Antlion
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Researchers spotted a large-sized adult antlion, palpares contrarius, that resembles a dragonfly for the first time in Tamil Nadu on Madras Christian College (MCC) campus.
Order |
Neuroptera |
Family |
Myrmeliontidae |
Habitat |
Found throughout the world, primarily in dry, sandy regions. |
Activity |
Difficult to spot during the day; can be seen at night near illuminated spots. |
Adult Features |
Resemble damselflies. Soft bodies, lacy wing pattern, long clubbed antennae. Long, slender, grayish body. Clear wings with occasional spots. Weak fliers, typically active at night. |
Larval Features |
Round bodies with long sickle-shaped jaws. Found at the base of cone-shaped pits in sandy areas. |
Larval Stage Duration |
1 to 2 years, depending on species. |
Pupal Stage Duration |
Up to one month. |
Adult Lifespan |
1 to 2 months. |
Diet |
Feed on ants and other insects that fall into their traps. |
Harmlessness |
Do not cause damage to flowers, people, or structures. |
Significance |
Highly beneficial due to predation on pests like ants. |
It is a large antlion species that resembles a dragonfly but has a distinct fluttering flight and antenna. It was first spotted in Tamil Nadu, India on the campus of Madras Christian College.
Source:
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A rare imperial eagle has been spotted in Pulluzhi kole wetlands.
It is a wetland lying in Thrissur and Malappuram districts in Kerala. It gives 40 per cent of the Kerala’s rice requirement and acts as a natural drainage system for Ponnani city, Thrissur city, Thrissur District and Malappuram district. The Kole Wetlands is one of largest, highly productive and threatened wetlands in Kerala and lie on the Central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.
Scientific Name |
Aquila heliaca |
Family |
Accipitridae. |
Subfamily |
Aquilinae. |
Breeding Range |
Southeastern Europe, West and Central Asia. |
Migration |
Migratory; winters in northeastern Africa, the Middle East, and South and East Asia |
Habitat |
Old forests, forests in mountains, hills, and along rivers. |
Nest |
Builds a large, conspicuous nest in an isolated tall tree. |
Sexual Dimorphism |
Males are smaller than females (reverse sexual dimorphism). |
Features |
Pale golden crown and nape, grey base extending to tail, white "braces" on scapulars. Strong legs and feet with long, curved talons. Large eyes for keen eyesight. |
IUCN Red List Status |
Vulnerable. |
Source:
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Scientists have measured the hearing range of minke whales, discovering they can detect high-frequency sounds up to 90 kHz, far surpassing previous estimates.
Family |
Baleen or “great” whale family. |
Size |
Smallest of the rorquals. |
Species |
Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) |
Subspecies |
• Dwarf minke whale (unnamed subspecies, Southern Hemisphere) |
Distribution |
• Found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions from 65°S to 80°N. |
IUCN Conservation Status |
• Common minke whale: Least concern |
Source:
PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Which of the following statements about minke whales is/are correct?
Select the correct answer from the options given below: (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, and 4 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 2 and 3 only Answer: b Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Minke whales are the smallest members of the rorqual family (which includes other large whales like blue whales and humpback whales). Statement 2 is incorrect: There are two primary species of minke whales (the Common minke whale and the Antarctic minke whale), the Common minke whale is found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Antarctic minke whale is mostly limited to the Southern Hemisphere, but not exclusively. Statement 3 is correct: The Common minke whale is classified as "Least Concern," while the Antarctic minke whale is considered "Data Deficient" by the IUCN, not "Least Concern," but the statement is often taken as broadly acceptable about the minke species' general status. Statement 4 is correct: Minke whales are found across various ocean basins in both hemispheres, inhabiting tropical, temperate, and polar regions. |
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