Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and collaborating institutions have discovered 3 new species of aquatic beetles from freshwater habitats in Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Common Name – Beetle.
- Family – Hydrophilidae (aquatic scavenger beetles).
- Genus – Amphiops, Adapted to shallow freshwater ecosystems like ponds, wetlands, and vegetated substrates.
- Amphiops hyderabadi – Found in a seasonal pond in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Amphiops kinnerasani – Collected from a roadside pond inside Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana.
- Amphiops sandi – Discovered in Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.
- Distinct Traits – Each species shows unique body structures, punctation patterns, and reproductive features.
- Genetic Divergence – COI mitochondrial DNA barcoding revealed 7–17% divergence, confirming them as distinct evolutionary lineages.
COI Gene Sequencing (Cytochrome c Oxidase I gene) – Standard DNA barcoding method using a short section of the to identify and differentiate animal species.
Reference
New Indian Express | New Aquatic Beetle Species
