Limbless amphibian added to Kaziranga’s fauna

  • June 21, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Limbless amphibian added to Kaziranga’s fauna

Sub: Environment

Sec: Species in news

Context:

  • A limbless amphibian, the striped caecilian (Ichthyophis spp), was recorded for the first time in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
  • The discovery was made during a rapid herpetofauna survey conducted from June 14-17 by a team of herpetologists with support from various institutions and experts.

Importance of Herpetofauna:

  • Reptiles and amphibians, collectively known as herpetofauna, are critical for pest control and environmental indicators.
  • They are the least studied but highly vulnerable to climate change.
  • Caecilians are limbless amphibians that primarily live burrowed under soil.
    • Their presence is crucial for understanding evolution and intercontinental speciation.

Conservation Efforts

  • Kaziranga National Park continues to reveal its rich biodiversity, with new species discoveries highlighting the need for comprehensive conservation efforts that include lesser-known yet ecologically significant species like the striped caecilian.
  • The conservation efforts are traditionally focused on the ‘Big Five’ (rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer).
  • There is increasing attention on the ecological significance of herpetofauna.

About Kaziranga National Park:

Location
  • State of Assam
  • Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.
Feature
  • Single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
Legal Status
  • Declared as a National Park in 1974.
  • Declared a tiger reserve since 2007.
International Status
  • Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
  • Recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
Biodiversity
  • The park features diverse habitats like flood plains, wetlands, grasslands, and hill tracts.
  • Species Count:
    • 24 species of amphibians and 74 species of reptiles.
    • Home to 21 of India’s 29 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles.
Important Fauna found
  • Home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos.
  • (Note – Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga National Park)
  • The ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
Flora
  • Alluvial inundated grasslands
  • Alluvial savanna woodlands
  • Tropical moist mixed deciduous forests
  • Tropical semi-evergreen forests.
River passing through
  • Brahmaputra River (northern and eastern boundaries)
  • Diphlu River (southern boundary)
  • Mora Dhansiri.
Highways
  • National Highway 37 passes through the park area
Other national parks in Assam
  • Dibru-Saikhowa National Park,
  • Manas National Park,
  • Nameri National Park,
  • Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.

Source: TH

Environment Limbless amphibian added to Kaziranga’s fauna