Description

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Context:

During surveys at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary near Kakinada, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two species of goby fish – Hemigobius hoevenii and Mugilogobius tigrinus – that had not been recorded in Andhra Pradesh previously.

About Goby fish

Attribute	Details
Species	Hemigobius hoevenii and Mugilogobius tigrinus
Significance	Discoveries in Andhra Pradesh; *M. tigrinus* was first found along the east coast of India.
Habitat	Estuarine areas, particularly around mangroves.
Ecological Importance	Gobies play an important role in the ecosystem, occupying different levels in the food chain and serving as indicators of environmental health.
Goby Species in India	135 species of gobies were recorded along the Indian coast.
Species in Mangroves	95 species of gobies were recorded in Indian mangroves.
Species in Coringa Nature Reserve	53 species of gobies are found in the Coringa Nature Reserve.
General Facts about Goby Fish
Diet	Carnivorous
Size	Small in size
Distribution	Found all over the world, especially abundant in the tropics.
Habitat	Mostly marine, living on the bottom, and found along shores and between reefs in tropical and temperate seas.
Body Structure	Elongated, often scaleless, with a weak suction cup created by the fusion of pelvic fins.
Family	Gobiidae
Ecological Role	Gobies are keystone species in some ecosystems, especially in small oceanic islands. They significantly impact the benthic environment where most species live.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Location - It is part of the Godavari estuary where the Coringa River flows into the Bay of Bengal in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Between this area and the sea, the "Island of Hope" blocks the direct confluence of the sea and the Godavari.
- As a result, about 40% of the refuge is only marine backwater, and the rest of the area mixes with streams and is flooded by tidal waters.
Vegetation – It has extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests. It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forest in India.
Flora – Mangrove plants like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp, etc.
Fauna – It is home to rare and endangered mammals like Indian otters, fishing cats, jackals, etc. Mangroves offer excellent habitats for birds such as kingfishers, Brahminy tern, gulls, reef herons, sandpipers, etc.

Source:

THE TIMES OF INDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located at the confluence of the Coringa River and the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.
The sanctuary is home to the largest stretch of mangrove forests in India.
It provides a habitat for endangered species like Indian otters and fishing cats.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the confluence of the Coringa River and the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

Statement 2 is incorrect: It is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India, not the largest.

Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is home to endangered species like Indian otters, fishing cats, and jackals. The sanctuary is characterized by a mix of marine backwaters and tidal waters.