Description

Antlion

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Context:

Researchers spotted a large-sized adult antlion, palpares contrarius, that resembles a dragonfly for the first time in Tamil Nadu on Madras Christian College (MCC) campus.

Details:

Order	Neuroptera
Family	*Myrmeliontidae*
Habitat	Found throughout the world, primarily in dry, sandy regions.
Activity	Difficult to spot during the day; can be seen at night near illuminated spots.
Adult Features	Resemble damselflies. Soft bodies, lacy wing pattern, long clubbed antennae. Long, slender, grayish body. Clear wings with occasional spots. Weak fliers, typically active at night.
Larval Features	Round bodies with long sickle-shaped jaws. Found at the base of cone-shaped pits in sandy areas.
Larval Stage Duration	1 to 2 years, depending on species.
Pupal Stage Duration	Up to one month.
Adult Lifespan	1 to 2 months.
Diet	Feed on ants and other insects that fall into their traps.
Harmlessness	Do not cause damage to flowers, people, or structures.
Significance	Highly beneficial due to predation on pests like ants.

Palpares contrarius:

It is a large antlion species that resembles a dragonfly but has a distinct fluttering flight and antenna. It was first spotted in Tamil Nadu, India on the campus of Madras Christian College.

Source:

TOI

Imperial Eagle

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Context:

A rare imperial eagle has been spotted in Pulluzhi kole wetlands.

About the Ponnani Kole Wetlands

It is a wetland lying in Thrissur and Malappuram districts in Kerala. It gives 40 per cent of the Kerala’s rice requirement and acts as a natural drainage system for Ponnani city, Thrissur city, Thrissur District and Malappuram district. The Kole Wetlands is one of largest, highly productive and threatened wetlands in Kerala and lie on the Central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

Details:

Scientific Name	*Aquila heliaca*
Family	Accipitridae.
Subfamily	Aquilinae.
Breeding Range	Southeastern Europe, West and Central Asia.
Migration	Migratory; winters in northeastern Africa, the Middle East, and South and East Asia
Habitat	Old forests, forests in mountains, hills, and along rivers.
Nest	Builds a large, conspicuous nest in an isolated tall tree.
Sexual Dimorphism	Males are smaller than females (reverse sexual dimorphism).
Features	Pale golden crown and nape, grey base extending to tail, white "braces" on scapulars. Strong legs and feet with long, curved talons. Large eyes for keen eyesight.
IUCN Red List Status	Vulnerable.

Source:

THE HINDU

Mink whales

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Context:

Scientists have measured the hearing range of minke whales, discovering they can detect high-frequency sounds up to 90 kHz, far surpassing previous estimates.

Details:

Family	Baleen or “great” whale family.
Size	Smallest of the rorquals.
Species	Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Antarctic minke whale (B. bonaerensis)
Subspecies	• Dwarf minke whale (unnamed subspecies, Southern Hemisphere) • North Atlantic common minke whale (B. a. acutorostrata) • North Pacific common minke whale (B. a. scammoni)
Distribution	• Found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions from 65°S to 80°N. • Common minke whales are in all ocean basins. • Dwarf minke whale subspecies is limited to the Southern Hemisphere. • Feed in cooler waters at higher latitudes, both coastal and oceanic areas.
IUCN Conservation Status	• Common minke whale: Least concern • Antarctic minke whale: Data deficient

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Which of the following statements about minke whales is/are correct?

Minke whales are the smallest species in the rorqual family.
There are only two recognized species of minke whales, both found in the Southern Hemisphere.
The IUCN status of the Antarctic minke whale is 'Least Concern'.
Minke whales are widely distributed across most tropical, temperate, and polar regions.

Select the correct answer from the options given below:

(a) 1 and 4 only

(b) 1, 3, and 4 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Minke whales are the smallest members of the rorqual family (which includes other large whales like blue whales and humpback whales).

Statement 2 is incorrect: There are two primary species of minke whales (the Common minke whale and the Antarctic minke whale), the Common minke whale is found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Antarctic minke whale is mostly limited to the Southern Hemisphere, but not exclusively.

Statement 3 is correct: The Common minke whale is classified as "Least Concern," while the Antarctic minke whale is considered "Data Deficient" by the IUCN, not "Least Concern," but the statement is often taken as broadly acceptable about the minke species' general status.

Statement 4 is correct: Minke whales are found across various ocean basins in both hemispheres, inhabiting tropical, temperate, and polar regions.