In 2022, India expanded its faunal database by including 664 animal species. Among them, there were 467 new species and 197 new records, which means they were found in India for the very first time. In the year 2022, India introduced 339 new plant taxa to its records. This comprises 186 newly discovered taxa that are new to science, as well as 153 taxa identified as new distributional records within the country. On July 1st, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, revealed the specifics of these recent findings and records in Kolkata. The significant findings encompassed the discovery of previously unknown mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish species, alongside the identification of new records for existing species.
Meghalaya reveals two newly discovered bat species, along with one new record, adding to a total of three mammal species. The Andaman archipelago witnesses the inclusion of the yellow-rumped flycatcher as a new record, alongside one more bird species. Thirty previously unknown reptile species and two new records are added to the database. Six newly identified amphibian species and one additional record are documented. The faunal database expands with the discovery of twenty-eight new fish species and the inclusion of eight new records. The majority of new faunal discoveries are invertebrates, with insects making up the largest group with 384 species. Among the various vertebrate species, a total of 81 have been identified, with fish being the most prevalent group.
Several significant species have been discovered in India, including the Sela macaque (Macaca selai) in Arunachal Pradesh and the first-ever sighting of Macaca leucogenys within the country. Additionally, notable findings include bamboo-dwelling bat species from Meghalaya, as well as various other remarkable floral discoveries. India's compilation of new discoveries and records fuels the expansion of knowledge regarding its diverse faunal and floral ecosystems, underscoring the significance of conservation endeavours.
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