VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh has recorded 11 notable animal discoveries in the recently released publication ‘Animal Discoveries: New Species and New Records 2024’ by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
The list includes five newly described species, and six species reported from the state for the first time. The discoveries span across various animal groups, including Diptera (1), Coleoptera (1), Hymenoptera (1), Arachnida (1), Amphibia (2), Pisces (1), Mollusca (1), and Hemiptera (2).
Among the described species is Asphondylia mangiferi, a gall midge under the family Cecidomyiidae. It was collected from Maruvada village in the State. The species is named after the genus of its host plant, mango. This is the first Asphondylia species known to infest mango fruit, making it a noteworthy addition to the known mango pests.
Another species, Myllocerus depressus (family Curculionidae), was described based on specimens collected from Dowleswaram near Rajahmundry and other locations in AP, and neighbouring States. The name refers to the dorsally depressed body structure.
Hymenoptera, Tiphia (Tiphia) andhraensis was recorded from the Mudasarlova reservoir area in Vizag.
Amphibian species native to Sri Lanka found in Eastern Ghats
It was named after the State of Andhra Pradesh. A jumping spider species, Phintella luna, was also documented from Kittukuru in East Godavari district. The name ‘luna’ refers to the crescent shape of the spider’s copulatory ducts, and also commemorates India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
Two amphibian species previously known only from Sri Lanka were found in Andhra Pradesh for the first time. Hylarana gracilis was recorded from Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, while Pseudophilautus regius was found in the Eastern Ghats.
A fish species, Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, was found for the first time in India at the Kakinada fishing harbour. It was previously known from several Southeast Asian countries and Australia. Bathytormus acuminatus, known earlier from Singapore was found for the first time in India from a site 30 metres off Gangavaram coast in Visakhapatnam district.
Two aquatic insect species were also newly recorded from the State. Sigara striata, a water boatman species, distributed across Europe and parts of Asia, was found for the first time in India based on a specimen collected in Papikonda National Park. Earlier reported from Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand, this water scorpion, Ranatra cardamomensis, was recorded for the first time in India from Mudasarlova and Gambheeram Gadda reservoirs.