Environment - Species - Sunya IAS

Environment & Ecology
Environment Species (Static Part)

PRELIMS 2024
ANIMAL DIVERSITY OF INDIA
IUCN Red Data Book: The book is issued by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international NGO working in field of nature conservation and
sustainable use of natural resources HQ at Gland, Switzerland + First issued in 1966 byIUCN special survival commission.
● Pink pages: Critically Endangered species
● Green pages: Species that were formerly endangered, but have now recovered to a point where they are no longer threatened.Categories and criteria for
Endangered Species
Environment & Ecology Notes | Sunya IAS| 8279688595 Page. 2

INDEX
1. MAMMALS: TERRESTRIAL ................................................................................................................................................................. 4
2. MAMMALS: Marine ............................................................................................................................................................................... 35
3. BIRDS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 38
4. REPTILES ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43
5. FISH ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
6. SPIDERS ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
7. SPECIES IN NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 48

IUCN STATUS
1. MAMMALS: TERRESTRIAL
SPECIES HABITAT DISTRIBUTION THREAT OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
 Usually active by twilight orin the night
and have specialized habitat
requirements
Andaman White-toothed Shrew  Nocturnal animal andEndemic to India
(Endemic)  Shrews are mouse like mammals,
All individuals arein a insects are the primary diet of these
Habitat loss due toselective logging,
single location animals.
Leaf litter and rockcrevices natural disasters such as tsunami and
- Mount Harriet in the
drastic weather changes  When young must be moved before
South AndamanIslands they are independent, mother and
young form a chain or "caravan" where
each animal hangs on to the rearof the
one in front.
 They possess tiny spikes on their back
that only appear when scared or angry.
Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew ● Endemic to India
(Endemic) ● Usually active by twilight orin the night
Habitat loss due to
Wright Myo and and have specialized habitat
Leaf litter and rock selective logging,natural disasters
Mount Harriet in the requirements
crevices such as tsunami
South Andaman Islands.
and drastic weather changes
Southern tip of ● Endemic to India

Greater Nicobar Island, ● Usually active by twilight orin the night
Habitat loss due to
and area extending from and have specialized habitat
selective logging,natural disasters
Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Endemic) Leaf litter and rock crevices Campbell Bay National requirements
such as tsunami and drastic weather
Park to the Galathea ● They are solitary carnivores.
changes
Riverin Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.

● It is Endemic to India.
● It is a medium sized, nocturnal and
burrowing rodent- > they hide and
shelters inside the rock holes
Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat
● It reaches a head-and-body length of
(Endemic)
149 mm, in addition to a tail. Its tail is
Eastern Ghats ofTamil bicoloured.
Tropical dry deciduous ● Long tail is very useful for the
Nadu. Recorded from an Habitat loss, conversion of forests
shrubland forest, seen in movements in rocks andfor balance
elevation of about600 m and fuel wood collection
rockyareas ● Its upper parts are brownishgrey and the
above mean sea level
underparts are greyish white.
● They often rotate the ears to sense the sounds. If
any small sounds occurred, they are not in a
hurry to run, rather they rotate their ear to
observe and respond it to the sounds.
● The species was first described by Sir
John Ellerman in 1946.
● It is a unique (the only onein its genus)
flying squirrel
● Not capable of flight like birds or bats;
instead, theyglide between trees.
● They prefer to spend time singly but
during cold months they may share one
nest in order to keep warm.
Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Endemic)
● Herbivores (frugivores, granivores)->
They eat various fruits, nuts, seeds,
Only in Namdapha Tiger
fungi, flowers, and tree sap.
Tropical forest Reserve in Arunachal Hunted for food
● It is among the 25 “most wanted lost”
Pradesh
species that are the focus of Global
Wildlife Conservation’s “Search for
Lost Species” initiative.
● The young are born in a nest and are at
first nakedand helpless.
● They inhabit tall Mesua ferrea jungles,
on hill slopes in the catchment area of
the Dihing River.
● Arboreal and nocturnal

 Considered to be one of the world’s
rarest mammals
 Endemic to India and wasfirst reported
from Travancore, Kerala.
 It is nocturnal in nature and found
exclusively in the Western Ghats.
Malabar Civet (Endemic)
 Primarily frugivorous, but they will also
eat insects, small mammals, and birds.
They are also known to consume carrion,
which they scavenge opportunistically.
Wooded plains and hill slopes Deforestation andcommercial  Most captures of this species in the last
Western Ghats
of evergreen rainforests plantations 30 yearshave been in valleys, around
riparian areas.
 This suggests possible dependence on
shallow waterways where the civet
forages at night.
 CITES appendix III
 Civetone - extract from thescent gland
 It is known as Kannan chandu and
Male meru in Kerala and in Karnataka
as Mangala kutri, Bal kutri andDodda
punugina
 Smallest and most endangered of the
Sumatran Rhinoceros fiverhinoceros’ species.
 They have been observed to reach
Live in upland forestsaround speeds of 40 km/hr.
Regionally extinct in
Peninsular Malaysia,
India, though it once  Two horns on their heads.In females,
Sumatra, and Borneo, at both horns are significantly reduced,
occurred in the foothills Poaching, loss ofhabitat
elevations up to 2,000m andappear as short knobs.
of Himalayas and north-
above sea level.  Newborn calves are covered in thick hair,
east India.
Extinct in India which is a light reddish-brown color. As
calves approach adulthood, their hair
becomes sparser and darker, eventually
turning black upon maturity.

 As young adults, male Sumatran
rhinoceroses can be very aggressive
towards females. During altercations,
young males are known to injure and
killfemales.
 Considered to bepolyandrous.
 When they are ready to mate, both
female and male become more
aggressive than usual.
 Females will indicate that they are in
estrus by vocalizing, spraying their
urine on objects in their environment,
and raising their tails near males.
 They mate every 3 to 4 years, primarily
due to longperiods of gestation (15 to
16 months).
 They are not aggressive about defending
their territory; often males will have
territories that overlap with other males.
 Females reach sexual maturity at
around 4 years of age, and males are
sexually active by around 7 years of
age.
 Wallowing: Sumatran rhinos spend a
large part ofthe day wallowing in mud
holes
 Also called the Asian two- horned
rhino as it is the only two horned rhino
in the Asian region.
 It has long, shaggy hair onits ears and
body, in contrast to other rhinos which
appear hairless.

● It is a subspecies of RedDeer which is
native to India
● Listed under the Species Recovery
Programme of the Wildlife Institute of
India (WII) and the Environmental
Information System (ENVIS) of the
MoEFCC.
● State animal of J&K.
● Known for its giant antlersbearing 11 to
16 points.
Kashmir valley and ● Male deer have impressive antlers;
Kashmir stag/ Hangul (Endemic) northern Chamba in female do not havehorns.
Himachal Pradesh ● Male Hangul stags have long hair along
their necks,while female stags do not.
Its last bastion is ● Hangul has a red-brownish coat,
Dachigam National Park. bringing them into thefold of red deer.
Dense riverine forests,high Habitat destruction, overgrazing by
The color, however, changes with
valleys, and mountains domestic livestock, and poaching.
A small population has season and age.
also been witnessed in ● Hangul are usually seen in family
Overa-Aru groups. Male deer battle with their
Wildlife antlers to control a herd that consistsof
Sanctuary in south female deer and their young. The herd
Kashmir. is led by the dominant stag.
● Hangul are active during theday when
they are seen grazing along the slopes
of the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary.
● It belongs to the Central Asian Red
Deer (Cervus hanglu) group, according
to the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
● CITES: Appendix 1
● Matriarchal-> females lead the groups
and choose the mating partners.

● WPA: Schedule 1
● Listed on CITES AppendixII
● It is a secretive, nocturnalanimal. It is
very shy andmoves slowly.
● During the day, it rest in burrows that
are usually excavated close to ant and
termite nests.
● To protect against the stinging
defences of its prey, the pangolin has
thickeyelids and can close off itsnose
Chinese Pangolin and ears.
● Only species of pangolin that
Primary and secondary Northern India, Nepal,
“hibernates” (though it is not a true
tropical forests; limestone, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Poaching, Susceptible species due to
hibernation, more of an
bamboo, broadleaf and Myanmar, northern Indo its food specialization, and
“overwintering”). Their babies are
coniferous forests; as well as China, through most of stenophagous (only eating several
born during the period of hibernation.
grasslands and agricultural Taiwan, and Southern species ofants and termites)
● Pangolins have no teeth, and so their
fields. China.
stomach is designed to grind up the
food they eat with the help of the small
stones and sandthat they also consume.
● Despite being highly terrestrial, it can
climb trees and swim capably.
● Having poor vision, the Chinese
pangolin relies on its sense of smell to
find prey.
● Its hard scales (made of keratin) work
as a protective cover from predators,
and when it feels threatened, it curls
into a ball ("volvation").
North-western and central ● A recent study on the Himalayan brown
Himalayan Brown bear (red bear)
Himalaya, including bear has predicted a massive declineof
India, Pakistan, Nepal,the about 73% of the bear’s habitat by the
Tibetan Autonomous Human-animal conflict, rapid habitat year 2050.
High altitude open valleys and
Region of Chinaand loss, poaching for fur,claws and ● Himalayan brown bears are diurnal and,
pastures.
Bhutan. organsand, in some rarecases, bear except during mating and for mothers
baiting. withcubs, are solitary.

Great HimalayanNational ● Omnivorous, eating grasses,root, bulbs
Park and other plants, insects and small
(HimachalPradesh). mammals such as marmots, pikas and
voles.
● In the autumn they descend to lower
levels to feed on fruits and berries.
● CITES - Appendix I
● Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972:
Schedule I
● It is one of the largest omnivorous in the
highlands of Himalayas.
● This is the least arboreal bear and is
largely terrestrial as an adaptation to
life in the rolling uplandsabove the tree
line. It hibernates in winter.
● It is ‘Endangered’ in the Himalayas and
Critically Endangered in the Hindu
Kush.
 Orangutans are the largest arboreal
mammal, spending most of their time
in trees. Long, powerful arms and
grasping hands and feet allow them to
move throughthe branches.
 Most intelligent primates-> they have
Orangutan Illegal logging inside protected areas
Found only in therain human-like long- term memory,
and unsustainable logging in
forests of theSoutheast routinely use a variety of sophisticated
[Sumatran Orangutan, Tapanuli Orangutan concessions where orangutanslive
Asian islands of Borneo tools in the wild and construct
and BorneanOrangutan are Critically remains a major threat to their
and Sumatra. elaborate sleeping nests each night
endangered] survival
from foliage and branches
 Researchers have also spotted
orangutans using sticks to extract seeds
from fruit and scrape insects from a
hole in a tree in the wild.

 They feast on wild fruits like lychees,
mangosteens,and figs, and slurp water
from holes in trees.
 They make nests in trees of vegetation
to sleep at nightand rest during the day.
ENDANGERED
● World’s smallest wild pig, with adults
weighing only 8 kgs.
● Species construct a nest throughout the yr.
● Live in small family groups consisting of
one or two females and their offspring.
● They are non-territorial, and sometimes
family groups canconsist of as many as
20 individuals.
● Adult males are generally solitary and
Pygmy Hog(Endemic) live separately rather than with the
Formerly, widely family group.
distributed along the
● Well-developed teeth-> allowsthem to
southern Himalayan Loss and degradation of grasslands,
enjoy an omnivorous diet.
Relatively undisturbed,tall foothillsbut now is dry- season burning, livestock grazing
● Pygmy hogs are diurnal and spend
‘terai’ grasslands. restricted to Manas and afforestation ofgrasslands,
Wildlife Sanctuary and daylight hours foraging.
hunting
its buffer reserves ● Males tend to be larger than females.
Thrives in wetgrassland. Both sexes are dark grayish brown
overall, with rather sparse hair and no
distinctive markings.
● It is extremely shy and secretive in the
wild as stayshidden in tall dense grass,
having a mixture of shrubs and trees.
● CITES: Appendix I
● Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
Schedule I
● Conservation was initiated byrenowned
naturalist Gerald durrell.

Kondana Rat (Endemic) ● They are nocturnal and live inburrows.
Tropical and subtropicaldry Habitat loss, overgrazing of
Singharh Plateaunear Pune
deciduous forests and vegetation and disturbance from
Maharashtra
tropical scrub. tourism and recreational activities
● WPA: Schedule 1 and CITES: Appendix 1

● According to 2020 census, there are 674
Asiatic lions (increased by 29% in last 5
years) in Gir forest region, Gujarat and
other revenue areas of coastal Saurashtra.
● Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than
Gir Protected Area African lions(IUCN status: Vulnerable)
Asiatic Lion (Endemic)
Network which ● Male Asiatic Lions are solitary but also
includes Gujarat Gir form a pride consistingof three that rest,
National Park, Gir hunt and feedtogether.
Habitat destruction,diseases
Sanctuary, Pania ● Asian lions are polygynous, meaning
spreading from domestic animals,
Sanctuary, Mitiyala that a male can matewith more than one
poaching
Sanctuaryadjoining female.
forest reserves, ● They associate with each other to the
protectedforests and limited time interval during the mating
unclassed forests. season.
● Mostly preys are nilgai (blue antelope),
chital (spotted deer), sambhar, cattle,
and buffaloes
● Canine distemper virus
● Mane of a lion is a mark of itsage: old
lions have a darker mane.
Bengal Tiger Tiger Landscapes in India: ● WPA: Schedule 1 and CITES:
Shivalik Hills andGangetic Appendix -1
Plains; CentralIndian ● There are nine sub-species of tigers,
Landscape and India, Nepal,Bhutan and Illegal global tradein tigers and their three of which are extinct [Bali,
Eastern Ghats; Western Bangladesh parts, hunting, poaching Caspian, Javan].
Ghats; North-East Hillsand ● Status of Tigers 2022: India has 3682
Brahmaputra Plains; andthe tigers, home to 75 per cent of global
Sundarbans numbers.

● The basic social unit of the tiger is
composed of a female and her
offspring.
● Bengal tigers lead solitary lives and
congregate only temporarily
● Tigers mark their territory with urine,
feces, and scrapes
● The Bengal Tiger was declared as the
national animal of India inApril 1973.
● Tigers are polygynous meaning that
males mate with multiple females
during the breeding season.
● Communication includes vocalizations,
scent-marking, posturing, and movement.
Vocalizations are used to communicate
with other tigers and humans.
● Project Tiger was started in 1973 to
save the tigers in India.Prior to this, the
lion was the national animal of India.
● States in India with highest tiger
population: MP, Karnataka, Uttarakhand
● Highest number of tigers and tiger
density is in Jim CorbettTiger reserve .
● WPA: Schedule 1 and CITES: Appendix1
Elephant ● largest terrestrial mammal ofIndia
Andhra Pradesh,
● India has also declared elephant as
Arunachal Pradesh, 'National Heritage Animal'.
They occur in a variety Assam, Jharkhand, ● The elephant herd is led by the oldest
of habitats such as grassland, Karnataka, Kerala, Fragmentation and and largest female member.
dry deciduous Meghalaya, Nagaland, destruction causedby developmental ● They have longest-known gestational
forest, moist deciduousforest Orissa, Tamil Nadu, period of all mammals, lasting up to
activities, mining,poaching
as well as evergreen and Uttaranchal, Uttar 680days (22 months).
semievergreen forest. Pradesh and ● Females between 14 - 45 years may
West Bengal, Maharashtra, give birth to calves approximately
Chhattisgarh every four years with the mean inter-
birth intervals increasing to five years
by age 52 and six years by age 60.

● Karnataka has the highest number of
elephants (6,049), followed by Assam
(5,719) andKerala (3,054).
● India has the largest number of wild
Asian Elephants, estimated at 29,964
according to the 2017 census.
● The tusks are usually absent in females,
but more prominent inmales.
● Indian elephants are both diurnal and
nocturnal. They are highly social
animals. (Compared to the African
bush elephant, the Asiatic Elephant is
smaller by comparison with convex
back)
● WPA: Schedule 2 (Part 1)
● CITES appendix II
● Primarily diurnal hunters, hunting in
the early hours of themorning.
● Omnivores; packs feast on mammals,
Dhole/Asiatic wild dog or anything from rodents to deer and
Indian wild dog Most of India southof the
including wild pigs, wild goats, hares,
Ganges, particularly in
sheep, and monkeys
the Central Indian
Highlands and
Habitat loss, depletion of its prey ● Highly social animal, living in large
Found in wide variety of
base, competition from other clans without rigid dominance
habitat types, including the Western and Eastern
predators, persecution and possibly hierarchies and containing multiple
deciduous and evergreen Ghats of the southern
diseases from domestic andferal breeding females.
forests and alpine steppe states and West Bengal
dogs ● Such clans usually comprises of 5 to 12
North-east India:
Arunachal Pradesh, individuals but sometimes much more,
Assam, Meghalaya groups ofover 40 have been known.
● The dhole is a sexually dimorphic
species, with malesslightly being larger
than females.
● Dholes mate between October and
January, with the peak mating season
occurring in November and December.

● Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh rank high in the conservation of
the dhole,according to a study.
● They play an important role as apex
predators in forest ecosystems.
● India perhaps supports the highest
number of dholes in theworld.
● WPA 1972: Schedule-I
● Indigenous to South East Asia
● They inhabit the floating biomass
(phumdis) in LoktakLake Manipur.
● State animal of Manipur
● They are also known asdancing deer
● Its coat is dark reddish-brown during
Eld's deer/Thamin or brow-antlered the winter months and becomes a much
deer /Sangai deer / dancingdeer lighter shadein the summer.
(Endemic) ● Highly social animal and is usually
found in small herds of 2-20
individuals.
Keibul Lamjao National
Overgrazing, loss of grassland habitat ● They are active during the dayand feed
Park (KLNP), Manipur. on a variety of plants,including grasses,
leaves, and herbs.
● The breeding season for Sangaideer is
from November to January, and
females give birthto a single fawn after
a gestation period of around 8 months.
● It is extremely shy animal.
● The most favorable food by Sangai deer
were Zizania latifolia (Kambong),
Pragmitis karka (Tou), Saccharum
munja (Khoimom), Carex cruciata
(Humdang).
● Sexual dimorphism -> males being
larger and heavier thanfemales.

● Females of the Sangai fawn all year
round, indicating that the birth of calves
can occur at any time throughout the
year.
● During rutting, males compete with
each other to establish control over a
harem of females, with the intention of
mating.
● Herbivorous animal, and its diet
consists mainly of grasses,sedges, and
other vegetation found in its marshy
and wetland habitat.
● Sangai Deer is an Endemic and
endangered subspecies of brow-antlered
deer found only in Manipur, India.
● It is an old-world monkey
● They have been named for their
luscious coats and are considered
sacred by Himalayan people
Live in a variety of forested
● They are highly dependent on trees,
habitats. Thisincludes
Small region of western living in the upper canopy of forests.
Golden langur subtropical, temperate
Assam andin They are alsoknown as leaf monkeys.
broadleaf, moist deciduous,
neighbouring foothills ● Golden langurs are arboreal anddiurnal
andsubalpine forests.
of the Black Mountains creatures. They prefer to forage early in
ofBhutan the morning and afternoon, resting
Their habitat is restrictedto the Deforestation, human encroachments
during the heat of midday.
region surroundedby four
Kakoijana ReserveForest ● Have a relatively low reproduction rate
geographical landmarks:
is one of thebetter- and live ingroups.
the foothills of Bhutan
known homes of the ● Males usually have a slightlylonger tail
(North), Manas river (East),
golden langur. than females
Sankosh river (West), and
Brahmaputra river (South). ● It has been noted that their fur changes
colors according to theseasons as well
as geography (region they live in).
● The color of the young also differs from
adults in that theyare almost pure white.

● Musk is a substance with a persistent odour
obtained from a gland of the male musk
deer (only male produces the musk). The
substance has been used as perfume
Himalayan / White-bellied Musk Deer
fixative, incense material and medicine.
Kashmir, Kumaon and
● These are solitary secretive animals.
Sikkim in India
During the daytime,they typically hide
and Himalayas ofNepal
in the dense forest and at night, they
and China.They inhabit
come out to feed in more open habitats.
highalpine environments
poaching & illegal trade forits musk ● Herbivores (folivores). They prefer to
preferring meadows,
feed on leaves of trees and shrubs with
shrublands, and fir forest.
high protein and low fibre contents.
Askot musk deer
● It is a shy animal.
sanctuary Gangotri
● Most active at night or at dawn and
nationalpark
dusk. The Deer prefers to take shelter
within dense vegetation and brush
during the daylight hours.
● Except during the breedingseason, the
Musk Deer is asolitary animal.
● It is a leporid, native toSouth Asia.
Hispid hare/ Assam rabbit ● Also called the "bristly rabbit" because
Southern foothillsof the
it has coarse,dark brown hair.
central Himalayas
The species inhabits tracts  Hispid hares are crepuscular (active at
Highly fragmented habitat due to dawn and dusk).
Restricted mainly to Assam of early successional
increasing agriculture, flood
and Jaldapara,Bangladesh, tall grasslands and takes
control, and
 Like all hares, it isherbivorous.
Nepal and possibly Bhutan. refugein marshy areas
human development  They consume grass roots, bark, shoots,
or grasses adjacent to and sometimeseven agricultural crops.
riverbanks during the
 They do not build burrows, but rather
dry season.
will either hide in the tall grass or in
abandoned burrows of other creatures.
● Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972.
Pakistan, throughnorthern Hunting, habitatloss, habitat
Terai region and grasslands in ● Hog deer are solitary animals.
India, tomainland fragmentation, human
northernIndia ● However, they may occasionally be
southeast Asia. encroachments
observed feeding in small herds in open
terrains with an abundance of food.

● They are also known to form small
Hog Deer family units.
● Hog deer have a polygynous mating
system, where each male mates with a
number offemales.
● Hog deer are known to be accomplished
swimmers. When feeling danger, they
typically flee by entering the water.
● It's an old-world monkey

● Endemic to the WesternGhats.
● Primarily diurnal arboreal, itprefers the
Evergreen forests inthe
Western Ghats range upper canopy of primary tropical
Lion-tailed macaque/ Wanderoo evergreen rainforest.
Kudremukh NationalPark
(Endemic) ● Avoids human presence andthey do not
(Karnataka) Periyar
National Park(Kerala) live, feed or travel through plantations.
Habitat fragmentation due to spread
● In group behavior, the lion- tailed
Silent Valley NationalPark mountain forests scattered ofagriculture and tea, coffee, teak
(Kerala) across three Indian and cinchona, construction of macaque is much like other macaques,
states: Karnataka, water reservoirsand human living in hierarchical groups of usually
Kerala and TamilNadu. settlements to support such 10 to 20 members, which usually
Thrives in the upper canopy of consist of few males, typically 1-3, and
tropical evergreen activities.
many females
rainforests and monsoon
● Captive Breeding: Aringnar Anna
forests, ata wide range of
Zoological Park, Chennai and in
elevations, from 330 to
Mysore Zoo.
6,000 ft (100–1,850 m).
● The Silent Valley National Park in
Kerala has the largest population of
lion-tailed macaques in South India

● WPA: Schedule 1
● It is Endemic to WesternGhat region.
● Locally known as Nilgiri ibex and
Varaiaadu.
● There are multiple references to the
Tamil Nadu,Kerala Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature
Eravikulum National Park dating back to 2,000 years.
in ● State animal of Tamil Nadu
Nilgiri Tahr (Endemic)
Kerala is the ● Largest of the three tahrspecies
home to largestpopulation ● Sexually dimorphic species, with males
of Nilgiri Tahr being significantly larger than females
Mukurthi National and with distinctive markings.
Inhabit montane grasslands of Park: Habitat loss, overgrazing, illegal ● Nilgiri tahrs are polygynous meaning
westernGhats. It is a protected area hunting that males mate with more than one
located in thenorthwest female.
corner of Tamil Nadu ● Nilgiri tahr breed year-round, although
in the Western Ghats. an increase in breeding behavior occurs
The park was created to between June and August during the
protectits keystone monsoons.
species, the Nilgiri ● Typically active between dawn and
Tahr. dusk, being more active in the early
morning and late afternoon.
● The Adult males of Nilgiri Tahr species
develop a lightgrey area or “saddle” on
their backs and are hence called
“Saddlebacks”
Indian Pangolin ● WPA: Schedule 1
● CITES Appendix I
It inhabits grasslands and ● There are eight species in Pangolins:
Hunting and poaching for local
secondary forestsand is well Bangladesh, India, Chinese, Sunda, Philippine and Indian
consumptive use and international
adapted todry areas and Pakistanand Sri Lanka pangolins; and four Africanspecies.
trade, its meat etc
desert regions ● Pangolins are toothless, nocturnal, and
live in burrows and feed mainly onants
and termites.

● At night they leave their burrows to
search for food.
● Most of the time they live alone, except
during the mating season when a male
and a female are found living in the
same burrow.
● Pangolin scales are made ofkeratin, the
same material found in rhino horns.
● Female Indian pangolins are generally
smaller than the males.
● Their vocalizations are limited to loud
hissing whenagitated; instead they use
their sense of smell for communication.
● Almost entirely carnivorous
(insectivorous) and more specifically a
myrmecophage.
● They don't have teeth, but they have strong
abdominal muscles that aid in digestion.
● Mother pangolins carry their young on
their tails
● A terminal scale is also present on the
lower side of the tail of the Indian
Pangolin, which is absent inthe Chinese
Pangolin.
● WPA: Schedule 1
Red Panda ● CITES: Appendix I
● Also been called the "firefox", “lesser
panda”,and “red-cat-bear
Sikkim and Assam, Habitat loss and fragmentation,
Eastern Himalayasand south- ● Red pandas are most activeat dawn and
NorthernArunachal poaching for furs,inbreeding
westernChina. dusk, but theycan also be seen during
Pradesh. depression
theday.
● It is a small arborealmammal
● It has reddish brown fur and a long
shaggy tail

● State animal of Sikkim.
● Red Pandas are shy, solitary and
arboreal animals and considered an
indicator species for ecologicalchange.
● Herbivorous; they eat about 20,000
bamboo leaves everyday.
● Insects make up a very small part of
their diet, and they will only eat them if
they arein desperate need of food or if
they are sick.
● They produce scent markings to convey
information such as dominance status
or reproductive readiness.
● India is home to both Indianred panda
and Chinese red panda.
● It is a type of primate and one of the 8
species of slowlorises.
● It is the largest species of slow loris,
Bengal Slow Loris/ Northern Slow Loris measuring 26-38 cm and weighing upto
2.1 kg
● It is nocturnal and arboreal
● They live in small family groups and males
Habitat destruction and disturbance and females mark their territory with urine.
Native to Indian sub- due to shifting cultivation, ● Bengal slow lorises are mainly
Evergreen and deciduous
continent andIndo- encroachment, selective logging, herbivores (frugivores, gumivores,
forests
China road kills, bushmeat huntingand nectarivores)
forest fire ● Males and females have multiple
partners during thebreeding season.
● Female slow lorises breedevery two yrs.
● In 2019, Hyderabad police burst an
illegal wildlife trade Racket rescuing
slow lorises.
● Besides the platypus, slow lorises are
the only venomous mammals.

VULNERABLE
● Moved from Endangered toVulnerable
● It is a species of Asian Rhinos [Other
two are: Javan Rhino and Sumatran
Rhino: Both Critically Endangered].
Few pockets in ● Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is
Southern Nepal, northern found in India.
Bengal, and ● Also known as Indian rhino, it is the
Great Indian one horn Rhinoceros Brahmaputra Valley. In largest of the rhino species.
India, rhinos are mainly
● They dung mounds also known as
found in Assam, West
‘Middens’, function as communication
Bengal and Uttar
Poached for its horn (in South East hubs and territory markers.
Tall grasslands and forests in Pradesh. Kaziranga
National Park, Pabitora
Asian countries, believed to have ● The soil licking behaviour was
the foothillsof the
wildlife sanctuary, medicinal properties), habitatloss, performed by using tongue.
Himalayas (Terai region).
Manas National Park, habitat fragmentation. ● Semi-aquatic and often take up
Assam residence in swamps, forests and
Pobitora Wildlife riversides, and anywhere that is near
Sanctuary in Assamhas nutritious mineral licks.
the highest density of ● Mud wallows can be places where
Indian several individuals meet, as a kind of
rhinos in the world social gathering.
● It is identified by a single black horn
and a grey-brownhide with skin folds.
● Schedule -I -Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972
Gaur/Indian Bison Native to South Asia and ● It is the world’s largest and tallest bovine.
Southeast Asia In India, It is native to Indian Subcontinent
evergreen forests or semi- they arevery much ● Domesticated form of thegaur is called
evergreen and moist prevalent in the Western gayal or mithun.
deciduous forests; also in Ghats. They are primarily Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation ● Most active in the morning and
periphery of deciduousforest found in Nagarhole evening. However, theycan be active by
areas National Park , Bandipur day or even become nocturnal, when
National Park, living nearby human settlements.
Masinagudi National Park

andBiligirirangana Hills ● A gaur herd includes females and one
(BR Hills). It is also dominant male.
found inBurma and ● Polygynous mating system, where one
Thailand. male mates with anumber of females.
in Nagarhole National ● Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection
Park , Bandipur National Act, 1972. become nocturnal, when
Park, Masinagudi living nearby human settlements.
National Park and ● A gaur herd includes females and one
Biligirirangana Hills (BR dominant male.
Hills). It is also found in ● Polygynous mating system, where one
Burma and Thailand. male mates with anumber of females.
● Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection
Act, 1972.
Four-horned Antelope/ Chousingha ● It is the only species currently classified
in genusTetracerus.
Scattered betweenthe
● It is one of the smallest ofAsian bovids.
foothills of the
● Males are unique amongextant animals
Himalayas in the north
Loss of its naturalhabitat due to as they possess four permanenthorns
Open forests to the Deccan Plateau
inthe south. agricultural expansion, Hunting ● Herbivorous-> feeds on grasses and herbs.
● It is diurnal (active mainly during the
day), though it mainly rests or
Nepal
ruminates indense undergrowth at noon
● In this species, only the males have horns.
● Goat Antelope
Takin/cattle chamois/gnu goat
● It has Four Subspecies:Mishmi Takin,
Golden Takin, Sichuan Takin, Bhutan
Himalayan mountainsand Takin
Eastern Himalayas
Western China ● They spend the day under the cover of
Arunachal Pradesh and Hunting, Habitatdestruction
Forests, Shrubland and dense vegetation, venturing into the
Bhutan
grassland open only on cloudy or foggy days.
● Takins live in small family groups of
around 20 individuals, although older
males may lead a more solitary life.

● Herbivorous
● Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve in
Arunachal Pradesh is a strong hold for
both Mishmiand Bhutan Takin
 The elusive Nilgiri marten is the only
marten species found in India
● Around 62 percent of the habitat of the
Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii), a
Nilgiri Marten (Endemic) rare species of marten Endemic to the
Western Ghats
● Only species of marten which is
shola grassland and high considered Vulnerable to extinction
altitude evergreenforests, and Hills of Nilgiris and parts
● Endemic to Western Ghats
occasionally the adjacent of Western Ghats in Habitat loss andfragmentation,
mid-altitude moist deciduous States of Karnataka, hunting for fur ● Inhabits areas that are far from human
forests and commercial Keralaand Tamil Nadu disturbance
plantations. ● Nilgiri martens are diurnalcreatures.
● They are mainly arboreal butdescend to
the ground occasionally.
● Nilgiri martens are omnivorous and
prey on birds, small mammals, and
insects such as cicadas
● Schedule 2 of part 2 of the Indian
Wildlife (Protection)Act 1972
● Moved from Endangered toVulnerable
Nilgiri langur/ Nilgiri leaf ● It has a glossy, dark brown coat and
monkey(Endemic) long, thick goldento brown fur on the
Habitat degradation, development head.
Hilly areas of WesternGhats,
activities, introduction of exotic ● They form groups with one dominant
tropical wet evergreen, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
tree species, poaching for flesh male and around 20 females, with the
semievergreen and riparian Karnataka
[considered to haveaphrodisiac sub- adult and subordinate males
forests.
properties] forming bachelor groups.
● Nilgiri langurs are sexually dimorphic,
with males being slightly larger than
females.

 Highly social creatures, gathering into
single-sexherds of 10 - 20 individuals.
 Active at any time of theday, although
they spend mornings and evenings
grazing and prefer to rest during the
afternoon.
 Males of this species are less loyal to
their herds than females and frequently
move betweenherds.
 Polygynous mating system
 Herbivorous animal; also eats aquatic
plants
Barasingha/ Swamp Deer  The coat of the male becomes darker in
color during the mating season.
 Active and graze during both the day
MP, UP, Assam,South Hunting for horns, habitat and the night.
Western Nepal fragmentation and habitat loss  The western swamp deer found in
Nepal.
 Southern swamp deer/Hard Ground
Narasimha found in central and north
India.
 Eastern swamp deer found in the
Kaziranga (Assam) and Dudhwa
National Parks (Uttar Pradesh).
 In Assamese, barasingha is called
dolhorina; dol meaning swamp.
 They occur in the Kanha National Park
(M.P), in two localities in Assam, and
in only six localities inUttar Pradesh.
 CITES: Appendix I
 Wildlife Protection Act of 1972:
Schedule I

● Semiaquatic mammals which feed on fish,
amphibians, birds and small mammals.
Oriental small-clawed otter/ Asian
● It is a smallest otter speciesin the world
small-clawed otter
● They live in extended family groups
numbering 12-20 individuals.
Bangladesh, Burma, ● These animals are diurnal(active during
Mangrove swampsand
India, South China and Habitat loss, pollution andhunting the day), inhabiting remote areas,
freshwater wetlands
South East Asia generally free of human disturbance.
● They groom their fur continually to
maintain theinsulating qualities.
● They are excellent swimmers, swimming
by moving their back legs and tail.
● Carnivores (molluscivores)
● Only extant representative ofthe genus
Lutrogale.
● Fur of the species is smoother and
shorter thanthat of other otters.
● It uses swamps as natal den sites and
nursery during the breeding season in
Smooth Coated Otter early winter.
● Social and hunt in groups and are
Most of the Indian sub- mainly diurnal, andhave a short lull in
rivers, lakes, peatswamp continent and eastward activity during midday.
forests, mangroves in SouthEast Asia, with ● They mark their territory with a strong
and estuaries. a disjunct population in musky scent that they spread on
Iraq vegetation from the anal scent glands of
both males and females, a behavior
called sprainting.
● The male is larger but the female is the
dominant one in the group. These
animals are active, hunting in groups
both during the night and theday.
● CITES APPENDIX
● Known as Neer Naai(aquatic dogs)

 It is named after the distinctive 'clouds'
on itscoat - ellipses partially edged in
black, with the insides a darker colour
than the background colour of the pelt.
 It has a stocky build and,
Clouded Leopard
Northern WestBengal, proportionately, the longest canine
Sikkim, Arunachal teeth of anyliving feline.
Himalayan foothillsthrough Pradesh, Manipur,  They are probably solitaryanimals, like
mainland Southeast Asia into Meghalaya, Mizoram, most cats.
China Nagaland and Tripura. Deforestation andpoaching.  Highly arboreal that are mainly
Dampa had one of the nocturnal and crepuscular hunters
Tropical evergreenforests highest population  They are usually aggressive during
densities of clouded matingand would often bite the female
leopards. on the neck severing her vertebrae
during courtship.
 Clouded leopards are carnivorous and
mainly eatbirds, monkeys, porcupines,
deer, pigs, wild boar, young buffalo,
and domestic animals.
● WPA: Schedule 1, CITES:Appendix 1
● Convention on Migratory Species
Snow Leopard (Appendix - 1)
● Snow leopards are solitaryanimals that
typically live and hunt alone.
● They are shy and elusive, preferring to
Ladakh (HemisNational
Native to mountain ranges of spend their timein the mountains where
Park),other parts of
central and South Asia, found they hunt prey like deer and wild sheep.
Kashmir, Himachal Habitat loss, fragmentation, human-
along the upper reaches of ● Solitary except for femaleswith young,
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, animal conflict, hostilehabitat
Himalayasat elevations mating pairs, and a dispersing litter that
Sikkim and Arunachal
between3000-4000 m may roam together temporarily.
Pradesh
● Globally, it is found in 12 countries of
South Asia and Central Asian
countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China,
Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
● Good Indicator species as it quickly
reacts to habitat disturbance
● National heritage animal ofAfghanistan
and Pakistan.
● In Uttarakhand, found in Nanda Devi
Biosphere Reserve, Gangotri National
Park, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary.
● Snow Leopard capital of the world:
Hemis, Ladakh.
● HimalSanrakshak: It is a community
volunteer programme, to protect snow
leopards, launched in October 2020.
● Snow Leopard conservation breeding
programme is undertaken at Padmaja
Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park,
Darjeeling, West Bengal.
● WPA: Schedule 1, CITES: Appendix 1
● Known as ghost of the forest
Black Panther Kabini Wildlife ● They refer to large felines (family of
Sanctuary, Anshi cats) that are characterized by a coat of
most commonly foundin Dandeli Sanctuary black fur or large concentrations of
tropical and deciduous (Karnataka), Nilgiri black spots
forests, theycan also be BiosphereReserve ● In each species, a certain combination
found inhabiting both marsh (Tamil Nadu) and of alleles stimulates the production of
and swampland Tadoba Andhari Tiger large amounts of the dark pigment
Reserve (Maharashtra) melanin in the animal’s fur and skin.
in India ● A melanistic leopard is often called
black panther or jaguar [Central/South
America].
Asiatic black bear/ moon bear or white-  Medium size bear, largelyadapted for
chested bear Himalayas, Korea, north- arboreal life.
eastern China, the
Deforestation andactive hunting forits  The Asiatic black bear isomnivorous
Russian far east and the
body parts.  Asiatic black bears feed at night,
Honshu and Shikoku sleeping in a cave or a hole in a tree
islands of Japan during the day,but they do sometimes
go out during the daytime to feed.

 Asiatic black bears prepare their dens
for hibernation in mid-October and
will sleep from November until March.
 They emit loud hisses when issuing
warnings or threats, and scream when
fighting. When approaching other
bears, they produce "tut tut"sounds.
 Only larger males are ableto mate with
the females.
 Cubs are born blind and helpless,
depending totallyon their mother.
 Appendix I of CITES andSchedule I of
the Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972.
● WPA: Schedule 1
● It is an insectivorous bear species native
to Indian sub-continent.
● Mainly nocturnal.
● Their sense of smell is well developed
but their sight andhearing are poor.
● Generally solitary animals, however,
Sloth Bear
they are sometimesseen in pairs
India, the Southern ● Sounds such as gurgling or humming
wet and dry tropical forests, lowlands of Nepal, and are made by bears resting or sucking
Savannahs, Scrublands, and SriLanka their paws. Females emit crooning
Habitat Loss,Poaching sounds to their cubs.
grassland below 1500m on
the Indian subcontinent Punjab to Arunachal ● Omnivorous
Pradesh ● Absent in high mountains ofHimachal
and Jammu and Kashmir, the north-
western deserts of Rajasthan, and a
broad unforested swath in south
● CITES listing: Appendix I
● They are also very fond of honey, hence
their alternative name of “honeybear”.
● Sloth bears do not hibernate
● Known to carry young ones on their back.

● It is the largest extant bear species, as
well as the largestextant land carnivore.
● It is a hypercarnivores bear.
● They have a thick layer of body fat and
Polar Bear
a water- repellent coat that insulates
them from the cold air and water.
Annual sea ice covering the ● Most females reproduce onlyonce every
Arctic Circle,
waters over the continental 3 years
encompassing theArctic Climate change, and the loss of sea
shelf and the Arctic inter- ● Male bears may kill cubs (a behavior
Ocean it surrounding ice habitat, oilexploration, pollution.
island archipelagos [Arctic also observed in other bear species)
areasand landmasses.
ring of life]. ● Females defend cubs by challenging or
attacking themuch-larger male
● Sister species of brown bearbut have a
narrower ecological niche.
● A new study has found thatpolar bears
could become extinct by 2100 unless
greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
NEAR THREATENED
● WPA: Schedule 1
Wild ass/ khur/Ghudkhar(Endemic) ● CITES: Appendix II
● Moved from Endangered toNear
Threatened
Diseases, habitatdegradation due to
● One of the fastest Indian animals, with
salt activities, Invasive species
Mostly in Rann ofKutch a speed of 70-80km per hour. They can
Prosopis juliflorashrub, and
Desert and grassland region [Indian Wild Ass easily outrun a jeep.
encroachment and grazing by the
ecosystem Sanctuary, Little Rann of ● They live either solitarily, insmall
Maldhari, Uninformed release of
Kutch. groups, or in large family herds.
water from Sardar Sarovar dam,
Increasing Human-wildlife conflict ● Indian wild asses graze between dawn
and dusk.
● They are herbivores and mainly feed
on grasses, shrubs, and other
vegetationfound in their habitat.

● The Indian Wild Ass differs
significantly from the African wild ass
species.
● They have sandy coats thatvary from
reddish grey to pale chestnut in colour.
● The animal has no predatorsin that area
but its existenceis threatened due to the
destruction of its habitat.
● Scientists discovered six color morphs
of the golden cat in Dibang Valley of
Arunachal Pradesh
● The Idu Mishmis community of the
region believes that the cat, particularly
its melanistic morph, possess great
powers and thus observe a strict taboo
Asiatic Golden Cat on hunting the cat.
● It was once thought to be primarily
nocturnal; however, recent data
Habitat fragmentation
Nepal, North-EastIndia, indicates that it may be more
Forest, shrubland, Savanna and loss, Annual crepuscular to diurnal
BD, South
Grassland & perennial non-timber crops, Wood ●
East Asia Purely carnivorous
& pulp plantations
● Asian golden cats, known as the “fire
cat” in Thailand andBurma, and as the
“rock cat” in parts of China, are of a
medium size and stocky build.
● Asian golden cats are solitary and
territorial.
● Once considered nocturnal, a radio-
tracking study showed them to be
diurnal and crepuscular.
● Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Marbled Cat
Northern Indiaand Nepal,
Moist and mixed deciduous- through SouthEast Asia
● Arboreal in nature
evergreen Hunting, habitatdestruction
● Solitary and nocturnal
tropical forests Sikkim, Darjeeling, moist
tropical forest in India
Chiru/Tibetan Antelope ● WPA: Schedule 1

● Medium sized bovid native to the
Tibet Cold desert.
Tibetan Plateau.
● The female chiru migrates up to 300 km
Ladakh regionbesides Hunting for Shahtoosh wool,meat
yearly to calving grounds in the summer,
some places in Himachal and horns
where usually, they give birth to a single
Pradesh borderingTibet,
calf and will rejoin the males at the
Sikkim andNepal
wintering grounds during late autumn.
● Herbivorous
 Large ungulate
Himalayan Tahr
 They have many features common
with true goats, but lack a beard and
Native to the Himalayas, Hunting, deforestation resulting into have several other unique features
in Southern Tibet, competition withlivestock for  These animals are typically active in
northern India and Nepal. grazing the early morningand late afternoon.
 Sexually dimorphic, with females
being smaller in weight and size and
having smaller horns.
Markhor ● National animal of Pakistan
● Diurnal animals
North eastern ● Herbivores
Afghanistan, Northern ● Female markhors live in herds while
Open woodlands, scrublands,
KhyberPakhtunkhwa, males only join herds during the
and forestsmade up primarily Hunting, habitatloss, armed conflict
Jammu and Kashmir, breeding season.
of oaks, pines, and junipers.
South Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan.

● WPA: Schedule 1
Chinkara ● Also known as the IndianGazelle
● They can go without water for long
periods and can get sufficient fluids
from plantsand dew.
Chinkara live in arid plains Native to Iran, ● It has a reddish-buff summer coat with
and hills, deserts, dry scrub Afghanistan, Pakand smooth, glossy fur.In winter, the white
andlight forests. India. belly and throat fur is in greatercontrast
● Horns are found on both males and
females, although they are relatively
shorter infemales.
Maharashtra, Orissa, ● WPA: Schedule 1

Punjab, Rajasthan, ● It is an antelope found only on Indian
Haryana, Gujarat,Andhra subcontinent in Nepal, Pakistan and India
Black Buck/Indian Antelope Pradesh, Karnataka, and ● Only living specie of genusantelope.
Tamil Nadu ● It shows sexual dimorphism
Occur in protected areas: ● Protected by the Bishnoi Community
Blackbuck National Park, who considerblackbuck sacred.
[Gujarat], Point Calimere
● CITES Appendix III
Wildlife and Bird hunting for meatand sporting
Deserts (in the north western
Sanctuary[Tamil Nadu], trophies, habitatloss, habitat
region), coastal areas,
Tal Chhappar Sanctuary fragmentation and loss, free- ranging
mountains (in the northern-
[Rajasthan], National village dogs which nowroam all over
north-easternregion),
Chambal Sanctuary India, killing Blackbuck, Chinkara,
Grasslands
[Rajasthan, MP, UP], Nilgai
Keoladeo National Park
[Rajasthan], Rehekuri
Blackbuck Sanctuary
[Maharashtra],
Ranibennur Blackbuck
Sanctuary [Karnataka],
Guindy National Park
[Tamil Nadu].

Mouse Deer/ Indian chevrotain  WPA: Schedule 1
 They were re-introduced inthe forest of
Inhabits most of the Nallamalla in Amrabad Tiger Reserve,
India, from Tamil Nadu Telangana
and Kerala in the far  It is a nocturnal animal and mostly
south, to at least 24 dwells in the rainforests.
degree North.
Himalayan Blue Sheep/Bharal ● They are neither blue nor sheep. They
are related to genus Capra (goat's
genus)and not genus Ovis (Sheep
High Himalayasof India,
Forest, Shrubland,Grassland,
Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Poaching formeat
Rocky areas
Myanmar and Pakistan.
 WPA: Schedule 1, CITES: Appendix: 1

[Asian population; all others are partof
Appendix II]
Caracal
Found in several  Medium size wild cat. It is an elusive,
countries across Africa, primarily noctural animal, and
the Middle East, Central sightings are notcommon In India, it is
and South called siya gosh, a Persian name that
Captured to be sold as exotic pet, translates as ‘Black Ear’. In Gujarat,
Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Asia.
fragmentation and loss of habitat and called as Hornotro which means killer
Grassland,Desert
increasing urbanisation of a Blackbuck. In Rajasthan it isknown
Rajasthan, Gujarat as Junglee Bilao or Wildcat.
[Kutch]and part of MP.  Typically nocturnal, the caracal is
[Earlier was found in highly secretiveand difficult to observe.
around13 states].
 It is territorial, and lives mainly alone
or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore
that typically preys upon birds, rodents,
and other small mammals.

2. MAMMALS: Marine
ENDANGERED
● WPA: Schedule 1; CITES: Appendix 1
● Freshwater Dolphin
● Also called susu
● National Aquatic Animal
● India’s first observatory for the
Gangetic Dolphins is being built at
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin
Sanctuary, Bihar
Ganges and Brahmaputra ● Gangetic dolphins are one among the
Ganges River Dolphin
Rivers 21species identified under the centrally
and their tributaries in sponsored scheme, “Development of
Bangladesh, India and Wildlife Habitat”.
Loss of habitat, rising salinity in
Nepal ● Schedule I of WPA,1972 & Appendix
Sundarbans,Accidental mortality in
FreshwaterRivers 1of CITES.
fishing net and due to vessel
Assam, Uttar Pradesh, propellers, Pollution ● Being a mammal, the Ganges River
Madhya Pradesh, dolphin cannot breathe in water and
Rajasthan, Bihar, mustsurface every 30-120 seconds.
Jharkhand and West ● It is one of four freshwater dolphin
Bengal. species in the world. The other three
are: 'Baiji' in Yangtze River in China
(Functionally extinct since 2006);
'Boto' in Amazon River; 'Bhulan' in
Indus Riverin Pakistan.
● They are essentially blind and hunt by
emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces
off of fish and other prey, enabling them to
“see” an image in their mind.
Indus River Dolphin Freshwater Indus River in Pakistan Human use of the river systems; ● (CITES): Appendix I

and its Entanglementin fishing nets ● Also called Bhulan
Beas and Sutlej ● They have adapted to life in the muddy
tributaries river and are functionally blind.
● They rely on echolocation to navigate,
communicate and hunt prey including
prawns, catfish, and carp.
● A population can be found in the Harike
Wetland located in Punjab.
● Carnivores (piscivores)-> feed on a variety
of fish and crustaceans, including prawns,
carp, catfish, and gobies.
● WPA: Schedule 1
Irrawaddy Dolphin ● It is an euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin (able to
tolerate a wide range ofsalinity)
● It is found in discontinuous sub- populations near seacoasts
degradation in
and estuaries and rivers in parts of Bay of Bengal.
Irrawaddy River, Ganges, water quality from
● It is also found in South-east Asia
Wetlands,coastal areas Chilika Lake and Mekong mining,
● They are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast
River deforestation and
Asia, and in three rivers: Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the
pollution.
Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (China).
● Appendix I of CITES.
● Dolphin distribution in Chilika is considered to be the
highest single lagoonpopulation.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Found in localised areas of Coastal waters of South

● They prefer the shallow, near shore
patchy distributions mainly in Africa in the south,
waters of countries in the Indian Ocean,
shallow waters veryclose to northwards around the
ideally with a freshwater input.
theshore (<20m coast of East Africa,
● Perform a highly skilled and communal
depth, <1.5 km from shore) throughout the Middle
feeding behavior known as strand
and around rivermouths and East, and the west coastof
feeding.
estuaries. India

VULNERABLE
● Herbivore marine mammal
● Belongs to manatees species.
● Also called ‘Sea Cow’
● Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972:
Schedule I
● The largest population of sea cows is
found in the northern waters of
Australia.
● The second largest population is found
Marine National Park, inthe Arabian Gulf.
Dugong Swamps,rivers, estuaries,
Gulf of Kutch; Gulf of ● Dugongs are not considered migratory
marine
Mannar Marine National butare known to travel great distances
wetlands, and coastalmarine
Park and Palk Strait; Hunting (meat and oil), habitat withintheir range in order to find food.
waters.
Andaman and Nicobar degradation, and fishing-related ● These mammals can stay underwater
Islands fatalities, forsix minutes before surfacing.
red tide, coastaldevelopment ● They sometimes breathe by “standing”
They generally inhabit
Caribbean Sea, Gulf of on their tail with their heads above
shallow waters, remaining at
Mexico, the Amazon water.
depths ofaround 10 m.
Basin, and West Africa ● The primary means of communication
with other dugongs include chirps,
whistles, and barks
● Docile animals who tend to shy away
from humans
● They are long-lived animals (up to 73
years).
● The dugong’s diet is made up of a
variety of aquatic plants and algae,
which they feed on throughout the day
in shallow depths.

3. BIRDS
● It is a nocturnal bird
● It is a flagship species for the
extremelythreatened scrub jungle
● It is a nocturnal bird
Clearing of scrub jungle, creation of ● Rediscovered at Sri
new pastures, illegal trapping of Lankamaleshwara wildlife
Jerdon's Courser(Rhinoptilus Undisturbed scrub jungle with Endemic to Andhra
birds, plantation of exotic trees, sanctuary in Kadapa district,
bitorquatus) (Endemic) open areas Pradesh
quarrying and constructionof river Andhra pradesh
canals (Telegu Ganga Canal ● Jerdon’s Courser is Endemic to
Andhra Pradesh. Evidence of presence
neighboring areas of the state of
Maharashtra and southern Madhya
Pradesh
The bird occupies a 3-4 ● First spotted in Arunachal Pradesh
square kilometre area in ● It was described as a new specie in
thetemperate forest 2006 after being discovered from in
within the traditional Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in
lands of Singchung Arunachal Pradesh
Found at an altitude of2,000
village in Arunachal ● Bugun liocichla was the first bird
m (6,600 ft) on
Bugun Liocichla Pradesh. discovered since India’s
disturbed hillsides covered
It is mostly seen in select Independence.
with shrubsand small trees
pockets of Eaglenest
Wildlife Sanctuary and
Singchung Bugun Village
Community Reserve
(SBVCR).
Found in five or six sites Loss and degradation oflowland ● It is inherently rare, and population
Rivers with sand or gravel inAssam and Arunachal forests and has neverbeen known to be very high
White-belliedHeron bars or inland Pradesh, one or two sites wetlands through direct
lakes in Bhutan, and a few in exploitation and
Myanmar disturbance by humans.

● A rare bustard species that is very well
Cambodia, India [UP, known for its mating dance.
Grasslands occasionally Conversion of the bird’s grassland
Bengal Florican
interspersed with scrublands
Assam and Arunachal
habitat ● Secretive males advertise their
Pradesh] and Nepal territories by springing from the
ground and flitting to and fro in the air
● Presumed to be extinct since no
reliable records of sightings of this
species exist after 1876.
Western Himalayas – It
Himalayan Quail
Tall grass and scrub on steep
was known from 2
Indiscriminate hunting during the ● Hard to detect due to its reluctance to
hillsides colonial period; habitat modification. fly and its preference for dense grass
locations in Uttarakhand
habitats.
● Possible sighting of this species was
reported in Nainital in 2003
Overgrown still-water pools, ● It has not been conclusively recorded
marshes and swamps in India, Bangladesh and Wetland degradation, loss of habitat, in India since 1949.
Pink- headed Duck lowland forests and tall Myanmar hunting ● Males have a deep pink head and neck
grasslands from which the bird derives its name.
Central Asia, Asia Minor, ● Migrates to India during winters.
Russia, Egypt, India,
Conversion of habitat to arable land, ● Suffered a sudden and rapid
Pakistan.
Sociable Lapwing Fallow fields and scrub desert illegal hunting and proximity to population decline.
human settlements.
India – north and north-
west of the country
Habitat degradation and land ● It requires highly specialized breeding
Coastal areas with sparse West Bengal, Orissa, reclamation. Human disturbance habitat, a constraint that has always
Spoon Billed Sandpiper
vegetation. Kerala and Tamil Nadu. which leads to kept its population scarce which has
nest desertion kept its population low
● It is a large, strikingly majestic
Pesticide pollution, wetland migratory bird that breeds and winters
Keoladeo National Park,
Siberian Crane Wetlands drainage, conversion of habitat into in wetlands.
Rajasthan.
agricultural fields, hunting ● Last documented sighting of the bird
was in 2002

● WPA: Schedule 1; Convention on
Migratory Birds: Appendix 1
It is Endemic to Indian
● It is a large bird with horizontal body and
Sub- continent, found in
long legs giving it an ostrich like
central India, western
appearance. It is among the heaviest of
arid and semi-arid grasslands, India and eastern
flying birds
open country with thorn Pakistan
Hunting, loss of habitat, accidents ● It is one of the Species for the
Great Indian Bustard scrub, tall grass.
due to high tension electricity cables Recovery Programme under the
Desert National Park
Integrated Development of Wildlife
It avoids irrigated areas Sanctuary (Rajasthan),
Habitats of the Ministry of
Naliya (Gujarat), Warora
Environment and Forests.
(Maharashtra) and
● Rajasthan has the highest population.
Bellary (Karnataka)
● Project Godawan : A community step
to conserve GIB
White-backed
Across India
Vulture / White Rumped vulture
Slender Billed Sub-Himalayan regions
Vulture and into Southeast Asia
It is found only to the ● Also called Indian Vulture.
south of the Ganges and
breeds on cliffs
Long - billed Vulture
The Indian vulture/long
billed vulture is native to
India, Pakistan and Nepal.
● It is the smallest bustard in the world,
weighing between 500 g to 700 g, and
is found only in India
● Also known as the likh or kharmore
Endemic to the Indian ● Best known for the leaping breeding
Velvadar in Gujarat and
Subcontinent where it is displays made by the males during the
Lesser Florican found in tall Shokaliya-Bhinai village Destruction of grasslands
monsoon season.
of Rajasthan
grasslands ● The male has a contrasting black and
white breeding plumage and
distinctive elongated head feathers
that extend behind the neck.
● WPA : Schedule 1
Across India ● Also known as the Asian king vulture,
Mainly found in the Indian black vulture or Pondicherry
Indian subcontinent, with vulture
Red-Headed Vulture
small populations in ● It has no subspecies
some parts of Southeast
Asia.
ENDANGERED
South Madhya Pradesh, Logging operations, burning and
in north-west cutting of treesdamage roosting and
Forest Owlet Dry deciduous forest
Maharashtra andnorth- nesting trees of the Forest
central Maharashtra Owlet.
● This bird has only three known breeding
grounds in the world: 2 in India (Assam
Greater AdjutantStork India, Cambodia and Bihar) and one in Cambodia.
● In Bihar, its numbers have increased
from 78in 2007 to 600 in 2020.
VULNERABLE
● It is also known as the great Indian
hornbill or great pied hornbill
Rainforest regions of
● It is one of the larger members of the
India, Southeast India
hornbill family.
● It is long lived, living for nearly 50
years in captivity
Great Indian They occur in primary Western Ghats and North
Habitat loss and hunting ● State Bird of Kerala and Arunachal
Hornbill evergreen and moist eastern region of India
Pradesh
deciduous forest, mainly in
● These are found in three separate areas
lowland forest, but they can
in South Asia; in the Western Ghats,
be found up to 2,000 meters
the Himalayan foothills in Uttaranchal
in some areas.
to south Nepal and Bhutan, and north-
east India.
Endemic to the ● These are frugivores that primarily eat
Narcondam hornbill Narcondam Island fruits and berries.
(Endemic) (volcanic island) in
Andamans

NEAR THREATENED
● breeds on the Tibetan plateau and
China, Bhutan, India
Black-neckedCrane migrates toTawang for the winter
(State bird of Ladakh)
● Sacred to certain Buddhist traditions
● It is a large wader in the stork family.
wetlands of the plainsof
tropical Asia southof ● They are not migratory and only make
Karnataka, TN and short distance movements in some
Painted Stork Himalayas in the Indian sub-
AndhraPradesh parts of their range in response to
continent and extending to
South East Asia changes in weather or food
availability or for breeding.
LEAST CONCERN
● They are one of the birds which can fly
evenat high altitudes
● Their ability to sustain the high oxygen
demands of flight in air that is
exceedingly oxygen-thin is exceptional
● Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is
Modern winter habitatof the considered to be one of the world’s
species is cultivated fields, highest-flying birds.
Central China and
Bar Headed Geese where it feeds on barley, rice
Mongolia ● Native to Central Asia, this species is
and wheat,and may damage capable of flying through the passes of
crops. high mountainsat an altitude of 12,000
to 14,000 feet.
● It spends the winters in South Asia, as
far south as peninsular India. It
migrates south from Tibet,
Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia
before crossing the Himalayas.
● It is one of the longest migrating small
birdsthat was sighted for the first time
European and the
Willow Warbler in India inThiruvanathapuram.
Palearcticregions,
● The birds migrate to sub-Saharan
Africaduring early winter

● WII, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
and Department of Biotechnology have
begun a study of the migration of pied
cuckoo from Africa to India to
understand its relationship with climate
patterns. It is part of a larger project -
Indian Bioresource Information Network
Southern India, North and (IBIN), funded by DBT.
Pied Cuckoo/JacobianCuckoo
Central India
● There are two populations of Pied
Cuckoo found in India- southern part
(resident) and North and Central India
(migratory).
● It is primarily arboreal (lives on trees),
lays its eggs in nests that belong to
other birds.
● It is also called Rubigula
Flame-throated Bulbul Western Ghats ● It was the mascot of 36th National
Games held in Goa in 2020.
● State Bird: Goa
4. REPTILES
● It is the most uniquely evolved crocodilian inthe world, a
specialized, river-dwelling, fish-eater.
● It is migratory in nature and nesting occurs in about 70
Viable population: National
countries across the world
Chambal Sanctuary spread across Dams, barrages, artificialembankments,
● Are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguishedby their long,
flowing rivers with MP, UP, Rajasthan change in river course, pollution, sand-
Gharial thin snouts
high sand bank mining, riparian agriculture and ingress
● Population of Gharials are a good indicator ofclean river
Others: Son, Gandak,Hoogly and ofdomestic and feral livestock.
water.
Ghagra rivers.
● Breeding Centres of Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation
Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, National Chambal
Sanctuary (GharialEco Park, Madhya Pradesh).

Hawksbill Sea
Nesting takes place
Found in tropical reefs of theIndian, Turtle shell trade, egg collection, ● Hawksbills nest on insular and mainland sandy beaches
ininsular sandy throughout the tropics andsubtropics.
Turtle Pacific and Atlantic Oceans slaughter formeat, oil pollution and
beaches.
● Maturation is slow and is estimated between 25 – 40 years
India: Andaman and Nicobar
destruction of nesting and foraging
● species is migratory in nature and nesting occurs in about
Islands, the coast of Tamil Nadu 70 countries across the world
habitats
and Orissa ● In India they are found in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, the coast of Tamil Nadu and Orissa
● WPA: Scheduled 1
● Northern river terrapins spend most of their time in water
Four-toed River and only come on land to lay eggs.
Freshwater rivers Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Use of flesh for medicinal purposes,
Terrapin or River ● They are even known to undertake long seasonal
and lakes. Indonesia and Malaysia demand for eggs
Terrapin migrations of 80-95 km to the sandbanks where they were
hatched. Northern river terrapins are social creatures and
are often seen basking together during the day
Red-crowned
Deep, flowing Water development projects, water ● Endemic to South Asia
Roofed Turtle or ● In India: it resides basically in watersheds of Ganga.
rivers but with India, Bangladesh and Nepal pollution, human disturbance and
the Bengal Roof
terrestrial nest sites poaching for the illegal wildlife market.
Turtle
ENDANGERED
North, North east and a fewparts of ● It is called Indian Pond Turtle
Central India ● WPA : Schedule I
Black Spotted It is also reported to be foundin
Used for meat ● CITES : Appendix I
Turtle Gomti and Girwa rivers inUttar
Pradesh, Aravalli foothills and
Gandak Dam inBihar.
● WPA Schedule 1
Indian Soft-Shell ● CITES : Appendix I
Ganges, Indus, Mahanadi Used for meat
Turtle ● It is also known as Ganges Soft Shell Turtle
● Indian softshell turtle is omnivorous,
VULNERABLE
● WPA: Schedule 1
water pollution, habitat destruction,
● While the Mugger crocodile hatchlings are pale olive with
Crocodylus native to freshwater Southern Iran, Pakistan,India and sedimentation,food shortage, egg
black spots, the adults are darkolive to grey or brown
Palustris (Mugger) habitat Sri Lanka collection and seasonal fluctuation of
● They are an egg-laying and hole-nestingspecies
water level.
● It preys on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
tropical and temperate watersof the
High sea fishing operations,harvesting ● Largest of the seven species of sea turtles onthe planet and
Atlantic, Pacific, and into Indian of eggs, destruction of nests by wild also the most long-ranging
predators and domesticated species
tropical and Oceans ● Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act,1972
LeatherbackTurtle such as cats, dogs and pigs, Artificial
subtropical oceans lighting,
India: Restricted to Great and Little
Construction, mining andplantation of
Nicobar Islands exotics.
● WPA: Schedule 1
● Appendix 1 in CITES
● Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle
Coast of Orissa [GahirmathaBeach] ● Olive Ridley turtles along with Kemps Ridleyturtle (CR)
is the largest mass nesting site for are known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada,
unsustainable egg collection, where thousands of females come together on the same
Inhabit warm waters Olive Ridleyturtles followed by
slaughtering nesting females on the beach to lay eggs.
Olive Ridley Sea of the Pacific, coast of Mexico and Coast ofCosta
Atlanticand Indian Rica
beach, and direct harvestingadults ● They get its name from its olive coloured carapace, which
Turtle
at sea for commercial saleof both the is heart-shaped and rounded.
oceans. Found in the world, inhabiting
warm waters ofthe Pacific, Atlantic
meat and hides ● Males and females grow to the same size; however,
and Indian oceans. females have a slightly more rounded carapace as
compared to the male.
● They are carnivores, and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp,
snails, crabs, molluscs and a variety of fish and their eggs.
● smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles
Indian Star dry and scrub ● WPA: Schedule IV
India and Sri Lanka. Exotic pet trade
Tortoise forests ● (CITES): Appendix I
NEAR THREATENED
Endemic to western Habitat conversion and
Sispara day gecko
Ghats modification

LEAST CONCERN
Salt water crocodile Typically Found in the brackish It is found in India, Bangladesh, Habitat destruction, It is the largest of the 23 species of
water of estuaries. Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the fragmentation, and ‘extant’ or living crocodilians.
Philippines, Papua New Guinea, transformation, fishing CITES: Appendix I (except the
Australia and the Solomon activities and use of crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia
Islands. parts for medicinal purposes. and Papua New Guinea, which are
included in Appendix II).
5. FISH
● WPA: Schedule 1 (Part IIA)
● Known as ‘Pala Sora’ in the local parlance, the
Pondicherry Shark is on the verge of extinction.
Indian Ocean – from
● The Pondicherry shark was once found throughout
The Pondicherry Gulf ofOman to Large, expanding, and unregulated commercial
Indo-Pacific coastal waters fromthe Gulf of Oman to
Shark Pakistan, India and fisheries in inshore localities and habitats
New Guinea, and is known to enter fresh water.
Sri Lanka
● The shark is among the 25 “most wanted lost”species
that are the focus of Global Wildlife Conservation’s
“Search for Lost Species” initiative
 WPA: Schedule 1 (Part IIA)
The GangesShark
Ganges, Bay of Overfishing, pollution, increasing river use and  The small eyes suggest that it is adapted to living in
Bengal construction of dams turbid water (just like dugong), whilethe slender teeth
of the species suggest that it is primarily a fish-eater.
Western part of the  WPA: Schedule 1 (Part IIA)
Indo-Pacific  Sawfish are elasmobranchs, which means that their
Fisheries, high value of meat, fins, saws; construction skeleton is made of cartilage.
Large-toothSawfish India: Mahanadi of dams over rivers, siltation, pollution from industries
and miningoperations
 They are closely related to sharks and have shark
river, andestuaries of
shaped bodies and, hence, are also calledflat sharks.
Ganga and
Brahmaputra

Long-combSawfish
Indo-Pacific region
Target species as well asincidental by catch in  WPA: Schedule 1 ( Part IIA)
includingAustralia,  Also called Green sawfish
or commercial, sport or shark-
Cambodia, China,
Narrow-snout India, Indonesia and control net fisheries, as well
Sawfish Malaysia as for aquarium display
ENDANGERED
Knife-tooth
western part of the Target species as well as incidental by catch in  It is also called narrow sawfish or pointedsawfish
Indo- Pacific region, commercial, sport or shark-control net fisheries, as
Sawfish
including RedSea well as for aquarium display
6. SPIDERS
Species Habitat Distribution Threat Other characteristics
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPIDERS
Rameshwaram Ornamental or Arboreal (living in trees) coastal savannah, tropicallowland rain habitat alteration and ● Endemic to India
Rameshwaram Parachute Spider and tend to livein hiding forests and montane forests up to an degradation
● The species is semi-social, which
altitude of 2000 m above
means theylive partly in groups.
mean sea level
Gooty Tarantula Wooded mountainarea Endemic to South India Illegal pet trade ● Also called Metallic Tarantula or
PeacockTarantula

7. SPECIES IN NEWS
 Northern Pintail = They inhabit wetlands, agricultural fields, flooded grasslands, lakesides, tundra, sheltered estuaries, marshes and lagoons + Breedingpopulations occur in Nearctic and
Palearctic regions in Europe, North America and North Asia + The wintering pintail ducks move to Africa, South America and South and East Asia, including the Indian Subcontinent +
IUCN: Least Concerned + These migratory pintail ducks are seen across several water bodies in India during winter season.
 Nicobar long-tailed Macaque = The largest mammal on the Nicobat island is the Nicobar long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis umbrosa), a vulnerable subspecies of the larger family
of long-tailed macaques found across South-East Asia + The macaque is found in only three of the Nicobar islands—Katchal, Little Nicobar, and Great Nicobar—with GNI being home to
the largest population + IUCN: Vulnerable + (Nicobar megapode = Another flagship species from GNI is the Nicobar megapode ( Megapodius nicobariensis), a medium-sized scrubfowl
species found only in a few Nicobarislands + Large, brownish bird with a small gray head and massive legs and feet + Builds a large mound for a nest, from where the newly-hatched chicks
dig themselves out and become immediately independent + IUCN: Vulnerable)
 Spot-Bellied Eagle Owl = A wildlife team has stumbled upon a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl (Bubo Nipalensis) for the first time in the Seshachalam forest and for the third time in Andhra
Pradesh + Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, also known as the Forest eagle-owl is a large owl species and are known for their distinctive spots on their belly + It is a forest-inhabiting species found
in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos,Cambodia and Vietnam. These species occur in altitudes from 300 to 3000 meters. The bird is found on
large trees in thick forests. It feeds on small rodents and lizards + IUCN: Least Concern + Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV + CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): Appendix II + Note: The bird makes a strange scream similar to humans and it is hence called the ‘ghost of the forest’in India and ‘devil bird’
in Sri Lanka.
 Indian Star Tortoises = Schedule IV of WPA,1972 + Vulnerable + Prohibited from export under the foreign trade policy + Liable for confiscation underCustoms act,1962 + found in dry
areas and scrub forest in India and Sri Lanka + CITES: Appendix I + The species faces two threats: loss of habitat to agriculture and illegal harvesting for the pet trade.
 Sedge Warbler = Birders and ornithologists recently in the State of Kerala spotted a migratory bird the Sedge Warbler + The sedge warbler is a medium-sized warbler of marshes, reedbeds
and wetlands that can be spotted singing from perches on reeds and willow bushes + The male sedge warbler introducesrandom phrases into its repertoire which is known for mimicking + The
male warbler never sings the same song twice; he attracts more mates the more phrases his song has + These are insectivores in nature + IUCN Red List: Least concern.
 Himalayan Griffon Vulture = Migratory bird species native to Himalayas + spotted in Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu + usually foundin the high-altitude regions + originate
from Himalayan Chain and Plateau of Tibet + IUCN status: Near Threatened + Appendix II of the CITES.
 Ghol Fish = Gujarat recently declared the black-spotted croaker (Protonibea Diacanthus), locally known as the Ghol fish, as the state fish + Distribution:Indo-Pacific region that stretches
from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean + It is excellent source of high-quality protein and rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acid.
 White Tufted Royal Butterfly = Researchers have found white tufted royal butterfly at Kalliyad in Kannur, Kerala + White Tufted Royal Butterfly is a rare species +The species had been
spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala in 2018 + The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm + Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant
belonging to the Loranthaceae family + It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
 Greater Scaup = A rare species of duck, Greater Scaup, was recently sighted in Loktak lake in Manipur’s Bishnupur district after a gap of over 90 years + The GreaterScaup is a medium-
sized diving duck species that belongs to the family of Anatidae + The greater scaup species is distributed in Asia, Europe, United States and Canada.It is a rare visitor to the Indian Subcontinent
+ The greater scaup species are highly migratory, breeding near arctic regions and migrating to the warmer south from August onwards + IUCN: Least Concern.
 Yangtze Finless Porpoise = Scientists recently found that checking sand mining in Dongting lake in China can help the rebounding of the population of the Yangtze finless porpoise + The
Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia is home to these porpoises + The Yangtze finless porpoise belongs to the group of animals which also includes dolphins and whales + It is the only
freshwater porpoise in the world and breeds just once in 18 months + Overfishing, increased shipping traffic and noise pollution have all been linked with the decline of the porpoise + IUCN:
Critically Endangered.

 Red-Billed Quelea = It is a small, short-tailed weaver with a mottled back and a yellow or reddish bill + Large flocks are resident and nomadic in arid savanna, grassland, and cultivated
areas + IUCN: Least Concerned + Kenya's government began to kill up to 6 million red-billed quelea birds, the world's most populous bird species which are also known as 'feathered
locusts'. The preferred method for eradicating pests in Africa has been to spray fenthion, which is an organophosphate pesticide, but scientists have noted that the substance is toxic to people
and other non-target organisms. Fenthion has been listed in Annex III of the Rotterdam conventionwhich aims to reduce risks from hazardous chemicals in agriculture.
 Bar Headed Goose(Anser Indicus) = Bar-headed geese are found in central China and Mangolia and they breed there + They start migration to the Indian sub-continentduring the winter and
stay here till the end of the season + They are one of the birds which can fly even at very high altitude. They come to India and return to their homes by crossing the Himalayan ranges +
capacity of bar-headed geese to transport and consume oxygen at high rates in hypoxia distinguishes this species from similar lowland waterfowl + Least Concern + WPA – Schedule II.
 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo = Chestnut-winged cuckoo was recently being sighted in newer spots around the Chennai city while it makes its way down the CoromandelCoast towards its
wintering habitats further south and in Sri Lanka + They are mostly migratory and breed during summer in north India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southeast China, Laos,
Thailand and Vietnam + IUCN Status: Least Concern.
 Asiatic Golden Cat = It is also called Temminck's cat, the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China + It is a medium-sized wild cat native to the northeastern
Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China + IUCN: Near Threatened + WP Act, 1972- Schedule I + The species occurs in Southeast Asia, from Nepal and Tibet to Southern China,
Sumatra and India + It prefers forest habitats that are interspersed with rocky areas, being found in deciduous, tropical and subtropical evergreen rainforests.
 Black- Headed Ibis = It is a large wader bird with a white body and bare black head and neck. Males and females look similar and both have grayish tail feathers + They are found primarily
around wetlands including agricultural fields and occasionally around coastal areas + These are called wader birds due to their adaptability toa wide variety of aquatic environments + It is
found in South- and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan + IUCN Red List: Near Threatened + Wildlife Protection Act 1972:Schedule-IV.
 Black-necked Stork = It is a tall long-necked wading bird in the stork family + It is a resident species across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia with a disjunct population in Australia
+ The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar and the Marine National Park along the coast of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka district harborthe largest population of BNS in Gujarat + It
lives in wetland habitats and near fields of certain crops such as rice and wheat where it forages for a wide range of animal prey + IUCN status: “Near Threatened” + (Bardasagar reservoir
= It is located in the Porbandar district, Gujarat + The Bardasagar dam and farms on its periphery arethe ideal winter escape for thousands of cranes. Common crane and Demoiselle crane)
 Noble’s Helen = “Extremely rare” Noble’s Helen (Papilio noblei) butterflies were recorded from three locations in the Namdapha National Park of Arunachal Pradesh in 2021 + The Noble’s
Helen, recorded from the Namdapha National Park, is disappearing from its previously known ranges in Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam + It is a swallowtail
butterfly with a wingspan of 100–120 mm + They are considered vital indicators of the state of biodiversity and key ecosystem functions.
 Garrarnawun Bush Tomato = Recently Scientists are proposing to include the species in the "Data Deficient" category of the IUCN Red List + It is currently found only in Judbarra/Gregory
National Park in the Australia’s Northern Territory + It is a perennial pale green shrub about 30 cm tall.
 Zebra fish = It is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family, native to rivers and streams of South Asia + It has dark-blue and silvery longitudinal stripes + IUCN status: Least
Concern.
 Great White Pelicans = It is mainly found in southeastern Europe, Asia and Africa + It is also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican + They have feet withall 4 toes webbed
which is known as ‘totipalmate’ + It is associated with relatively large, warm, shallow fresh, brackish, alkaline or saline lakes, lagoons, marshes, broad rivers, deltas, estuaries and coasts of
landlocked seas + IUCN status: Least Concern.
 Mahabali Frog = The purple frog, also known as pignose frog, is one of the rarest frog species Endemic to the Western Ghats + These frogs live underground for theirwhole lives and breed
only during the rainy season each year. Following their brief courtship above the ground, they quietly go back under the soil in a few days, where they lay eggs. The frog was named after the
mythical King Mahabali, as the king visits his people once a year from the underneath world only on the Thiruvonam day + IUCN - Near Threatened.
 Black Vulture = It is native to the north-eastern United States and a few South American countries like Peru, central Chile, and Uruguay + They breed in dense woodlands but forage in
open habitats, and they are most abundant at low elevations + IUCN status: Least Concern.

 Soliga Ecarinata = Researchers have named a new genus of wasp after the Soliga indigenous community of Biligiri Rangan Hills (B.R. Hills) of Karnataka + The Soliga ecarinata is a new
wasp that belongs to the subfamily Metopiinae of the Darwin wasps family Ichneumonidae + These are seen only in the Palaearctic region, Neotropical and Nearctic regions + This is the
second genus of this subfamily reported from India and the first from South India + (Soliga Community = Soligas are the indigenous dwellers of BR Hills + They are dependent on collecting
a wide range of non-timber forest products (NTFP), small game hunting and shifting cultivation for their livelihood + After BR Hills was designated a wildlife sanctuary, shifting cultivation
and hunting were completely banned and the Soligas were allocated small pieces of land to practice settled agriculture) + (Biligiri Rangan Hills = BR Hills falls under the confluence of the
Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and the unique geographical positioning makes it one of the richest areas for biodiversity in India + The Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife
Sanctuary or BRT Wildlife Sanctuary is located near BR Hills + It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and also a tiger reserve)
 Pallas’s Cats = Recently researchers have discovered one of the planet's rarest Pallas cats for the first time in the Mount Everest Region + The Pallas’s cat, also known as manul, is a small
wild cat, perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions typical of its habitat + Naturally secretive, it is rarely seen and little known + Habitat: Wide but fragmented distribution throughout montane
grasslands and steppes of Central Asia + Its core populations are in Mongolia and China + IUCN Red List: Least concern.
 White-Tailed Deer = It is also known as whitetail or Virginia deer + They are the smallest members of the North American deer family + IUCN: Least Concern + Recently, a study
discovered widespread infection of white-tailed deer with SARS-CoV-2 virus across the state of New York
 Red-headed Vulture = Red-headed vulture (also called Asian King vulture or Pondicherry Vulture) was extensively found in India but its numbers drastically reducedafter diclofenac
poisoning + This is one of the 9 species of Vulture which are found in India + IUCN: Critically Endangered + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: ScheduleI + Recently, The Red-headed vulture
was spotted in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. For the first time since 2017, birders spotted a red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) in the Bhatti mines area of Delhi.
 Pilot Whales = Pilot Whale Strandings was seen recently at coastline of Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka + Whale stranding, also known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales are stuck on
land, usually on a beach + Pilot whales are so named because it was once believed that each observed group was navigated by a pilot or leader + There are two species of pilot whales: Short
finned pilot whales, which are mainly found in tropical and warm-temperate regions, and long-finned pilot whales, which inhabit colder waters + IUCN Status of both: Least Concern.
 Rhododendrons = They are a diverse genus of about 1,000 species of woody flowering plants in the heath family (Ericaceae), notable for their attractive flowers and handsome foliage +
They are native to the temperate regions of Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as to the tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia + They occur in a variety of habitats,
including alpine regions, coniferous and broadleaved woodlands, temperate rain forests, and even tropical jungle + Theyalso require a slightly acid soil to grow well + Rhododendron, also
known as "Lali Guras" in local language, is the national flower of Nepal and the state tree of the state of Uttarakhand in India + In India, Pink Rhododendron is the state flower of Himachal
Pradesh, while Rhododendron arboreum is the state flower of Nagaland and the official State Tree of Uttarakhand + Recently, the Botanical Survey of India has published a new report titled
'Rhododendrons of Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya- An Illustrated Account', which lists 45 taxa of rhododendrons.
 Thyreus Narendrani = A new species of cuckoo bee, Thyreus narendrani, has been discovered in Kerala + The new species was collected from the kolewetland ecosystem + The new
species belongs to the family Apidae of the order Hymenoptera + The genus Thyreus consists of cuckoo bees or cleptoparasitic bees. Cuckoo bees parasitise the nest of other bees by breaking
and entering and laying their eggs. Unlike other female bees, cuckoo beeslack pollen-collecting structures + (Kole Wetland = Kole wetlands are unique and productive ecosystems located
in Thrissur and Malappuram districts, Kerala and were declared as Ramsar sites in 2002 + The area extends from Chalakudy River in South to Bharathapuzha River in the North)
 Kharai Camel = They are a rare breed of camel found in the salt marshes of the Kutch district of Gujarat + Their name is derived from the local word khara, meaning saline + It is well
adapted to the saline desert environment and is known for its ability to swim (hence also known as ‘swimming camel’) + They swim long distances in the sea to reach their grazing areas,
usually more than 3 km at a time, even in deep water + Kharai camels mostly feed on mangroves + They are considered a unique Eco-tonal species as they survive in the dryland ecosystem
as well as the coastal ecosystem + Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered.
 Pancorius sebastiani = A New species of jumping spiders’ Pancorius sebastiani’ has been discovered from the Western Ghats + Males and the Females of this speciesexhibit reddish brown
carapace + They have yellowish abdomens with black patches and chevron-shaped markings posteromedially + Only two States, West Bengaland Tamil Nadu, have reported high numbers
of Salticidae species.

 Melocanna Baccifera = It is a tropical bamboo species known for its association with the occurrence of ‘bamboo death,’ ‘rat floods’ and famines in northeast India + Called ‘Muli’ in
northeast India, it is the largest fruit-producing bamboo and is native to the northeast India-Myanmar region.
 Alcalus fontinalis = A new species of frog named Alcalus fontinalis discovered in the state of Arunachal Pradesh (in the Namdapha Tiger Reserve) + The frog appeared to be a mix of a
bush frog & a water frog, something not seen before in India + They are no ordinary frogs but members of a dwarf mountain frog of the genus Alcalus, hitherto unknown from India.
 Raccoon Dogs = The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a small, carnivorous mammal native to East Asia + Raccoon dogs have a distinctive black and white facial mask, and their
fur is thick and fluffy + They are the only canids that hibernate during the winter + Raccoon dogs are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. They are
native to East Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, and parts of Russia + IUCN:Least Concern + Recently, A new analysis of genetic data collected from the Huanan Seafood Market in
Wuhan, China, has linked coronavirus to raccoondogs, adding evidence to the belief that the pandemic might have originated from the infected animals sold at the site.
 Ibisbill = It is a bird which belongs to the family Ibidorhynchidae. It is the only species in this family + It is a charismatic and uncommon wader seen in the Himalayas and foothills of India
+ They are common in Central Asia and the Himalayas. They are found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Bhutan,
Myanmar and China + It lives at high altitudes near rivers. They exhibit altitudinal migration, breeding in the higher reaches of the mountains and descending to lower elevations during
winters + IUCN: Least Concern
 Eurasian Otter = It is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal + Scientific Name: Lutra lutra + It has one of the widest distributions of all Palaearctic mammals. Its range covers parts of three
continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. In India, it occurs in northern, northeast, and southern India + In the Indiansub-continent, Eurasian otters occur in cold hill and mountain streams +
IUCN: Near threatened + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: + Schedule II CITES: Appendix I + Recently Eurasian otters spotted in Neeru stream, Jammu & Kashmir.
 Indian Black Turtle = The Indian black turtle is a medium-sized found across the Indian subcontinent + It is an aquatic species, mainly associated with standing water bodies, sometimes
rivers + The species is an omnivore, consuming both aquatic macrophytes and invertebrates + The distribution in Indiaincludes the hill ranges of the Western Ghats, south of Gujarat, and the
southeast coast, and then a separate disjunct distribution in northern and northeasternIndia + Conservation status: IUCN: Least concern.
 Olive Ridley Turtles / Pacific Ridley Sea Turtle = The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world + It is found in warm and tropical waters,
primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean + Olive Ridley Turtle and the related Kemp's Ridley Turtle are best known for their unique
synchronised mass nestings called arribadas, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs + The olive ridley is predominantly carnivorous + IUCN Red List:
Vulnerable + The Gahirmatha Beach in Kendrapara district of Odisha (India), which is now a part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, is the largest breeding ground for these turtles +
Thereare two mass nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha — the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and the Rushikulya coast + Besides, Puri and Devi River mouth beaches too host
Olive Ridley turtles this time around.
 Horseshoe Crabs = The horseshoe crab is a marine chelicerate arthropod living in shallow coastal waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms and spawns mostly on intertidal beaches at summer-
spring high tides + It is known as a marine ‘living fossil’ + Odisha is the largest habitat of horseshoe crabs in India+ Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule IV + There are four extant horseshoe
crab species: American horseshoe crab (Vulnerable); Tri-spine horseshoe crab (Endangered); Coastal horseshoe crab (not listed yet) and Mangrove horseshoe crab (not listed yet) + Please
Note: The Chelicerata is a division within the Arthropoda, containing animals such as spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, mites and ticks. Like all arthropods, they have a segmented body and
segmented limbs and a thick chitinous cuticle called an exoskeleton
 Exostoma Dhritiae = It is a new species of catfish of the genus Exostoma + It was found in Siking stream, a tributary of the Siang River in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh +
It is a small fish locally called 'Ngorang' by local tribals + The new species has been named 'Exostoma Dhritiae' after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the ZSI.
 Great Seahorse = They are known for their unique appearance, with a horse-like head, long snout, and a curled tail that they use to cling onto seagrasses,corals, and other underwater structures
+ Seahorses are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate salt water throughout the world, from about 45°S to 45°N + Seahorses are unique in that the males carry and give birth to the
young + Seahorses are also known for their ability to change color and blend in with their surroundings, which helps them to avoid predators. They feed on small crustaceans and plankton,
which they suck up through their snouts. They live in sheltered areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, and mangroves + There are 46 known species of seahorses worldwide.

India's coastal ecosystems are home to nine of the twelve species found in the Indo-Pacific, which is a hotspot for seahorse populations + These nine species aredistributed along the coasts
of eight States and five Union Territories from Gujarat to Odisha, apart from Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands + IUCN: Vulnerable + CITES: Appendix II.
 Dragon Fruit = The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is indigenous to the Americas. It is a member of the cacti family + Its flowers are hermaphrodites(male and female organs in the same
flower) in nature and open at night + It is also known as ‘Pitaya’, ‘Pitahaya’, strawberry pear, noblewoman and queen of the night throughout the world + In India, it is also known as
‘Kamalam’ + The world’s largest producer and exporter of dragon fruit is Vietnam + They grow in regions where summer temperatures rise above forty degrees Celsius. It grows in all kinds
of soil and does not require much water + Recently, the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare approved a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Dragon Fruit (Kamalam Fruit) to be
establishedby the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka.
 Kappaphycus Alvarezii = It is seaweed (alga) which is native to the Indo-Pacific region + The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it asone of the world’s 100 most invasive
species + It recently invaded Gulf of Mannar + (Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park = Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically richest coastal regions in all of the mainland of India.
It is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and South East Asia + It is designated as a Biosphere Reserve + In India, the Gulf of Mannar region in Tamil Nadu is one of the four major
coral reef areas and the others are the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, Lakhsadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands)
 Sea Slugs = Recently, scientists documented a unique species of sea slugs from the Visakhapatnam coast + Sea slugs belong to Phylum Mollusca and Class Gastropoda. They look like
naked snails, i.e., without shells + Sea slugs are found in the sea and some slugs live on land as well + A unique speciesof nudibranch sea slugs were documented on the Visakhapatnam shore.
These sea slugs are found in places with abundant prey bases which may vary from sponges, hydroids and algae + The nudibranchs are usually found in coral reefs and their presence is a
significant indicator of a strong coral ecosystem + They mainly feed on algae and are usually seen in large numbers when there is an algal bloom + Most nudibranchs are active throughout
the day, but some species are also nocturnal.
 Moray eel = Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of Moray eel at the Mudasalodai fish landing centre off the Cuddalore coast, Tamil Nadu + Moray eels or Muraenidae are
a family of eels found worldwide + Moray eels live in shallow water among reefs and rocks in all tropical and subtropical seas + Moray eels can be found in both freshwater and saltwater
environments + Moray eels have small eyes and rely primarily on their highlydeveloped sense of smell to ambush prey + The newly discovered species has been named after Tamil Nadu as
Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis with commonname as Tamil Nadu brown moray.
 Cnemaspis Ganeshaiahi = New species of gecko, Endemic to Male Mahadeshwar hill Wild Life Sanctuary + Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of
Karnataka. It is contiguous to BRT Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserveand the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
 Cyrtopodion Vindhya = Recently, a new species of naked-toed gecko (Cyrtopodion) has been discovered in Dahod and Panchmahals districts in Gujarat + It is the fifth Endemic species of
reptile described in the last fifteen years from the state of Gujarat + The new species is named after the Vindhya hill ranges + The Palearctic naked-toed geckos of the genus Cyrtopodion
are a group of gekkonid lizards distributed across the arid regions of north Africa, Arabia, and Central Asia to northwestern India.
 Trichrysis Poseidonia = The new species of cuckoo wasp has been named Trichrysis poseidonia + poseidonia specimens were collected from Tamil Nadu and Madayipara in Kannur.
Another specimen was obtained from Nepal + These wasps belong to the family Chrysididae.The members of the familyChrysididae are more active in warm areas and they are heliophilic
(more active in sunlight).
 Mimeusemia Ceylonica = Two researchers from Tamil Nadu have spotted a rare moth species for the first time in India in the buffer zone of the Kalakkad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)
after it was last sighted 127 years ago - at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in 1893 + Mimeusemia ceylonica is a moth species belonging to the subfamily Agaristinae and family Noctuidae + It
was first illustrated and described by English entomologist George Hampson in1893. The species was rediscovered during a moth survey conducted on October 11, 2020 at the Agasthyamalai
Community based Conservation Centre (ACCC) situated in the buffer zone of KMTR, Tirunelveli district. It was again spotted at the Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary in Thoothukudi district
in2022 + (Kalakkad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) = Location in Tirunelveli & Kanyakumari Districts, Tamil Nadu + It was declared as the “First Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu”
and the 17th Tiger Reserve of the country + It consists of the Kanyakumari Wildlife sanctuary in the south and the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in the North + The river Thamirabarani originates
from this tiger reserve + The reserve is also known as the “River Sanctuary”with as many as 14 rivers originating from this Tiger Reserve).

 Toque Macaques = The Sri Lankan Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica) are the smallest species of Macaca, a golden-brown coloured monkey, Endemic to SriLanka + They are native and
Endemic exclusively to Sri Lanka + IUCN- Endangered + CITES - Appendix II + Recently, Sri Lanka is planning to export 1,00,000 toque macaques to China, and this step is being criticized
by many environmentalists.
 Sloth Bear = Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world + Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal. 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is
found in India + They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter + IUCN: Vulnerable + Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I + They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species. They use their claws to excavate
termites and ants.
 Greater One-Horned Rhinos = Also known as Indian rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species + Vulnerable + The species is restricted to small habitats inIndo-Nepal terai and northern
West Bengal and Assam + In India, rhinos are mainly found in Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh + Assam has an estimated2,640 rhinos in four protected areas, i.e. Pabitora Wildlife
Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park +Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and
second highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga NationalPark.
 Mexican Giant Turtle = also called the Red Eared Slider + Invasive turtle species + Native Indian turtles face U.S. slider threat across Northeast + It derivesits name from red stripes around
part where its ears would be and from its ability to slide quickly off any surface into the water + Native to the U.S. and northern Mexico + these turtles can impact human health as they may
accumulate toxins in their tissues which pass on with the food chain upto humans + International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) releases the world’s 100 most invasive species,
and the Red-Eared Slider Turtle is included in this list+ IUCN: Least Concern.
 Asiatic Water Snake = Species is Endemic to Asia + It is non-venomous + It is primarily found in freshwater bodies like rivers, lakes, and ponds + The species is Endemic to Asia and found in countries
like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia etc + IUCN: Least concern + CITES: Appendix III + WPA: Schedule II.
 Lesser Flamingo = It is the smallest of all flamingos but has the largest population + It possesses the "hallux" or hind toe that some other flamingos do not have + Males are a little taller
than females + It inhabits coastal and inland wetlands + Geographical distribution: Africa, Asia continents and in that especiallySub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, North Africa + IUCN: Near
Threatened + Recently, after a six-year absence, the lesser flamingos have finally found their way back to Pulicat Lake.
 Spot Billed Pelican = The Spot-billed Pelican or Grey Pelican is a large water bird found in India and other parts of Southeast Asia + It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially
large lakes. The main habitat is in shallow lowland freshwaters + The species is found to breed only in peninsular India,Sri Lanka and in Cambodia + The best places to spot the Spot-billed
Pelican in India are the Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Chilika Lake in Odisha, Kokkare Bellur and
Karanji Lake in Karnataka + IUCN - Near Threatened.
 Short-beaked Echidnas = It is one of four living species of echidna. It is covered in fur and spines and has a distinctive snout and a specialized tongue, whichit uses to catch its insect prey (ant
and termite) at a great speed + According to researchers from Curtin University, Short-beaked echidnas in Western Australiabeat the heat by blowing mucus bubbles
 Mangrove Pitta = species of Bird + The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) belongs to the family of pittas, the Pittidae + Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore, and Thailand (primarily the west coast of the southern Thai peninsula) + It is found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects + IUCN:
Near Threatened + WPA: Schedule IV + A census of mangrove pitta birds was conductedin two coastal districts of Odisha, India, where the nearly threatened species is found. A total of 179
individual mangrove pitta birds were counted, with the highest concentration found in the mangroves near the Mahipura river mouth inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.
 Helopeltis Theivora = also known as Tea Mosquito Bug + It is considered to be a serious pest of tea + The damage is more in most shaded areas + The tea mosquito bug is affecting tea
production in both low and high elevation plantations as per the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) + UPASI is the apex body of planters in south India.
 Cycas Pectinata = Cycas pectinata, listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, is the only cycad species found inBhutan + It is an evergreen, palm-
like plant + Recently, a new study by five botanists has revealed that the Cycas pectinata plant’s existence in the Himalayancountry of Bhutan is threatened by overcollection as an ornamental
plant and habitat destruction.

 Caltoris Bromus Sadasiva = A group of lepidopterists has discovered a butterfly subspecies from the fringes of Akkulam and Vembanad lakes in Kerala + Caltoris bromus sadasiva is the
first Bromus swift butterfly to be documented in the Western Ghats + (Vembanad Lake = Vembanad is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest Lake in India + The lake has its source in
four rivers, Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa and Manimala + Vallam Kali (Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is a Snake Boat Race held every year in August in Vembanad Lake)
 Piarosoma Arunachalensis = Recently, researchers from Titli Trust, National Centre for Biological Sciences and others have discovered a new moth from Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in
Arunachal Pradesh + It belongs to the family Zygaenidae, which includes Forester and Burnet moths + (Talle Wildlife Sanctuary = Arunachal Pradesh + Rivers like Pange, Sipu, Karing and
Subansiri flow through this sanctuary + It comprises sub-tropical and alpine forests)
 Garra Laishrami = Researchers from Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently discovered a rare freshwater edible fish from Kolab
river in Koraput, Odisha + The cyprinid fish species which can be consumed have been seen so far in Kolab river, one of the major tributaries of Godavari.
 Amolops Siju = Recently, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India have discovered a new species of frogs from deep within the Siju cave system inthe South Garo Hills district of
Meghalaya + This is the second cave-dwelling species of frog recorded from India after Micrixalus spelunca in Tamil Nadu nine years ago + It has been named after the Suji cave where it
was discovered + It belongs to the cascade Ranidae family and genus Amolops + (Siju Cave = The cave is a natural limestone cave located in the South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya,
Northeast India + It is a 4 km long natural limestone cave).
 Allegator Gar = It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish and is one of the largest of all freshwater fishes + largest species in the Gar family + The fossil record traces its group's existence back to
the Early Cretaceous over 100 million years ago + Gars are often referred to as "primitive fishes", or "living fossils" because they have retained some morphological characteristics of their
early ancestors + Distribution: Central and North America + IUCN: Least Concerned + Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) discovered
a rare type of fish known as a "Alligator Gar" for the first time in Srinagar’s Dal Lake + (Euryhaline Organisms = They are a type of mostly marine organisms with the ability to adapt to
a wide range of water salinities + They can survive either in freshwater, saltwater or brackish water + Some euryhaline organisms migrate between freshwater and saltwater habitats during
their life cycle + Some examples of such organisms are salmon, eels,etc.)
 Sea Butterfly = Sea butterflies, scientific name Thecosomata, are a suborder of sea snails known as shelled pteropods + They have muscular feet that allow them to swim in water instead
of gliding on solid surfaces + Sea butterflies are holoplanktonic (organisms that pass their whole life floating, drifting, or swimming weakly in the water) and spend their entire life cycle in
the water column + They are found in all oceans but are more diverse and abundant in colder waters + Sea butterflies have bilateral symmetry and a coiled or uncoiled shell of various shapes
and sizes + Recently, British Antarctic Survey studied the impact of climate change on sea butterflies, a suborder of free swimming sea snails and a gastropod mollusk of the class Gastropoda.
 Baobab Trees = Baobabs are long-lived deciduous, small to large trees from 20 to 100 ft tall with broad trunks and compact tops + The Baobab Tree is also known as the upside-down tree
+ The baobab is a prehistoric species which predates both mankind and the splitting of the continents over 200 million years ago + They are called ‘Treeof Life’ as they can store large
amounts of fresh water in their extraordinary trunks. It also allows the baobab tree to produce nutritious fruits even during the driest years. This makes them true life savers during times
when water is scarce + Baobabs belongs to the genus Adansonia are native to mainland Africa, Madagascar, and Australia + The tree’s unique pendulous flowers are pollinated by bats and
bush babies + IUCN Status: endangered + Madhya Pradesh government has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag + Recently, Bhil tribe of Central India is opposing the forest
department’s decision to give permission for uprooting baobab trees for commercial use
 Hijol = Hijol, or Indian oak, is a medium-sized evergreen tree + Common names: Hijal, Hijangal, Hendol, Stream Barringtonia, Itchy Tree + It is native to coastal wetlands in southern Asia
and northern Australasia + This species grows on the banks of freshwater rivers, the edges of freshwater swamps and lagoons and on seasonally flooded lowland plains, commonly on heavy
soils + It is commonly found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin + Its bark has tannin, which is useful for heart diseases. Powder of seeds works as an expectorant and is applied to cure
the cough of children. Tonic is prepared from leaves and roots. Fish poison is also prepared from its roots.
 Comb Jelly = A recent study suggest that comb jellies, more formally known as ctenophores, are the closest relatives of the first animals + It is any of the numerous marine invertebrates constituting the
phylum Ctenophora + Some ctenophores live in somewhat brackish water, but all are confined to marine habitats + They live in almost all ocean regions, particularly in surface waters near shores + They
are frequently swept into vast swarms, especially in bays, lagoons, and other coastal waters + They are carnivorous, eating myriads of small planktonic animals.

 Indian Mouse Deer or Spotted Chevrotain = It is the smallest deer in India and is highly nocturnal + Scientific Name: Moschiola indica + It is Endemic to the Indian subcontinent + It is
mainly found in peninsular India with some old records from Nepal + Within India, it is commonly encountered in a number of forest areas along the Western Ghats, in the Eastern Ghats
up to Orissa, and in the forests of central India + IUCN: Least Concern.
 Milkweed Butterflies = They are any of a group of butterflies in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae) + There are some 300 species in the group, including the iconic Monarch
butterfly + The majority of species are found in both Old and New World tropics. However, some well-known members of the group, such as the monarchbutterfly and the queen butterfly,
live in temperate regions + The large, colourful adults have long, usually brownish or orange wings marked by black-and-white patterns.They fly slowly, and some, such as the monarch
butterfly, migrate great distances. They feed chiefly on milkweed and sometimes on nightshade + Striped tiger, Blue tiger, Dark blue tiger and Plain tiger are types of milkweed butterflies
who migrate westward from the Eastern Ghats and plains to the Western Ghats, becoming active for more than two months upon their arrival.
 Coyotes or Bobcats = Mediumsized carnivorous species — mesopredators like coyotes or bobcats — tend to move into humandominated areas to avoid predation by largercarnivores, a
phenomenon also known as the “human shield” effect.
 Whitebellied Shortwing, an Endemic and threatened bird. Birds found around Ooty and Baba Budan are called the Nilgiri blue robin; the Anamalai group diff• ers slightly in appearance, and
is called the Whitebellied blue robin + The biodiversity of a region is expressed in two ways:
o Species Richness: which relates to how many species are found in an ecosystem.
o Phylogenetic Diversity: where you add up the evolutionary age of all the species you find.
 Hemidactylus quartziticolus = A new species of gecko, Hemidactylus quartziticolus, has been discovered from the scrub habitats of Vallanadu and Kurumalai reserves forest areas in Tamil
Nadu + The common name suggested by the authors for the new gecko is Quartzite brookish gecko or Thoothukudi brookish gecko + It is the 53rd species of Hemidactylus found in India
and the seventh that is Endemic to Tamil Nadu + (Gecko = Geckos are small, nocturnal lizardsfound in all the warm parts of the world + There are approximately 1,500 gecko species, and
they vary in size + Geckos are found on every continent except Antarctica and live in almost every habitat, including rainforests, deserts and mountains + They also possess a short, stout
body, a large head, and typically well-developed limbs)
 Gekko Mizoramensis = Recently New species of flying gecko found near Myanmar border named after Mizoram + It is a subgenus called Ptychozoon of the Gekko genus + There are 13
species of them throughout the world and they are found in Southeast Asia + Before founding this species, only one species- Ptychozoon lionotum or smooth-backed gliding gecko-was found
in Mizoram + Its habitat spread into the parts of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia along with Mizoram + It is arboreal, nocturnal and glides from one tree to another + Flying
geckos have webbed limbs and flat tails to help them glide (they do not fly).
 Gomphonema Rajaguruii = It is a new freshwater diatom species + It was found in a semi-aquatic environment along the wet walls in Maharashtra’s popular hill station, Mahabaleshwar
in Satara District + It was named after a veteran geo-archaeologist from the city, the late Professor S N Rajaguru + It is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus – Gomphonema
and Gomphoneis.
 Himalayan Brown Bears = One of the largest carnivores in the highlands of the Himalayas + Range: North-western and central Himalaya, including India,Pakistan, Nepal, the Tibetan
Autonomous Region of China and Bhutan + In India, this species exists in small isolated populations in the fragmented alpine and subalpine habitats of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, and Uttarakhand + They are found above the timberline, between 3,000 and 5,500 meters (9,800 and 18,000 feet) above sea level + Critically endangered + Wildlife (Protection)
Act of 1972: Schedule I + CITES - Appendix I.
 Golden Jackal = The golden jackal, also known as the common jackal, is a medium-sized wolf-like canid + They are small compared to their close relatives,wolves, and wild dogs + They
are widely distributed from North and East Africa to southeastern Europe and South Asia, including Burma + They are quite widespread across India. Right from the Himalayan foothills,
down to the Western Ghats, the Golden Jackal has a wide distribution + IUCN: Least Concern + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II.
 Hyenas = Hyenas are doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa and are noted for their scavenging habits + There are three hyena species — spotted (Crocuta Crocuta), brown (Arahyaena
brunnea), and striped (Hyaena hyaena). Spotted hyenas are the largest of the three + Found in Forest edges, grasslands,savannas, sub-deserts, and even mountains + These animals live
throughout Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia + According to IUCN, Spotted Hyena populations are of least concern. However, brown and striped hyenas are classified as near
threatened.
 Mexican Giant Turtle = also called the Red Eared Slider + Invasive turtle species + Native Indian turtles face U.S. slider threat across Northeast + It derivesits name from red stripes around
part where its ears would be and from its ability to slide quickly off any surface into the water + Native to the U.S. and northern Mexico + these turtles can impact human health as they may
accumulate toxins in their tissues which pass on with the food chain upto humans + International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) releases the world’s 100 most invasive species,
and the Red-Eared Slider Turtle is included in this list + IUCN: Least Concern.
 White-Rumped Vulture = It is a medium-sized Old-World vulture + It is also known as Indian White-backed Vulture or Oriental White-backed Vulture + Distribution: Pakistan, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam + Found mostly in plains andless frequently in hilly It can also be seen in villages and cities
near to cultivation + It is a typical, medium-sized vulture, with an unfeathered head and neck, very broad wings, and short tail feathers + IUCN: Critically Endangered + Wildlife Protection
Act 1972: Schedule-1.
 Whale Shark = The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and the largest fish known to have lived on this planet + They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough
food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce + They are one of only three species of filter feeding sharks + They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans around the world,
except the Mediterranean Sea + IUCN: Endangered.
 Sea Lion = It is a marine mammal that belongs to the family Otariidae + These are known for their semi-aquatic lifestyle, spending a significant amount of time both on land and in the water
+ They inhabit rocky shorelines, islands, and sandy beaches + They can be found in various regions, including the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and parts of the Indian Ocean + Sea
lions are carnivorous and primarily feed on fish, such as herring, anchovies, sardines, and squid + Sea lions comprise a total of six extant species. Three sea lion species are endangered by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),and one is endangered under the United States' Endangered Species Act (ESA).
 Sal Tree = It is a large sub-deciduous tree which is seldom completely leafless + It is indigenous to India and occurs in two main regions separated by Gangetic plain namely the northern
and central Indian regions + It requires well-drained, moist and sandy loam soil + It survives upto a maximum temperatureof 36°C to 44°C and minimum temperature of 11°C to 17°C and it
needs an average rainfall of 1000 mm to 3500 mm per annum + The resin of this tree is used in the indigenous system of medicine + The state of Odisha has a rich depository of sal seeds
accounting for 25 per cent of the country’s production. Other major Sal seeds producing states include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
 Mahua Tree = It is mainly cultivated or harvested in the wild in Southern Asia for its edible flowers and oil seeds + It is commonly known as madhūka, madkam, mahuwa, Butter Tree,
mahua, mahwa, mohulo, Iluppai , Mee or vippa chettu + It is a frost resistant species that can grow in marginal areas of dry tropical and subtropical forests up to an altitude of 1200-1800 m
+ It can be found scattered in pastures, in crop fields in central India, and on rivers banks insemi-evergreen forests + It grows well where annual rainfall is between 500 mm to 1500 mm, and
where temperatures are in the range of 2-46°C + It requiresloamy or sandy-loam soils with good drainage and also occurs on shallow stony, clayey and calcareous soils.
 Sea Lettuce = Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is commonly referred to as seaweed + It is a genus of green algae usually found growing on rocky shores of seas and oceans around the world +
Some species of Sea lettuce also grow in brackish water rich in organic matter or sewage and can accumulate heavy metals + It usually grows attached by a small discoid holdfast to rocks
and shells, but it can also grow in a free-floating, non-attached form, sometimes in prolific masses + It needs a lot of sunlight to flourish + It is perennial, and grows all year, although the
largest blooms occur during the summer + Large masses of sea lettuce are often an indicator of nutrient pollution in the water + In some parts of the world, people eat sea lettuce in soups
and salads + Researchers haverecently discovered 20 new species of Sea lettuce along the Baltic and Scandinavian coasts.
 Mizoram Parachute Gecko = New Species discovered in Mizoram + It is species of gliding geckos + The Mizoram parachute gecko, or Gekko mizoramensis,is one of the 14 geckos known to
take to the air + Unlike other gliding reptiles, which use the bone to form their flying surfaces, these geckos have flaps of skin.
 Hasarius Mumbai = It is a newly discovered species of jumping spider + These are spiders who, instead of trapping their prey in a web, stalk and hunt themby pouncing + It has multiple
eyes that give a 360-degree view of its surroundings and a bulbous body covered in hair + The word ‘Hasarius’ refers to a genusthat ranks the species — of ‘jumping spiders’ in the ‘salticidae’
family + In India, there are only two other Hasarius species which have been documented, namely H. Adansoni, which is found across the country, including in urban areas, and kjellerupi,
which was documented from the Nicobar Islands.

 Protosterol Biota = These ancient organisms inhabited the underwater world over 1.6 billion years ago and are the source of the evolution of life on Earth +It is the microscopic organism,
belongs to the family of organisms called eukaryotes. These are discovered inside a rock at the bottom of the ocean near whatis now the Northern Territory in Australia. They have a complex
structure combining mitochondria.
 Homo Naledi = Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin + Fossil of Homo Naledi were first discovered in the Dinaledi Chamber ofthe Rising Star Cave system in
South Africa during an expedition led by Lee Berger beginning October 2013 +This excavation remains the largest collectionof a single hominin species that has been found in Africa +
Where Lived: South Africa + When Lived: 335,000 - 236,000 years ago + Homo naledi appears to have lived near the same time as early ancestors of modern humans.
 Duck-billed Dinosaur = It is a species of herbivorous dinosaur previously unknown in the southern hemisphere + These were slender-looking dinosaurs, which could easily adopt a bipedal
and quadrupedal posture to reach the vegetation at height and ground level + This type of duck-billed dinosaur was common in North America, Asia and Europe during the Cretaceous period
+ The Cretaceous Period, in geologic time, is the last of the three periods of the Mesozoic Era. The Cretaceous began 145.0 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago. It followed
the Jurassic Period and was succeeded by the Paleogene Period.
 Hoolock Gibbons = Native to eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India and Southwest China + The tailless Hoolock Gibbon is the only ape found in India + In the areas of high tree canopies,
the gibbons swing from branch to branch + They cannot adapt to living on the ground and cannot bear the high temperatures brought about by the loss of green cover + The Hoolock Gibbon
is categorized into two types:
o Western hoolock gibbon - It inhibits in all the states of the north-east, restricted between the south of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River + Endangered.
o Eastern hoolock gibbon - It inhabits specific pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, and in southern China and north-east Myanmar outsideIndia + Vulnerable + In India,
both the species are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
 Indian Grey Hornbill = It is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent + It is commonly sighted in pairs. These birds are known to be arborea i,e., spend most of their time on
tall trees, but may descend for food and to collect mud pellets for nesting + Unlike a lot of other birds, the male and female look similar + It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban
areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues + Distribution:Indian subcontinent; found from north-east Pakistan and south Nepal east to north-west Bangladesh
and south throughout most of India except in Assam + IUCN: Least Concern.
 Pilot Whales = Despite their name, pilot whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family. They belong to the dolphin family Delphinidae + Pilotwhales are so named because it
was once believed that each observed group was navigated by a pilot or leader + There are two species of pilot whales: Shortfinned pilot whales, which are mainly found in tropical and warm-
temperate regions, and long-finned pilot whales, which inhabit colder waters + IUCN Statusof both: Least Concern + Seventy-eight long-finned pilot whales, a species of oceanic dolphins,
were slaughtered near the capital of Faroe Islands recently + Please Note: The Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory of Denmark. It is located in between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean.
 Blue whale = Blue whales are the largest animals ever to live on our planet + Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overallhealth of the marine environment
+ They are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean + The average lifespan is estimated at around 80 to 90 years + IUCN: Endangered + Recently, the carcass of a blue whale washed
ashore at Meghavaram beach of Santabommali mandal in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
 Sperm Whale = Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and have one of the widest global distributions of any marine mammal species + It is dark blue-Gray or brownish, with
white patches on the belly + It is thickset and has small paddle like flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back + It is found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world +
IUCN: Vulnerable + CITES: Appendix I + Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: schedule 2.
 Ambergris = (French for grey amber) + generally referred to as whale vomit + preternaturally hardened whale dung + produced only by 1% of sperm whales + sperm whale eats several
thousand squid beaks a day + Occasionally, a beak makes it way to whale’s stomach and into its looping convoluted intestines where it becomes ambergris through a complex process, and
may ultimately be excreted by whale + it is a solid waxy substance that floats around surface of water body and at times settles on coast + This excretion is so valuable that it is referred to as
floating gold, because of its use in perfume markets (like Dubai),especially to create fragrances like musk + also used in traditional medicines.

 White’s Seahorse = It is commonly seen holding onto the nets of swimming enclosures. The species was named after John White, Surgeon General to the First Fleet. Seahorses are often
considered a flagship species for conservation. Male seahorses can be recognised by the presence of a pouch below the abdomen which is absent in females. It is usually very well camouflaged
in various shades of brown, grey and black + These are Endemic to Australia + IUCN: Endangered.
 Cicada = Cicadas are hemipteran insects known for their loud, complex and species-specific acoustic signals or songs + The generic diversity of cicadas in India and Bangladesh ranks the
highest in the world, followed by China + Most cicadas are canopy dwellers and are found in natural forests with large trees + Scientists divide the over 3,000 cicada species into two groups:
annual and periodical. Annual cicadas emerge from the ground at different times each summer + The insect species that has now been named as Purana cheeveeda (after its Malayalam name
Cheeveedu) used to be mistaken for Purana tigrina, aspecies that was first described in Malaysia in 1850.
 Gucchi Mushroom = It is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae of the Ascomycota + It is also known as morel + They are pale yellow in colour with large pits and ridges on the
surface of the cap, raised on a large white stem + It cannot be cultivated commercially and grow in conifer forests across temperature regions, and the foothills in Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir + These mushrooms usually grow in clusters on logs of decaying wood, leaves or humus soil + It is known to be one of the most expensive mushrooms.
 Gambusia Fish = It is also known as mosquito fish, is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae + It is native to the waters of the south-eastern United States + It
has been a part of mosquito-control strategies for over a century in various parts of the world, including India + Also, it has been part of various malaria control strategies in India since 1928,
including the Urban Malaria Scheme + The International Union for Conservation of Naturedeclare Gambusia one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world + Recently, the Andhra
Pradesh government has released approximately 10 millionGambusia fish into the state’s water bodies to combat mosquito-borne diseases like Malaria and Dengue.
 Cymbidium Lancifolium = Recently, an extremely rare and terrestrial orchid species Cymbidium lancifolium was discovered in the Chopta valley of the Western Himalayan region of
Uttarakhand + This is one of the beautiful species of Cymbidium, also known as Lance leafed Cymbidium + This species is found naturally in India in Himalayas, Assam, Sikkim, Nepal,
Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Japan and many of the SE Asian countries + They are highly valued in horticulture and are commonly sold as cut flowers and potted plants on a commercial scale.
 Tiger Orchid = It is the largest orchid species in the world + It is called Tiger Orchid because of its splendid flowers which sport striking brown spots againsta yellow backdrop, bringing to
mind tigers + CITES : Appendix II + They grow in Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine) habitats + Distribution: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar
and Laos.
 Sea Grasses = Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons + They have roots, stems and leaves, and produce flowers and seeds +
They are considered to be ‘Ecosystem Engineers’ + They inhabit all types of substrates (layers) from mud to rock and they are found extensively in muddy and sandy substrates + Seagrass
reproduce through both sexual and asexual methods + Seagrass reproduce through both sexual and asexual methods + It occurs all along the coastal areas of India and are abundant in the
Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, however threatened now + They are found on all continents except Antarctica
 Silver Cockscomb = It is a short-lived 50-60 cm-tall plant considered as a weed + Also known as lagos spinach which belongs to the Amaranthaceae family,which includes economically
important plants like spinach (Spinacia oleracea), beetroot and quinoa + The plant is known as Celosia argentea, kurdu in Marathi and pannai keerai in Tamil + It grows well even on fallow
land and in drought-like conditions + Soliga tribal community uses silver cockscomb, which is often considered to be a weed but has been discovered to have advantages + Soliga are an
indigenous tribe of Karnataka. They reside in the peripheralforest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara in the Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka. They are the first
tribal community living insidethe core area of a tiger reserve in India to get their forest rights officially recognised by a court of law.
 New Millipede species = Recently, a new species of millipede has been discovered crawling underneath the city of Los Angeles in the United States + The newly found species is a thread
Millipede + Its scientific name is Illacme socal + Millipede are member of the arthropod class Diplopoda. They are cylindricalor slightly flattened invertebrates + Their bodies are split into a
number of segments, and each segment has two sets of legs that attach to the body's underside.
 Pedicularis Revealiana = New Plant Species + Sikkim + Recently, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) Prayagraj Centre have discovered a new plant species Pedicularis
Revealiana, in the state of Sikkim + It is stout and woody stems, bears minute flowers of pinkish-purple colour + It is a hemiparasitic plant species + perennial herb.

 Ludwigia Peruviana = Recently, wildlife scientist said that Ludwigia Peruviana , an invasive weed threatening the elephant habitats and foraging areas in Valparai, Tamil Nadu + It is
popularly called primrose willow, Ludwigia Peruviana, is a native of Central and South America + It is an aquatic plant, which is now challenging the existence of local vegetation in various
swampy areas around the world + It is among the 22 priority invasive plants in Tamil Nadu.
 Clouded Leopard = The clouded leopard is categorised into two species: the mainland clouded leopard distributed from central Nepal to peninsular Malaysia, and the Sunda clouded leopard
(Neofelis diardi) native to Borneo and Sumatra + The mainland clouded leopard is tagged Vulnerable on IUCN List + The mainland clouded leopard(Neofelis nebulosa) is often likened to the
Ice Age sabretooth because it has the largest canines in proportion to its skull size among all cat species + It is the State animal of Meghalaya + They seemed to go wherever they pleased
without worrying about other predators, primarily because of their ability to climb trees, even hang upside down from large branches + It most often inhabits primary evergreen tropical
forests and also lives in secondary forests, logged forests, dry tropical forests, grassland, mangrove swamp, scrubland, and coastal hardwood forest + In India, it is found in Sikkim, northern
West Bengal, Meghalaya subtropical forests, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam,Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
 Kashmir Stag = also called Hangul + subspecies of Central Asian red deer + Endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas + found in dense riverine forests in the high valleysand mountains of
Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh + In Kashmir, it is found primarily in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection. A small population has also been
witnessed in Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south Kashmir + IUCN: Critically Endangered + CITES : Appendix I
 White-Tailed Deer = They are the smallest members of the North American deer family + They are found in North America from southern Canada through Central America + It is tan or brown
in the summer and greyish brown in winter + Only male deer grow antlers, which are shed each year + IUCN Status: Least Concern.
 Sloth Bear = Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world + Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal. 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India +
They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter + IUCN: Vulnerable + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I +
They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species. They use their claws to excavate termites and ants.
 Lion-tailed Macaque = Old World monkey + One of the distinguishing features of this species is that males define the boundaries of their home ranges by calls. Overall, their communication
system contains as many as 17 vocalisations + They are sometimes called bearded monkeys + The magnificent Lion-tailed macaque is named due to its lion-like, long, thin, and tufted tail +
In the wild, these are only native to India. It is a primate Endemic to small and severely fragmented rainforests of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu + IUCN: Endangered
+ CITES: Appendix I + The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
 Indian Flying Fox Bat = It is a species of flying fox native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the largest bats in the world + The nectar and fruit-eating flying fox (Pteropus giganteus)
is generally considered vermin as they raid orchards + It is a keystone species causing seed dispersals of many plants in tropical systems + IUCN: Least concern + The Wildlife (Protection)
Act of 1972: Schedule II + These bats are Endemic to South Central Asia, found from Pakistan and China to the Maldives Islands.
 Heronry & Herons = Heronry is the breeding grounds of herons + Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns
rather than herons + Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks + IUCN: Least Concern + These are widely distributed over the world but are most common in the tropics +
Recently, The annual heronry count jointly organised by WWF-India in association with the Forest department in Thiruvananthapuram district has recorded more heronries that in the past.
 White-Bellied Sea Eagle = It is a large diurnal bird of prey + They are found throughout Southeast Asia. They range north to south from southern China to Australia and Tasmania, and
west to east from India to New Guinea. Their range includes the islands of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines + They live primarily in terrestrial habitats near
the ocean, especially coasts, islands, and estuaries + IUCN: Least Concern + A diurnal bird is a bird species that is primarily active during the daytime, as opposed to nocturnal birds, which
are active at night. Diurnal birds are adapted to forage, hunt, and carry out various activities during daylight hours.
 Black Eagle = They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeastern China + They are found in the Indianstates of Himachal
Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, forests of the Eastern and Western Ghats in peninsular India + Habitat: forested mountains and hills + IUCN: Least concern + Recently, a rare black eagle
was spotted for the first time in the lush Chail wildlife sanctuary located in Himachal Pradesh + (Chail wildlife sanctuary = Himachal Pradesh + It comprises part of the catchment area of a
tributary of the Giri River)

 Indian Eagle Owl = The Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis) has recently been recognized as a distinct species, setting it apart from the Eurasian eagle-owl + The IndianEagle Owl is one
of the largest owl species found in India + The female Indian eagle-owl is slightly larger, with a length of up to two and a half feet and a wingspan of six feet + It is nocturnal in nature + It
spans almost entire Indian peninsula + The Indian Eagle Owl is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal,Pakistan, and Sri Lanka + The Indian Eagle Owl is
classified as a species of "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
 Himalayan Vulture = Gyps Himalayensis + Categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) + CITES: Appendix II + The Himalayan vulture
is one of the largest Old World vulture species, boasting an impressive wingspan and formidable presence + Himalayan vulture is a common winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a
resident of the high Himalayas + Its range extends across several countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China, where it thrives in challenging high-altitude environments + India has
seen decline in population of vultures due to use Ketoprofen and aceclofenac, which are two types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are used to treat pain and
inflammation in animals, especially cattle + Recently, Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam
State Zoo, Guwahati. It is the second such instance in the world, after France, where the species has been bred in captivity.
 Emperor Penguin = Emperor Penguins are the largest of all the different kinds of penguin and are Endemic to Antarctica + IUCN status- near threatened status + Penguinsare a group of
aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only one species, the Galapagos penguin, found north of the equator + Dozens of countries had backed
giving the world’s largest penguins special protection status at a 10-day meeting in Berlin of parties to the Antarctic Treaty + The treaty was forged in 1959 to ensure that the continent
remains the preserve of science, and free of arms.
 Yellow-Legged Hornet = Asian hornet, also known as the yellow-legged hornet or Asian predatory wasp + hornet species indigenous to Southeast Asia + It is a predatory insect that
commonly feeds on other social bees and wasps, including honey bees + Invasive species + The first live specimen of a yellow-legged hornet, which “poses a threat to honeybees and other
pollinators,” was recently detected in the wild in the United States.
 Gilbert's Potoroo = Gilbert's potoroo or ngilkat is Australia's most endangered marsupial, the rarest marsupial in the world, and one of the world's rarest critically endangered mammals,
found in south-western Western Australia + It is a small nocturnal macropod that lives in small groups.
 Red Sand Boa = Non-venomous species + Found throughout the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent + It is ovoviviparous and nocturnal and spends the majority of its timeunder the ground
+ The species is Endemic to Iran, Pakistan, and India + IUCN: Near Threatened + Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV + CITES: Appendix II.
 Sahyadriophis Uttaraghati = New genus and species of colubrid snakes + Found within the biodiverse Western Ghats + A colubrid is any of the numerous,diverse, largely nonvenomous
snakes that comprise the reptile family Colubridae. They are characterised by the absence of hind limbs. They are found in various regions around the world, except for Antarctica and some
remote oceanic islands.
 Tachymenoides Harrisonfordi = Recently, researchers have named a recently discovered species of snake after actor Harrison Ford + It was discovered in the Peruvian Andes mountain
region + (Andes mountain region = South America + The mountain range spans seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina + The highest peak
of this range is Mount Aconcagua(6,959 metres) on the border of Argentina and Chile)
 Ophidascaris Robertsi = parasitic roundworm typically found in carpet pythons + It typically lives in a python’s oesophagus and stomach and sheds its eggsin the host’s faeces + In humans,
they can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite and weight loss, fever and tiredness. This infection is not transmitted between people + Recently, researchers found a live eight-
centimetre Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm in the brain of a 64-year-old Australian woman. Humans infected with Ophidascaris robertsi larvae would be considered accidental hosts.
 Tylototriton Zaimeng = a new species of salamander + discovered in the Zaimeng Lake of Manipur + This had earlier been mistaken for its close relatives — the T. himalayanus and the
T. verrucosus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new salamander is a sister species of the T. panwaensis and T. houi found in northern Myanmar and southern China + (Zaimeng Lake
= It is situated on top of Khongtheng mountain ranges + Zaimeng in the Liangmai Naga dialect means “puzzle” or “mystery” + The greater part of the lake is basically a marshy mass of
thick grass like weeds, mixed with reeds and green mosses)

 Perucetus Colossus = The newly discovered Perucetus colossus, an ancient species of whale, is thought to be one of the largest and heaviest animals on record + The animal is modelled
from a partial skeleton, including 13 vertebrae, 4 ribs and 1 hip bone, discovered in Southern Peru and estimated to be approximately 39 million years old.
 Tharosaurus Indicus = It is a long-necked, plant-eating dicraeosaurid dinosaur found in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan by India Scientists + It is named after the ‘Thardesert’ of Rajasthan where it was
found + It is 167 million years old and belongs to a new species, unknown to scientists thus far + Theories so far had suggested that the oldest dicraeosaurid was from China (about 166-164
million years old) + Also, fossils of dicraeosaurid dinosaurs have been found previouslyin North and South Americas, Africa and China.
 Mithun = Mithun or gayal (Bos frontalis) is considered a descendant of the Indian Gaur or bison + It plays an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of tribes such as the
Nyishi, Apatani, Galo and Adi in Arunachal Pradesh + It is distributed in Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar and in Yunnan, China + It is known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’
+ The gayal is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland + IUCN: Vulnerable + CITES: Appendix I + Recently, Mithun gets a ‘food animal’ tag from the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) + Food animals are thosethat are raised and used for food production or consumption by humans. The move is expected to help check decline in the
population of the high-altitude bovine animal by making it a part of the conventional milk and meat industry.
 Yak = Yak (Poephagus grunniens) is the lifeline of highland ethnic communities living in the Himalayan and trans-Himalayan regions + It is found on the heights of Arunachal Pradesh,
Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh + Yak milk and milk products are the integral components of the diet of these highlandcommunities thriving in an extremely hypoxic and harsh
environment without vitamin and mineral supplements + In general, yak milk is considered naturallyconcentrated milk enriched with a higher nutrient density and loaded with omega-3 fatty
acids, amino acids, and antioxidants + Recently, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research-National Research Centre on Yak has established a first-of-its-kind parlour for Yalk milk in
Nyukmadung village, Arunachal Pradesh.
 Nilgiri Tahr = This species is locally known as Varaiaadu + Nilgiri Tahr are the only Caprinae species found in the tropical mountains of southern India + IUCN – Endangered + WP Act,
1972 - Schedule I + State animal of Tamil Nadu + They are Endemic to the Western Ghats and used to inhabit a large part ofthe Western Ghats between Kerala and Tamil Nadu + The Nilgiri
Tahr had multiple references in Tamil Sangam literature. The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000BC) paintings also highlight the Nilgiri Tahr’s cultural significance + It is southern India’s only
mountain ungulate. It prefers montane grasslands, with steepand rocky terrains at an altitude between 300 metres and 2,600 metres above sea level.
 Sambar Deer = Sambar (Rusa unicolour) is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia + They are quite elusive and are most active atdusk and at night + They are
found in a broad range of forest habitats like dry deciduous forests, rainforests and mixed forests + Their range is distributed from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains across southern
Asia and reaching the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra and Borneo + IUCN: Vulnerable + Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-III.
 Stump-Tailed Macaque = also called the bear macaque, is a species of Old-World monkey found in South Asia + They are found in tropical and subtropicalevergreen forests + They are
native to Cambodia, southwest China, northeast India, Laos, Myanmar, northwest Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam + In India, it is found south of the Brahmaputra River, in the
northeastern part of the country. Its range in India extends from Assam and Meghalaya to easternArunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura + IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
+ Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule II.
 Indian Skimmer = It is an odd bird which belongs to the family of skimmers, Rynchopidae + It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in
the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts + These skimmer species were distributed in north Indian rivers, Pakistan,Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
+ Now, much of the population is confined to north Indian River systems and Pakistan. About 20% of the total population nest along river Chambal + IUCN Red List: Endangered.
 Greater Sand-Plover = Migrant Bird + It is known for long distance migration + It breeds in high-elevation areas, where it favors arid, open habitats, sometimes near water. It breeds during
April to May in central Asia, late March to late May in Turkey and upto late June in Armenia + It winters on coastal mudflats and estuaries. It winters in the shores of Indian and Australian
Oceans after the breeding + IUCN: Least Concern + Recently, a Greater sand-plover(Charadrius leschenaultii) that normally prefers sea shores, has been spotted in an urban tank in
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
 Broadnose Sevengill Shark = It is a large seven-gilled with a wide head and short, blunt snout shark + It is related to sharks that lived in the Jurassic Periodabout 300 million years ago +
They prefer tropical, temperate, shallow waters + It is found in all oceans except the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.In the eastern Pacific Ocean, they are found from southeastern
Alaska to southern Baja California, Mexico and from Colombia to Chile + IUCN: Vulnerable.

 Indian-Spot Billed Duck = Non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent + It is a resident throughout Pakistan and India in freshwater wetlands.
They inhabit both inland and coastal wetlands such as ponds, lakes, pools, streams, creeks, estuaries, tidal flats and marshes.They tend to avoid very large patches of open water and prefer
medium-sized wetlands with vegetation cover + IUCN Red List: Least Concern + They mostlyfeed on grasses and other vegetations. Sometimes they may feed on insects.
 Red Sand Boa = The red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a non-venomous snake that lives in the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent + It’s also known as the Indiansand boa + The red sand boa is a
thick-set snake that’s usually reddish-brown, known for its blunt tail, which it uses to mimic its head when it senses a threat + Classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a declining population trend + The red sand boa is highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade due to its demand in the pet trade and its use in black
magic.
 Kakapo (owl parrot) = It is a large, nocturnal, flightless, lek-breeding parrot + These are remarkable and unusual birds found only in Aotearoa, New Zealand + They only breed every few
years, triggered by the availability of certain forest foods such as the fruits of the native rimu tree + This bird suffers from diseases such as the fungal infection aspergillosis, and many of
their eggs are infertile + IUCN: Critically Endangered.
 Bolson Tortoises = It is the largest and rarest land reptile, as well as the rarest of the six Gopherus species native to the North American Continent + Adult males are generally smaller than
females in this species + This species at present, is restricted to a relatively small area of the grasslands of north-central Mexico + IUCN: Critically Endangered.
 Tasmanian Tiger = Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine (a dog headed pouched dog) was an exclusively carnivorous marsupial that is considered to be extinct (alsothe IUCN status) + It is also known
as the Tasmanian Wolf and bears some resemblance to a dog + It was confined to Tasmania in recent times and disappearedfrom mainland Australia over 2000 years ago, mainly because of
over-hunting by humans, diseases and competition from the Dingo (Canis lupus), a wild dognative to Australia + A recent study represents the first instance where RNA (Ribonucleic Acid),
a molecule less stable than DNA, has been extracted from extinct species such as the Tasmanian Tiger.
 Chitala Fish = It is an obligate, typically nocturnal, predator feeding on smaller fishes + It is mostly known from major river channels and freshwater lakes but has also been observed in
swamps + It is found in the Indus, Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mahanadi river basins in India + IUCN: Near Threatened.
 European Bumblebee = More than 75% of European bumblebee species may be threatened in the next 40-60 years according to a paper published in Nature + The bumblebee (Bombus) is
a genus of bees important for the pollination of crops in the cold and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere + European honeybees (Apis mellifera) commonly referred to as the
Western honey bee, possess two pairs of wings and usually display black or brown coloring with distinctive yellow stripes on its abdomen. They prefer to nest in a cavity such as a hollow
tree or house wall + They are assessed as "Data Deficient" on the IUCN Red List.
 Walking Leaves = They are usually green insects and are known for their leaf-like appearance + Distribution: Islands in the Indian Ocean, across parts of mainland South Asia and Southeast
Asia, to Papua New Guinea and Australia in the western Pacific + Males tend to be smaller than females + Recently, An international research team has described seven previously unknown
species of leaf insects(Phylliidae family), also known as walking leaves.
 Ephemeral Plant = Ephemerals are plant species that wait throughout the year to bloom only during the monsoon because they love rain + Two types of ephemerals: annualand perennial as
per International Union for Conservation of Nature - Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) + Annual ephemerals form new individuals every year and are seen for a very short period.
They form seeds at the end of their life cycle, remaining dormant till the next year.
 Balsams = Balsams (genus Impatiens) are fleshy orophytic herb with small, pink flowers which bloom in Munnar, Kerala (Local Name: Kasithumba and Onappovu) + Balsams are known as ‘touch me
not’ because of the bursting of mature seeds and seed distribution + Of the 220 balsam species in India, 135 are found in the southern Western Ghats + Idukki (Balsam paradise) is known for the diversity
of balsams + Anamudi (the highest mountain in the Western Ghats) and the surrounding high ranges (balsams Endemic to high ranges) are known for the diversity of wild balsams.
 Fish Mint = It is an herbal plant full of medicinal properties and grown on the ground with wide leaves + It has many names, such as Bishop’s Weed, Chinese Lizard Tail, Fish Wort, Fish
Leaf, Rainbow Plant and Chameleon Plant + Despite being called “fish mint”, it’s not a member of the mint family. It does, however, spread aggressively like mint + Its native range extends
from the Himalayan foothills through Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan + It is used to treat digestive issues, insect bites, fevers, coughs, influenza, kidney ailments and a host of other
ailments + The medicinal properties and benefits of fish mint have been documented in ancient texts of traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, as well as Ayurveda and Siddha.

 Schizostachyum Andamanicum = Recently, the patent office of Government of India has granted a patent to Botanical Survey of India for bamboo (Schizostachyum andamanicum) based
reusable straw + It is only found in some forested areas of Andamans + It grows primarily in the wet tropical biome + This species of bamboo is characterized by a thin large hollow erect
culm (stem) with long internodes and has the potential to develop into a straw + It has small, white flowers that are arranged in clusters + The seeds are small and black, and the seedlings
have thin, light green leaves
 Antlion Species = Recently, a research team from Kerala discovered two new antlion species, namely Nemoleon ghoshi and Nemoleon madayiensis + Antlions are commonly known for
their pit-building habit + Antlions can be easily distinguished by their long, distinct antennae + These are found throughout the world, primarily in dry, sandy regions.
 Manis Mysteria = newly discovered Pangolin species + The newly identified pangolin species emerged from a detailed study of scales seized in China’s Yunnan provincein 2015 and 2019
+ This new species is believed to have diverged from its Philippine and Malayan relatives approximately five million years ago.
 Chilobrachys Natanicharum = New species of tarantula found in the forests of Thailand + It has a "blue-violet hue resembling the color of electrical sparks + It is both terrestrial and
arboreal - lives within tree hollows.
 Armageddon Reedtail = New Damselfly Species + Discovered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (Western Ghats) + The name, Armageddon Reedtail, is a direct reference to the concept of
“Ecological Armageddon”, a term used to describe the devastating decline of insect populations around the world + Its only habitat is primary montane streams, where it thrives beneath
dense canopy cover + Damselfly are insects in the sub-order Zygoptera (meaning “paired-wings”). These are found mainly near shallow, freshwater habitats and are generally smaller, more
delicate, and fly weakly in comparison with dragonflies.
 Batillipes Kalami = New species of marine tardigrade + Newly discovered species from Mandapam in southeast Tamil Nadu + It has been named after the late former President and scientist
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam + It is the second marine tardigrade to be discovered in Indian waters and the first one from the east coast.
 Pterygotrigla Intermedica = Recently, the scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of vibrant orange-colored deep-water marine fish from Digha
Mohana in West Bengal + It is commonly known as gurnards or sea-robins and belongs to the family Triglidae. It is the fourth species of Pterygotrigla genus reported in India so far, and
there are a total of 178 species of the Triglidae family worldwide.
 Fujianvenator Prodigiosus = Around 148 to 150 million years old, Bird like dinosaur + Scientists in Fujian Province of China unearthed the fossil of a Jurassic Period dinosaur they named Fujianvenator
prodigiosus: a creature critical for the evolutionary stage in the origin of birds + Please Note: The oldest ¬known bird, Archaeopteryx, dates back to roughly 150 million years ago in Germany.
 Tharosaurus Indicus = The Oldest fossils of a plant-eating dinosaur have been found in the Thar desert near the Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan by the Geological Survey of India + The
scientists discovered the remains of a Sauropod dinosaur, which is the same clade as the long-necked herbivores in Jurassic Park – these happened to be the oldest known fossils of this
particular kind of sauropod + The fossils belong to the family Dicraeosauridae and from the superfamily Diplodocoidea. These are the first Dicraeosaurid sauropods to have been found in
India + The scientists named the dinosaur Tharosaurus indicus, with Tharo deriving from the Thar desert; saurus from the Greek ‘sauros’, or lizard; and indicus from its Indian origin.
 Igai Semkhu = It belongs to a diverse group of long-necked plant-eating dinosaurs called Titanosauria + Igai semkhu roamed the earth during the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous
epoch, approximately 75 million years ago + The group is known for large body sizes, long necks and wide stance. It includes species ranging from the largest known terrestrial vertebrates
to ‘dwarfs’ no bigger than elephants + Igai semkhu constitutes one of the most informative dinosaurs yet recovered from the latest Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia.
 Kylinxia Zhangi = Kylinxia is related to the arthropods + Researchers have investigated a nearly 520-millionyear-old fossil of Kylinxia zhangi (found in China) + The fossil is part of the
Cambrian Chengjiang biota, a group of exceptionally preserved animals.
 Red Fire Ant = Red fire Ant - one of the world’s most invasive species, has been found in Europe for the first time + Native: South America however, spread in United States, Mexico, the
Caribbean, China, and Australia + Communication: through chemical secretions and stridulation (sounds produced by rubbing or drumming one body part against another)
 Caribbean False Mussel = A recent report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) said that the spread of an invasive species, the Caribbean
false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei), is wiping out the native clams and oysters in Kerala + It is originally from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South and Central America + This invasive
species has spread across estuaries from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod + It reproduces rapidly, is very tolerant, and can even survive in freshwater.

 Tilapia Fish = The report on the status of invasive alien species pointed out that the spread of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) in Lake Victoria has affected the population of tilapia
fish + Tilapia fish is a common name used for certain species of fishes belonging to the family Cichlidae (order Perciformes), represented by numerous, mostly freshwater species native to
Africa + It has emerged to be one of the most productive and internationally traded food fish in the world.
 Sea Cucumber = This species is a part of a larger animal group called echinoderms and is invertebrates that lives on the seafloor + Found in both tropical and temperate oceans + Distribution:
Lakshadweep islands and Andaman Nicobar islands, the Gulf of Mannar at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu is also home to sea cucumbers + It has no
limbs or eyes, or blood + Status: Schedule 1 of WPA- > Trade is banned + CITES: Appendix II + MoEFCC imposed a total ban onharvesting and transporting sea cucumbers in 2001 +
Lakshadweep has created the world’s first conservation area for sea cucumbers + Beneficial to the benthic animals as they release inorganic nitrogen and phosporus, also plays an important
role in preserving coral reefs + Contain high levels of a chemical called fucosylated glycosaminoglycan in their skin + They exhibit both sexual and asexual reproduction.
 Paintbrush Swift Butterfly = It is a butterfly species of the Hesperiidae family + Its habitat is distributed in northeast, central and south India, and rare in Uttarakhand + This species is
legally protected in India under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972This species is legally protected in India under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 + Recently,
the paintbrush swift butterfly has been photographed and documented for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district.
 Grey Whales = They are found mainly in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific Ocean, although during migration, they do sometimes cross deep waters far from shore + They are a
type of baleen whale, which means they filter food from the water through special bristly structures in their mouths + IUCN: Western Grey whale (Critically endangered) and Eastern Grey
whale (Least concern) + As per a new study, population swings in eastern North Pacific grey whales — some of which have resulted in recent mass mortality events — are driven by changing
prey biomass and ice cover in the Arctic.
 Leopard Toby Puffer Fish = It is a deepwater reef species that lives in deep water caves and reef slopes + It is also known as blowfish + It is believed to have a thriving population in its
deep-sea habitat + IUCN: Least Concern + It is usually found in the waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, Guam, and Micronesia + Recently, a "super rare"creature, the Leopard Toby Puffer
Fish, that roams in the depths of the ocean, has been spotted off the coast of Australia.
 Crab Plover = Recently, for the first time, breeding nests of crab-plovers spotted at Great Vedaranyam Swamp near Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu + It is a long-legged, black and white bird
of Indian Ocean coasts + This is the only shorebird that lays white eggs, and chicks remain inside the burrows until the fledging stage + They are residents of the coasts and islands of the
Indian Ocean. They breed around the Arabian Sea of Pakistan, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Somalia, the Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar +
These birds inhabit sandy coastlines, mudflats, estuaries, lagoons, exposed coral reefs, and rocky shorelines + IUCN: Least Concern + It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the
Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
 Epithemis Wayanadensis = Recently, a new dragonfly species has been discovered in the verdant landscapes of Wayanad, Kerala + It is also known as Red-rumped Hawklet + This is the
first instance of an Indian dragonfly being documented with genetic evidence substantiating morphological distinctions.
 Eumasia Venefica = new species of bagworm moth + discovered near the Nariyampara falls in Idukki district, Kerala + The new species has been named due to the peculiarshape of its bag,
which resembles a wizard’s hat. It is the fourth species of this genus to be discovered from India.
 Alcalus Fontinalis = Researchers recently discovered a new species of frog named Alcalus fontinalis in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh + It was discoveredin the Namdapha
Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh + The frog appeared to be a mix of a bush frog and a water frog.
 Bufoides Bhupathyi = A new species of toad, called Bufoides bhupathyi, has been discovered in the Dampa tiger reserve of Mizoram, India + his marks the third species in a genus found
in the north-eastern region of India. The previous two species, Bufoides meghalayanus and Bufoides kempi, were found in Meghalaya.
 Badis Limaakumi = A new fish species named ‘Badis limaakumi’, was recently discovered in the Malak River in Nagaland + It is locally known by many names, like “Tepdang” or
“Akngashi (Chungli)” or “Aokngatsü (Mongsen)” or “Sempi” etc + have emarkable ability to change colour.
 Ghatiana Sanguinolenta = Researchers recently discovered a freshwater crab species, ‘Ghatiana sanguinolenta’ from the Balekoppa village of Sirsi district in northern Karnataka + It is a
newly discovered species of freshwater crab.

 Sporanaerobium Hydrogeniformans = Recently, researchers found a new genus of anaerobic lignocellulose-degrading bacteria in the hot spring of Aravali, located in Ratnagiri district of
Maharashtra + It is part of the Lachnospiraceae family, whose members are known as the most effective polysaccharide degraders due to their capacityto synthesise free or complicated
hydrolytic enzymes.
 Mytella Strigata = Invasive mussel species + It is a moderately large and symmetrical shelled mussel. It is generally observed in the middle intertidal and subtidal waters of estuaries and
near coastal environments. These mussels attach themselves to surfaces using byssus threads + Recently, NGT seeks report on removal of invasive mussel species from Ennore-Pulicat
wetland.
 Prosopis Juliflora (vilayati kikar) = Vilayati kikar is a Mexican invasive species introduced by the British in the 1930s in Delhi + It is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, a kind
of mesquite. It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It is one of the most invasive species in arid and semi-arid areas + In India it is known locally by many names such as
Bellary jaali, seemai karuvelam, seemai jaali, gando baval, vilayati kikar + It has a very wide ecological adaptability which can growon soils from sand dune to clay soil, and from saline to
alkaline soil type + It can grow below 200 to above 1500 m above sea level, and with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 50 to 1500 mm + It is characterized by vigorous growth which helps
them to outcompete indigenous plant species.
 Lorrainosaurus = Researchers have identified fossils of a 170-million-year-old ancient marine reptile as the oldest-known mega-predatory pliosaur (a group of ocean- dwelling reptiles) +
This pliosaur genus, named Lorrainosaurus, was found in northeastern France + Pliosaurs were a type of marine reptile that lived over 200 million years ago (during the early Middle Jurassic
period). They were known for their short necks, large conical teeth and massive skulls.
 Indian Squirrels = Found in India and Sri Lanka + Habitat: tropical dry forests, rainforests, mangroves, grasslands, gardens and urban areas + They are solitary-> only come together during
the breeding season + They are active during the day spending their time both in trees and on the ground + Sometimes they live in a system of burrows that they use for shelter and storage
+ They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground. Squirrels hide nuts this way as preparation for cold weather when otherwise food will be scarce + To prepare for colder
months, squirrels cache food during the spring and summer by gathering extra nuts. They bury the surplus in the area surrounding their nests, splitting it into different underground pantries
to save for later + They are omnivores-> feed mainly on nuts and fruits but will also eat seeds, insects, small mammals and reptiles, eggs, and even sometimes chicks of bird.
 Cheetah: The cheetah is the fastest land animal, which has the fastest running speed record of 93 and 98 km/h (58 and 61 mph) + It is considered to be a big cat and belongs to the Felidae
family + They have a small rounded head, a lightly built body, and a roundly spotted coat + They have long thin limbs and long tails.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFRICA CHEETAH AND ASIATIC CHEETAH
PARAMETER AFRICAN CHEETAH ASIATIC CHEETAH

IUCN Status Vulnerable Critically Endangered
CITES Status Appendix I Appendix I
Habitat round 6,500-7,000 African cheet 40-50 found only in Iran.
present in the wild.
Physical Features Bigger in size as compared to Asia Smaller and paler than the African cheetah. Has more fur, a smallerhead and a longer neck. Usuallyhave red
Cheetah. eyes and they have a more cat-like appearance
 Black Leopard = or Black Panther (Ghost of the Forest) is a melanistic colour variant of spotted any Panthera, particularly of the leopard in Asia and Africa, and the jaguar in the Americas
+ Found mainly in Southwestern China, Burma, Nepal, Southern India, Indonesia, and the southern part of Malaysia(I.e mainly in the regions with the highest rainfall anddense foliage) +
Most of the records about the existence of black leopards in India has been from North East India and Western Ghats + Sightings of rare Black Leopard (MelanisticLeopard) were reported
in Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and the Nagarhole National Park (kabini)in Karnataka + IUCN Status:
Vulnerable
 Fishing Cat = Nocturnal (active at night) + In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and
Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats + Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently down listed to “Vulnerable” from “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List species
assessment + Appendix II of CITES + In 2012, the West Bengal government officially declared the Fishing Cat as the State Animal + Earlier, Wildlife Institute of India (WII- Dehradun) and
the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department are has planned for a maiden exercise of collaring 10 fishing cats in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary(Andhra Pradesh). The project aims to capture the
fishing cats and collaring them with light weight equipment containing the Geographical Information System + Recently, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) designated the Fishing Cat
as ambassador of Chilika Lake, Odisha in a step towards conservation of the feline species
 Rescue guide for Ganges River Dolphin = released by Jal shakti Ministry + The document has been prepared by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Environment, Forest and Climate
Change Department (EFCCD) of the Uttar Pradesh Government + The manual is endorsed by the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group (IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) is one of
the more than 100 Specialist Groups and Task Forces that constitute the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)) + Please Note: Cetaceans are aquatic mammalsconstituting the infraorder
Cetacea, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises
 Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris): Vulnerable + reptilian species also called marsh crocodile or broad-snouted crocodile and is one of the three-crocodile species (SaltwaterCrocodile
and Gharial) found in India + It is extinct in Myanmar and Bhutan, and possibly extinct in Bangladesh + Its habitat includes wetlands (inland), marine neritic (shallow part of ocean),
artificial/aquatic & marine + It is a hole-nesting species, with egg-laying taking place during the annual dry season + Vadodara is the only city in India where crocodiles live in their natural
habitat amidst human population + Threat: Water pollution, food for human consumption, illegal use and trade such as for medicinal purpose, apparel/accessories etc + Appendix 1 of CITES
+ Vulnerable + schedule 1 of WPA,1972 + Last year, Gujarat relocated the Mugger crocodile from Sardar Sarovar dam to facilitate a seaplane service atthe Statue of Unity
 Saltwater Crocodile: Least concern(IUCN) + largest of all living reptiles + found throughout the east coast of India
 Gharial: Critically Endangered (IUCN) + fish eating crocodile + native to the Indian subcontinent + Population of Gharials are a good indicator of clean river water + Natural Habitat: Fresh
waters of the northern part of India + Primary Habitat: Chambal river + Secondary Habitat: Ghaghra and Gandak river, Girwa river (Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh), the
Ramganga river in Jim Corbett National Park and the Sone river
 Northern River Terrapin (Batagurbaska) = Brackish water species + One of the largest turtles to be found in Southeast Asia + Earlier, they were found in the river mouths of Odisha and
the Sunderbans + Described as the world’s second most endangered turtle (Yangtze giant soft shell turtle being the most endangered freshwater turtle) + It is regionally extinct in Myanmar,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. + IUCN: Critically Endangered + CITES: Appendix I + Wildlife Protection Act : Schedule I
 Black Squirrel = According to recent report, a rare black squirrel captured from Kerala in 2008, is a variant of the Indian three-striped palm squirrel + Recently scientists tries to find out the
reason for the color change in this species. The color change was caused by a gene mutation. The MelanoCortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) gene in the animal is responsible for activating the
change in pigmentation, and making it black [Just Remember MC1R gene & Read about Indian Palm squirrel]
 Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) = Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) is a joint project of the Haryana Forest Department and the Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) + It is a collaborative initiative to save the three species of vultures, the White-backed, Long-billed and Slender-billed, from looming extinction + At present there are
nine Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) + the three species of vultures bred
in the VCBC are the White-backed, Long-billed and the Slender-billed vulture + The major reason behind the vulture population getting nearly wiped out was the drug Diclofenac, found in
the carcass of cattle the vultures fed on. The drug, whose veterinary use was banned in 2008, was commonly administered to cattle to treat inflammation + the objective of the VCBCs was
not only to look after the vultures and breed them in captivity, but also to release them into the wild. The first objective of the VCBC was to produce a few hundred pairs of each of the three
species of the endangered vultures + (To study the cause of deaths of vultures, a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) wasset up at Pinjore, Haryana)
 Vulture Restaurants = The first vulture restaurant was built in South Africa in 1966 + Vulture restaurants functions in many countries including India + Phansad Wildlife sanctuary
(Maharshtra)is India’s 1st ever Vulture restaurant(2015) (Don’t Confuse with 1st Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) located in Pinjore, Haryana)
 Kadaknath = or Kali Masi is breed of chicken originating from Jhabua and Dhar districts of western Madhya Pradesh + received GI tag in 2017 + popular for its black meat which is famous
for its meat quality + also famous for its low cholesterol and high protein content.
 Amur Falcon = Least Concern + Small raptor of the falcon family + It is the world’s longest travelling raptors. It starts journey for about 22,000 kms with the onset of winters + It breeds
in south-eastern Siberia and northern China before migrate a long distance across India and over the Arabian sea to winter in Southern and East Africa + They get their name from the Amur
River thatforms the border between Russia and China + Doyang Lake (Nagaland) is known as a stopover for the Amur falcons during their annual migration from their breeding grounds to
warmer South Africa. Amur Falcon stays for a month in Nagaland and helps in maintaining the ecosystem by feeding on a large number of insects, thus controllingthe population of insects +
Nagaland is alsoknown as the “Falcon Capital of the World”
 Bhungloti = Bhungloti is a creeper that in combination with the pith of the roots of a jackfruit tree yielded a saffron dye. This was mainly used by Buddhist Bhikkus in Assam + Recently, a
'Buddhistvillage' in Charaideo district of eastern Assam has adopted ‘Chala Reserve Forest’ to conserve the traditional sources of colours from Bhungloti
 Tardigrade = also called water bear or moss piglet refer to any of more than 1,100 species of free-living tiny invertebrates belonging to the phylum Tardigrada + They are considered to be
close relatives of arthropods (e.g., insects, crustaceans) + Recently, Scientists have identified the first “quantum entangled” animal in history-frozen tardigrade, in a recent study. Frozen
tardigrade are microscopic multicellular organisms known to tolerate extreme physiochemical conditions througha latent state of life known as cryptobiosis + Cryptobiosis: Also known as
anabiosis, it is a metabolic state of life entered by an organism in response to adverse environmental conditions such as desiccation, freezing, and oxygen deficiency.In the cryptobiotic state,
all measurable metabolic processes stop, preventing reproduction, development, and repair. When environmental conditions return to being hospitable, the organism will return to its metabolic
state of life as it was prior to the cryptobiosis
 Propolis = Generally, propolis is used by honey bees to protect it from rainwater and drafts + Honeybees use this resin produced from substances they collect from plants and buds, to plug
tinygaps in hive from gases of the volcano + Recently, About 50 days after Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands erupted, tens of thousands of bees were found alive inside hives that
had been covered in volcanic ash due to Propolis
 Yellow Gold 48 = Recently, Bayer (German agrochemicals major) has launched the first-ever yellow watermelon variety Yellow Gold 48 under Seminis brand in India + It has been developed
from superior germplasm as part of Bayer's global research and development efforts + It is best suited for cultivation from October to February and for harvest from April onwards and will
be available in the market until mid-July + It has been commercially introduced in India following two years of local trials.
 Mishri Cherries = The first commercial shipment of Mishri variety of cherries from Kashmir valley has been exported to Dubai from Srinagar + Mishri varieties of Cherries not onlytaste
delicious but also contain vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds with health benefits + The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir produces more than 95% of India’s production of
commercial varieties of cherries. It produces four varieties of cherry — Double, Makhmali, Mishri, and Italy.
 Sloth Bear = First World Sloth Bear Day on October 12, was observed Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Central Zoo Authority + Features of sloth bear :
Identified by their very distinct long, shaggy dark brown or black fur, and distinct white V or Y shaped chest patch + Solitary creatures and generally nocturnal in nature + Diet: Omnivore
+ Life span: Up to 40 years + Habitat Range Endemic to the Indian subcontinent with small populations in Nepal and Sri Lanka + Conservation status + Listed under Schedule I of (Wildlife
Protection) Act, 1972 + Vulnerable on IUCN Red List.
 Monarch Butterfly = The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its red list of threatened species and categorized it
as "endangered" + This is one of the most recognisable butterflies in the world + In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration ofany insect species
known to science
 Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria Palpebrate) = Asia’s first sighting of the Light-mantled Albatross, a seabird native to the Antarctic seas, was recorded near Rameswaram coast
(Tamil Nadu) + This seabird habits over a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Ocean and forages over the cold Antarctic + IUCN status: Near Threatened.

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Environment & Ecology

Environment Species (Static Part)

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2. MAMMALS: Marine ............................................................................................................................................................................... 35

7. SPECIES IN NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 48

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Southern tip of ● Endemic to India

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● WPA: Schedule 1 and CITES: Appendix 1

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● It's an old-world monkey

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Chiru/Tibetan Antelope ● WPA: Schedule 1

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Maharashtra, Orissa, ● WPA: Schedule 1

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 WPA: Schedule 1, CITES: Appendix: 1

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Found in localised areas of Coastal waters of South

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