ANIMAL SPECIES SPOTTED IN TELANGANA

Globally, approximately 1.8 million species have been catalogued so far, of which animals comprise about one million. However, countless species remain undiscovered. India is home to around 81,000 animal species, representing 6.4% of the world’s animal population and ranking sixth in global biodiversity. Insects are the most dominant group in Indian biodiversity, with 57,000 species out of the total 81,000 animal species. Telangana, a relatively new state in India, is endowed with significant biodiversity, thanks to its rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, deciduous forests, red and black soils, and semi-arid climate. Several insects observed in Telangana also occur in various regions worldwide. In this study, I have identified 11 lesserknown species, detailed in this presentation. These include Ethyrhynchus, Aegocera venulia, Arugisa latiorella, Gryllus bimaculatus, Heliocopris Bucephalus, Hierodula membranacea, Acherontia Styx, Amata passalis, Ramphotyphlops braminus, Paradoxurus jerdoni, and Ablephanus pannonicus. Four species belong to Lepidoptera, with representatives also from Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Mantodea, Squamata, and Carnivora. These species are mainly observed during the monsoon, from June to September. Notably, Ramphotyphlops braminus displays parthenogenesis, with females predominating, and is an egg-laying snake.