Why in News?
India added 683 new species to its fauna and 433 taxa to its flora in 2024, led by Kerala in discoveries. The Western Ghats and North-East contributed 35% of findings, enriching India’s documented biodiversity with significant new species.India’s total recorded plant species (all groups): ~56,177,Includes angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, algae.
Description:
Overall Additions in 2024
- Fauna: 683 species added
- 459 new species discovered
- 224 new records (species known elsewhere but newly recorded in India)
- Flora: 433 taxa added
- 410 new species
- 23 infra-specific taxa
State-wise Highlights – Fauna Discoveries:
- Kerala: Highest
- 101 total (80 new species + 21 new records)
- Karnataka: 82 total (68 new + 14 records)
- Tamil Nadu: 63 total (50 new + 13 records)
- Eastern/Northeastern states:
- Arunachal Pradesh: 72 total (42 new + 30 records)
- Meghalaya: 42 total (25 new + 17 records)
- West Bengal: 56 total (25 new + 31 records)
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 43 total (14 new + 29 records)
Plant Discoveries – 2024:
- Total taxa added: 433
- 410 new species
- 23 infra-specific taxa
- By state:
- Kerala: 58 (highest)
- Maharashtra: 45
- Uttarakhand: 40
Types of Plants Discovered:
- 154 angiosperms (flowering plants)
- 4 pteridophytes (ferns)
- 15 bryophytes (mosses/liverworts)
- 63 lichens
- 156 fungi
- 32 algae
- 9 microbes
Biodiversity Hotspots Contribution:
- Western Ghats + North-East = 35% of total discoveries
Notable Faunal Discoveries:
- 2 new genera of reptiles
- 37 new species of reptiles
- Example: Dravidoseps gouensis (new genus)
- Example: Anguiculus dicaprioi (Colubridae family, named after Leonardo DiCaprio)
- 5 new species of amphibians
Notable Floral Discoveries:
- Important new orchid species:
- Bulbophyllum gopalianum
- Coelogyne tripurensis
- Gastrodia indica
- Gastrodia sikkimensis
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands = Biological hotspot.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
