709 new species and 353 taxa added to fauna, flora database, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• India added 709 new species to its fauna and 353 taxa to its flora in 2025.
• The discoveries were announced by the Zoological Survey of India and Botanical Survey of India.
• India's total faunal biodiversity now stands at 1,05,953 species, reinforcing its status as a mega diverse nation.
• Kerala recorded the highest number of new animal species with 98, while Arunachal Pradesh led in plant discoveries with 49.
• Notable faunal discoveries include Myotis himalaicus (Himalayan bat) and Lycodon irwini (Irwin’s wolf snake).

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Detailed Insights:

• Of the 709 faunal additions, 483 species are new to science, and 226 are new records for India.
• Among animal groups, Hymenoptera contributed the highest number of additions with 106 species.
• Of the 353 plant taxa, 221 have been described as new to science, and 132 represent new distributional records for India.
• Angiosperms constituted the largest group among plant discoveries, with 154 new taxa documented.
• Approximately 43% of the newly described plant taxa belong to vascular plants, including wild relatives of economically significant groups.
• The findings underscore India's rich natural heritage and the ongoing efforts in biodiversity documentation.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Fauna: All the animal life present in a particular region or time.
• Flora: All the plant life present in a particular region or time.
• Taxa: A taxonomic group of any rank, such as a species, genus, family, or class.
• Angiosperms: Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within an ovary.