In News:

Great Nicobar Island, the southernmost island of India in the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago, is emerging as a major hotspot of biological discoveries. Recent scientific studies from the area identified for a mega infrastructure development project have highlighted the island’s exceptional biodiversity and high endemism.

Since 2021, researchers have reported nearly 40 new species from Great Nicobar, with a significant number formally described only in the last few years. These findings underline the island’s ecological sensitivity.

Key Recent Discoveries

1. New Wolf Snake – Lycodonirwini

• Recently described species of wolf snake
• Known from only four records so far
• Named in honour of Steve Irwin
• Found in a very restricted range on Great Nicobar’s east coast
• Scientists recommend listing it as Endangered under IUCN Red List criteria due to:
  • Rarity
  • Limited distribution
  • Habitat vulnerability

2. Great Nicobar Crake (Genus: Rallina)

A rare forest rail photographed only a handful of times over more than a decade.

Taxonomic Status

• Belongs to the genus Rallina (crakes/forest rails)
• May represent a new species to science based on distinct morphological traits
• Very little known about its distribution, population size, or ecology

Habitat

• Dense tropical rainforest undergrowth
• Associated with wet forest floors, streams, bamboo, cane, and vine thickets

Behaviour

• Ground-dwelling, shy and elusive
• Rarely flies; moves swiftly through vegetation
• Feeds on insects and small invertebrates

Conservation Note

• Not yet officially assessed by IUCN
• Likely to fall under Data Deficient or a threatened category if found to be endemic with a small range

Ecological & Conservation Significance

• Presence of range-restricted species indicates fragile ecosystems
• Frequent discoveries suggest large gaps in scientific knowledge
• Highlights the importance of:
  • Long-term ecological monitoring
  • Rigorous Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
  • Habitat protection in the face of large infrastructure projects

Great Nicobar is considered one of the last extensive undisturbed tropical rainforest regions in India, making it critical for biodiversity conservation.