Species In News-11th Oct 2025

11/10/2025

107 5 minutes read

Beddome’s cat skink

In News: A biodiversity survey has, for the first time, recorded the presence of Beddome’s cat skink (Ristella beddomii) at the Aralam and Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuaries.

This small, reddish-brown lizard with retractile claws and bicarinate scales is a rare and endemic species of the Western Ghats, found at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,300 meters.

About:

Beddome’s cat skink (Ristella beddomii) is a small, reddish-brown lizard endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
It is characterized by retractile claws and bicarinate (ridged) scales, which help it move adeptly in its forest floor habitat.
This species typically inhabits dense, moist forested areas at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,300 meters.
It is oviparous, laying eggs during the southwestern monsoon season to ensure optimal conditions for hatching.
Named after the British naturalist Richard Henry Beddome, the cat skink is considered rare and has been little studied, making recent discoveries in wildlife sanctuaries like Aralam and Kottiyoor notable.
These skinks are important for forest ecosystems as they help control insect populations and are part of the prey base for larger predators.
Their smooth, shiny scales and ability to blend with leaf litter also serve as effective camouflage in their natural habitat.

Pallid Fish Eagle

In News: The Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) in Uttarakhand has recently been documented as a habitat for 30 species of raptors, including the rare nesting of the endangered Pallid Fish Eagle (also known as Pallas’s sea eagle or band-tailed fish eagle).

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The Pallid Fish Eagle is a large brownish sea eagle that primarily feeds on fish and breeds near water bodies, usually building large nests in tall trees.
It is partially migratory, with populations from Central Asia wintering in northern India and further west towards the Persian Gulf.
The Pallid Fish Eagle, also known as Pallas’s Fish Eagle or Pallas’s Sea Eagle (scientific name: Haliaeetus leucoryphus), is a large bird of prey found predominantly in parts of South and Central Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and several Central Asian countries.
It is characterized by its brownish-black body, with a lighter sandy-brown hood and whitish face.
One of its distinctive features is the black tail with a broad white band, giving it the nickname “band-tailed fish eagle.”
It has a wingspan of up to about 2.2 meters (7 feet), making it one of the larger eagles in the region.

Ophiorrhiza echinata

In News: Ophiorrhiza echinata is a newly discovered species of coffee plant found in the Western Ghats, specifically in the shola forests of Devikulam, Idukki District, Kerala.

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It grows in the ecotone region, which is the transitional area between evergreen forests and grasslands, at an altitude of about 1,630 meters above sea level.
The plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family and is closely related to Ophiorrhiza mungos, a species known for its medicinal properties, including use in cancer treatment and antidote preparations.
The species has a very limited distribution, with its area of occupancy estimated to be less than 4 square kilometers and with a population size of only around 35 recorded plants, indicating its rarity.
This discovery was made by botanists from SH College, Thevara; St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam; and St. Thomas College, Thrissur, and published in the Nordic Journal of Botany, an international scientific journal.
Ophiorrhiza echinata highlights the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, and underlines the importance of conserving fragile shola forest ecosystems.
The species’ close genetic relation to medicinal plants suggests potential for phytochemical and medicinal research.
Its discovery emphasizes the ecological significance of the Western Ghats montane evergreen forests, contributing to knowledge about endemic species in the region.

Antlions

In News: Two new antlion species have been discovered in Kerala. These are named Indophanes keralaensis and Indophanes sahyadriensis. The discovery adds to Kerala’s growing list of known antlion species, highlighting the rich insect biodiversity of the region.

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Antlions belong to the insect family Myrmeleontidae, order Neuroptera. They are named for their larval predatory behavior on ants and other small insects.
The life cycle has four stages: egg, larva (grub), pupa, and adult. Larvae dig conical pit traps in sandy or loose soil to catch prey. They have large sickle-shaped jaws to grasp and inject venom to immobilize prey.
Larvae remain buried at the bottom of the pit with jaws exposed, throwing sand to prevent prey escape. They have a low metabolic rate and can survive long periods without food.
Adults resemble damselflies but have clubbed antennae and are poor fliers, usually nocturnal and attracted to lights. They feed on nectar or may not feed at all, focusing on reproduction.
Antlions play an important ecological role as predators controlling populations of ants and small insects, thus balancing local ecosystems.
Found mainly in dry, sandy habitats like woodland floors, river banks, and under rocks, their unique pit-building behavior is their most notable characteristic.
Around 2,000 species of antlion exist worldwide, with many new species recently discovered in India, including Kerala, indicating rich biodiversity.

Nesolynx banabitanae

In News: A newly identified wasp species called Nesolynx banabitanae has been discovered in Salt Lake, West Bengal.

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It is named after “Banabitan,” the local name for Central Park where the wasp was first identified.
This discovery is significant as it marks only the seventh wasp species identified in India.
Nesolynx banabitanae belongs to the Eulophidae family, which is known for a wide range of parasitic behaviors.
The species is a hyperparasitoid, meaning it parasitizes other parasitoid wasps, adding complexity to ecological interactions.
Specifically, it parasitizes the ichneumonid parasitoid Charops aditya, which itself parasitizes caterpillars of the Common palmfly and Common castor butterflies.
The research team used advanced techniques like scanning electron microscopy to study the wasp’s antennal sensilla, which help in environmental perception and host detection.
The discovery highlights the ecological importance of urban green spaces like Central Park in Kolkata for biodiversity.
It enriches scientific understanding of wasp biodiversity and demonstrates the complexity of food webs in urban ecosystems.

Ortolan Buntings

In News: Two juvenile Ortolan Buntings, a rare European bird species, were spotted in a grassland near the new correctional home at Baruipur. It is believed that these birds made a wrong turn during their usual migration route from Europe to Africa.

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It breeds in Europe and migrates to Africa for winter, typically following two main migration flyways: a western route to West Africa and an eastern route to East Africa.
The species prefers habitats such as farmland, open woodlands, and grasslands during migration and wintering.
Autumn migration usually begins in September and involves stopovers in southwestern Europe (e.g., Iberian Peninsula, Morocco) before crossing to Africa.
The core wintering areas are highland savannah or grasslands in West Africa (e.g., Guinea, Mali) and upland regions in East Africa (Ethiopia, Sudan).
Ortolan Buntings display a rapid migration pace, with some evidence suggesting many lack fat deposits during autumn migration, indicating quick movement through Europe.
The global population of Ortolan Bunting is declining, with some European populations experiencing significant annual decreases due to habitat loss and unsustainable hunting.
It is considered a species of conservation concern due to its shrinking range and declining numbers.
A rare sighting of juvenile Ortolan Buntings in Baruipur, India, represents an unusual ‘wrong turn’ during their typical migration from Europe to Africa.