43 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on species make this the largest Environment chapter, from 2011 to 2025. UPSC asks for classification, habitat and relationships: which animal is a filter feeder, which organism has coevolved with an insect, what Gucchi is and what the Peacock tarantula is. The explanations give the group, habitat and conservation status.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 21–30 of 43 questions
Prosopis juliflora, or mesquite, is a leguminous flowering plant native to South America. It has become invasive in regions like India, Africa, and the Middle East, where it competes with native species for water and nutrients, threatening local bio-diversity.
Option (a) is incorrect: Gharials inhabit deep fresh-water habitats, while crocodile species are found in both fresh-water and saltwater habitats. Bhitarkanika Mangroves is the home of saltwater crocodiles.
Option (b) is correct: Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are crocodiles native to the Indian subcontinent, recognized for their narrow snouts. They inhabit freshwater rivers, streams, and wet-lands, with the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh being a prime location to see them. The National Chambal Sanctuary was established to protect and conserve this species, which has a significant population in the river. The Chambal River and its tributaries which flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are one of the best places to see gharials in their natural habitat. The Chambal River is home to a significant population of gharials, and the National Chambal Sanctuary has been established to protect and conserve these magnificent creatures.
Option (c) is incorrect: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India after Chilika Lake while Gharials inhabit deep freshwater habitats.
Option (d) is incorrect: Deepor Beel is one of the largest fresh-water lakes in Assam and the State’s only Ramsar site besides being an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. Till date no credible information has been found regarding Gharial population in Deepor beel.
Statement 1 is correct: Kharai camels have the remarkable ability to swim in seawater and feed on saline plants and mangroves. This adaptation gives them their name, "Kharai." They are considered the only domesticated camel breed that thrives in both marine and desert ecosystems. They were identified as a separate breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in recent years.
Statement 2 is correct: Kharai camels are known to feed on mangroves and other salty marine plants found on offshore islands. To access this unique food source, they can swim for several hours in seawater.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Kharai camels are domesticated and play an essential role for local communities, often being used for transportation and various other purposes in the coastal and desert regions of Gujarat.
‘Red Sanders’ are known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties. They are in high demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical instruments. The main threats that Red Sanders face are illicit felling for smuggling, forest fires, cattle grazing and other anthropogenic threats.
Statement 1 is correct: Red Sanders is an endemic tree species native to the Eastern Ghats, specifically found in the forests of Andhra Pradesh. It thrives in rocky, degraded, and fallow lands with red soil and a hot, dry climate.
Statement 2 is incorrect: It occurs in the forest formation which is classified as "Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests". The tree is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, due to over-exploitation of its timber and habitat loss. Efforts are being made to protect the tree’s habitats and to promote sustainable harvesting practices.
India is home to nine hornbill species, about one-fifth of the 50+ species worldwide. While mainly frugivores, some also consume small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The Great Indian Hornbill primarily inhabits tropical evergreen forests and is found mostly in the Western Ghats and Nilgiris. It relies on large trees with cavities for nesting and roosting.
Statement 1 is correct: Dugongs, or "sea cows," are marine mammals that graze on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. As the only herbivorous mammal living exclusively in the sea, including in India, dugongs are crucial for maintaining healthy seagrass ecosystems, which support marine biodiversity.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The dugong is not found along the entire coast of India. It is mainly found in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay (Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and in the waters of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The species has a restricted distribution and is not widespread along India’s entire coastline..
Statement 3 is correct: The dugong is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides it with the highest level of protection in India. As a protected species, hunting, poaching, or harm to the dugong is illegal.
The Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangeticus) is India’s National Aquatic Animal. It is native to the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems, which span Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, the Gangetic dolphin belongs to the Platanistidae family and is one of only four freshwater dolphin species globally. Recognized by its triangular dorsal fin and long, slender beak, this stocky, gray or brown dolphin can grow up to 2.5 meters. Adapted to murky freshwater environments, it uses echolocation to navigate and is locally known as ‘susu.’
Azadirachta indica, commonly known as the Indian neem tree, is a tropical evergreen belonging to the Meliaceae family, native to the Indian subcontinent, renowned for its medicinal and ecological significance. Neem is typically grown in tropical and subtropical regions.
Statement 1 is correct: Neem oil and neem barks are used as an insect repellent and can be used for controlling the spread of some insects and mites.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While neem seeds contain oil, which has potential as biofuel, the manufacturing of hospital detergents is not a common or widespread use of neem seeds. The primary application of neem oil in hospital settings is in disin-fectants or antiseptic creams, not detergents specifically.
Statement 3 is correct: Neem oil has multiple applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Neem is considered a weed and based on its antimicrobial resistance and other antifungal properties, they are also used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Gangetic dolphins live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, In-dia, and Bangladesh. The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater. They are essentially blind. They are also called ‘susu’.
Statement 1 is correct: Dams and barrages disrupt the natural flow of rivers, reducing the availability of suitable habitats for the dolphins. They also fragment populations and prevent dolphins from migrating to areas with adequate food resources. These structures can obstruct the dolphins’ access to breeding and feeding grounds.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While crocodiles may compete with dolphins for food yet an increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers is not considered a threat to Gangetic dolphins.
Statement 3 is correct: Dolphins die as a result of accidentally being caught in fishing nets, also known as bycatch.
Statement 4 is correct: The use of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural practices leads to water pollution, which can degrade the dolphins’ habitat by reducing water quality and food availability (as it affects the aquatic food chain).
Option 2 is correct: Common mynas are native to South Asia, with their breeding range extending from Afghanistan through India and Sri Lanka to Bangladesh. They have been introduced to many tropical regions worldwide, except South America. While generally resident in India, occasional east-west movements occur. The Common Myna is an omnivorous, opportunistic feeder, often foraging on insects disturbed by grazing cattle. It thrives in urban environments and is known for its strong territorial instincts, often found in open woodlands.
Option 1 is incorrect: Painted storks forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. A wading bird that lives in the wet-lands of tropical Asia. They feed on fish, frogs, and insects in shallow water. It has distinctive pink tertial feathers Option 3 is incorrect: The habitat of Black-necked Crane is in the high altitude wetlands and grasslands of the Tibetan plateau, Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India). They are not opportunistic feeders.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 2018 | (b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows. |
| 22 | 2017 | (b) Chambal River |
| 23 | 2016 | (a) 1 and 2 only |
| 24 | 2016 | (a) 1 only |
| 25 | 2016 | (d) Western Ghats |
| 26 | 2015 | (c) 1 and 3 |
| 27 | 2015 | (c) Gangetic dolphin |
| 28 | 2014 | (c) 1 and 3 only |
| 29 | 2014 | (c) 1, 3 and 4 only |
| 30 | 2014 | (b) 2 only |
This page covers 43 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Species (Environment and Ecology), asked from 2011 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
The Peacock or Gooty tarantula, a critically endangered arboreal spider found in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is a spider, not a crustacean, and is carnivorous, not omnivorous.
An animal that feeds by straining small food particles from water. Oysters, clams, sponges and some whales are filter feeders, and bivalves also clean the water they filter.
The morel mushroom, a fungus of the family Morchellaceae that grows in the temperate forests of the Himalaya. It is highly prized as a delicacy and is not cultivated commercially.
