Researchers have discovered a rain loving snake in Mizoram called as Smithophis atemporalis. This discovery has been included in the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa. The Mizoram rain snake (Smithophis atemporalis) has been named after eminent British herpetologist, Malcom A Smith, for his contribution to Indian herpetology. The species looks like a slender elongated common water… Continue reading Rain-loving’ snake discovered in Mizoram
Category: Factly: Environment
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to the Environment. You can find all relevant Environment related updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
CCMB scientists sequence Asiatic lion genome
Scientists from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has for the first time sequenced the entire genome of Asiatic lion. Genome sequencing means determining the order of the four chemical building blocks – called “bases” – that make up the DNA molecule. Genome sequencing helps to understand how genes work together to direct the growth,… Continue reading CCMB scientists sequence Asiatic lion genome
Fani’s fury creates four new mouths in Odisha’s Chilika Lake
The extremely severe cyclone, Fani, has created four new mouths in Chilika Lake. Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha. It is located at the of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal. It is the Asia’s largest brackish water lake. In 1981,… Continue reading Fani’s fury creates four new mouths in Odisha’s Chilika Lake
SC defers NGT levy over sand mining
Supreme Court has deferred a National Green Tribunal order directing the Andhra Pradesh government to deposit Rs. 100 crore for not checking illegal sand mining. NGT’s direction came in the backdrop of a plea which had alleged illegal sand mining was causing damage to the Krishna and Godavari rivers and their tributaries in the state.… Continue reading SC defers NGT levy over sand mining
Suskityrannus hazelae: A relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, but just 3 feet tall
According to a journal,fossil of a smaller dinosaur called as Suskityrannus hazela (tyrannosauroid dinosaur) has been discovered in New Mexico. Suskityrannus is a genus of small tyrannosauroid family.The fossil discovered dates back 92 million years to the Cretaceous Period. The newly identified dinosaur is a tiny relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex.It stood roughly 3 feet… Continue reading Suskityrannus hazelae: A relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, but just 3 feet tall
SC orders demolition of 5 apartments Ernakulam’s Maradu municipality
The Supreme Court has ordered the demolition of five high-rise apartments in Ernakulam’s Maradu municipality near Kochi in Kerala for violating the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. According to the expert committee formed by SC to look into the matter, the apartments come within the CRZ III. As per the CRZ notification 1991,… Continue reading SC orders demolition of 5 apartments Ernakulam’s Maradu municipality
India’s newest pit viper found in Arunachal Pradesh
A team of herpetologists have described a new species of reddish-brown pit viper which has been found in a forest in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery has been published in the March-April volume of the Russian Journal of Herpetology. It has been named as Trimeresurus arunachalensis. It is the second serpent to… Continue reading India’s newest pit viper found in Arunachal Pradesh
Road accidents still cause most deaths: WHO report
World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Global Status report on Road Safety has stated that road accidents are the leading cause of death among people in the 5-29 age-group worldwide. According to the report, more than 1.35 million lives are lost each year and 50 million sustain injuries due to road accidents.The report has been released during… Continue reading Road accidents still cause most deaths: WHO report
Purple frog, believed to have coexisted with dinosaurs, set to be crowned Kerala’s state amphibian
According to researchers,Purple frog could soon be designated as Kerala’s state amphibian.This title would help in saving the species which is fast disappearing from its habitat in the western ghats. The purple frog was discovered in 2003.The scientific name of the species is Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis.It is also known as Maveli frog or Pignose Frog. It… Continue reading Purple frog, believed to have coexisted with dinosaurs, set to be crowned Kerala’s state amphibian
GRIHA Council launches rating system to evaluate environmental performance of schools
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment(GRIHA) Council has recently released a rating tool called as ‘GRIHA for Existing Day Schools’. The rating aims to evaluate the environmental performance of existing schools across India.The rating also familiarises the students with the concepts of sustainability by involving them in evaluating the environmental impact of schools on the… Continue reading GRIHA Council launches rating system to evaluate environmental performance of schools
