The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released its annual report on biodiversity discoveries. 

The data reflects the new species and records added to India’s flora and fauna in the year 2024, reaffirming India’s status as a megadiverse nation.

• The findings were released through two major annual publications: “Animal Discoveries 2024” by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and “Plant Discoveries 2024” by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).

Major Additions in India’s Faunal and Floral Database

Faunal Discoveries

• In 2024, India added 683 species to its faunal database, which includes 459 newly described species and 224 species that are new records for the country.
• Kerala(101) recorded the highest number of faunal discoveries, followed by Karnataka (82) and Tamil Nadu (63).
• The Eastern and Northeastern regions — including Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and West Bengal — also contributed significantly.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, another critical biodiversity hotspot, reported several new animal species (14) and records (29).
• In contrast, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana and Telangana reported the lowest number of species.

Significant Animal Discoveries Include

• Discovery of two new genera and 37 species of reptiles.
• Identification of five new amphibian species.
• One of the notable reptilian species includes Dravidoseps gouensis, classified under a new genus.
• A species named Anguiculus dicaprioi, belonging to the Colubridae family, was named in honor of actor Leonardo DiCaprio for his environmental advocacy.

Floral Discoveries

• India added 433 taxa to its floral database in 2024, comprising 410 newly described species and 23 infra-specific taxa.
• The maximum plant discoveries came from Kerala, followed by Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.
• The discoveries span multiple plant groups, including angiosperms,  pteridophytes, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, algae and  microbes.
• The hotspot regions, such as the Western Ghats and the North-Eastern regions, have contributed 35% of total discoveries.
• These findings include numerous wild relatives of important horticultural, medicinal, agricultural, and ornamental plants, such as begonias, impatiens, legumes, zingibers, and orchids.

New Plant Discoveries Include

• Various orchid species such as Bulbophyllum gopalianum, Coelogyne tripurensis, Gastrodia indica, and Gastrodia sikkimensis.
• Multiple new plant species were also discovered from important families like legumes, gingers, and grasses.

Fauna of India Checklist – Version 2.0

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) released Version 2.0 of the Checklist of Fauna of India.
• The updated inventory includes 1,05,244 species and subspecies, covering 121 taxonomic groups, from protists to mammals.
• Insects, especially beetles, moths, flies, and bees, make up the largest share of faunal diversity.
• Among vertebrates, fish are the most numerous group represented.
• The checklist is updated annually and will now be made available in digital format for easier access by researchers and policymakers.

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