Guwahati: A total of 97 new species have been reported from the biodiversity-rich Northeast India, out of 442 discovered across India, according to the “Animal Discoveries 2023: New Species and New Records” report by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
The report, released by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday, highlights India’s achievement as the first country to compile a checklist of its entire fauna, covering 104,561 species. This positions India as a global leader in biodiversity documentation.
In 2023, Indian scientists, academicians, and researchers reported 641 discoveries, including 442 new species, 199 new records for India, and 19 new genera. The ZSI, one of the world’s largest faunal repositories, maintains voucher specimens for reference by taxonomists.
The data analysis of the last decade (2014-2023) shows a total of 4,875 species (3,516 new species and 1,359 new records) have been added to Indian fauna. Notably, the highest number of new species (467) was described in 2022, while 2023 saw the maximum new records (199).
In general, the highest numbers of species are reported from southern India. However, in the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh leads with 45 species (32 new species and 13 new records), making it the fourth highest in the country for new species and records. Following Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya reported 25 species (21 new and 4 new records), and Manipur reported 22 species (19 new species and 3 new records).
The only new bird report in 2023 is from Arunachal Pradesh. The species Calcarius lapponicus, previously known from Eurasia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Japan, and China, has been reported in India for the first time based on a collection from Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery was published by Ravi Mekola, Saurav Halder, Rahul Baruah, Subhra Pakhira, and Eeyechi Lamo in the Indian BIRDS journal.
Regarding amphibians, three new species have been reported from Arunachal Pradesh, and one each from Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. The new amphibian species from the Northeast are Bufoides bhupathy, Alcalus fontinalis, Amolops siju, Nidirana noadihing, Gracixalus patkaiensis, and Tylototriton zaimeng.
A total of 12 new fish species were described from the Northeast, with six from Manipur, three from Arunachal Pradesh, two from Nagaland, and one from Meghalaya. The most significant finding from Meghalaya was Neolissochilus pnar, the world’s largest cave fish, discovered in the limestone caves of the East Jaintia Hills.
The Neolissochilus pnar honors the tribal communities of East Jaintia Hills, from where it was discovered. The term ‘Pnar’ refers to a sub-tribal group of the Khasi people in Meghalaya. The limestone caves in Meghalaya host a remarkable diversity of subterranean taxa, making the state one of two hotspots of subterranean fish diversity in India, the other being the lateritic aquifers of Kerala.
Some new fish species from the Northeast include Badis limaakumi, Barilius kamjongensis, and Garra chingaiensis. Additionally, a new species of mollusk, Alycaeus himalayae, was described from Arunachal Pradesh.
Scientists emphasize the potential for more discoveries in the Northeast, calling for increased exploration and more taxonomists in the region. The Northeast, with its diverse physiographic and ecoclimatic conditions, serves as a geographical gateway for much of India’s endemic flora and fauna.
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