Post-floods, Vazhachal’s winged species hit a low

Aathira Perinchery, Kochi The Hindu, February 22, 2019 The results of a two-day survey in Vazhachal’s riverine stretches, including areas affected by last year’s floods, seem disquieting. It records a ‘low’ abundance of some insect taxa – butterflies and odonates (damsel and dragonflies) – as well as birds, especially along the Chalakudy...

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Wayanad sanctuary yields a new spider

Mini Muringatheri, Thrissur  The Hindu, 16 February, 2019 A new species of spider has been discovered from the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, a major biodiversity hotspot in the State. The new species, Cocalus lacinia, spotted in the Kurichiad forest range of the sanctuary, is taxonomically related to an Australian species, described...

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Blink and miss: Kerala’s mystery frog

Aathira Perinchery, Kochi The Hindu, February 14, 2019 Forget dense forests. Even roadsides could be harbouring new species that are hard to find. Scientists from the University of Delhi have discovered a new amphibian — a mysterious narrow-mouthed frog, that makes only a four-day appearance in seasonal roadside puddles every year ...

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Rare butterfly species found

Sarath Babu George, Thiruvananthapuram The Hindu, February 11, 2019 Garhwal Large Branded Five-ring, a rare butterfly species, was rediscovered in the Himalayas over five decades after it was initially recorded. The species, scientifically known as Ypthima hannyngtoni Eliot, was recorded and photographed by nature conservationist...

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Kole Fish Count records 82 species

The Hindu, February 3, 2019 Kochi: The Kole Fish Count, conducted on February 2 in connection with World Wetland Day across the Kole wetlands of central Kerala, recorded 82 aquatic species. These include 71 fish species (18 species of brackish water fish and 53 species of freshwater fish), five shrimp species, four crab and two mollusc...

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Vellarada set to take on quarries

Sarath Babu George, Thiruvananthapuram The Hindu, February 3, 2019 After a lull of two years, the ecologically fragile Vellarada and adjacent areas have again come under the threat of quarrying. Concerned over repercussions, local people are gearing up for another long-drawn agitation to conserve their land. The many hill ranges,...

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