Kerala Tops India’s 2024 Faunal Discoveries with 101 New Species: ZSI Report

In a landmark boost to biodiversity science, Kerala has emerged as India’s top contributor to new faunal discoveries in 2024, according to the Zoological Survey of India’s (ZSI) latest report Animal Discoveries: New Species and New Records 2024.

The report, unveiled during ZSI’s 110th anniversary celebrations in Kolkata by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, recorded 683 new species and subspecies across India this year — the highest number since formal tracking began in 2008. Of these, 459 are new to science and 224 are new records for India.

Kerala: The Nation’s Biodiversity Powerhouse

With 101 discoveries — including 80 species new to science and 21 new records for India — Kerala led the chart, thanks to its rich ecosystems spanning coastal wetlands, backwaters, dense rainforests, and mountain grasslands.

Kerala was followed by:

• Karnataka – 82 species

• Arunachal Pradesh – 72 species

• Tamil Nadu – 63 species

• West Bengal – 56 species

• Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 43 species

• Meghalaya – 42 species

• Uttarakhand – 31 species

These discoveries ranged from insects and amphibians to reptiles, mammals, and even microscopic cryptic species, highlighting the scope and diversity of India’s fauna.

Noteworthy Discoveries

Among the most celebrated finds was Anguiculus dicaprioi, a new snake species discovered in Himachal Pradesh, named in honor of actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio.

Karnataka’s finds largely came from its forested and coastal ecosystems, while Tamil Nadu’s contributions were heavily concentrated in and around the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Arunachal Pradesh reaffirmed the Eastern Himalayas’ biodiversity significance with its 72 new species.

Low Discoveries in Urban Zones

The report also noted that Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, and Telangana reported the fewest new faunal records, emphasizing the impact of urbanization on biodiversity.

Compiled by ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee and researchers C Raghunathan, Anjum N Rizvi, and Jayita Sengupta, the 2024 edition adds to ZSI’s long-standing legacy of documenting India’s wildlife — now totaling 105,244 species and subspecies since its inception in 1916.