Scientific discovery | Ahmednagar College Zoology Team Discovers New Animal Species; Streptocephalus warliae sp. nov. Published in “Zoosystematics and Evolution” (Pensoft, Germany)

Ahmednagar | July 28 | Correspondent

(Scientific discovery) In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, Dr. Avinash Vanjare and Mr. Prashant Katke (Ph.D. Scholar) from the Department of Zoology at Ahmednagar College have discovered a new species of crustacean. The species, named Streptocephalus warliae sp. nov., has been officially published in the international journal Zoosystematics and Evolution by Pensoft Publishers, Germany.

(Scientific discovery) The discovery was made in temporary roadside rock pools located in the northern Western Ghats, a region renowned for its biodiversity yet still vastly unexplored. The newly identified species belongs to a group of small freshwater crustaceans that play a crucial ecological role, especially in seasonal rain-fed habitats. These crustaceans serve as essential food sources for various bird species and other wildlife.

In a tribute to indigenous culture and tradition, the species has been named after the Warli tribe and their iconic art form—Warli painting—native to the Jawahar and Palghar regions of Maharashtra’s Northern Sahyadri range.

This finding not only enhances our understanding of regional biodiversity but also underscores the urgent need for increased ecological research and habitat conservation efforts in the Western Ghats.