Environmental Day Bouquet: 539 species discovered in India in 2017

Environmental Day Bouquet: 539 species discovered in India in 2017

News:

1. According to publications from the zoological survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in 2017, 539 species have been discovered in India.

Important Facts:

2. Publications:

• Zoological Survey of India: Animal Discoveries, 2017
• Botanical Survey of India: Plant discoveries, 2017

3. Fauna Discoveries:

• Total: 300 species
• 241 vertebrates, includes 27 species of fish, 18 of amphibians and 12 of reptiles
• Important discoveries: Fossil reptilian species- Shringasaurus indicus; frog species and snake species
• India accounts for 6.45% of total world faunal species

4. Flora discoveries:

• Total 239 species includes 148 flowering plants, 108 macro and microfungi, 4 pteridophytes, 6 bryophytes, 17 lichens, 39 algae, 30 microbes
• 20 species of balsams, 3 species of each wild Musa (banana) and jamun also discovered
• India accounts for 11.4% of the world fauna

5. Discoveries across regions

• Highest discoveries made in Western Ghats and Himalayas
• Western Ghats: 19% of plant species and 37% of animal species
• Himalayas: 35% of plant species and 18% of animal species
• Among states, Kerala recorded the highest number of discoveries, followed by Tamil Nadu ,  West Bengal recorded 27 plant species discoveries and 45 animal species discoveries