Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers discovered a new evergreen tree species named Humboldtia nairiana from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. The species belongs to the genus Humboldtia and was identified in the riparian forests of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing 5–8 metres tall. The species is strictly endemic to Kerala and is currently known only from the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.

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Indian botanists discovered a new species of flowering plant, Crotalaria phulei, in the Khairi-Umred forest near Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is named after Savitribai Phule, India’s first woman teacher. The species belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family. It is an undershrub that grows up to 1.5 metres in height. The plant produces pods with distinctive mottled creamy-olive seeds. It closely resembles Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria shrirangiana.

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Bascanichthys chepakakiensis is a newly discovered species of snake eel. It was discovered in Kakinada Fishing Harbour, Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal. It is only the second species of the Bascanichthys genus recorded from Indian waters. The eel has a distinct bicoloured body, a short snout, a unique tooth arrangement, and tiny flap-like pectoral fins. The discovery adds to the known marine biodiversity of India’s eastern coast.

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Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has released the first scientific assessment report on the Greater Hog Badger. The Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a nocturnal, small burrowing omnivorous mammal. It is locally known as “mati gahori” in Assam. The greater hog badger and northern hog badger are found in India. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, its conservation status is Vulnerable.

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Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is recognized as the oldest-known terrestrial animal and the oldest turtle ever recorded by Guinness World Records. He is approximately 194 years old, believed to have been born around 1832. Jonathan lives on Saint Helena Island. The average lifespan of a Seychelles giant tortoise is about 150 years, making Jonathan an exceptional case. Despite his age, he remains active and has a healthy appetite, though he has lost his sense of smell. Scientists are studying his DNA to understand longevity and age-related cellular changes.

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Researchers recently discovered two new cave-dwelling micro-snail species, Georissa meghalayaensis and Acmella bensoni, in Meghalaya. The discovery was made in the limestone caves of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. Georissa meghalayaensis was found near the entrance of Krem Puri Cave and is characterized by its orangish-red shell and mesh-like ridges. Acmella bensoni was discovered in Krem Puri and Arwah Cave. It has a small, whitish, translucent shell with fine rib patterns. The species was named after William H. Benson, a renowned 19th-century malacologist.

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Recently, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new species of wild brinjal named Solanum pandeyi. The species was found in the evergreen forests of Middle Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Locally, it is known as the wild orange eggplant. The indigenous Great Andamanese tribe uses it for food and medicinal purposes. Its seeds and roots are traditionally used to treat tooth infections.

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Scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea catshark named Apristurus drona in the Arabian Sea off the Kollam coast of Kerala. Commonly called the Arabian slender catshark, it was found near Sakthikulangara harbour and the Wadge Bank region. The species represents a distinct evolutionary lineage and is closely related to catsharks from the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand. It is considered extremely rare and has no commercial fisheries value.

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The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, has successfully demonstrated Blue Swimmer Crab farming technology for the first time in India. Blue Swimmer Crab belongs to the Portunidae family of brachyuran crabs. It is also known as the blue crab, flower crab, or blue manna crab. The species is identified by paddle-like hind legs used for swimming and nine spines along its carapace. In India, it is found along both east and west coasts, especially in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar. It feeds on bivalves, fish, and macroalgae and usually remains buried in sand or mud.

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The Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu has recently been in news due to concerns over garbage dumping in its river stretch at Madurai. It originates from the Varusanadu Hills of the Western Ghats and flows eastward across Tamil Nadu. The river passes through the historic city of Madurai and finally drains into the Palk Strait near Ramanathapuram district. It is supported by water diversion from the Periyar River via a tunnel from Kerala, enhancing its flow.