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A caller faunal survey successful the Munnar wildlife part has documented 11 taxon that were antecedently unrecorded successful its checklist, elevating the known biodiversity of the high-altitude scenery wrong the confederate Western Ghats.
The extended documentation, organised from May 21 to 24, was coordinated by the Munnar wildlife part of Forest Department successful relation with the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS).
Yielding the highest fig of additions, 7 caller records of dragonflies and damselflies were recorded, bringing the division’s full of documented odonates to 82 species. The additions see the Western Ghats endemics Nilgiri clubtail (Asiagomphus nilgiricus), Nilgiri clawtail (Lamelligomphus nilgiriensis), Anamala reedtail (Protosticta anamalaica), bluish hawklet (Hylaeothemis apicalis), yellowish torrent-hawk (Macromia miniata), Orange-tailed marsh-dart (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum) and Marsh bambootail (Onychargia atrocyana).
Three butterfly species, viz., the Malabar autumn leafage (Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica), the Striped Pierrot (Tarucus nara) and the Oriental orchid tit (Hypolycaena othona othona), pushed the butterfly checklist to 260 species.
The Common swift (Apus apus), a vertebrate taxon lone occasionally encountered successful the precocious ranges, was added to the checklist. As a result, the division’s full vertebrate taxon number has gone up to 263.
The researchers authorities that respective of the documented odonates are Western Ghats endemics associated with pristine elevation streams, marshes and montane wood ecosystems, and service arsenic important indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. The occurrence of these habitat-restricted taxon highlights the conservation value of the Munnar scenery and its web of protected areas. The survey besides documented galore endemic birds, butterflies, dragonflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians crossed the division.
Harikrishnan K.V, Wildlife Warden, Munnar wildlife division, says the additions of caller faunal records from the Munnar scenery demonstrates the singular biodiversity worth of the protected country network. Such technological surveys assistance amended recognize taxon organisation patterns, show ecosystem wellness and place conservation priorities, helium added.
Kalesh Sadasivan, probe associate, TNHS, pointed retired that the summation of respective endemic odonates and high-elevation specialists indicates that galore parts of the Munnar scenery inactive harbour important undocumented biodiversity.
