Species: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)

Explanation

Golden Mahseer is also known as the tiger of Indian rivers. It is a species of the genus Tor. The Golden Mahseer, the longest-living freshwater fish, is native to mountain and sub-mountain regions found in the Himalayan Rivers (Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra). The Pong Dam reservoir supports an ample population of the golden Mahseer. IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered. The Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus), Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), and White Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) are all bird species found in India.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: Hedgehogs are small mammals with short limbs and a body low to the ground. Their most distinctive characteristic is the thousands of stiff, sharp spines -harder and sharper than those of a porcupine - that cover the animal’s back and sides, like a pincushion filled with needles. If attacked they will curl into a prickly and unappetizing ball that deters most predators.

Option 2 is incorrect: Marmot are any of 14 species of giant ground squirrels found primarily in North America and Eurasia. Marmots are well suited for life in cold environments and have small fur-covered ears, short, stocky legs, and strong claws for digging. Marmots do not roll up and protect their vulnerable parts. They often use their sharp teeth and powerful jaws to defend themselves.

Option 3 is correct: Pangolin, also called scaly anteaters be-cause of their preferred diet. They are the most trafficked mammal in the world. If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball, while the sharp scales on the tail can be used to lash out.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Filter feeders are a subgroup of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically bypassing the water over a specialised filtering structure. Clams, krill, sponges, oysters, etc are among the creatures that rely on this way of feeding (including some sharks). Filter feeders include some birds like flamingos and several varieties of duck. Filter feeders are regarded as ecosystem engineers since they might be crucial in the clarification of water. They serve as indicator organisms and are crucial in bioaccumulation.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Catfish are bottom-dwellers that feed on a variety of food sources, including insects, crustaceans, and small fish. Octopuses are predators that feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. Pelicans are birds that feed on fish and other aquatic animals.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Oil palm trees are native to West Africa but were brought to South-East Asia over 100 years ago as an ornamental tree crop. Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, is the largest producer of palm oil.

Statement 2 is correct: Non-food applications of Palm oil are Cosmetics, toiletries, soaps and detergents. Oleochemical industry, as a base material for laundry detergents, household cleaners and cosmetics.

Statement 3 is correct: Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel, which can be used in compression ignition engines, i.e., diesel engines without any modifications.

Explanation

Leguminous plants have small pockets or nodules in their roots that host a specific type of bacteria known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect: Moringa is a rapidly growing, drought-tolerant tree native to the Indian subcontinent. It is found naturally in the sub-Himalayan regions of Northern India and is now cultivated globally in tropical and subtropical climates. Unlike leguminous plants, Moringa is not a legume and is deciduous, shedding its leaves seasonally. On the other hand, tamarind, a leguminous tree known for its edible fruit, is native to tropical Africa, not South Asia. Statements 3 and 4 are correct: In India most of the Tamarind is collected as Minor Forest Produce with Minimum Support Price. Tamarind is also actively exported from India.

Statement 5 is correct: Biodiesel is derived from the tamarind seed through the transesterification process as potential alternative feedstock for the diesel engine. Seeds of Moringa too can be used for biodiesel production.

Explanation

Asian Elephants come in three sub-species i.e. Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. The majority of the continent’s remaining elephants belong to the Indian subspecies, which has the largest range.

Statement 1 is correct: The leader of a group is the oldest female. She guides the herd in their search for food and water sources. These matriarchal units can occasionally divide into smaller, temporary groups.

Statement 2 is correct: The gestation period lasts for 22 months, yielding a single baby.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Although sexually mature in their early teens, elephants generally only start to mate at about 20 years and stop bearing calves at about 50.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Recent census showed Kerala as having 5,706 elephants, while Karnataka has 6049 elephants.

Explanation

The Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus monilig-er), Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), Gray-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris), and White-throated redstart (Myioborus albogularis) are all species of birds found in India. These birds are known for their unique characteristics and are an important part of India’s rich avifauna. The Ceylon frogmouth is a nocturnal bird, while the Coppersmith barbet is known for its distinctive call that sounds like a coppersmith at work.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of lion that is naturally found only in India. The Gir Forest is a protected area that provides a habitat for these majestic animals, and conservation efforts are in place to protect and manage the Asiatic lion population.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Double-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus) are naturally found in the Central Asian region, particularly in countries like Mongolia, China, and parts of Afghanistan. In India, they are found in the Ladakh region, but their native habitat is not India alone.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found in India, particularly in Assam and other northeastern states and it is also found in parts of Nepal and Bhutan.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Many species of turtles are herbivores, especially those that live in freshwater or on land. For instance, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is primarily herbivorous, feeding on seagrass and algae. Similarly, the Aldab-ra giant tortoise is also herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses and leaves.

Statement 2 is correct: Several species of fish are herbivores, consuming algae, aquatic plants, or detritus. Examples include parrotfish, which graze on algae, and certain species of sur-geonfish, which feed on marine plants.

Statement 3 is correct: Some marine mammals are herbivores, notably the manatee and dugong, which feed on seagrasses. These mammals are specialized to thrive on a plant-based diet.

Statement 4 is correct: Boa Constrictors and Green Anacon-das are examples of viviparous snakes, meaning they give birth to live young with no eggs involved at any stage of development.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Blue Finned Mahseer is found in the Mula-Mutha River close to the Indian city of Pune, a part of the Krishna River basin. It is a freshwater fish. It is also known as Deccan Mahseer or Tor Khudree.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Irrawaddy Dolphin’s habitat extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines. It is found in three rivers namely the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong but not in Chambal river. The highest single lagoon population of dolphins is considered to be found in Chilika Lake.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Rusty Spotted Cat has been observed in eastern Gujarat’s Gir National Park, in Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and along India’s Eastern Ghats.