Species in News – 25th Oct 2025

25/10/2025

78 3 minutes read

Tetrataenium manilalianum

In News: Researchers have identified a new plant species, Tetrataenium manilalianum, enriching the biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Key Facts:

Species name: Tetrataenium manilalianum
Family: Umbelliferae/Apiaceae (Carrot family)
Location discovered: Eravikulam National Park, Idukki district, Kerala
Region: Western Ghats — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity.
Significance: The discovery highlights the ecological richness and ongoing evolutionary diversity of the Western Ghats.
Ecological importance: Plants from the Apiaceae family often have medicinal and aromatic properties. Identification of new species from this family can contribute to pharmacological and conservation research.

Malabar Gliding Frog

In News: A rare amphibian species, the Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus), was recently spotted at Hirebagewadi near Belagavi.

Key Features

Common Name: Malabar Gliding Frog or Malabar Flying Frog
Scientific Name: Rhacophorus malabaricus
Family: Rhacophoridae
Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra.
Habitat: Prefers evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, but also occurs in plantations and occasionally near human settlements.
Behavior: Commonly seen on tree leaves near streams or riverbanks during the breeding season.
Size: One of the largest moss frogs, reaching about 10 cm in body length; females are larger than males.
Coloration: Bright green body with no black markings on the back (unlike R. pseudomalabaricus).
Distinctive Features: Has a pale yellow belly, bright red or orange webbed feet, and yellow fingers, which help it glide.
Gliding Ability: The webbing between toes allows it to glide 9–12 meters between trees, equivalent to about 115 times its body length.
Breeding Season: Occurs during the monsoon months (June–September).
Reproductive Behavior: Males build foam nests on leaves that hang over water; females lay eggs inside these nests.
Conservation Status: Not officially listed as threatened, but habitat loss and deforestation in the Western Ghats threaten its populations.
Ecological Role: Helps maintain forest ecosystem balance by controlling insect populations.

Anagyrus lopezi

In News: Anagyrus lopezi is a tiny parasitic wasp introduced in South India for the biological control of the cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti), which had severely damaged tapioca (cassava) crops across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

Anagyrus lopezi is a parasitic wasp (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) originally from Africa and imported from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Benin.
In India, the invasive cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) was first detected in Thrissur, Kerala in April 2020, spreading over 1.43 lakh hectares and drastically reducing tapioca yields from 35 tonnes/ha to 5–12 tonnes/ha, causing leaf curling, stunted growth, and poor tuber formation.
To counter this, ICAR–NBAIR, Bengaluru introduced A. lopezi, which lays eggs inside the mealybug; its larvae consume the pest from within, providing a self-sustaining, eco-friendly biological control method that is harmless to non-target species.
The wasp was first released in Salem (Tamil Nadu) and Puducherry during 2022–23 and naturally dispersed up to 40 km. By 2023–24, tapioca harvests rebounded to 35–38.6 tonnes/ha, nearly restoring pre-outbreak productivity, and chemical pesticide use was drastically reduced.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta, family Euphorbiaceae) is widely cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry under humid tropical conditions with well-drained red loamy soils.
Globally, A. lopezi had earlier saved cassava crops in over 20 African countries during the 1980s, highlighting its significance as a model of sustainable pest management and classical biological control.

Indian Scops Owl

In News: A rare Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena) was recently sighted near the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Karnataka, exciting ornithologists and wildlife enthusiasts. This discovery highlights the avian diversity around the sanctuary, already known for being a rich ecological hotspot.

About the Indian Scops Owl

Family: Strigidae (True owls)
Habitat: Dry deciduous forests, open woodlands, and scrub areas; found across South Asia.
Appearance: Small-sized owl (23–25 cm), with cryptic brown plumage that camouflages well with tree bark.
Distinctive Feature: Short ear tufts, large orange or brown eyes, and a characteristic soft, mellow hoot.
Status: Listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but sightings are rare due to its nocturnal and camouflaged nature.

Chrysanthemum

In News: Kashmir’s first Chrysanthemum Garden, named Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, was inaugurated in October 2025 by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden near Cheshma Shahi in Srinagar.
About:

Scientific name: Chrysanthemum indicum / Chrysanthemum morifolium (Family: Asteraceae).
Native to China and Japan; now extensively grown in India, especially for decorative and therapeutic purposes.
The flower blooms in late autumn to early winter, making it a valuable seasonal ornamental plant.
In India, chrysanthemums symbolize purity and devotion; used in temples and religious ceremonies.
One of the most commercially cultivated flowers globally; more than 27,000 varieties exist.
Known as the “Queen of Fall Flowers”; contributes significantly to the ornamental horticulture trade.