Current Affairs - Science

The termite mounds discovered in South Africa, dating back between 34,000 and 13,000 years, are recognized as the oldest inhabited mounds globally. These structures are crucial for their role in carbon storage through the transport of organic material deep into the soil, influencing the local carbon cycle. This discovery highlights South Africa as a significant site for understanding long-term ecological processes involving termites and their environmental impact.

ZSI scientists discovered Pisodonophis kalinga, a new species of eel, in the Palur canal located in Odisha's Ganjam district. Named after ancient Odisha, this snake-like eel species belongs to the Ophichthidae family and order Anguilliformes. It is notably found in the Chilika lagoon and the adjacent Palur canal and has been commonly referred to as the Kalinga snake eel by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Discovery of new species enriches biodiversity studies and underscores the importance of conservation efforts in regional ecosystems.

Recently, a team of herpetologists discovered the presence of the striped caecilian (Ichthyophis spp) in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve for the first time. This elongated, limbless amphibian belongs to the order Gymnophiona and is typically found in moist tropical and subtropical regions across Asia, making its sighting in Kaziranga a significant ecological discovery.

Fossils of the new dinosaur species, Musankwa sanyatiensis, were discovered along the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. This herbivorous dinosaur lived approximately 210 million years ago during the Late Triassic period and is notable as the first dinosaur named from the Mid-Zambezi Basin in over 50 years, highlighting Zimbabwe's significance in paleontological discoveries.

Scientists recently identified a new species of great ape, Buronius manfredschmidi, from fossil remains in Bavaria. This species, dating back 11 million years, is notably smaller than other known great apes, similar in size to a human toddler, and represents a significant discovery in understanding the evolution of great apes in Europe during the Miocene era.