Latest news with #ManokaranKamalakannan
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
ZSI study unravels hidden world of South Asian tree shrews, redefines conservation priorities
In a landmark study that redefines our understanding of a little-known group of mammals, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have revealed new insights into the taxonomy of South Asian tree shrews , challenging long-held assumptions and setting a new course for their conservation. Published today in the prestigious journal Ecology and Evolution , the study—led by Dr. Manokaran Kamalakannan of ZSI's Mammal and Osteology Section—delves into the evolutionary distinctions among South Asia's tree shrews, small, squirrel-like mammals that have long confounded researchers due to their superficial resemblance to other species. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata 'Tree shrews are not true shrews or squirrels, but members of a distinct order called Scandentia ,' said Dr. Kamalakannan, who conceptualised and steered the project from start to finish. 'They possess unique traits such as elongated snouts, moist nasal pads, and a diet of insects and fruits, setting them apart from other small mammals.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Drawing from a century's worth of museum specimens, the ZSI team applied advanced morphometric methods and statistical modelling to decode subtle differences in body shape, skull structure, and size—resolving long-standing taxonomic ambiguities that have hindered conservation efforts. Nicobar Tree Shrew: From Smallest to Largest One of the most surprising findings upends conventional wisdom about the Nicobar tree shrew, previously thought to be the smallest among its South Asian relatives. The study reveals it is, in fact, the largest tree shrew in South Asia, and ranks as the third largest globally among the 23 known species. 'This has major conservation implications,' noted Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of ZSI. 'Insular endemics like the Nicobar tree shrew are particularly vulnerable to ecological stress, and accurate taxonomy is critical for crafting focused protection strategies.' A Call for Genetic Research While the morphological findings are ground-breaking, co-author Dr. Mukesh Thakur emphasized the need for genetic studies to complement this research. 'To build a complete phylogenetic tree of these species, integrating DNA data is now essential,' he said. Dr. Nithyanandam Marimuthu, who led the complex statistical analyses, added, 'Our multivariate analysis statistically supports the distinction among these species, even when physical similarities once led to misidentifications.' Conservation Through Clarity Tree shrews are often overlooked in conservation discourse, but their ecological role—as seed dispersers and insect predators—makes them crucial components of forest ecosystems. The new findings underscore how scientific clarity can drive better conservation outcomes. 'This study proves that even long-preserved museum specimens can yield new knowledge when paired with modern analytical tools,' Dr. Kamalakannan said. 'It's a testament to the enduring value of biological collections.' The full study, titled 'Museum Specimens Reveal the Taxonomic Distinctions among South Asian Tree shrews,' is available open-access at
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Centuries-old museum specimens unlock mysteries of South Asian treeshrews
GUWAHATI Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have resolved longstanding taxonomic ambiguities surrounding South Asian treeshrews - small, insectivorous mammals often misidentified due to their superficial resemblance to squirrels. Drawing upon century-old specimens housed in national collections, the study offers fresh insight into the morphological diversity of these elusive creatures. Their study was published in Ecology and Evolution, an international journal, on Friday (April 25, 2025). The authors of the study are Manokaran Kamalakannan, Mukesh Thakur, Nithyanandam Marimuthu, Subhojit Pramanik, and Dhriti Banerjee. Treeshrews are neither true shrews nor squirrels, but belong to a distinct order called Scandentia. While they share a similar size and arboreal lifestyle with squirrels, treeshrews can be easily distinguished by their elongated snouts, reduced whiskers, moist nasal pads, and insectivorous or frugivorous diet. Historically misclassified as primates, the treeshrews – some arboreal, some semi-arboreal, and others terrestrial – are now recognised as an ancient lineage of mammals endemic to South and Southeast Asia. Dr. Kamalakannan, the lead author and scientist at the ZSI's Mammal and Osteology Section, conceptualised and led the study from data collection to the final morphological analysis. 'By examining decades-old museum specimens, we have shed light on how these fascinating mammals differ from one another,' he said. 'This clarity is essential for accurate species identification and for shaping effective conservation policies. When analysed with modern techniques, museum specimens reveal patterns of variation that were previously hidden, helping us address long-standing taxonomic ambiguities,' he said. Co-author Dr. Marimuthu, who led the complex multivariate analyses, said: 'The morphometric patterns we uncovered offer strong statistical support for separating these species, which were once thought to overlap significantly in size and shape.' Most strikingly, the study overturns long-standing assumptions about the Nicobar treeshrew. Once believed to be the smallest among South Asian treeshrews, the analysis reveals it is the largest in South Asia and the third-largest of all 23 known treeshrew species globally. More research advised 'There is a need for genetic studies to support a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of South Asian treeshrews. This should be a priority for future research,' Dr. Thakur, another co-author, said. Dr. Banerjee, also the Director of ZSI, underlined the implications of the findings. 'This study is a major step forward in mammalian conservation in South Asia. Accurate taxonomy is fundamental to protecting species, particularly insular endemics like the Nicobar treeshrew, which faces growing ecological pressures,' she said. The research utilised a wide dataset from South Asian treeshrew specimens preserved for over a century at the ZSI's National Zoological Collections, a repository of India's faunal diversity, in Kolkata. The scientists investigated the morphological variation among three species – Madras treeshrew (Anathana ellioti), northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri), and Nicobar treeshrew (Tupaia nicobarica) – using museum specimens collected over a wide spatial and temporal range of India and Myanmar and combined with existing published datasets. These three species occupy distinct and non-overlapping geographical areas in India and Southeast Asia. The scientists analysed 22 cranial measurements and four external traits to evaluate inter- and intraspecific morphological differentiation, employing distance-based morphometric approaches validated by multivariate analyses. Their findings revealed considerable heterogeneity in cranial morphology, with three species exhibiting clear differentiation, despite slight overlaps in morphospace.
