruit, such as figs, but it also takes eggs and small animals.
• In some areas binturongs are tamed and have been reported as being affectionate pets.
• Its range extends from Nepal, India, and Bhutan southward to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java and eastward to Borneo.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• CITES- Appendix III
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Blyth's Tragopan

Context

• Different types of birds such as the grey-sided thrush and tragopans (often called horned pheasants) have been spotted in Manipur.

About

• A pheasant also called grey-bellied tragopan
• State bird of Nagaland
• Distributed across Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar
• Threats- Deforestation, High levels of grazing and slash and burn agriculture
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• WPA, 1972: Schedule I

Himalayan Yak

Context

• The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved the Himalayan Yak as a ‘food animal’.

About

• The Yak belongs to the Bovini tribe, which also includes bison, buffaloes, and cattle. It can tolerate temperatures as low as-40 degrees Celsius.
• Adapted for living at high altitudes, they have long hair that hangs off their sides like a curtain, sometimes touching the ground.
• Yaks are highly valued by Himalayan peoples. According to Tibetan legend, the first yaks were domesticated by Tibetan Buddhism founder Guru Rinpoche.
• Yaks are traditionally reared under a transhumance system which is primitive, unorganised and full of hardship.
• They are endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high-altitude regions.
• Yaks are most comfortable above 14,000 feet. They climb to an elevation of 20,000 feet when foraging and usually don't descend any lower than 12,000 feet.
• The yak-rearing states of India are Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Leith’s Soft-shelled Turtle

Context

• At its 19th Meeting in Panama, the Conference of Parties to CITES adopted India's proposal to move Leith's Softshell Turtle from Appendix II to Appendix I.

About

• Leith’s Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia leithii) is a large freshwater soft-shelled turtle which is endemic to peninsular India and it inhabits rivers and reservoirs.
• Threats- subject to intensive exploitation over the past 30 years; Illegal poaching and consumption.
• The population of this turtle species is estimated to have declined by 90% over the past 30 years such that the species is now difficult to find.
• Distribution: Restricted to southern peninsular India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu) in the Cauvery, Thungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Bhavani, Godavari, and Moyar drainages.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered
• WPA- Schedule IV
• CITES- Appendix I

Olive Ridley Turtles

Context

• Pairs of Olive Ridley Sea turtles have begun emerging on the sea waters off Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary along the Odisha coast, marking the commencement of the annual mass nesting of these endangered marine species.

About

• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• These turtles are carnivores and get their name from their olive-coloured carapace.
• They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• They are found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• The Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.
• Threats- Human Consumption, Marine Pollution and waste, fishing trawlers
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Operation Olivia

• Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.
• It also intercepts unlawful trawling activities.

Newly Discovered Species of Honeybee

Context

• Recently, a new species of endemic honeybee named Apis karinjodian has been discovered in the Western Ghats after a gap of more than 200 years.

About

• Common Name: Indian black honeybee.
• Apis karinjodian has evolved from Apis cerana morphotypes that got acclimatised to the hot and humid environment of the Western Ghats.
• Indian black honeybees are able to produce a thicker honey which allows for increased honey production.
• Till date, only a single species, Apis cerana was noted across the plains of central and southern India and Sri Lanka as a ‘fairly uniform population’ in the Indian subcontinent.
• The research has given a new direction to apiculture in the country by showing the presence of three species of cavity nesting honey bees, namely Apis indica, Apis cerana, and Apis karinjodian.
• The distribution of Apis karinjodian ranges from the central Western Ghats and Nilgiris to the southern Western Ghats, covering the States of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu.
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened

Tibetan Antelopes

Context

• Pashmina shawl traders filed a plea for modern forensic methods to differentiate between Pashmina and Shahtoosh guard hair.
• These shawls are made from “Shahtoosh” i.e., ‘guard hair’ obtained from the Tibetan antelope.

About

• Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is locally known as ‘Chiru’.
• The species is endemic to Tibetan Plateau and mainly lives in the northern parts of the Changthang Plateau.
• It is native of China (Tibet, Xinjiang region) and India (North Eastern Ladakh region) and regionally extinct in Nepal.
• Horns – Chiru males have thin, long horns that curve slightly forward but females are hornless.
• Shawls – Shahtoosh is the ‘guard hair’ obtained from the Tibetan antelope.
• IUCN- Near Threatened
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Giraffe

Context

• About 150 years ago, British colonists brought batches of northern giraffes from their other colonial possessions in Africa.

About

• Giraffe, (genus Giraffa) are any of the four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background.
• Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals, males (bulls) may exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height, and the tallest females (cows) are about 4.5 metres.
• Using prehensile (grabby) tongues almost half a metre long, they are able to browse foliage almost six metres from the ground.
• Both sexes have a pair of horns, though males possess other bony protuberances on the skull.
• Giraffes prefer to eat new shoots and leaves, mainly from the thorny acacia tree.
• Giraffes obtain most water from their food, though in the dry season they drink at least every three days.
• Giraffes are a common sight in grasslands and open woodlands in East Africa.
• The largest captive herd of the northern Giraffe (29 individuals) in India is at the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata.
  • A recent genealogical study has confirmed that the individuals in this facility, at least, are most likely the Nubian giraffes or the Rothschild giraffe.
  • 95% of the population of Nubian Giraffe has declined in the past 3 decades.
  • Rothschild’s giraffe is one of the tallest subspecies, growing up to 6m tall. Its colouring is unique compared to other giraffes as their markings stop halfway down their legs.
• IUCN Status
  • Nubian Giraffe- Critically Endangered
  • Rothschild giraffe – Endangered

Rhododendrons

Context

• The latest publication of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) reveals that Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas are home to more than one-third of all types of rhododendrons found in India.

About

• They are a diverse genus of about 1,000 species of woody flowering plantsin the heath family (Ericaceae), notable for their attractive flowers and handsome foliage.
• Distribution: They are native to the temperate regions of Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as to the tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia.
• Habitat: They occur in a variety of habitats, including alpine regions, coniferous and broadleaved woodlands, temperate rain forests, and even tropical jungle
• They also require a slightly acid soil to grow well.
• They exhibit an enormous diversity of size and shape, from prostrate ground covers growing no more than a few inches high to trees more than 100 feet tall. 
• There are 132 taxa (80 species, 25 subspecies and 27 varieties) of rhododendrons found in India.
• Rhododendron, also known as “Lali Guras” in local language, is the national flower of Nepal and the state tree of the state of Uttarakhand in India.

Sarus Crane

Context

• According to the latest data from the forest department, the count of the Sarus Cranes has increased by 98 per cent from around 500 in 2015 to nearly 992 in 2022 in the wetlands of Matar Taluka in Kheda.

About

• It is the tallest flying bird in the world.
• Scientific name: Grus Antigone
• Distribution: They live in Southeast Asia, northern India and in northern Australia.
• Habitat: They live mainly in wetlands such as canals, marshes and ponds, sometimes near humans.
• It has a predominantly grey plumage with a naked red head and upper neck and pale red legs.
• They are regarded as the least social crane species, found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four. 
• They are monogamous birds and pairs mate for life.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• WPA, 1972- Schedule IV

New Varieties of Neelakurinji Flowers

Context

• Recently, 6 new varieties of Neelakurinji Flowers have been identified in the Kallippara hills in Santhanpara region of Western Ghats.

About

• ‘Neela’ means blue, and ‘Kurinji’ refers to the flowers.
• At maturity, the light blue color of the flowers changes to purple bluish.
• The flowers give the ‘Nilgiri Mountain Range’ its name.
• The plant is named after the famous Kunthi River which flows through Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park, where the plant occurs abundantly
• It usually grows at an elevation of 1,300-2,400m.
• Scientific Name: Strobilanthes Kunthiana
• New Varieties Discovered
  • Strobilanthes Anamallaica
  • Strobilanthes Heyneanus
  • Strobilanthes Pulnyensis
  • Strobilanthes Neoasper
• All neelakurinji species are endemic to the Shola Forest of Western Ghats.
• According to statistics, there are more than 40 different varieties of neelakurinji in India.
• Flower Bloom takes place once in 12 years as the pollination of flowers needs a longer period.

Indian Bison (Gaur)

Context

• Recently, Sri Lanka asked India to translocate 6 Indian Bisons to reintroduce them in the island from where they became extinct by the end of 17th century.
• If the project is cleared, it would be the first such agreement between India and Sri Lanka.

About

• It is the tallest species of wild cattle found in India and largest extant bovine.
• There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population present in India.
• The first-ever population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division in February 2020 estimated around 2,000 Indian gaurs to be inhabiting the division.
• It is native to South and Southeast Asia.
• In India, they are very much prevalent in the Western Ghats.
• They are primarily found in Nagarhole National Park , Bandipur National Park, Masinagudi National Park and Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills).
• It is also found in Burma and Thailand.
• They prefer evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests.
• However, they can survive in dry deciduous forests also.
• They are not found in the Himalayas with an altitude greater than 6,000 ft
• Threats- Food Scarcity, Poaching, Habitat Loss, Human Animal Conflict
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Sloth Bear

Context

• The first World Sloth Bear Day was observed on October 12, 2022 to generate awareness and strengthen conservation efforts around the unique bear species endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

About

• Sloth Bear is one of the 8 bear species found across the globe.
• Sloth bears primarily eat termites and ants, and unlike other bear species, they routinely carry their cubs on their backs.
• They are also very fond of honey, hence their alternative name of “honey bear”.
• Sloth bears do not hibernate.
• They are agile and considered one of the most formidable wild animals.
• They are also known as the least researched bear species.
• Presently Sloth bears are only found in the Indian subcontinent, Nepal and a sub-species in Sri Lanka.
• About 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Omorgus Khandesh

Context

• Recently, a scientist from the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre (WRC), Pune discovered a new beetle species.

About

• It is a necrophagous and also called a keratin beetle.
• This species belongs to the Trogidae family. With the addition of this new species, now there are a total of 14 extant species of this family in India.
• The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.
• It is mainly associated with bird and mammal nests or burrows.
• Necrophagous- The arthropods which feed directly on dead remains and constitute are called necrophagous.

White Fly

Context

• Recently, there has been a rise in the number of white fly attacks on cotton in various states like Punjab and Rajasthan.

About

• Whitefly is a serious pest of cotton that lowers yield by feeding on the underside of the leaf and spreading diseases like Cotton Leaf Curl Virus.
• They feed on the sap of the leaves and release fluid onto the leaves on which a black fungus grows, this affects photosynthesis, the food-making process of the plant, and so lowers the strength of the plant.
• The first reported invasive spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus) is now distributed throughout India.
• Similarly, the rugose spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) which was reported in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu in 2016 has now spread throughout the country.
• Aleurodicus dispersus and Aleurodicus rugioperculatus have been reported on over 320 and 40 plant species, respectively.
• Most of the whitefly species are native to the Caribbean islands or Central America.
• The host range of all of the invasive whiteflies has been increasing due to their polyphagous nature (ability to feed on various kinds of food) and prolific breeding (produces a large number offsprings).
• The increasing import of plants and increasing globalization and movement of people have aided the spread of different varieties and their subsequent growth into invasive species.

Asiatic Caracal

Context

• Caracal, which was used by India’s nobility in the sport of coursing like the cheetah, is struggling to survive, although both species had a similar distribution in the past.

About

• The Asiatic caracal is a medium-sized and locally threatened cat species, which has been widely reported to be on the brink of extinction in India.
• It is also known by its persian name Siyahgosh or ‘black ears’.
• They are found mostly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and are located in Kutch, the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hill range.
• Besides India, the caracal is found in several dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia.
• It occurs in semi-deserts, steppes, savannah, scrubland, dry forest and moist woodland or evergreen forest.
• It prefers open terrain and drier, scrubby, arid habitats and needs cover.
• Threats- Large-scale hunting, illegal trading and loss of natural habitats
• IUCN Status- Least Concern
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Indian white-backed vulture

Context

• The third phase of the reintroduction programme of the critically endangered oriental white-backed vultures was launched recently.

About

• They are medium-sized, dark vultures.
• Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis
• Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam.
• Habitat: Found mostly in plains and less frequently in hilly regions. Can also be seen in villages and cities near to cultivation.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered

Keanumycins

Context

• Recently, researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) have discovered a new antimicrobial agent.

About

• A group of molecules developed by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas has proven to have such a strong antimicrobial effect that researchers have named them keanumycins.
• The researchers proved that the substance is effective against both plant fungal diseases and human-pathogenic fungi.
• The group of molecules works effectively against the planet pest Botrytis cinerea, which triggers grey mould rot in crops, causing massive harvest losses every year.
• It also affects fungi that are dangerous to humans, like Candida albicans and has been proven to be harmless to plant and human cells.
• Keanumycins can be an environment-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.
• Pseudomonas- a type of bacteria (germ) that is found commonly in the environment, like in soil and water.

White-tailed deer

Context

• A recent study has found widespread infection of white-tailed deer with the SARS-CoV-2 virus across New York.

About

• They are the smallest members of the North American deer family.
• Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
• Distribution: They are found in North America from southern Canada through Central America.
• They live in areas along streams and rivers, mixed woodlands, farms, forests, and burned shrub fields and Open areas are used only when thick shrubs or forests are nearby.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Asiatic black bear

Context

• Recently, a new study revealed that the Kashmir Valley has bucked the trend of Asiatic black attacks on humans rarely reported throughout the animal’s global range.

About

• The Asiatic black bear is known as the Moon bear.
• The Asiatic black bear has 7 subspecies, out of which we find the Himalayan Black Bear subspecies in India.
• Features: The Asiatic Black Bear has a coat of smooth black fur and can be distinguished by a V of white fur on its chest.
• Range: The Asiatic black bear lives in a narrow band stretching from south-eastern Iran to Myanmar, across the Himalayan foothills.
• In India, it is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Asiatic black bear is omnivorous.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule II

Bar Headed Goose

Context

• A bar-headed goose, which was tagged in Mongolia in July 2014 has recently been spotted in Koonthankulam – Kadankulam Bird Sanctuary in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

About

• They are large pale grey birds which are considered one the world’s highest flying birds.
• They are known for their migration spanning distances of over 1,600 km in a day. They are also known for reaching extreme altitudes of 29,500 feet during their twice-yearly migrations across the Himalayas.
• Scientific name: Anser indicus
• Distribution: Native to central Asia, where the species breeds, they are found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan and other nearby regions.
• Habitat: They breed around lakes and marshes on highland plateaus; winters in lowland wetlands and fields.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Heimang

Context

• Despite recent studies highlighting the Heimang's remarkable adaptability, it hasn't yet been used much in commerce.

About

• The Heimang tree grows widely in Manipur and other north-eastern regions
• Its fruit have a citrus-like tartness and, it is packed with nutrients such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants.
• Traditional healers of Manipur called Maibas or maibis, prescribe heimang for common gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea and dysentery.
• It is also recommended to eat water-soaked fruit for indigestion and stomach ulcer.
• The research found that compounds isolated from the stem of the heimang tree can significantly suppress HIV-1 activity in vitro. 
• Local communities in the state also use heimang leaves to prepare a herbal shampoo called chinghi by boiling them with rice water.

Turnersuchus hingleyae

Context

• Palaeontologists have recently discovered fossils of the ancient ‘marine crocodile Turnersuchus hingleyae.

About

• The fossils uncovered on the Jurassic Coast in the United Kingdom include part of the head, backbone, and limbs of Turnersuchus hingleyae.
• Its age dates back to the early Jurassic, Pliensbachian period, which was about 185 million years ago.
• Due to their relatively long, slender snouts, they would likely have looked similar to the currently living Gharial crocodiles.
• Pliensbachian period
  • Occurred between 190.8 million and 182.7 million years ago during the Early Jurassic Period.
  • The stage’s name is derived from the village of Pliensbach, Germany.

Red Headed Vulture

Context

• Recently, The Red-headed vulture was spotted in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.

About

• This is one of the 9 species of Vulture which are found in India
• It is also called the Asian King vulture or Pondicherry Vulture was extensively found in India but its numbers drastically reduced after diclofenac poisoning.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Black Headed Ibis

Context

• The campus of Mangalore University is home to three species that are listed as near-threatened on the red list of the IUCN, according to a nine-year study on the avifaunal variety of the area.

About

• It is a large wader bird with a white body and bare black head and neck. Males and females look similar and both have greyish tail feathers. 
• These are called wader birds due to their adaptability to a wide variety of aquatic environments.
• They are found primarily around wetlands including agricultural fields and occasionally around coastal areas.
• It is found in South- and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened
• WPA, 1972- Schedule IV

Soliga ecarinata

Context

• Recently, the scientific community has named a new genus of wasp after the Soliga community.

About

• The Soliga ecarinata is a new wasp that belongs to the subfamily Metopiinae of the Darwin wasps family Ichneumonidae.
• These are seen only in the Palaearctic region, Neotropical and Nearctic regions.
• This is the second genus of this subfamily reported from India and the first from South India.
• Scientists have named this wasp after the Soliga community.
• Soligas– an indigenous tribe of Karnataka, inhabiting the peripheral forest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara in the Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka.

K- Necked Stork

Context

• The black-necked stork was recorded for the second consecutive year in Porbandar’s Bardasagar reservoir.

About

• The black-necked stork is a tall long-necked wading bird in the stork family. 
• Scientific name: Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
• Distribution: It is distributed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.
• Habitat: They inhabits wetlands, such as floodplains of rivers with large shallow swamps and pools, and deeper permanent bodies of water.
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened

Black Vulture

Context

• An American black vulture was recently spotted in the Delhi NCR region causing a stir amongst birdwatchers and conservationists.

About

• Black vultures are most abundant at low elevations. They breed in dense woodlands but usually forage in open habitats.
• It is mainly found in the northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay South America.
• They typically avoid crossing large bodies of water and do not cover long distances. 
• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Noble’s Helen butterfly

Context

• Extremely rare Noble’s Helen butterfly was recorded for the first time in India from the Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.

About

• It is a swallowtail butterfly with a wingspan of 100–120 mm.
• It has an extra white spot in the dorsum of the forewing.
• Distribution: They are found in Myanmar, Yunnan, Hubai (China), North Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
• They is known to be very rare in occurrence in its previously known ranges.

Asian golden cat

Context

• Officials of the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal said that they were able to capture some pictures of rare and elusive melanistic Asian golden cat in the camera traps.

About

• It is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs.
• Also known as 
• the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China.
• Distribution: The species occurs in Southeast Asia, from Nepal and Tibet to Southern China, Sumatra and India.
• Habitat: It prefers forest habitats that are interspersed with rocky areas, being found in deciduous, tropical and subtropical evergreen rainforests.
• Their fur ranges in color from cinnamon to various shades of brown, and also gray and black (melanistic).
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Pallas's Cats

Context

• Recently researchers have discovered one of the planet's rarest Pallas cats for the first time in the Mount Everest Region.

About

• Also known as manul, it is a small wild cat, perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions typical of its habitat.
• Naturally secretive, it is rarely seen and little known.
• Habitat: Wide but fragmented distribution throughout montane grasslands and steppes of Central Asia.
• Its core populations are in Mongolia and China.
• IUCN Status: Least concern

Nilgiri Tahr

Context

• Eravikulam National Park (ENP), a natural habitat for the endangered Nilgiri tahr, reported two tahr births recently.

About

• It is a sure-footed ungulate that is endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.
• Scientific name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius
• It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
• IUCN Status: “Endangered”
• WPA, 1972 : Schedule 1

Chestnut Winged Cuckoo

Context

• Chestnut-winged cuckoo was recently being sighted in newer spots around the Chennai city while it makes its way down the Coromandel Coast towards its wintering habitats further south and in Sri Lanka.

About

• The chestnut-winged cuckoo is a small bird, measuring 35 to 45 cm in length and weighing 60 to 90 grams.
• Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southeast China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, , Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.
• Habitat : Includes tropical and temperate deciduous/evergreen forests.
• They are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.
• They are mostly migratory and breed during summer in north India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southeast China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
• They winter in south India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands (India), Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.
• IUCN Status: “Least Concern”

Mahabali Frog

Context

• Recently once again a proposal for assigning the official tag for the Mahabali frog to come up before the State Wildlife Advisory Board which was recommended by the Kerala Forest Department.

About

• The Mahabali frog is also known as the pignose frog.
• It is endemic to the Western Ghat.
• Habitat: These frogs prefer loose, damp and well-aerated soil close to ponds and ditches or streams.
• Unlike other frogs, it has very short hind legs, which do not allow it to leap from one spot to another.
• It buries itself all through the year and surfaces only one day to lay eggs.
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened

Red Billed Quelea

Context

• Recently, experts have cautioned that the Kenyan government's effort to exterminate the red-billed quelea birds that have infested farms will have unintended negative consequences for other raptors and wild species.

About

• It is a small, short-tailed weaver with a mottled back and a yellow or reddish bill.
• Large flocks are resident and nomadic in arid savanna, grassland, and cultivated areas.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Painted Bat

Context

• Recently, a rare orange-coloured bat, also known as ‘painted bat’ was spotted at a banana plantation in Parali Bodal village of Chhattisgarh’s Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar.

About

• These are often found in unusual roosting sites such as suspended nests of weaver finches and sunbirds, and banana leaves, these bats have been known to roost in pairs.
• It is an aerial hawker, catching insects mid-flight.
• It is generally found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
• IUCN Status- Near Threatened

Sedge Warbler

Context

• Birders and ornithologists recently in the State of Kerala spotted a migratory bird the Sedge Warbler.

About

• It is a medium-sized warbler of marshes, reedbeds and wetlands that can be spotted singing from perches on reeds and willow bushes.
• The male sedge warbler introduces random phrases into its repertoire which is known for mimicking.
• The male warbler never sings the same song twice; he attracts more mates the more phrases his song has.
• These are insectivores in nature.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Greater Scaup

Context

• A rare species of duck, Greater Scaup, was recently sighted in Loktak lake in Manipur’s Bishnupur district after a gap of over 90 years.

About

• It is locally known as Sadangman.
• It is a medium-sized diving duck species that belongs to the family of Anatidae.
• The greater scaup species is distributed in Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada. It is a rare visitor to the Indian Subcontinent.
• The breeding scaup inhabits shallow, freshwater lakes, pools and rivers with grassy shorelines.
• The greater scaup species are highly migratory, breeding near arctic regions and migrating to the warmer south from August onwards.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern

Snow Leopard

Context

• Recently 4 snow leopards were spotted in a rare sighting in Himachal Pradesh.

About

• It is found in the mountainous regions of central and southern Asia.
• In India, it is seen in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Hemis National Parkhas a good presence of Snow Leopard.
• They play a key role as a top predator, an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat, and, increasingly, an important indicator of the impacts of climate change on mountain environments. 
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Nicobar long-tailed Macaque

Context

• Recent research in Great Nicobar Island (GNI) shows that habitat alterations can increase human-wildlife conflict, adversely affecting the populations and health of the animals and leaving them vulnerable.

About

• It is a subspecies of the larger family of long-tailed macaques found across South-East Asia.
• This particular subspecies is distinct from its cousins in appearance, behaviour and geographical location.
• The macaque is found in only three of the Nicobar islands—Katchal, Little Nicobar, and Great Nicobar—with GNI being home to the largest population.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Indian Skimmers

Context

• Recently around 250 Indian Skimmers were sighted in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in a day during the Asian Waterbird Census-2023.

About

• It is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
• It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
• About 20% of the total population of fewer than 2,500 birds nest along river Chambal.
• IUCN Status: Endangered

Blackbuck

Context

• A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has shed light on how blackbuck in India has fared in the face of natural and human-induced challenges to their survival.

About

• It is a species of antelope native to India and Nepal.
• While males have corkscrew-shaped horns and black-to-dark brown coats, the females are fawn-coloured.
• The animals are mainly seen in three broad clusters across India the northern, southern, and eastern regions.
• It is widespread in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and other areas throughout peninsular India.
• IUCN Status: Least concerned.
• WPA, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix III

Dwarf Boa

Context

• Scientists have discovered a new species of dwarf boa in the Ecuadoran Amazon and named it after an Indigenous activist.

About

• Dwarf boa belongs to the family Tropidophiidae living high in the cloud forests of northeastern Ecuador.
• The species is unusual for having a “vestigial pelvis” characteristic of primitive snakes and taken as evidence by some that snakes descended from lizards that lost their limbs over millions of years.
• Its habitat includes tropical piedmont and lower evergreen montane forests.
• The snake is alight brown in coloration with noticeable black blotches on the belly and muted blotches running down the back.
• Dark brown pigmentiaotn is found through the center of the head.

Glass Frogs

Context

• Recently scientists gleaned insight into how glassfrogs –a species known for this ability – are able to achieve such transparency.

about

• Glassfrogs live in the American tropics and are nocturnal amphibians that spend their days sleeping upside down on translucent leaves that match the colour of their backs — a common camouflage tactic.
• Their translucent skin and muscle allow their bones and organs to be visible – hence the name.
• Recent research has proposed that this adaptation masks the frogs’ outlines on their leafy perches, making them harder for predators to spot.

Zebrafish

Context

• Recently, scientists discovered that a protein found in Zebrafish can regenerate aged discs in human vertebrae.

About

• It is a small (2-3 cm long) freshwater fish found in tropical and subtropical regions. The fish is native to South Asia's Indo-Gangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams.
• It attracts developmental biologists due to its adequate regeneration capacity of almost all its organs, including the brain, heart, eye, and spinal cord.
• It has a similar genetic structure (around 70%) to humans.
• IUCN Status: Least concerned.

Indian rhinoceros

Context

• Assam Chief Minister has recently announced that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.

About

• Distribution: The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal.
• Characteristics: It has a single black horn that can grow up to 60 cm, and a tough, grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives the animal its characteristic armour-plated look.
• IUCN Status- Vulnerable

King Penguin

Context

•  recent study in the Antarctic reveals that king penguins are threatened by climate change.

ABout

• They are the 2nd largest penguin species.
• Habitat: They live on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. Major colonies are found on Crozet, Prince Edward Island, Kerguelen Island, Heard Island, South Georgia and Macquarie Island.
• King penguins don't make a nest and they carry their egg around with them at all times on top of their feet by taking turns.
• IUCN Status- Least Concern.
• Threats: Climate change, habitat shifting and southward shifting of the Antarctic Polar Front.

Invasive mussel species

Context

• Fishermen of Pulicat and Ennore are raised concerns over the spread of an invasive species of mussel that is a threat to the prawns of both waterbodies.

About

• The marine biologists identified these species as Mytella strigata or Charru mussels which are Native to South America.
• These mussels have invaded tidal wetlands in several parts of the world, including Vembanad in Kerala. This is spreading due to the discharge of ballast waters from ships visiting the ports of Kattupalli.
• After Cyclone Vardah in December 2016, the mussels began to intensify and spread far north towards the Pulicat waters.
• Human interference in the wetlands, pollution and nature’s actions have triggered the rapid spread of the species.
• Threats: These mussels spread like a carpet over the river bottoms and thus preventing prawns from grazing or burying themselves in the sediment.
• Its spread is wiping out the locally prevalent yellow clams and green mussels.

Asian Giant Tortoise

Context

• Ten captive-bred Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys) juveniles were released into a protected area of Nagaland’s Intanki National Park.

About

• The soft release is a process of gradually releasing captive-raised species into the wild.
• Distribution: They are found in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia and other places.
• Diet: Bamboo shoots, tubers and other juicy vegetation and some invertebrates and frogs.
• Threats: Hunting for consumption, habitat loss, anthropogenic activities like construction and slash and burn.
• IUCN Status:Critically Endangered
• CITES :Appendix II
• WPA, 1972 : Schedule IV

Bullock's Heart Tree

Context

• A Research intern at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently won the prize for developing a cost-effective bio-insecticide from the leaves of bullock’s heart tree (Annona reticulata), popularly known as Ramphal.

About

• Bullock heart tree’s extracts have traditionally been used to cure conditions including dysentery and pediculosis (louse infestation)
• Extracts from its leaves may be useful against three destructive pests — Pod borer, Green peach aphid and fall armyworm — with a mortality rate of 78-88 per cent, the research claimed. All these pests are known for incurring crop losses to farmers.
• It is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the plant family Annonaceae and part of the Annonas group.
• It is best known for its fruit, called custard apple, a common name shared with fruits of several other species in the same genus: A.cherimola and A. squamosa.

Badri cow

Context

• To increase the productivity of indigenous Badri cow, Uttarakhand Government is now planning for its genetic enhancement.

About

• The Badri breed derived its name from the holy shrine of Char Dham at Badrinath.
• It is found only in the hill districts of Uttarakhand and was earlier known as the ‘pahadi’ cow.
• The cattle breed is small in size with long legs and varied body colours— black, brown, red, white or grey.
• The USP of the Badri cow’s produce is indigenousness and environment (in the Himalayas), as it eats medicinal herbs and is far away from toxic pollution, polythene and other harmful things that cows in the plains are subject.
• As the cow grazes only on herbs and shrubs available in the mountains, its milk has rich medicinal content and high organic value.
• This cattle of Uttarakhand clinched the coveted title of being the first certified cattle breed of Uttarakhand after National Bureau Of Animal Genetic Resource included it as Badri breed.

Hornbill

Context

• In Nagaland, the 10-day long Hornbill Festival 2022 will begin on December 1, at Naga heritage village Kisama.

About

• India is home to nine species of hornbills: three of them, the wreathed hornbill (Aceros undulatus), the brown hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni) and the Rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) great hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.
• India also has Narcondam Hornbill, found only on the island of Narcondam. 

Hornbill species: 

1. Great Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Near threatened. 
• Largest of all hornbills in India. 
• Found in a few forest areas in Western Ghats and the forests along Himalayas. 

2. Rufous-necked Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 
• Has Northern-most extent, ranging from North-eastern India to Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal. 

3. Wreathed Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
• Found in forests from far North-eastern India. 

4. Narcondam Hornbill: 

• IUCN Red List: Endangered 
• Endemic to Indian island of Narcondam in Andamans. 
• Smallest home range out of all species of Asian hornbills. 

5. Malabar Pied Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 
• Common resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka. 
• Habitat: Evergreen and moist deciduous forests often near human settlements. 

6. Oriental Pied Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
• Largest distribution, found in the Indian Subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia. 
• Habitat: Subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. 

7. White-throated Brown Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 
• Found in forests from North-eastern India. 
• Common habitat: Namdapha National Park, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh. 

8. Malabar Grey Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
• Common in the Western Ghats and associated hills of southern India. 

9. Indian Grey Hornbill:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
• Habitat: Mainly on the plains up to about 2000 feet, foothills of Himalayas southwards, bounded to the west by Indus system and to the east by Ganges Delta.

Great Indian Bustard

Context

• The Supreme Court of India recently requested the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change to consider launching ‘Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB)’ like one for tigers.

About

• GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India, the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, lesser florican, and the Bengal florican.
• GIBs’ historic range included much of the Indian sub-continent but it has now shrunken to just 10% of it.
• Among the heaviest birds with flight, GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitats.
• Being terrestrial birds, they spend most of their time on the ground with occasional flights to go from one part of their habitat to the other.
• They feed on insects, lizards, grass seeds, etc.
• GIBs are considered the flagship bird species of grassland and hence barometers of the health of grassland ecosystems.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Red Panda

Context

• Recently, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has started an ambitious programme to release 20 Red Pandas in about five years to the forests.

About

• There are only two different panda species in the world, the Giant Pandas and the Red Pandas.
• It is also the state animal of Sikkim.
• Red Pandas are shy, solitary and arboreal animals and considered an indicator species for ecological change.
• India is home to both the (sub) species:
• • Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
  • Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani
• Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh splits the two phylogenetic species.
• It is found in the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China.
• The number of Red Pandas has been declining in the wild, even in the Singalila and Neora Valley National Parks, the two protected areas where the endangered mammal is found in the wild in West Bengal.
• IUCN Status- Endangered (Giant Panda- Vulnerable)
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Chekurinji

Context

• Chekuriniji has been affected due to climate change, so, there are different conservation measures are being inducted.

About

• Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica), is a species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, and inspired the name of the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The Anacardiaceae family tree was once abundant in the hills on the southern parts of Aryankavu Pass, but its presence has been rapidly declining over the years.
• Its flowers in January on average, but the species has recently reported a tendency to extend the process due to climate change.
• It's used to treat lower blood pressure and treat arthritis.
• ‘Save Chenkurinji’, a campaign to be implemented in various areas coming under the Achencoil Forest Division.

Water Hyacinth

Context

• Recently, West Bengal has made an outstanding example by utilising Water Hyacinth, an obnoxious aquatic weed plant to develop small-scale cottage industry that is both financially rewarding as well as environmentally friendly in approach.

About

• Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eichhornia crassipes Mart. (Pontederiaceae), is an aquatic weed common in waterbodies across South Asia, including India.
• This is not an indigenous species but was introduced to India during the British colonial rule as an ornamental aquatic plant from South America.
• The plant produces beautiful purple flowers that have high aesthetic value.
• It has been used as a bio-fertiliser in some organic agriculture practises.
• This plant is a good phytoremediation species, suggesting it has the ability to trap and remove toxic metabolites and harmful heavy metals from water.
• This simple, floating aquatic plant, unfortunately, is also an obnoxious weed that has been suffocating surface freshwater sources like rivers, rivulets, streams, ponds, dams, lakes and bogs, making the waterbodies unsuitable for commercial fishery, transportation and recreation.
• The plant is a prolific vegetable matter-producer and has the ability to choke out any closed waterbody at an astonishing rate.

Four Species of Azooxanthellate Corals

Context

• Scientists have recorded Four Species of Azooxanthellate Corals under the Genus Truncatoflabellum (Scleractinian: Flabellidae) for the first time from Indian waters.

About

• Truncatoflabellum crassum, T. incrustatum, T. aculeatum, and T. irregulare are the four species of corals found.
• They are found from the Waters of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• They are Azooxanthellate corals, which are a group of corals that do not contain zooxanthellae and derive nourishment not from the sun but from capturing different forms of plankton.
• • Zooxanthellae are unicellular, golden-brown algae (dinoflagellates) that live either in the water column as plankton or symbiotically inside the tissue of other organisms.
• They are hard corals and are not only solitary but have a highly compressed skeletal structure.
• They are deep-sea representatives, with the majority of species reporting from between 200 m to 1000 m.
• They also occur in shallow coastal waters.

Jeypore Ground Gecko

Context

• Jeypore Ground Gecko (Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis), has been recently included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

About

• This reptile is endemic to India.
• The wild reptile species is found in the Eastern Ghats and is known to be present in four locations including southern Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.
• Its occurrence is estimated in less than 5,000 square kilometres of fragmented geographical area.
• The species resides below rock boulders in high forested hills at an altitude of 1,100-1,400 metres.
• Habitat loss and degradation, forest fires, tourism, quarrying and mining activity among the reasons for the species’ decline.
• IUCN Status- Endangered
• CITES- Appednix II

Black Corals

Context

• Researchers at Smithsonian Institution, Washington recently discovered five new species of black corals living as deep as 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.

About

• Black corals can be found growing both in shallow waters and down to depths of over 26,000 feet (8,000 metres), and some individual corals can live for over 4,000 years.
• Many of these corals are branched and look like feathers, fans or bushes, while others are straight like a whip.
• Unlike their colourful, shallow-water cousins that rely on the sun and photosynthesis for energy, black corals are filter feeders and eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.
• Among the many interesting specimens were five new species – including one that was found growing on the shell of a nautilus more than 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the ocean’s surface.
• Similarly to shallow-water corals that build colourful reefs full of fish, black corals act as important habitats where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators in what is otherwise a mostly barren sea floor.

Red Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur Kachuga)

Context

• India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga earned wide support at CoP 19 to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) being held at Panama City

About

• It is a freshwater turtle species, and found in deep flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites.
• Distribution:
• It is native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Historically, the species was widespread in the Ganga River, both in India and Bangladesh.
• It also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin. Currently in India, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with substantial population of the species.
• IUCN Status- Critically Endangered
• CITES- Appendix II
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I
• Threats- Loss or Degradation of Habitat, Sand mining, agriculture along Ganga river, Drowning by fishing nets, Poaching and Illegal Trade

Great Knot

Context

• A great knot from Russia, belonging to the endangered Calidris tenuirostris (Horsfield, 1821), has found its way to Kerala’s coast, flying over 9,000 km for a winter sojourn. Recently many juvenile great knots have been tagged with MOSKVA rings in the Kamchatka peninsula in eastern Russia.

About

• It is an international migratory wading bird that travels vast distances between the northern hemisphere breeding grounds and southern hemisphere summer feeding grounds.
• It is a medium-sized shorebird with a straight, slender bill of medium length and a heavily streaked head and neck.
• These occur around coastal areas in many parts of Australia during the southern summer.
• They breed in eastern Siberia, and when on migration they occur throughout coastal regions of eastern and South East Asia.
• IUCN Status- Endangered

Gangetic Dolphin

Context

• According to Uttar Pradesh Government, Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga river with improvement in the quality of its water through the Namami Gange programme.

About

•  is a fresh-water species, and one of the few river dolphins found in the world.
• It inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Common Names:Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, South Asian River Dolphin
• The Gangetic Dolphin has been recognized as India's National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
• IUCN Status- Endangered
• CITES- Appendix I
• WPA, 1972- Schedule I

Slender Loris

Context

• India's first ever sanctuary for the endangered Slender Loris will be set up in Karur & Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu.

About

• It is a small nocturnal mammal that spends most of its life on trees.
• They are native to India and Sri Lanka and are also amongst the world’s top 25 endangered primates.
• They are listed under endangered species as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• They are also protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian legislation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972.
• They act as biological predators of pests that harm agricultural crops and help farmers.
• IUCN: Endangered,
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix II

B. Chaukulensis

Context

• Dragonfly enthusiasts have recorded the presence of a rare dragonfly that was hitherto unseen in Kerala.

About

• They spotted the Spiny Horntail, Burmagomphus chaukulensis Joshi, Ogale & Sawant, 2022 (or B. chaukulensis), during a recent expedition to the Kottiyoor forests of Kannur.
• The species that is known to be endemic to the Western Ghats was discovered in Maharashtra earlier this year.
• Prior to their finding, the dragonfly genus Burmagomphus was represented by three species – B. cauvericus, B. pyramidalis and B. laidlawi.
• While B. laidlawi is found throughout the Western Ghats, B. cauvericus is more restricted in its distribution. B. pyramidalis is found in the Western Ghats as well as in Peninsular India.
• All other species of the genus are found in the Western and Eastern Himalayas.