Almost Famous Species News

Our Almost Famous Species series features lesser known species from India. It is created in the hope that familiarity will help generate concern and action for under-appreciated species. Through the series, we introduce to you India's gamut of invertebrates, birds and marine flora and fauna, which perhaps don't get as much attention as our more popular big cats and elephants. Stretching from the Nicobar Islands very close to the equator to the Western Himalaya in the north, India covers about 30 degrees of latitude, with a long coastline on its peninsula. The wide geographic extent, topographic features with multiple long mountain ranges and fertile river basins, and the monsoon winds give rise to a plethora of habitats that have been home to a variety of creatures. Yet, any mention of Indian wildlife always conjures up images of charismatic large mammals. We acknowledge that these are interesting; but we want to draw back the curtain on other species that are equally fascinating.

The barking deer enigma

Recognise Himalayan wolf as a distinct species: study

Poop, photos and genes: Evidence extends Kashmir musk deer’s presence to Nepal

CITES CoP Curtain Raiser: India stands up for the not-so-glamorous species

Eastern hog deer, believed to be confined to southeast Asia, found in Manipur

The unexpected little underdogs of the big bad desert

Why Tamil Nadu needs more palmyrah, the state tree

The grizzled giant squirrel struggles to survive in the face of habitat loss

There are Sarus cranes in my paddy field: changing community perceptions to conserve a threatened bird

A new species of shark from studying fish by-catch

Gharials of Gandak: A population back from the brink faces development pressures

Swimming camels, mangrove islands of Kutch face mounting challenges

All creatures great and small: Best of Almost Famous species 2018

The Fishing Cat: a feline fisher hunting by the night in wetlands

Saving the hornbill with crowdsourced data

Batman of Meghalaya: Caving and cataloguing to save bats

[Photo-feature] Meet the new species of dragon lizards from the Western Ghats

Home gardens and polluted fields are helping conserve this perfume source

Following the sound trail: pulling India’s cicadas out of oblivion

Seeking a second home for Manipur’s dancing deer

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