News: New beetle species discovered in Northeast by ZSI scientists.
About Clinidium lalitae
- It is a new species of beetle belonging to the subfamily Rhysodinae.
- It has been discovered in the Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The species has been named to honor Lalita Ray Chaudhury, who dedicated her career to the study of beetles.
- It is characterised by its unique morphology and belongs to a rare group of ground beetles that inhabit forest floors.
- These beetles play a significant ecological role in nutrient cycling and soil health.
About Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
- It is located at Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- It is a plateau region located at an altitude of 2400 m.
- Rivers: Pange, Sipu, Karing and Subansiri.
- Flora: The sanctuaty comprises of sub-tropical and alpine forests and harbours broadleaved and conifer forests with vegetation of silver fir, pine trees, ferns, orchids, bamboo, and rhododendron.
- Pleioblastus simone is a bamboo variety only found in Talley Valley.
- Fauna: Clouded leopard, elephants, Barking Deer, Malayan giant squirrel, Indian muntjac and Asian palm civet.
