Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Stenothoe lowryi is a rare shrimp-like marine crustacean recently recorded in India for the first time. It was discovered at Arjyapalli Beach by researchers from Berhampur University, Odisha. Earlier, the species was known only from Malaysia waters. It belongs to family Stenothoidae under the order Amphipoda. Amphipods are small invertebrate crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They live in oceans, lakes, rivers, beaches, caves, and moist tropical habitats. The name Amphipoda means “different-footed” because they have different types of legs.

Notes:
Researchers rediscovered Myiophanes kempi in limestone caves of the Andaman Islands after nearly 100 years. It is a slender-bodied assassin bug belonging to the Reduviidae. The species was first described in 1924 by British entomologist William Edward China. Earlier records of the species came from Siju Cave about a century ago. It is a specialised predator of subterranean cave ecosystems and completes its entire life cycle in darkness. The insect uses long raptorial forelegs to capture prey such as small arthropods living in cave environments.

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Operation Thunder is a large global operation against wildlife trafficking conducted in 134 countries. It was led by INTERPOL and World Customs Organization. Authorities made about 4,640 seizures of illegal wildlife and wildlife products. More than 30,000 live animals were rescued during the operation. Around 245 tonnes and 91,000 pieces of marine life were seized, including about 4,000 shark fins. About 10,500 butterflies, spiders and insects were seized, showing rising trafficking of smaller species.

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A new frog species named Nyctibatrachus kali (Kali Night Frog) has been discovered. It is found in Kali Tiger Reserve. The name comes from the nearby Kali River, after which the reserve is also named. It is a cryptic species, meaning it looks very similar to other frogs. It resembles the Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara) discovered in 2014. Its sound is unique and similar to wood-chopping noise in forests. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

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Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary has emerged as a notable success story of ecological revival in the fragile Shivalik Hills. It is located in Chandigarh, near Sukhna Lake, at the foothills of the Shivalik range. The lake was created by Le Corbusier by diverting the seasonal Sukhna Choe stream. The sanctuary was established in 1998 and developed through afforestation efforts aimed at soil conservation around the lake. The region is geographically fragile, with sandy Shivalik soil and clay pockets, making it highly prone to soil erosion during rains.

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Recently, the Nilgiris Collector visited a remote village inside Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to inspect polling facilities and ensure basic amenities for voters, highlighting governance outreach in forest interiors ahead of elections . The reserve is located in Tamil Nadu at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and forms part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. It shares boundaries with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur Tiger Reserve, making it an important ecological corridor.

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Dillenia nagalim is a new plant species discovered in Kamjong district of Manipur near the Indo-Myanmar border. The name reflects the Naga community, indicating its local origin. It is endemic, currently known from only a single location. It is a small shrub with bright yellow flowers and double-serrated leaves. It differs from related species like Dillenia pentagyna in size, flower structure, and reproductive features. It grows in tropical deciduous forests (250–350 m altitude) and flowers during May–June.

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Recently, the National Green Tribunal directed the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board to inspect the Lower Lake and submit a detailed report. The Lower Lake (Chhota Talaab) is a man-made lake located in Bhopal. It was built in 1794 by Chote Khan, a minister of Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan. Along with the Upper Lake (Bada Talaab), it forms the Bhoj Wetland, which is a Ramsar site. The Lower Lake lies east of the Upper Lake and is separated by the Pul Pukhta (Lower Lake Bridge). Both lakes are arranged in a terraced system, with interconnected water levels.

Notes:
The rare sea slug Discodorid cebuensis has been recorded in India for the first time at Haji Ali, Mumbai. Sea slugs, also called nudibranchs, are soft-bodied marine gastropods found from shallow waters to the deep sea. They lack shells and resemble naked snails, making them unique among molluscs. They are commonly found in coral reefs and serve as indicators of healthy marine ecosystems.

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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has begun the third synchronised survey of the Nilgiri Tahr. Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain ungulate endemic to the southern Western Ghats. It is also called Nilgiri Ibex and locally known as Varayaadu. It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India. It inhabits montane grasslands of the Western Ghats, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.