A herpetologist from Mumbai saw the photo of a snake taken 9 years ago. With no definite proof of its existence or exact location, the researcher teamed up with others to locate, prove its physical presence and discover the same snake! This newly found species of snake is probably the rarest find in the […]
5 Spectacular Crabs Discovered In Western Ghats
The Western Ghats of India are a true explorer’s haven because of the diversity of life forms that exist here. This has been proven yet again with the discovery of 5 new species of brightly coloured freshwater crabs from this biodiversity hotspot. These crabs prefer to live on land and need freshwater pools for breeding. […]
New Species Of Moray Eel Discovered In India
A new species of eel has been discovered along the coast of Digha in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district by scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The species has been named Gymnothorax mishrai. It is 32.4 cm long, brown in colour and is devoid of any pattern on its body. The species is distinguished […]
Tree Frog Found Again After 150 Years
A tree frog thought to have become extinct and not seen for 150 years was rediscovered in North east India. The discovery was made by renowned Indian biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju and a team of scientists. The frog has been named Frankixalus jerdonii. After studying the amphibian the scientists have reclassified it as an entirely […]
Rare Species Of Indian Moon Moth Spotted In Trichy
A nocturnal moth species, Actias selene, which had become rare and endangered was recently found by a team of researchers in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The moth was first sighted by enthusiastic school children Mahadevan and Praveen and their headmistress N Geetha of Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kavundampatti, near Mannachanallur. This was in 2012 during the […]
Scientist Count 569 Dolphins Along Maharashtra Coast
A survey conducted in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra by biologists has brought to light that about 569 dolphins live in the region. It is believed that the actual number of dolphins could be much higher. Image via Project Noah The survey was a collaborative effort of the United Nations Development Programme, the Government of India […]
A Spider that can stay Underwater for 14 minutes!
If there was a competition among spiders of holding their breath underwater, the Tylorida sataraensis spider from the Western Ghats of India would surely be a strong winning contender. This particular spider species will dive under water and stay under for as long as 14 minutes to evade its predator before coming up for air. […]
New Plant Species of Camphor Discovered in the Western Ghats
A new tree species has been discovered in the Western Ghats, the leaves and stem of which, when crushed, gives out a strong smell of camphor. The species was first reported from Agasthyamala hills in the southern part of the Western Ghats and was hence named Cinnamomum Agasthyamalayanum. Image courtesy journalijar.com/uploads/899_IJAR-4343.pdf The genus Cinnamomum contains […]
Tiny National Park Showcases Huge Butterfly Diversity
Gorumara National Park in West Bengal is one of the smallest known national parks of India with a total area of just 80 sq km. Nonetheless, what it lacks in size, the park compensates in the rich diversity of fauna, especially butterflies thriving in this area. A recent study recorded more than 300 species of […]
Rare Turtle Springs a Surprise on Workers Cleaning a Lake in Patiala
The municipal workers clearing the Rajindra lake in the midst of Patiala city of Punjab in northern India were in for a surprise when they accidentally found a rare and endangered turtle in one of the busiest roads of the city. Representative image of Indian soft shelled turtle via biolib The 70-year old reptile was […]
Common Ancestors of Horses and Rhinos Found in India
A horse-like animal that lived in India during Eocene epoch, about 55 million years ago, has been discovered by an international group of paleontologists, making it the common ancestor of modern day horses, tapirs and rhinos. Common Ancestor of Horses, Rhinos and Tapir Perissodactyla (perissodactyls) is a small order of hoofed mammals, containing three families: […]