- In 2022, India’s faunal database will grow by 664 animal species.
- In addition, the database contains 339 new plant taxa, including new species and distributional information.
2023 Report: New Species and Records
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) published the faunal finds in a publication titled “Animal Discoveries – New Species and New Records 2023.”
[A] Faunal Discoveries
- New species and records of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish have all been discovered.
- Mammals: Three new species and one new record were discovered, including two bat species from Meghalaya.
- Birds: There are two new records in the Andaman archipelago, including the yellow-rumped flycatcher.
- Thirty new reptile species and two new records have been discovered.
- Six new species and one new record for amphibians.
- Fish: 28 new species and eight new records.
- The majority of new faunal discoveries are invertebrates, with insects accounting for 384 species.
- There are 81 species of vertebrates, with fish being the most numerous.
Important species
- Arunachal Pradesh’s Sela macaque (Macaca selai) is a new monkey species.
- Macaca leucogenys: A white-cheeked macaque has been spotted for the first time in India.
- Glischropus meghalayanus is a Meghalayan bamboo-dwelling bat.
- Ficedula zanthopygia is a yellow-rumped flycatcher found in the Andaman Islands.
Distribution of New Faunal Discoveries
- The country’s wildlife diversity climbed to 1,03,922 species.
- Kerala has the most new species discovered, accounting for 14.6% of all new discoveries.
- Karnataka came in second with 13.2% of new species and records.
- Tamil Nadu was responsible for 12.6% of all new discoveries and records.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands accounted for around 8.4% of all findings.
- West Bengal accounted for 7.6% of all new discoveries.
- Arunachal Pradesh accounts for 5.7% of all new discoveries.
[B] Floral Discoveries
- “Plant Discoveries 2022,” released by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), comprises 339 new plant taxa.
- These findings include new species and distributional data.
- Seed plants, fungus, lichen, algae, bryophytes, microorganisms, and pteridophytes have all been discovered.
- The majority are seed plants, with dicotyledons accounting for 73% and monocotyledons accounting for 27%.
- Plant discoveries are common in the Western Himalayas and Western Ghats.
- Kerala has the most plant discoveries (57), accounting for 16.8% of all discoveries.
- Wild relatives of promising horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, and ornamental plants have been discovered.
Important Floral Discoveries
- Nandadevia Pusalkar: A genus found in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
- Nilgiriella Pusalkar is a genus that is only found in the southern Western Ghats.
- Calanthe lamellosa: An orchid species discovered in Nagaland for the first time.
Conclusion
India continues to improve its understanding of its faunal and floral richness by gathering these new discoveries and records, emphasising the need of conservation efforts.
Source: Vhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-adds-664-animal-species-to-its-faunal-database-in-2022-339-taxa-to-its-flora/article67030167.ece