Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new marine worm species, Namalycastis solenotognatha and Nereis dhritiae, from the West Bengal coast. Namalycastis solenotognatha is named from Greek words meaning “channeled jaw,” referring to its unique jaw with many canals. This species survives in extreme, sulfide-rich, foul-smelling mudflats, mainly on decomposing mangrove wood and hardened clay. Nereis dhritiae is named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of ZSI. It lives inside wooden dock piles on sandy beaches submerged during high tide.

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A giant female reticulated python found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is confirmed by Guinness World Records as the longest measured snake at 7.22 metres. The reticulated python belongs to the Pythonidae family and its scientific name is Malayopython reticulatus. It is the world’s longest snake and the third heaviest after the green anaconda and Burmese python. It is a non-venomous constrictor that kills prey by tightening its coils. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, living in tropical forests of India, Indonesia, and nearby regions. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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The Uttarakhand Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Sharda River Corridor at Tanakpur in Champawat district. The Sharda River is a transboundary river flowing through northern India and western Nepal. It originates as the Kali River in far northern Uttarakhand in the Great Himalayas. The river rises on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif. Its major tributaries include the Dhauliganga, Goriganga, and Sarju rivers.

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Futala Lake, also called Telankhedi Lake, is a man-made lake in western Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is more than 200 years old and was built in the 18th century during the Bhonsle dynasty rule. It was created to supply water to nearby villages and farmlands. The lake spreads over about 60 acres and is one of the largest lakes in Nagpur. It is surrounded by forest on three sides and a landscaped beach on one side. Recently, it is facing problems due to untreated sewage and increasing pollution.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of Diplura named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas. The species was found in Ravangla, Sikkim. Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods. This is the first time an Indian research team described a species in this primitive hexapod group. The study provides the first DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species.

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Recent study shows lion-tailed macaque population is stable and increasing in some plantation-dominated areas.
Lion-tailed macaque is an endemic primate of Western Ghats. International Union for Conservation of Nature status is Endangered. It is called bearded monkey due to grey mane and has lion-like tail. It is found in evergreen rainforests of southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Two genetically distinct groups exist on either side of Palghat Gap.

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An Right to Information (RTI) activist filed an online petition to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking criminal, departmental and regulatory action over pollution of the Bhavani River. Bhavani River is a major tributary of the Cauvery River. It flows through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and is the second largest river of Tamil Nadu. It originates in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It passes through Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, then re-enters Tamil Nadu. It merges with the Cauvery at Bhavani near Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple.

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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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Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the second edition of the two-day Indian Bison Fest. It is located in Bargarh district of Odisha near Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India and the longest earthen dam in the world. The sanctuary is linked with freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, whose base at Barapathara was here during revolt against British rule.

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Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Madhya Pradesh and spans across three districts—Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur. It covers about 1187 square kilometres, making it the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state. The sanctuary lies on a plateau in the Upper Vindhyan Range, providing suitable habitat for wildlife. It functions as an ecological corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The region belongs to the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone, supporting diverse forests and fauna. It is planned to receive cheetahs soon under India’s cheetah reintroduction efforts to expand suitable habitats for the species