'EXOSTOMA DHRITIAE'

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Context: A new catfish species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh has been named 'Exostoma Dhritiae' after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the ZSI, as a mark of honour for her contributions to research on the fauna of the country.

Details: 

About the fish:

• It is a small fish found in streams in these hills and locally called 'Ngorang' by local tribals.
• It is a new species of sisorid catfish of the genus 
• It can be distinguished from congeners by the condition of the posterior extremity of the adipose-fin base, the degree of tuberculation on the dorsal surface of the head, and the shape of striae on the anterolateral surface of lips.
• It is the twentieth reported species of 
• The new species was found in Siking stream, a tributary of Siang river in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

About Siang River:

• The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh.
• It is also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali, Luit and Brahmaputra in Assamese, and Jamuna River in Bangla.
• It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.
• About 3,969 km long, the Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation in the region.

Course of the river:

• With its origin in the Manasarovar Lake region, near Mount Kailash, on the northern side of the Himalayas in Burang County of Tibet where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
• It flows along southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges (including the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon) and into Arunachal Pradesh.
• It enters India near the village of Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh and flows southwest through the Assam Valley as the Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna.
• In the vast Ganges Delta, it merges with the Ganges, popularly known as the Padma in Bangladesh, and becomes the Meghna and ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal.

About ZSI:

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile ´British Indian Empire´.
• The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.

Objectives:

Primary Objectives:

• Exploration, Survey, Inventorying and Monitoring of faunal diversity in various States, Ecosystems and Protected areas of India.
• Taxonomic studies of all faunal components collected.
• Periodic review of the Status of Threatened and Endemic species.
• Preparation of Red Data Book, Fauna of India and Fauna of States.
• Bioecological studies on selected important communities/species.
• Preparation of databases for the recorded species of the country.
• Maintenance & Development of National Zoological Collections.
• Training, Capacity Building and Human Resource Development.
• Faunal Identification, Advisory services and Library Services.
• Publication of results including Fauna of India and Fauna of States.

Secondary Objectives:

• Environmental Impact Studies.
• Maintenance and Development of Museum at Headquarters and Regional Stations.
• Development of ENVIS and CITES Centers.
• Research Fellowship, Associateship and Emeritus Scientist Programmes.
• Collaborative research programmes on Biodiversity with other Organizations.
• GIS and Remote Sensing studies for animal diversity as well as for selected threatened • species.
• Chromosomal Mapping and DNA finger printing.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to Siang River? a. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. b. It originated in the Manasarovar Lake region.  I. Only a II. Only b III. Both a and b IV. Neither a nor b Answer: Option III

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/new-catfish-species-discovered-in-arunachal-pradesh-490275