Explore Onitis Bordati: Dung Beetle Facts for UPSC II IAS

Onitis Bordati

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Context:

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified a previously unknown dung beetle species, Onitis bordati, in the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya.

About Onitis bordati

It is a species of Dung beetle belonging to the genus Onitis.
They have long, slender, curved forelegs with teeth or spines.
Similar species were previously found in Vietnam and Thailand.

Phylogeny:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta

Ecological Functions:

Dung beetles play crucial ecological functions, such as seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, pest control, and plant growth.

Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary

It is located in Meghalaya and falls under the Eastern Himalayan Global biodiversity hotspot.
Continuous erosion by the rivers Umtrew, Umran, Umling, Umtasor, etc has rendered it rugged and eroded.
The Umtrew, the main river of the area marks the western boundary of the Reserve Forest and the Sanctuary.
Flora: Tectona grandis, Terminalia myriocarpa, Shorea robusta, Gmelina arborea etc.
Fauna: Clouded Leopard, majestic Elephants, and the powerful Himalayan Black Bear.
It was found to be the best-protected area (PA) in the North East, according to a management effectiveness evaluation (MEE) report of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in 2021.

Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE)

●It is a way to assess how well-protected areas are being managed.

●It is used to evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves in conserving the flora and fauna that live there.

●The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) releases the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries (NP&WLS) in the country.

Important articles for reference:

MEE

Biodiversity Hotspots

Sources:

https://www.northeasttoday.in/2024/09/13/new-dung-beetle-species-discovered-in-meghalayas-nongkhyllem-wildlife-sanctuary/#google_vignette

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nongkhyllem-wildlife-sanctuary-in-meghalaya-is-northeast-s-best-protected-area-101611054720800.html

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1943923

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in the news:

It is located in Arunachal Pradesh and falls under the Eastern Himalayan Global biodiversity hotspot.
The Brahmaputra is the main river of the area and flows through the sanctuary.
The major fauna in the Sanctuary include Clouded Leopards, majestic Elephants, and Himalayan Black Bear.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. All Three

D. None

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: It is located in Meghalaya and falls under the Eastern Himalayan Global biodiversity hotspot.( Not Arunachal Pradesh)

Statement 2 is incorrect:

●Continuous erosion by the rivers Umtrew, Umran, Umling, Umtasor, etc has rendered it rugged and eroded.

●The Umtrew, the main river of the area marks the western boundary of the Reserve Forest and the Sanctuary.

Statement 3 is correct:

●Flora: Tectona grandis, Terminalia myriocarpa, Shorea robusta, Gmelina arborea etc.

●Fauna: Clouded Leopard, majestic Elephants, and the powerful Himalayan Black Bear.

●It was found to be the best-protected area (PA) in the North East, according to a management effectiveness evaluation (MEE) report of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in 2021.