Zoological Survey of India discovers 248 new species in 2013

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has discovered 248 new animal species in different parts of the India in 2013.

A compilation of the ZSI’s discoveries was published in a volume titled Animal Discoveries 2013.

Among the newly discovered species following

• 162 are insects.
• 19 are arachnids.
• 36 are fish.
• 5 are amphibians.
• 2 are reptiles.

Among the new finds, the most interesting is a shieldtail snake, Rhinophis goweri, found in the Bodamalai hills of Tamil Nadu.

Of the 5 species of amphibians

• 3 are found in the north-east — two in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Meghalaya
• 1 in the Eastern Ghats and
• 1 from Maharashtra.

The frog found in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Raorchestes ghatei, is a new species of shrub frog which inhabits semi-evergreen forests and scrub patches.

Of the 36 species of fish

• At least 18 are found in the north-eastern States,
• 4 in West Bengal and
• 8 in Kerala.

As per Zoological Survey of India-

• These rarest-of-rare species are found in small habitats and most of them are endangered.
• The Western Ghats and Eastern Himalaya continued to be “hot-spots for these discoveries.
• Finding of new vertebrate species from fishes to those higher up in the animal order is very difficult and such species are very interesting to study.
• Of the 1.4 million animal species that had been found across the world till December 2013, India, with over 96,000 finds which is home to 7 per cent of these species.
• 54 species earlier found in other parts of the world, for the first time in India. Of these 11 are fish and 21 are insects.
• These discoveries can help find new drugs and in access and benefit sharing under the Biological Diversity Act.
• Many of world’s biodiversity is continuously threatened, with several species on the verge of extinction.

About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies.

It was established on 1 July 1916 to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the region.

The activities of the ZSI are coordinated by the Conservation and Survey Division in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Primary Objectives of ZSI

• Exploration and Survey of Faunal Resources
• Taxonomic Studies
• Status Survey of Endangered Species
• Publication of Results through Departmental Journals
• Publication of Fauna of India
• Maintenance and Development of National Zoological Collections
• Central Refernal, Information, Advisory and Library Services.