Karnataka   

Six new species of fauna discovered

BANGALORE: Six new species of fauna — five insects and a fish — completely new to science, have been discovered by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the Kudremukh National Park in the Western Ghats. The fish, a variety of fresh water catfish, has been named Glyptothorax Kudremukhensis.

ZSI discovered these species during a 15-day survey of the park in October 2005. The new species have been documented in ‘Fauna of Kudremukh National Park,’ released here on Wednesday. Similar documentation of fauna in Bannerghatta National Park and Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife sanctuary were also released.

The new fish was collected from a stream of the Tunga flowing through a degraded forest patch at Muduba, said C. Radhakrishnan, Additional Director of the ZSI.

The 32.66 mm long, yellowish coloured, speckled fish was found in a pool formed by stones that blocked the flow. “When we removed the water we found this fish below the stones.”

The fish was compared with specimen of 11 other discovered species of the “Sisoridae” family before being designated as a new member. Scientists went through the process of nomenclature to christen their find. They tried first to find a Latin name based on the fish’s colour and other body features. They then went through Karnataka and country names and finally decided on the place of its discovery.

The specimen is now with the faunal holdings of ZSI’s Western Ghats Field Research Station, Calicut, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.

The five new insects discovered — Duta Polita, Paridris Armigera, Psilanteris Coriacea, Psilanteris Ferruginus and Psilanteris Orbitus — are parasites that feed on other insects.

They were caught by a method called “malaise trap,” where a mosquito net-like tent is placed around a lamp, which draws insects. A bottle placed beneath the lamp forms the trap. “These insects were studied microscopically in the research station,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.

The ZSI scientists also rediscovered a frog, Nyctibatrachus Hussaini, the largest of the wrinkled frogs — its name inspired by its course and mottled skin.

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