Scientists discover 'vital' new species

New Delhi: Indian scientists discovered 67 new animal species, including fishes, spiders and crop-eating insects, and 29 plant species, including grass and flower varieties, last year.

"All these discoveries were made in 2007 and they are vital additions to the plant and animal science of India and the world," Dr Ramakrishna, director of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), said yesterday.

"Whenever we come across any new species, we bring them to the laboratories and match them with the present ones and if they are unique then we record them," he said.

He said a majority of the new species have come from western and eastern Ghats, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and north-eastern states.

He said ZSI has found 28 species from the eastern Himalayan region and two of them are new fish species. While the Brachydanio jaintianensis fish was found in Meghalaya, Bhavania auranachalensis has been found in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit district.

7.35% of world's species

Speaking about a new insect species, Corticaromus rueekeri, Ramakrishna said it was found in a fungal colony in humus and litter in Nagaland. The insect helps in decomposition and mineralisation of humus and enhances productivity of soil.

Mizoram was the state with the maximum discoveries in 2007, with 20 new species found there.

According to ZSI, India is known to have over 7.35 per cent of the animal species that the world holds. In absolute numbers, the country is home to 91,212 animal species.