In 2024, India experienced a notable boost in its biodiversity with the addition of 683 new species to its fauna and 433 taxa to its flora. This expansion included 459 new species and 224 new records in fauna as well as 410 new species and 23 infra-specific taxa in flora. The discoveries were officially released by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, during an announcement made in Kolkata on June 30, 2025.
Kerala led the country with the highest number of fauna discoveries, contributing 101 species, which comprised 80 new species and 21 new records. Following Kerala, Karnataka recorded 82 discoveries, including 68 new species and 14 new records, while Tamil Nadu added 63 discoveries with 50 new species and 13 new records.
In the eastern and northeastern regions of India, significant discoveries were also recorded. Arunachal Pradesh added 72 animal discoveries, including 42 new species and 30 new records. Meghalaya saw 42 new discoveries, comprised of 25 new species and 17 new records, while West Bengal documented 56 discoveries, with 25 new species and 31 new records. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, recognized as a biological hotspot, contributed 43 new discoveries of fauna, which included 14 new fauna discoveries and 29 new records.
In the realm of plant discoveries, Kerala once again led with a total of 58 newly discovered species, followed by Maharashtra with 45 and Uttarakhand with 40. For the year 2024, new plant discoveries included 154 angiosperms, 4 pteridophytes, 15 bryophytes, 63 lichens, 156 fungi, 32 algae, and 9 microbes. Notably, hotspot regions like the Western Ghats and Northeastern India accounted for 35% of all discoveries, reflecting the ecological richness of these areas.
India has now documented a staggering 56,177 species of plants, including angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, and algae. The diversity of fauna in the country has also reached 105,244 species and subspecies, encompassing all forms of life from protists to mammals. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) plays a crucial role in documenting these discoveries through its annual publication, “Animal Discoveries.” Similarly, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) publishes “Plant Discoveries,” detailing new floral findings.
Among the significant faunal discoveries in 2024 were two new genera, 37 species of reptiles, and five new species of amphibians. One reptilian highlight was Dravidoseps gouensis, belonging to a newly identified genus, and another was Anguiculus dicaprioi, named after the Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. The plant discoveries were equally noteworthy, featuring wild relatives of numerous horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, and ornamental plants such as begonias, balsams, legumes, zingibers, and various orchids, thus presenting a range of benefits and possibilities for further research and application.
Additionally, notable flora discoveries included important orchid species like Bulbophyllum gopalianum, Coelogyne tripurensis, Gastrodia indica, and Gastrodia sikkimensis, along with several new species from critical plant groups such as legumes and grasses. The vast diversity and the recent surge in new species not only underscore India’s rich biodiversity but also highlight the essential roles of systematic research and taxonomic expertise in conservation efforts and sustainable development, reinforcing India’s position as one of the 17 megadiverse countries globally.
Despite comprising only 2.4% of the earth’s land area, India is home to approximately 8% of the world’s recorded biodiversity, making its ecological contributions vital for the planet’s health and sustainability.
-Raja Aditya
