Crocidura narcondamica

Context: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of insectivorous mammal, a white-toothed shrew, from Narcondam Island of the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.

About Crocidura narcondamica

• It is an insectivorous mammal, was found in the volcanic and uninhabited island.
• Shrews are small and mouse-like mammals, and they live in sub-leaf stratum in the forests.
• Insects are the primary diet of these animals.
• This is the first discovery of a shrew from this volcanic island (Narcondam Island) and it increases the number of White-toothed shrew (genus Crocidura) species in India from 11to 12.
• The new species is of medium size (head and body lengths) and has a distinct external morphology with darker grey dense fur with a thick, darker tail compared to other species of the genu
• Craniodental characters of the species such as braincase was rounded and elevated with weak lambdoidal ridges makes the species distinct in comparison to other close congeners.

Narcondam island

• The discovery comes from one of most remote and uninhabited islands, Narcondam island, of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
• Narcondam Island is located about 130 km east of North Andaman, and about 446 km of the west coast of Myanmar.
• This thickly vegetated island is bordered by cliffs on the southern side and crested by three peaks is part of a volcanic arc that continues northward from Sumatra to Myanmar.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/new-species-of-shrew-discovered-in-andamans-narcondam-island/article34478344.ece