Recently, the researchers have discovered a new species of tiny crustacean in Western Ghats.
It is a new species of water fleas (type of small crustacean).
Water fleas are small aquatic animals belonging to crustacea group and are usually found in rivers, ponds, and pools.
Discovered in– Moss growths of Korigad fort and adjacent areas on Deccan Plateau near Pune in the Western Ghats.
Taxonomy
Scientific name – The researchers named the organism as Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) Bharaticus.
Genus – Bryospilus, is a unique animal with characteristic adaptations suited for living in semi-terrestrial environments, such as water film found on mosses.
This discovery marks the 1st time, in this genus has been recorded in Tropical Asia.
Research Highlights
The relatives of this species are found across various continents that were once part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland, which included South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, along with India.
The researchers suggest that ancestors of this species could have been present in the Indian subcontinent before the breakup of Gondwanaland, approximately 200 million years ago.
The species' presence in a pristine environment with minimal human disturbance highlights the health of the habitat.
