News: Researchers discovered a rare new catfish species, Amblyceps vayavy, in hill streams of the Western Ghats in Goa and Maharashtra. About Amblyceps Vayavy Amblyceps vayavy is a newly identified species of freshwater catfish from the northern Western Ghats. Name Origin: The word ‘vayavy’ means ‘northwest’ in Marathi and Konkani, referring to its distribution in… Continue reading Amblyceps Vayavy
Category: species in news
Kali River and Nyctibatrachus Kali
News: A new night frog species, Nyctibatrachus kali, has been identified in the Kali river basin of Karnataka’s central Western Ghats. About Kali River Location: River Kali is located in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka. In the old texts, it is also called “Kalindi” or “Kali Nadhi. Named after: It is named “Kali” for its… Continue reading Kali River and Nyctibatrachus Kali
Hoolock Gibbon
News: The first instance globally of a Western hoolock gibbon using an artificial canopy bridge over a railway line was recorded in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary recently, offering cautious optimism for the survival of India’s only ape species. About Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock gibbons are primates and fall under the category of apes, which are evolutionarily closest to humans. It… Continue reading Hoolock Gibbon
Peacock Tarantula
News: A conservation survey of the critically endangered Peacock Tarantula has been launched in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. About Peacock Tarantula The Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) is a rare arboreal spider famous for its metallic blue colour and ornamental patterns. Taxonomy: The species belongs to the Theraphosidae family and is classified as a tarantula species… Continue reading Peacock Tarantula
Leatherback Sea Turtle
News: Allegations of Forest Rights Act violations have been raised regarding the notification of wildlife sanctuaries in Little Nicobar, Menchal, and Meroe islands ahead of the Calcutta High Court hearing on the ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar project, which is expected to impact ecologically sensitive species such as the leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode. About Leatherback… Continue reading Leatherback Sea Turtle
Spiny-tailed Lizards
News: A recent study examined seasonal nutrient intake, dietary adaptations, and foraging behaviour of Spiny-tailed Lizards in the Thar Desert. About Spiny-tailed Lizards Introduction The Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Saara hardwickii) is a herbivorous, burrow-dwelling desert reptile adapted to harsh arid environments. It is locally known as sanda or sandho. Habitat The species inhabits arid and semi-arid sandy… Continue reading Spiny-tailed Lizards
Attenboroughnculus Tau
News: Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London, United Kingdom, have discovered a new species of wasp in Chile and named it Attenboroughnculus tau. About Attenboroughnculus Tau It is a tiny parasitic wasp discovered in Chile. It was collected from Chile’s Valdivia Province in 1983. It has been named after the famed British naturalist… Continue reading Attenboroughnculus Tau
Prosopis Juliflora and Banni Grassland
News: Prosopis juliflora, which is a non-native and invasive tree species, has encroached over half of Banni Grassland in Gujarat. About Prosopis Juliflora Prosopis juliflora is one of the most widespread hyperaccumulating, phreatophytic, perennial tree/shrub species. Family: It is a member of the Fabaceae family. It is a representative species of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. … Continue reading Prosopis Juliflora and Banni Grassland
Tapir
News: World Tapir Day is being observed globally on 30th April to raise awareness about the species of Tapir and protect it from human encroachment. About Tapir Tapirs are large herbivorous mammals. They are also known as “living fossils” due to their lineage dating back millions of years. They form one of the oldest surviving… Continue reading Tapir
Swamp Deer
News: A study reports that translocated hard-ground swamp deer from Kanha to Satpura are increasing and breeding successfully, reducing extinction risk. About Swamp Deer Swamp deer, also called barasingha, is a deer species found in the Indian subcontinent. Subspecies: There are three subspecies of swamp deer found in the Indian subcontinent, which show regional distribution… Continue reading Swamp Deer
