Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Caracal, also known as the “Flying Cat”, has been sighted in Kuno National Park after several decades. Kuno National Park is located in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. The park is named after the Kuno River, a tributary of the Chambal River. It is situated near the Vindhyan Hills.

Notes:
A team from Longding Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) recorded a yellow puffball mushroom during a field visit to Zedua village, Arunachal Pradesh. The mushroom was tentatively identified as Bovista colorata. This may be the first documented sighting of the species from Longding district, adding to the fungal diversity records of Arunachal Pradesh. Bovista colorata belongs to the puffball fungi group. Unlike typical mushrooms, puffballs produce spores inside a closed spherical fruiting body.

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered a new species of soil-dwelling termite, Pseudocapritermes novus, in the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary of West Bengal. Unlike destructive termites, it is a soil-feeding termite that plays an important role in soil formation, nutrient recycling, and maintaining ecosystem health. These termites feed on soil and humus, making them valuable indicators of soil fertility and ecosystem quality. The discovery increases the number of Pseudocapritermes species recorded in India to five. The species belongs to a group of termites known for their asymmetrical snapping jaws, which produce clicking sounds for defence and alarm communication.

Notes:
Researchers recently identified a new species of lynx spider named Hamataliwa mawlyngot in Meghalaya. The species was discovered in the East Khasi Hills region of Meghalaya. The spider was named after Mawlyngot Village, where it was discovered. This discovery marks the first recorded presence of the lynx spider genus Hamataliwa in Meghalaya. Lynx spiders are agile hunters that do not build webs to trap prey. They actively stalk insects using sharp vision and quick movements.

Notes:
Researchers recently raised concerns over the declining otter population in the Thamirabarani River due to increasing destruction of natural habitats. The Thamirabarani River, also known as the Tamraparni or Porunai River, is a rare perennial river flowing entirely through Tamil Nadu. The name “Thamirabarani” comes from the Tamil words “Thamiram” (copper) and “Barani” (vessel), referring to the copper-like colour of its waters. In Sangam literature, the river is referred to by its classical name “Porunai.” The river originates from the Agastyarkoodam peak in the Western Ghats.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea catshark named Apristurus drona in the Arabian Sea off the Kollam coast of Kerala. Commonly called the Arabian slender catshark, it was found near Sakthikulangara harbour and the Wadge Bank region. The species represents a distinct evolutionary lineage and is closely related to catsharks from the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand. It is considered extremely rare and has no commercial fisheries value.

Notes:
The All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 recorded a strong tiger presence in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. Amrabad Tiger Reserve is located in the Nallamala Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Telangana. It was carved out of the former Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The reserve is known for its rugged terrain, deep valleys, and dense forests. The Krishna River and its perennial streams flow through the reserve and support the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs.

Notes:
The Prime Minister highlighted the conservation efforts of the ‘Hargila Army’, a group of rural women in Assam working to protect the Hargila Bird. The Hargila Bird, also known as the Greater Adjutant Stork, is a large stork species. In India, it is mainly found in Assam and Bihar, while it is also found in Cambodia. It inhabits wetlands, shallow lakes, drying lake beds, and freshwater flooded forests. It is an omnivorous scavenger that also feeds on frogs, insects, reptiles, birds, and rodents. The species faces threats from habitat loss, wetland drainage, and pollution. Its conservation status is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to Odisha’s proposal to resume tiger reintroduction in Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha. It comprises the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mahanadi River flows through the reserve and forms the Satkosia Gorge. The reserve is also part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve. It lies at the meeting point of the Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats biogeographic regions.

Notes:
Scientists at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi discovered a new deep-sea fish species named Cyttopsis indica. It was found in the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala. It belongs to the genus Cyttopsis, commonly known as dories. It has been given the common name Indian Dory. It survives deep-sea pressure by storing high levels of waxy compounds, making it unsuitable for direct human consumption.