709 New Faunal Species & 353 Plant Taxa Added to India’s Biodiversity Database
Subject: Environment)
Background.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the latest biodiversity assessment based on reports of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
- India added:
- 709 faunal species (483 new to science + 226 new records for India).
- 353 plant taxa (including 14 infraspecific taxa such as subspecies and varieties).
Key Highlights
Faunal Diversity
- India’s recorded faunal biodiversity has reached 1,05,953 species, reaffirming its status as a megadiverse country.
- Top States (Animal Discoveries):
- Kerala – 98 species
- West Bengal – 76
- Karnataka – 67
- Arunachal Pradesh – 65
Major Faunal Groups Added
- Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants) – 106 species
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) – 65
- Diptera (Flies) – 64
- Arachnida (Spiders & Scorpions) – 64
- Coleoptera (Beetles) – 55
- Pisces (Fishes) – 50
Notable Animal Discoveries
- Myotis himalaicus (Himalayan bat)
- Ptyctolaemus mamdaphaensis
- Ptyctolaemus siangensis
- Lycodon irwini
Floral Diversity
- 353 plant taxa added:
- 221 new to science
- 132 new distributional records for India
Top States (Plant Discoveries)
- Arunachal Pradesh – 49 taxa
- Uttarakhand – 39
- Kerala – 37
Composition of New Plant Taxa
- Angiosperms – 154
- Pteridophytes – 3
- Bryophytes – 13
- Lichens – 62
- Fungi – 93
- Algae – 22
- Microbes – 6
- 43% of newly discovered plant taxa are vascular plants.
Significance
- Enhances India’s biodiversity inventory and taxonomic knowledge.
- Strengthens conservation of endemic and threatened species.
- Supports ecological research, environmental monitoring, and evidence-based conservation planning.
- Discovery of wild relatives of economically important plants (e.g., Begonia, Impatiens, legumes, and orchids) provides valuable genetic resources for crop improvement and climate resilience.
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