Why In News?

Botanists discovered a new flowering plant species ‘Ceropegia tamilnaduensis’ from the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary.

What Is Ceropegia tamilnaduensis? 

  • Discovering Organization: Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered and described this new plant species during a routine floristic survey under BSI's Annual Research Plan.

  • Location: Discovered along the hill slopes of the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu.

  • Ecology: Found at an elevation of approximately 380 meters above sea level on a stream-adjacent hill slope enclosed by evergreen forest.

  • Key Morphological Characteristics

  • Growth Form: A perennial herb characterized by drooping stems.

  • Inflorescence & Floral Color: Features solitary flowers growing directly from the leaf axils, displaying a distinct deep brownish-purple corolla tinged with white.

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  • Corona & Reproductive Anatomy: Possesses a glabrous (hairless) central corona and a pollinial corpusculum featuring lateral wings.

  • Seed Morphology: Produces unusually large seeds reaching lengths up to 14 mm.

  • IUCN Status: Provisionally classified as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN guidelines, as further field investigations are necessary to map its exact geographic distribution and population health.

About Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary 

  • Location: Situated in Tamil Nadu within the Western Ghats biodiversity zone. Formally declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2015.

  • Topography 

  • Mountain Peaks: Comprises 29 mountain peaks across its terrain.

  • Highest Point: Sivagiri Mala forms the highest peak at an elevation of 1,748 meters.

  • Prominent Elevations: Includes notable peaks such as Totti Malai, Kalli Malai, and Aruitalai Mottai.

  • River Systems: The sanctuary acts as a vital catchment sustained by the drainage networks of five major river systems:

  • Cauvery River System

  • Moyar River System

  • Bhavani River System

  • Vaigai River System

  • Tamirabarani River System

  • Flora: Encompasses Shola tree species, evergreen forests, and Avicennia mangrove ecosystems. Key Species:

    • Santalum album (Sandalwood)

    • Shorea species

    • Tectona grandis (Teak)

    • Strobilanthes kunthiana (Neelakurinji)

  • Fauna: Endangered & Flagship Wildlife:

    • Nilgiri Tahr

    • Bengal Tiger

    • Asian Elephant

    • Lion-tailed Macaque

    • Grizzled Giant Squirrel

    • Gaur and Sloth Bear

Source: THEHINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following protected areas forms a critical ecological corridor connecting the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) with the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu?

(a) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

(b) Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary

(c) Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

(d) Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, declared in 2015 in Tirunelveli district, covers approximately 356.73 sq. km and serves as a vital ecological corridor connecting Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) with Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary within the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve landscape.