In News:

In a significant biodiversity finding, Hygrocybe pellucida, a rare and recently identified fungus species, has been recorded for the first time in Telangana at the Kawal Tiger Reserve. The species, known for its vivid waxy appearance, was first described in Kerala in 2024 and belongs to the Hygrophoraceae family. This sighting expands its known range in southern India and highlights the ecological richness of the reserve.

About Hygrocybe pellucida

• Part of the Hygrocybe (waxcap) genus, containing ~350 species globally
• Distinguished by bright, translucent, waxy fruit bodies
• Prefers nutrient-poor, moss-rich forest floors and unimproved grasslands
• Indicator of undisturbed and pristine microhabitats
• Newly documented fungus species in India, reinforcing fungal diversity in tropical ecosystems

Ecological Significance

The discovery underscores the value of fungi as bioindicators of healthy ecosystems. It reflects the presence of intact microhabitats—moist, shaded forest floors with moss and low human interference—and complements ongoing biodiversity documentation in the region. Researchers have identified over 80 fungal species in Kawal, including several first records for Telangana, such as Marasmiushaematocephalus and Dacryopinaxspathularia.

Kawal Tiger Reserve: Key Facts

• Location: Telangana, along the Godavari River in the Deccan Peninsula–Central Highlands
• Declared Tiger Reserve: 2012 (originally a Wildlife Sanctuary)
• Landscape Linkages: Connects to Tadoba–Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) Tiger Reserves
• Topography: Part of the Sahyadri mountain ranges
• Rivers: Catchment area for Godavari and Kadam
• Vegetation:Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
• Flora: Teak, bamboo, Anogeissuslatifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, etc.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, sambar, blackbuck, nilgai, chinkara, chousingha, spotted deer

Conservation Perspective

While tiger conservation often takes center stage, this discovery emphasizes that forest floor biodiversity —including fungi and microfauna—plays a critical ecological role and requires equal attention. The finding strengthens the case for protecting microhabitats and maintaining minimal human disturbance in core forest areas.