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Karnataka’s own king cobra found in the Western Ghats and known as ‘Kaalinga Sarpa’ in the local parlance will get its name etched in the scientific world.
Common Name |
King Cobra. |
Scientific Name |
Ophiophagus hannah. |
Key Characteristics |
Largest venomous snake in the world. Possesses 11 large scales on the crown of its head. |
Diet |
Preys almost exclusively on other snakes. |
Behavior |
Active both during the day and night. Builds nests and females guard them ferociously. |
Venom |
Neurotoxin venom causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure. Venom from a single bite can kill 10 people or an elephant. |
Taxonomic History |
Named Ophiophagus hannah by Theodore Edward Cantor in 1836. |
Geographical Distribution |
Found in forests, fields, and villages across Asia. |
Identified Species |
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Conservation Status |
IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix II |
Threats |
Habitat destruction, exploitation for skin, food, medicine, and pet trade. |
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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is experimenting with the removal of a potential new species of invasive plant that has begun emerging in parts of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
Scientific Name |
Senna tora (originally Cassia tora by Linnaeus). |
Family and Subfamily |
Fabaceae; Caesalpinioideae. |
Common Names |
Sickle senna, sickle wild sensitive plant, sickle pod, tora, coffee pod, foetid cassia. |
Native Range |
Central America. |
Growth |
Herbaceous annual; grows 30 to 90 cm tall. |
Leaves |
Pinnate with three opposite pairs of obovate leaflets; 3 to 4.5 cm long. |
Flowers |
Pale yellow; five petals; occur in pairs in leaf axils. |
Pods |
Sickle shaped; 10 to 15 cm long; contain 30 to 50 seeds. |
Growing Conditions |
Thrives in dry soil; stress tolerant; grows up to 1800 meters altitude; flowers from October to February after monsoon. |
Pests |
Affected by leaf eating larvae of Stegasta variana (in Vanuatu). |
Uses |
|
Medicinal Properties |
External germicide, antiparasitic, laxative, balm for arthritis. |
Lifespan |
Seed remains viable for up to 20 years. |
Location |
Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu. Situated at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. |
Name Meaning |
Mudumalai means "ancient hill range," referring to its age of 65 million years, coinciding with the formation of the Western Ghats. |
Boundaries |
Shares boundaries with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to the west and Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) to the north. |
Tourist Attraction |
The Theppakadu elephant camp is a popular destination. |
Vegetation |
Tropical evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, moist teak forest, dry teak forest, secondary grasslands, and swamps. |
Flora |
Tall grasses ("Elephant Grass"), giant bamboo, valuable timber species like teak and rosewood. |
Fauna |
Elephants, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine, and more. |
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A crocodile-like creature was found in Vietnam's mountainous farm. The creature was spotted in a slow moving stream and it turned out to be a new species of crocodile with long limbs.
Scientific Name |
Tylototriton koliaensis. |
Discovery |
Found in Vietnam's mountainous farm. |
Habitat |
Mountain forests at elevations of 3,300 feet or more, with weather fluctuating between a colder dry season and a warmer rainy season. |
Size and Appearance |
Medium-sized, about 5 inches in length. Stout body with rough, knob-like or wart-like skin. Large head, long and thin limbs. Completely black with bright orange marks on fingertips and toes. Dark gray stomach with an orange stripe running down the center of the tail. |
Breeding |
Breeds during the rainy summer in slow-flowing streams or temporary pools. |
Behavior |
Hides under rocks and cavities during winter. |
What is a Crocodile Newt? |
A genus of salamanders primarily found in Asia. |
Why the Name? |
Named "crocodile newts" due to their rough, textured skin resembling crocodile hide. |
General Features |
Typically dark brown or black with bright orange or red markings on their head, back, and tail. |
Habitat Preferences |
Often live near slow-moving streams, ponds, or marshes where they lay eggs and find food. |
Species Examples |
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A new genus of freshwater fish from the eastern Ghats — ‘Koima’ — has been described by researchers in India.
Region |
Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site). |
Genus |
Koima – A newly identified freshwater fish genus endemic to the Western Ghats. |
Unique Traits |
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Species Reclassified |
|
Habitat |
|
Research Approach |
Integrative taxonomy combining morphological and genetic analyses from rivers like Kunthi, Bhavani, Moyar, Kabini, and Pambar. |
Cultural Connection |
Name derived from the Malayalam word for loaches, reflecting cultural significance. |
Conservation Implications |
Highlights the fragility of aquatic ecosystems in the Western Ghats; calls for conservation against threats like habitat destruction and climate change. |
Importance of Study |
|
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements regarding Mudumalai Tiger Reserve:
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2, and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 Answer: c Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. Statement 2 is correct. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which includes other reserves like Bandipur and Wayanad. Statement 3 is correct. The reserve is famous for housing Bengal tigers and elephants among other species. Statement 4 is incorrect. Mudumalai was designated a tiger reserve in 2007, after being a sanctuary since 1940, but it was not first established as a national park. |
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