New Species Discoveries Spotlight Great Nicobar Biodiversity Richness

New Species Discoveries Spotlight Great Nicobar Biodiversity Richness

Why in the News ?

Recent discoveries of a new wolf snake species and a potentially new bird species from the Great Nicobar Island project site have renewed scientific concerns about the island’s ecological sensitivity, restricted-range species, and rapidly increasing biodiversity findings since 2021.

Latest Species Discoveries from Great Nicobar Island:

  • Researchers have identified Lycodon irwini, a new wolf snake, with only four recorded sightings, highlighting its rarity and highly restricted habitat range along the island’s east coast.
  • The species was described in the journal Evolutionary Systematics by scientists from Pondicherry University, Max Planck Institute, and independent naturalists.
  • Due to potential threats and its limited distribution, experts recommend listing the snake as “Endangered” under the IUCN Red List
  • Birdwatchers recently documented the Great Nicobar Crake (Rallina sp.), photographed only three times in more than a decade, suggesting it may be a new species due to its unique morphological traits.
  • Published in Indian Birds, the study notes that data on its population, biology, and distribution remain extremely scarce.

Ecological Significance and Biodiversity Richness

  • Since 2021, nearly 40 new species have been reported from Great Nicobar, including frogs, crabs, geckos, insects (flies, moths, beetles).
  • Almost half of these discoveries were made in 2025, indicating intensive ongoing biodiversity research.
  • The island hosts 650 plant species and more than 1,800 faunal species, marking it as one of India’s most biologically rich tropical ecosystems.
  • The region shows 24% endemism in certain faunal groups, showcasing its evolutionary significance.
  • Prominent ornithologist Asad Rahmani stresses that Great Nicobar contains “one of India’s finest remaining tropical rainforests” requiring complete ecological protection.

Key points : Great Nicobar Island

●      Location: Southernmost part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, close to Indonesia.

●      Features: Known for tropical evergreen forests, coastal ecosystems, and high endemism.

●      Tribes: Home to the Shompen and Nicobarese—particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).

●      Conservation Status: Large parts fall under Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.

●      Threat Concerns: Proposed mega infrastructure projects may impact habitats, freshwater systems, and restricted-range species like the newly discovered snake and crake.