Species in News -18th Oct 25

Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii

In News: Researchers from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation have recently identified a new species of snail called Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii, also known as the Tilari hairy snail. 

• Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii is a newly discovered species of land snail, commonly known as the Tilari hairy snail, found in the semi-evergreen forests of Tilari in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. 
• This small snail is notable for its brown shell covered with fine golden hairs, particularly visible in juveniles and young adults. 
• These hairs may serve multiple ecological functions, such as camouflage, protection against shell damage from falls, and potentially aiding in the transport of pollen or seeds, thereby contributing to ecosystem processes.
• The distinct feature setting Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii apart from other species in its genus is the shape of its shell aperture, which has a pointed apex rather than the rounded shape found in other Lagocheilus species. 
• This discovery extends the known range of the genus Lagocheilus by approximately 540 kilometers northward into the Western Ghats, a recognized biodiversity hotspot. 
• The species is currently known only from its type locality, emphasizing the rich but still under-explored diversity of the Western Ghats.

Green Sea Turtle

In News: The global population of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), once classified as endangered, is now rebounding strongly, according to the latest report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

• The species has been upgraded from “Endangered” to “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List as a result of sustained global conservation efforts spanning several decades. Since the 1970s, the green sea turtle population has increased by nearly 28 percent worldwide.
• This recovery reflects successful conservation measures, including protection of nesting beaches, community initiatives to prevent unsustainable harvesting of turtles and eggs, and the use of Turtle Excluder Devices that help reduce accidental capture in fishing gear. 
• Key projects in Ascension Island, Brazil, Mexico, and Hawai’i have contributed to the resurgence of some subpopulations to levels close to those before commercial exploitation.
• Green sea turtles play a vital ecological role as keystone species in tropical marine ecosystems by maintaining coral reefs and seagrass beds, which support diverse marine life. They also hold cultural, spiritual, and economic significance in many coastal communities globally.

Indian wolf

In News: The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), one of the most ancient and elusive wolf lineages globally, has recently been evaluated as a potentially distinct species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

• This marks the first time the Indian wolf has been assessed independently, elevating its global conservation priority. Its population, estimated between 2,877 to 3,310 mature individuals across India and Pakistan, has been classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List due to declining numbers primarily from habitat loss and human persecution.
• The Indian wolf evolved in the Indian subcontinent long before humans arrived, representing one of the oldest canid lineages. 
• Unlike the widely distributed tiger, the wolf’s range is almost entirely restricted to India, with only about 10 to 20 individuals remaining in Pakistan.
• The vast majority of Indian wolves live outside protected areas, scattered across grasslands, scrublands, and semi-arid landscapes intermixed with farms and villages, exposing them to threats like habitat degradation, conflict with humans, and disease transmission from hybridization with domestic dogs.

West Australian Lanternshark

In News: The West Australian Lanternshark (Etmopterus westraliensis) is a newly discovered species of deep-sea shark found off the coast of Western Australia, primarily in the Gascoyne Marine Park area, at depths ranging from 362 to 610 meters. 

• It is a relatively small shark, with the largest known specimen measuring only 407 millimeters (approximately 16 inches) in length. Adapted to life in the dark ocean depths, the lanternshark possesses large eyes that help it see in low-light conditions and has a slender body with two small dorsal fins, each featuring a sharp spine.
• One of the most distinctive features of the West Australian Lanternshark is its bioluminescence. 
• It produces light through specialized organs called photophores located on its belly and flanks, which aids in camouflage and communication in the pitch-black environment. 
• The shark’s skin is covered with hook-shaped dermal denticles, and the underside of its snout exhibits a unique reversed “W”-shaped naked area. Its coloration includes a shiny shade of silvery purple and black.

Porcelain crab

In News: A recently discovered species, Porcellanella brevidentata, was found off the Ningaloo coast, Western Australia, living symbiotically with sea pens—a type of soft coral similar to sea fans. 

• This tiny crab, measuring about 15 millimeters in length, has an opalescent white-yellow coloration that helps it blend into its coral host. 
• Unlike typical crabs that use claws to grab food, porcelain crabs are filter feeders; they use specialized mouthparts adorned with long hairs to sweep plankton and small particles from the water.
• Porcelain crabs, belonging to the family Porcellanidae, are small, delicate crustaceans that superficially resemble true crabs but are actually more closely related to squat lobsters. 
• They typically have flattened bodies adapted for living in rock crevices and other sheltered marine habitats. 
• Porcelain crabs have large claws used primarily for territorial disputes rather than capturing food, and they often shed limbs when threatened, which later regenerate—a defense mechanism that inspired their name.

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