Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers confirmed a new dragonfly species named Lyriothemis keralensis from the low-lying coastal regions of Kerala. It is commonly called the Slender Bombardier and belongs to the genus Lyriothemis. It was identified as a separate species after detailed comparison with its Northeast Indian relative Lyriothemis acigastra. The species has a slender abdomen, uniquely shaped tail, and distinct genital structures. It appears during the monsoon season and disappears as rainfall decreases.

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Recently, researchers from Karnataka and Odisha discovered two new species of army ants, Aenictus chittoorensis and Aenictus lankamallensis, in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Army ants are nomadic ant species that do not build permanent nests and belong to the subfamily Dorylinae. They are highly aggressive predators primarily found in tropical ecosystems. Instead of constructing fixed nests, they form temporary living structures called bivouacs, which are made entirely from the interlinked bodies of worker ants. Army ants are social insects that live in massive colonies and carry out highly coordinated group raids, preying on insects and small animals.

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Recently, an adult male tiger named ‘Explorer’ was reintroduced into the wild in Papikonda National Park as part of Operation Stripes. Papikonda National Park is located along the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. The park is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International.

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Researchers discovered a new pistol shrimp species named Alpheus madhusoodanai in the Kochi backwaters of Kerala. Pistol shrimp are also called snapping shrimp because they produce a loud snapping sound with their claws. It belongs to the family Alpheidae. It is the first alpheid shrimp species recorded from an estuary in this region. The species shows burrowing behaviour in muddy soil. Its burrowing helps mangrove ecosystems by releasing trapped toxic gases from swampy soil. This improves soil quality and supports overall coastal ecosystem health.

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A lone Ferruginous Pochard was recently sighted at Amoor Lake in Chennai along with a flock of Common Pochards. The Ferruginous Pochard, also called the ferruginous duck or white-eyed pochard, is a medium-sized diving duck native to the Eurosiberian region. It prefers shallow freshwater wetlands with rich submerged and floating vegetation and dense emergent plants along the margins. The species is distributed across Europe, Asia and parts of Africa, and winters mainly around the Mediterranean Basin and Black Sea. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is classified as Near Threatened.

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Botanists discovered a new flowering plant species named Impatiens nagorum from Northeast India. It was found in Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaland. The name “nagorum” honours the Naga tribes of the state. Impatiens, commonly called balsams or “touch-me-nots,” are known for bright flowers and seed pods that burst when touched. The Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India are global hotspots for this plant group. It grows in moist temperate broadleaf forests and is known only from its original discovery site. It has purple flowers, serrated leaves, slightly hairy lateral sepals, and a deep lower sepal forming a hooked spur.

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Around 80 vultures recorded in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and experts say population is stable despite decline in breeding. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Wayanad district of Kerala in southern Western Ghats. It is also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary and was established in 1973. It covers 344 square kilometre and is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It borders Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai National Park.

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Scientists in West Bengal have discovered a new estuarine fish species named Butis bargabhimae in the Rupnarayan River, a tributary of the Hooghly River near Tamluk, West Bengal. Butis bargabhimae belongs to the butid family, commonly known as gudgeon goby, which usually live in brackish water where rivers meet the sea. The species is unique because it has interorbital scales (scales between the eyes), unlike most related fish which have smooth areas there. It also has additional auxiliary scales across its body, making it structurally distinct. The fish shows clear light and dark bands on its pectoral fins, which are absent in similar species.

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Pakistan ranked as the most polluted country in 2025 as per IQAir report. PM2.5 levels were about 13 times higher than limits set by World Health Organization. Only 13 countries met the WHO safe limit (<5 µg/m³), up from 7 in 2024. 130 out of 143 countries failed to meet WHO air quality standards. Bangladesh and Tajikistan ranked second and third most polluted. Only 14% of global cities met WHO standards, down from 17% in 2024.

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Rice’s Whale is a baleen whale belonging to the family Balaenopteridae and is closely related to Bryde’s whales. It was recognised as a distinct species in 2021, separate from other Bryde’s whales globally. It is the only whale species found year-round in the Gulf of Mexico. Its diet mainly consists of silver-rag driftfish. Major threats include oil drilling, vessel strikes, noise pollution, oil spills, and climate change. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Critically Endangered.