Kerala leads as India's biodiversity hotspot; know all about it here
As per the report, titled
Animal Discoveries: New Species and New Records 2024
, states that a total of 683 species and subspecies were discovered across the country in a single calendar year. Interestingly, this was the highest ever recorded since formal documentation began in 2008.
The report, released during the ZSI's 110th anniversary celebrations in Kolkata, West Bengal, by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, sheds light on India's rich biodiversity.
Kerala: The biodiversity hotspot
As per the report, Kerala has contributed 101 species, including 80 new to science and 21 new records for India. Kerala is followed by Karnataka (82 species), Arunachal Pradesh (72 species), Tamil Nadu (63 species), West Bengal (56 species), the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (43 species), Meghalaya (42 species), and Uttarakhand (31 species).
Why Kerala?
Kerala's coastal wetlands, backwaters, dense rainforests and montane grasslands, and national parks like Periyar National Park, and Silent Valley National Park, provide ideal conditions for diverse fauna.
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These places are a haven for insects, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. The 101 species discovered in Kerala include a mix of vertebrates and invertebrates. Some of the recently discovered species are also microscopic or cryptic species, requiring further studies.
Kerala contributed 21 new records for India.
The report
The report, prepared by ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee, along with scientists C Raghunathan, Anjum N Rizvi, and Jayita Sengupta, presents a staggering 105,244 species and subspecies recorded since the institution's founding in 1916.
A total of 683 species were documented in 2024, of which 459 were new to science, and 224 were new records for India.
As per the report, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, and Telangana reported the lowest numbers of new discoveries.
Anguiculus dicaprioi
, a new snake species found in Himachal Pradesh, was one of the most significant discoveries of 2024. Interestingly, the new snake species is named in honor of actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio.
Karnataka's 82 discoveries are from its forests and coastal regions, while several of Tamil Nadu's 63 new finds are from in and around Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Arunachal Pradesh's 72 new species highlight the importance and richness of the Eastern Himalayan landscapes. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with 43 species, continues to be a star for its unique fauna.
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