Species in News – 6th December 2025

06/12/2025

20 7 minutes read

1. Horn-eyed Ghost Crab

In News: At Rushikonda Beach in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam has recorded a distinctive predatory behavior of the horn-eyed ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus).

The predation event was unusual because the mottled light-footed crab typically occupies rocky habitats, while the horn-eyed ghost crab is more common on sandy beaches.
The finding demonstrates an ecological adaptation by the ghost crab to exploit new food sources in shifting coastal environments, providing new insights into the role of apex invertebrate predators in intertidal zones.

Details About Horn-eyed Ghost Crab

Key Features and Habitat:

The horn-eyed ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus) is a large, pale crab found in sandy beaches and in intertidal zones across the Indo-Pacific, including the Indian coast—especially Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
It is easily identified by its horn-like eyestalks and swift movements, typically active during dawn and dusk.
The crab constructs burrows on sandy shores, with burrow density and size varying based on season, shore level, and sediment characteristics.

Ecological Role and Behavior:

Ecologically, it is traditionally a scavenger but recent studies confirm predatory behavior, such as hunting mottled light-footed crabs, particularly in areas where sandy and rocky habitats overlap.
Its diet includes clams, snails, worms, isopods, shrimps, insects, and other crabs. Burrow morphology and distribution are influenced by sediment temperature, pH, organic matter, and tidal patterns.

Conservation and Indicator Value:

The horn-eyed ghost crab is sensitive to habitat changes, pollution, and tourism, making it a potential bioindicator species for coastal health.
Its population density is affected by anthropogenic activities and environmental stressors, such as effluent discharge from shrimp farms and loss of breeding grounds.

Distribution in India:

Found on sandy shores along the west and east coasts of India, including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
The species shows seasonal variation in abundance, with higher numbers during the monsoon due to juvenile recruitment.

2. Rainbow Water Snake

In News: The rainbow water snake (Enhydris enhydris) was sighted for the first time in Uttar Pradesh at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, marking a new record for the state and highlighting the reserve’s rich herpetofauna diversity.

The sighting occurred during a herpetofauna research and conservation programme, with photographic evidence and morphological details documented before the snake was released back into its habitat.

Rainbow Water Snake

Habitat and Distribution

Found in freshwater habitats like marshlands, rural ponds, and rice paddies across eastern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, and Java.
In India, it is distributed in states like West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and now Uttar Pradesh, with sightings also reported in other northeastern states.

Physical Characteristics

Body color ranges from medium brown to greenish brown, with an olive-colored head and neck; belly is pale with a thin brown line down the middle.
Head is narrow compared to its thick, flattened body and squarish snout; eyes are small and located towards the top of the head, nostrils are valvular and above the snout, tail is relatively short.

Ecology and Diet

Primarily feeds on fish but also consumes amphibians and other small vertebrates.
Mostly active during the day and often found in slow-flowing freshwater or brackish water with tangled aquatic vegetation.

Conservation Significance

Its presence in new regions like Dudhwa indicates the importance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation and the need for continuous monitoring of lesser-known species.
Serves as an indicator of healthy freshwater ecosystems and is sensitive to habitat degradation and pollution.

3. Humpback whale

In News: Humpback whales are adapting to warming oceans and shifting prey by changing their feeding habits, such as switching prey species or employing new feeding strategies when traditional food sources become scarce.

Details About Humpback whale

Feeding Strategies

Humpback whales use diverse methods like deep dive feeding, trap feeding, flick feeding, lunge feeding, and bubble net feeding, depending on prey availability and habitat.
Bubble net feeding is a cooperative strategy where whales create a curtain of bubbles to corral fish, then surge upwards to capture prey in a single lunge.

Adaptability and Survival

Their large pectoral flippers and spinal flexibility allow them to make tight, high-speed turns, enabling efficient capture of prey even in challenging conditions.
Humpbacks can shift their diet based on prey abundance, including krill, herring, capelin, and other small fish, making them resilient to ecosystem changes.

Ecological Importance

As apex predators, humpback whales play a crucial role in marine food webs and nutrient cycling, supporting overall ocean health.
Their migratory patterns and feeding behaviors are indicators of ecosystem health and climate change impacts on marine environments.

4. Rock Eagle Owl

In News: The Telangana Forest Department halted quarrying operations in Vikarabad for over a month after a Rock Eagle Owl nest with five eggs was discovered, showcasing proactive conservation and community cooperation.

Details About Rock Eagle Owl

Habitat and Distribution

The Rock Eagle Owl (Bubo bengalensis) is native to rocky terrains, hilly scrub forests, and grasslands of India and parts of South-East Asia.
It prefers rocky outcrops and cliffs for nesting, unlike most owls that inhabit dense forests.

Physical Characteristics

One of the largest owl species in India, with prominent ear tufts, a robust build, and a wingspan of up to 140 cm.
Its plumage is mottled brown and grey, providing excellent camouflage in rocky habitats.

Diet and Behavior

Feeds on insects, rats, and small mammals, playing a vital role in controlling pest populations.
Known for its powerful flight and sharp vision, the owl is primarily nocturnal and territorial.

Conservation Significance

Though not endangered, the Rock Eagle Owl is rarely sighted, making its protection important for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
Its nesting sites are sensitive to habitat disturbance, and incidents like the Vikarabad quarry halt demonstrate the need for balancing development with wildlife conservation.

5. Bamboo Shrimp

In News: Indian populations of the bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) have been rediscovered in Karnataka and Odisha after 72 years, marking a significant achievement for freshwater biodiversity research and conservation.

Details About Bamboo Shrimp

Habitat and Distribution

Found in mangrove-lined, sandy waterways and brackish zones, especially in Karnataka and Odisha, where freshwater systems interact with coastal habitats.
The species is amphidromous, with larvae developing in brackish water before migrating to freshwater as they mature.

Physical and Ecological Features

A medium-sized freshwater shrimp, native to Southeast Asia, with fan-like limb structures used for filter feeding on suspended particles in flowing water.
Its presence indicates healthy, undisturbed freshwater ecosystems with constant currents and clean water.

Conservation Significance

Rediscovery highlights India’s hidden freshwater biodiversity and the importance of accurate species identification in ecological studies.
The bamboo shrimp is threatened by sand mining, habitat loss, and the aquarium trade, making conservation and monitoring essential.

6. Darjeeling Mandarin Orange

In News: The Darjeeling Mandarin Orange has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status, recognizing its unique quality, sweetness, and regional identity, joining other iconic products like Darjeeling Tea.

This GI tag is expected to boost local farmers’ incomes, promote sustainable cultivation, and protect the authenticity of the fruit against imitation.

Details About Darjeeling Mandarin Orange
Characteristics

Medium-sized, easily peelable, with yellowish-green to orange skin and tender, saffron-colored pulp offering a balanced blend of sugar and acidity.
Celebrated for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and juiciness, especially during the winter harvest (November to January).

Cultivation and Habitat

Grown at elevations of 600–1,500 meters in Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, West Bengal, under frost-free tropical and sub-tropical conditions.
Requires well-drained, slightly acidic loamy soils and an annual rainfall of 100–120 cm.

Economic and Cultural Significance

The GI tag safeguards the fruit’s authenticity and enhances its market value, supporting local farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Plays a vital role in the regional economy and culture, often used in festivals and celebrations.

Conservation and Sustainability

Cultivation using organic methods helps preserve the biodiversity and ecological balance of the Himalayan foothills.
The GI status encourages better farming practices and protection of traditional agricultural heritage.

7. Vultures

In News: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is set to release six critically endangered vultures—slender-billed and white-rumped species—in Assam after a 15-year conservation breeding effort, marking a major milestone for vulture conservation in India.

The release is part of a broader programme to restore vulture populations, rebuild the natural food chain, and control carcass-related pollution and disease, with extensive community engagement and education to ensure safe habitats.

Details About Vultures
Species and Conservation Status

Slender-billed and white-rumped vultures are critically endangered, with populations severely impacted by poisoning from veterinary drugs like diclofenac and habitat loss.
BNHS has bred over 800 vultures in its conservation breeding centres across India, preparing them for release into the wild.

Ecological Role

Vultures play a crucial role in ecosystem health by cleaning up carcasses, preventing the spread of diseases, and supporting nutrient cycling.
Their decline has led to increased health risks and ecological imbalance, making their reintroduction vital for biodiversity and public health.

Conservation Efforts

BNHS, in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Assam Forest Department, has conducted village-level meetings and education campaigns to reduce poisoning incidents and promote vulture-friendly practices.
The release programme involves a soft-release method, allowing captive-bred vultures to adapt to the wild gradually and join existing flocks.

8. Opium Poppy

In News: Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar surged to a 10-year high in 2025, with 53,100 hectares under cultivation, driven by ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and rising prices, making opium a vital survival crop for farmers.

Myanmar has replaced Afghanistan as the world’s leading source of illicit opium, with output estimated at 1,010 metric tons—more than double Afghanistan’s current level.

Details About:

Cultivation and Geography

Opium poppy is mainly grown in Myanmar’s Shan, Kachin, Chin, and Sagaing regions, with the crop spreading to new conflict zones due to instability and lack of government control.
The rugged terrain, porous borders, and entrenched trafficking networks in these regions facilitate illegal cultivation and distribution.

Socioeconomic Drivers

Farmers are increasingly drawn to opium poppy due to rising prices, lack of alternative livelihoods, and the collapse of the licit economy amid prolonged conflict.
Opium sales provided farmers with an estimated $300–$487 million in income in 2025, highlighting its role as a survival crop.

Ecological and Security Impact

The opium economy fuels regional instability, undermines law enforcement, and exacerbates public health issues due to heroin and synthetic drug production.
Myanmar’s dominance in global opium supply is reshaping international drug markets, with heroin flows shifting from Southeast Asia to Europe and beyond.