Tiny 3.3-mm Parasitic Wasp Discovered in Assam Marks First Record of Its Genus in India
The newly described wasp belongs to the family Proctotrupidae, a group of parasitoid wasps whose larvae develop in or on other insects.
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How India Brought the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros Back From the Brink
The recovery has also made India central to the global survival of the species. Assam alone now holds nearly 80 per cent of the world’s Greater One-Horned Rhino population.
From Periyar to Thuruthi, New Surveys Reveal the Remarkable Diversity of Kerala’s Dragonflies, Birds and Butterflies
The Periyar survey was conducted over four days with teams examining birds, butterflies, odonates and several other groups across the reserve. The exercise involved 75 participants representing 21 NGOs, academic and research institutions, together with Forest Department officials and frontline personnel.
Delhi Biodiversity Survey Records Two Dragonfly and Damselfly Species for the First Time
The annual exercise covered Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Neela Hauz Biodiversity Park, Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park, Kamla Nehru Ridge, Tughlaqabad Biodiversity Park and Kalindi Biodiversity Park.
Rare Leafless Orchid Gastrodia keyiensis Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Valley
Gastrodia keyiensis belongs to a highly specialised group of orchids that do not produce normal green leaves and cannot manufacture their own food through photosynthesis.
Indian Grey Hornbill Returns to Gir After Six Decades, Marking a Major Conservation Success
The Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a medium-sized hornbill species found across parts of the Indian subcontinent. Known for its distinctive curved bill and casque, the bird plays an important ecological role as a seed disperser, helping maintain forest regeneration and plant diversity.
Indian Scientists Discover New Deep-Sea Conger Eel 300 Metres Below Arabian Sea Off Kerala
The new species, named Ariosoma cmfriense, was identified by scientists from the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kochi. The specimen was collected from waters off Kollam at a depth of approximately 300 metres in January 2026 as part of research associated with India’s Deep Ocean Mission.
Black-Headed Ibis Flock Turns Tirunavaya Paddy Fields Into a Spectacular Bird Haven
The black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) is particularly conspicuous. Standing on long dark legs, the bird has predominantly white plumage contrasted by a bare black head and neck and a long, downward-curving black bill adapted for probing shallow water and soft mud for food.
Bihar’s 700-Year-Old Banyan Becomes World’s Oldest Scientifically Dated Ficus benghalensis
The research was published in the journal Quaternary Research by Cambridge University Press in April 2026. The research team comprised Trina Bose, Mayank Shekhar, Akhilesh K. Yadava, Avanish Mishra, Arya Pandey and Anurag Kumar, all affiliated with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences.
Mizoram Adds Two New Amphibians as Scientists Uncover Hidden Diversity in Northeast India
The two species, Ingerana aizawl and Duttaphrynus phawngpui, were described in separate scientific papers published in September 2026. Together, the discoveries underline how much of the amphibian diversity of Mizoram and the wider Indo-Burma biodiversity region remains incompletely documented.