Species in News – 15th December 2025
Dolomedes indicus
Why in News?
Dolomedes indicus gained attention due to its discovery by scientists from the Kerala Forest Research Institute in Wayanad district, Kerala. The species was described in a 2025 scientific publication, highlighting the biodiversity of the Western Ghats hotspot.
Description about the Species
Dolomedes indicus belongs to the Pisauridae family and is known as a raft or fishing spider. It is an active semi-aquatic predator that hunts on water surfaces rather than building webs.
- Appearance: The spider features specialized hydrophobic hairs for diving and trapping air underwater. Males exhibit a distinctive snow-white stripe.
- Habitat: It thrives in pristine, cool, fast-flowing forest streams under dense rainforest canopies, avoiding stagnant or polluted waters.
- Distribution: Currently known only from Lakkidi and Periya forest areas in Wayanad, Kerala, within the Western Ghats.
- Ecological Role: As a surface hunter, it detects prey vibrations via water tension, capturing insects and small fish; it serves as an indicator species for freshwater ecosystem health.
- Major Threats: Habitat degradation from climate change, land-use changes, and pollution threaten its sensitive stream environments.
- Conservation Status: Not formally assessed yet, but its rarity and habitat specificity underscore the need for protecting Western Ghats streams.
Red-breasted Parakeet
Why in news?
African penguins have recently been classified as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN, highlighting the urgent need for conservation measures to prevent their extinction.
Description about the species
African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are the only penguin species native to Africa, found along the southern coasts of Namibia and South Africa. They are known for their distinctive braying call and are sometimes called “jackass penguins”.
- Appearance: African penguins have a black back and a white front, with a black stripe and spots on their chest, and pink patches above their eyes.
- Habitat: They inhabit rocky coastlines, islands, and beaches, often forming colonies near the ocean for easy access to food.
- Distribution: Their range extends from Namibia to the Eastern Cape in South Africa, primarily along the Benguela Current.
- Ecological Role: African penguins play a vital role in maintaining the health of coastal ecosystems by transporting nutrients from the ocean to land and regulating populations of small fish like sardines and anchovies.
- Major Threats: Key threats include habitat loss, climate change, overfishing, pollution, and competition with fisheries for food.
- Conservation Status: The African penguin is listed as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN, with fewer than 20,000 mature individuals remaining and a population in rapid decline.
African Penguin
Why in News?
A recent study revealed that nearly 62,000 African penguins starved to death between 2004 and 2011, primarily due to the collapse of sardine stocks, which left them unable to build the vital fat reserves needed for their annual moult.
Description about the Species
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the jackass penguin, is the only penguin species found on the African continent and is native to southern Africa.
- Appearance: African penguins are medium-sized, with black backs, white fronts, and a distinctive black band across their chest. They have pink patches above their eyes and black feet.
- Habitat: These penguins inhabit the Benguela and western Agulhas ecosystems, living in colonies on islands and some mainland beaches along the southern African coast.
- Distribution: African penguins are found on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, South Africa. Notable colonies include Dassen Island and Robben Island.
- Ecological Role: African penguins play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as predators of small fish like sardines and anchovies, helping to maintain the balance of fish populations.
- Major Threats: The species faces threats from overfishing, especially of sardines, habitat loss, oil pollution, climate change, and competition with commercial fisheries for prey.
- Conservation Status: The African penguin is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with populations declining rapidly due to multiple interacting threats, including food shortages and habitat degradation.
Polar Beer
Why in News?
A December 2025 study links rising Arctic temperatures to genetic alterations in polar bears, particularly in warmer southern regions, suggesting potential for adaptation against extinction risks from habitat loss.
Description about the Species
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are the largest land carnivores, evolved for Arctic marine life, relying on sea ice for hunting seals.
- Appearance: They have white fur for camouflage, black skin for UV absorption, large paws for swimming and walking on ice, and a robust build up to 3 meters long weighing 400-700 kg.
- Habitat: Polar bears prefer sea ice over continental shelves for hunting, retreating to land or multiyear ice when ice cover drops below 50%.
- Distribution: Found north of the Arctic Circle across Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, Norway’s Svalbard, and southern areas like Hudson Bay.
- Ecological Role: As apex predators, they control seal populations and serve as indicators of Arctic ecosystem health.
- Major Threats: Climate change melts sea ice, reducing hunting access; additional risks include pollution, oil development, and human conflicts.
- Conservation Status: IUCN lists them as Vulnerable, with 22,000-31,000 individuals; U.S. Endangered Species Act protects them as threatened.
Western Tragopan
Why in News?
The western tragopan is in the news because captive breeding programs have helped steady its numbers, but experts warn that these efforts must be paired with robust habitat protection to ensure long-term survival.
Description about the Species
The western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) is one of the rarest pheasants in the world, endemic to the western Himalayas. It is known for its vibrant plumage and elusive nature, often referred to as the “king of birds” in its native region.
- Appearance: Males have striking black, white, and red plumage with blue facial skin and horn-like fleshy projections during breeding season. Females are duller, with brown and grey feathers for camouflage.
- Habitat: Prefers moist temperate forests with dense undergrowth, rhododendron thickets, and coniferous trees. Found at elevations between 2,400 and 3,600 meters.
- Distribution: Restricted to the western Himalayas, mainly in Himachal Pradesh, India, and northern Pakistan.
- Ecological Role: Plays a vital role in seed dispersal and maintaining forest ecosystem balance. Indicator species for the health of high-altitude forests.
- Major Threats: Habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, grazing, and infrastructure development. Climate change disrupting breeding cycles and food availability. Hunting and trapping, though less prevalent now due to legal protection.
- Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with population estimates ranging from 2,500 to 9,500 mature individuals. CITES Appendix I, prohibiting international trade. Conservation efforts include captive breeding, habitat protection, and community-based initiatives.
Tapanuli orangutan
Why in News?
Scientists have warned that Cyclone Senyar may have pushed the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan closer to extinction, with habitat loss and flooding in Sumatra threatening a species that has fewer than 800 individuals left. Up to 10% of its population is feared lost due to the disaster.
Description About the Species
The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is the rarest great ape species on Earth, formally identified as a distinct species in 2017. It is restricted to a small region in Sumatra, Indonesia, and is currently listed as critically endangered.
- Appearance: Tapanuli orangutans have a distinctive appearance with frizzier hair, a flatter face, and a smaller head compared to other orangutan species. Males also have prominent moustaches and large cheek pads.
- Habitat: They inhabit tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, primarily in rugged highland rainforest areas at elevations between 300 and 1,300 meters above sea level.
- Distribution: The species is confined to an area of about 1,000–1,100 km² south of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, specifically within the Batang Toru ecosystem.
- Ecological Role: Tapanuli orangutans play a crucial role in seed dispersal and maintaining forest health, contributing to the biodiversity of their habitat.
- Major Threats: Their survival is threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation, mining, a proposed hydrodam, encroachment, illegal logging, and now, extreme weather events like Cyclone Senyar, which have caused catastrophic damage to their habitat.
- Conservation Status: The Tapanuli orangutan is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. With fewer than 800 individuals left, even minor population losses could lead to extinction
Red-shanked douc monkey
Why in News?
Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok who was found smuggling two red-shanked douc monkeys, which are an endangered species protected under international wildlife laws.
Description about the Species
The red-shanked douc monkey (scientific name: Pygathrix nemaeus) is a highly colorful primate known for its vibrant fur and social behavior. It is one of the most visually striking monkeys in Southeast Asia.
- Appearance: Red-shanked doucs have bright orange-red legs, a grey body, white face, and a distinctive black and white tail. Their striking coloration makes them easily recognizable among other langur species.
- Habitat: They thrive in tropical rainforests, semi-deciduous forests, and limestone forests, typically residing in the middle to upper levels of the canopy.
- Distribution: Their native range includes Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They are primarily found in Indochina, with the largest populations in Laos.
- Ecological Role: As herbivores and folivores, red-shanked doucs play a vital role in seed dispersal and maintaining forest health. Their presence supports biodiversity in their habitats.
- Major Threats: The species faces severe threats from habitat loss due to logging and agriculture, hunting for subsistence and traditional medicine, and illegal pet trade. They are particularly vulnerable to hunting as they tend to remain still rather than flee.
- Conservation Status: The red-shanked douc monkey is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with population declines of over 80% in the past 30 years. Conservation efforts include habitat protection and anti-poaching initiatives, but enforcement remains a challenge.
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