Type: Species

Why in the News?

A new species of fish, named Schistura densiclava, has been discovered inside a limestone cave in Meghalaya, even as the cave was already in focus due to a conflict over a Shivalinga-like stone formation.

About Schistura Densiclava:

• Discovery Location: Schistura densiclava was discovered in Krem Mawjymbuin, a limestone cave in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.
• Research Team: The species was identified by a team led by Kangkan Sarma of Gauhati University’s Zoology Department.
• Type: It is a troglophile loach, meaning it lives in caves but can also survive in surface streams.
• Habitat Conditions: Found in a fast-flowing cave stream, 60 meters inside, with low oxygen and 18°C temperature.
• Family: Belongs to the Nemacheilidae family, which includes small, bottom-dwelling freshwater fishes.

Key Features:

• Body Color and Markings: The fish has a pale yellow-green body with 14 to 20 greyish-black bars along its sides.
• Name Meaning: “Densiclava” is Latin for “thick stripe,” referring to a dark stripe near the dorsal fin.
• Adaptation Traits: Unlike many cave species, it retains pigmentation and functional eyesight, helping it survive both underground and in surface waters.
• Sexual Dimorphism:
  • Males are slimmer, have irregular body patterns, and have puffier cheeks.
  • Females are more robust with uniform markings.
• Genetic Confirmation: DNA testing confirmed that this is a completely new species.
• Endemism: The fish appears to be endemic to Krem Mawjymbuin, meaning it is found nowhere else.

Why in the News?

According to a recent report by the Gujarat Forest Department, the population of Asiatic lions in India has increased by 32% between 2020 and 2025, reaching 891 individuals.

About the Asiatic Lion:

• Scientific Identity: The Asiatic Lion, also known as the Persian or Indian Lion, is found only in India and is one of the 5 big cat species in the country.
• Physical Traits: They are slightly smaller than African lions and have a less developed mane.
• Habitat: Their only wild habitat is the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
• Range: Asiatic lions once roamed Western Asia, the Middle East, and parts of eastern and central India. Now, their entire wild population is restricted to Gujarat.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (most sources claimed it Endangered, but VU status is confirmed from IUCN official website).
  • CITES: Appendix I (international commercial trade is prohibited; trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances)
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest level of protection in India, violations attract the harshest penalties)
• Lion Census: First conducted in 1936, and since 1965, done every 5 years by the Gujarat Forest Department.
• Behavioural Aspects:
  • Reproduction: Lions are polyoestrous with no fixed breeding season; females come into estrus every 16 days and remain fertile for 4–8 days.
  • Territorial Marking: Lions roar and scent mark to declare territory; males often scrape the ground to carry their scent.

Population and Conservation Updates:

• Population Growth: From 2020 to 2025, the lion population rose 32% to 891.
• Female Increase: Adult females grew 27% to 330, indicating positive breeding trends.
• Habitat Expansion: Lions now inhabit nine satellite regions, including Mityala (32 lions) and a new corridor (22 lions).
• Range Growth: Lion territory expanded from 30,000 sq. km in 2020 to 35,000 sq. km in 2025 — a 16.67% increase.
• Project Lion (2020): A ₹2,900 crore mission to enhance habitats and create new protected areas within Gujarat.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: With more lions outside reserves, there’s a rise in livestock attacks, with a 10% annual increase in affected villages and a 15% rise in animals killed.
• Community Support: Despite risks, 61% of surveyed locals showed tolerance towards lions, underlining the need for community-based conservation.

Why in the News?

Specialists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have successfully assembled the first-ever chromosome-level genome of the Indian yak (Bos grunniens).

About the Indian Yak (Bos grunniens):

• The Indian yak, often referred to as the ‘ship of the Himalayas’, plays a crucial role in the high-altitude economies of India.
• Features: It is known for its resilience and adaptability to extreme environments. It provides meat, milk, and manure and is a vital mode of transportation.
• Habitat: It inhabits the regions above 7,000 feet in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Conservation Status: It is assessed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List and included in CITES Appendix I and Schedule I in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Significance of the Research:

• Mapping Method: The study used long-read sequencing and advanced bioinformatics to map yak genes with high precision.
• Feature Identification: The genome will help identify genes for cold tolerance, disease resistance, and milk production.
• Comparative Applications: It will allow comparative studies with other bovine species to discover valuable genetic traits (alleles).
• Breeding and Conservation: The data will support better breeding strategies and the creation of conservation plans for yaks.
• Livelihood Impact: This research supports sustainable development and could improve the livelihoods of Himalayan yak herders through targeted livestock improvements.

Why in the News?

Indian Grey Wolves in the Kadbanwadi Grasslands in Pune District are exposed to threats from local dog populations, such as Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), rabies, and canine parvovirus.

About the Indian Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes):

• The Indian Grey Wolf is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf, found in India, Southwest Asia, and parts of the Middle East.
• It has a brownish-grey coat with black and white markings and is less vocal, living in small packs of 2 to 6 members.
• This wolf is nocturnal, meaning it hunts mainly at night, preying on small animals like chinkaras (gazelles), rodents, and sometimes livestock.
• It lives in scrublands, grasslands, and semi-arid regions, and prefers warm climates.
• As an apex predator of the grasslands, it plays a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling the population of herbivores and smaller predators.
• The species is under threat due to habitat loss, disease from stray dogs, crossbreeding, and human conflict.
• Its conservation status is critical:
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I (highest international protection)
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (maximum legal protection)

Why in the News?

A species of wild banana, Musa indandamanensis, endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has set a world record with an infructescence (fruit bunch axis) measuring 4.2 metres — the longest ever recorded among banana species globally.

About the Musa indandamanensis:

• Musa indandamanensis is a wild banana species that is endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It was first discovered in 2012 near the Krishna Nala reserve forest in Little Andaman and officially described in 2014.
• The species was later rediscovered in Campbell Bay, located in the Nicobar Islands.
• The discovery was led by Dr. Lal Ji Singh, Head of the Botanical Survey of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre.
• Due to its limited natural range and habitat vulnerability, it is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN.

Notable Features:

• The species holds the world record for the longest banana infructescence, measuring 4.2 metres.
• The plant typically reaches a height of about 11 metres, with stem girth varying by location: under 100 cm in Little Andaman and around 110 cm in Campbell Bay.
• It bears golden yellow to orange fruits, which ripen into a golden-orange pulp containing many irregular-shaped seeds.
• The plant thrives in moist tropical forests, typically near waterfalls and streams.
• It is considered a valuable genetic resource for developing drought-resistant, disease-tolerant, and high-yielding banana varieties.
• Specimens are showcased in botanical institutions such as the Indian Museum in Kolkata and the Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre.
• For ex-situ conservation, saplings have been planted in botanical gardens in Howrah, Prayagraj, and Port Blair.

Why in the News?

The red-crowned roofed turtle has returned to the Ganga River after nearly 30 years of absence.

About Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle

• The Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) is one of the most endangered freshwater turtle species in the world.
• It is native to South Asia, particularly India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
• Historically found in deep, flowing rivers with sandbar nesting sites, it now survives only in the Chambal River, with fewer than 300 individuals remaining.
• This species plays a crucial role in maintaining river ecosystem balance by controlling aquatic vegetation and contributing to nutrient cycling.
• Under the Namami Gange Mission and Turtle Survival Alliance India (TSAFI) project, 20 turtles (10 males, 10 females) were released into the Ganga River at Haiderpur Wetland and Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The IUCN Red List categorizes it as Critically Endangered, while India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 lists it in Schedule I, offering the highest legal protection.
• It is also listed under Appendix I of CITES, regulating international trade of the species.

Why in the News?

A recent report by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), highlights the absence of any breeding programme for musk deer.

About Musk Deer:

• The Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster) is an endangered species native to the Himalayas, found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China.
• It inhabits altitudes of 2,200 to 4,300 meters, primarily in alpine forests and scrublands.
• Behaviour: Solitary, nocturnal, and territorial. Males have long, curved canine teeth and a musk gland, which is highly valued and targeted by poachers.
• It plays a key role in seed dispersal, helping maintain the balance of the alpine ecosystem.
• Threats: Poaching for their musk glands, habitat loss from deforestation, and genetic issues due to fragmented populations.

Conservation Initiatives:

• Protection Status:
  • It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
  • It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, offering the highest protection under Indian law.
• Protected Areas:
  • Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1972, covering 975 km² in the western Himalayas, crucial for musk deer conservation.
  • Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary: Located in Uttarakhand, dedicated specifically to musk deer conservation.
• Himalayan Musk Project (1982): Aimed at captive breeding within Kedarnath Sanctuary but faced setbacks due to disease, snake bites, and poor survival rates. The project was shut down in 2006.

Why in the News?

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department’s wildlife wing has captured the first photographic evidence of the elusive Woolly Flying Squirrel in the Miyar Valley, Lahaul and Spiti district.

About the Woolly Flying Squirrel:

• The Woolly Flying Squirrel, scientifically known as Eupetaurus cinereus, is one of the rarest and least known mammals in Asia.
• It is endemic to the northwestern Himalayas, primarily found in northern Pakistan and northwestern India.
• It prefers to live in dry conifer woodlands within a fragmented habitat in a thin elevational band.
• This species was long believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994, nearly seventy years after its last recorded sighting.
• It is unique due to its ability to glide, much like other flying squirrels, as it has elastic membranes that connect its fore and hind legs.

Physical features:

• Its body is covered with dense, straight, silky hairs, with the dorsal pelage appearing blue-gray, while the underside is pale gray.
• The squirrel also has creamy white hairs on its throat and ears, and dense black fur on the soles of its feet, with pinkish brown toe pads that are naked.

Conservation Status:

• Listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
• NOT explicitly mentioned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Significance of the Rediscovery:

• Its confirmed existence adds to the state’s mammal checklist, offering hope for its continued survival in this remote part of the Himalayas.
• This discovery is important from a scientific perspective, as it marks the first time the elusive species has been documented in India since its rediscovery in 1994.