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1st July 2024 (11 Topics)

The New Species discovery in India

Context

In 2023, India witnessed the discovery of 641 new species, comprising both plants and animals. This marks a significant contribution to biodiversity science and conservation efforts in the country.

Key Findings:

Plant Discoveries:

  • Notable discoveries include Curcuma kakchingense, a new species of turmeric found in Manipur, and Asystasia venui, a flowering plant discovered in West Bengal.
  • West Bengal led in new plant discoveries with 52 taxa, followed by Kerala and Uttarakhand.
  • The discoveries encompass wild relatives of horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, and ornamental plants, enriching India's botanical diversity.

Animal Discoveries:

  • Significant animal discoveries include Capra himalayensis, distinguishing the Himalayan Ibex from the Siberian Ibex, and Miniopterus srinii, a new species of bat found in Karnataka.
  • Kerala reported the highest number of new animal species with 101 additions, followed by West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
  • Invertebrates dominated with 564 new species, particularly insects (369 species), while vertebrates accounted for 77 discoveries, primarily fish species.

Regional Contributions:

  • Southern states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu recorded the most new species discoveries, emphasizing the region's biodiversity richness.
  • The Western Ghats and North Eastern Regions were highlighted as hotspots contributing 14% of the total new discoveries.

Scientific Publications:

  • The Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India published annual reports documenting these discoveries—'Animal Discoveries 2023' and 'Plant Discoveries 2023', respectively.
  • These publications underscore India's ongoing efforts in taxonomy and conservation biology.
  • Fauna of India Checklist Portal: Launched by the Environment Minister, this portal provides comprehensive information on all known animal taxa in India, covering 36 phyla and over 1,04,561 species.
  • It includes endemic, threatened, and scheduled species, supporting biodiversity conservation initiatives nationwide.

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