STAR TORTOISE

 

🔘Indian Star Tortoise 

A recent study on the Indian star tortoise distributed across South Asia has revealed that the genetic diversity of the species as well as its habitat has suffered major losses because of rampant illegal trade.

About

◾️Indian star tortoise is found in the central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Conservation status

◾️IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES).

◾️Appendix I Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule IV

Threat

◾️The highly fragmented habitat of the species, is greatly influenced by an increased level of urbanisation and agricultural practices throughout its range

ABOUT LIVING ROOTS IN MEGHALAYA.......

https://youtu.be/76BGnWFAm3M?si=k6tmQQAmO9AwfT5i

🔘Living root  bridges of Meghalaya

About living roots 

☑️ A living root bridge is like absuspension bridge formed by guiding the pliable roots of the  rubber fig tree ( Ficus elastica ) across a stream or river and allowing the roots to grow  and strengthen over time.  

☑️ There are no records to suggest when the Khasi community started the living root bridge  tradition.

☑️ Ecologists say it highlights the symbiotic relationship between people and nature.  

☑️ Such a bridge is locally called jingkieng jri .

THE ZEBRAFISH

 

🔘Zebrafish

In News

Scientists discovered that a protein found in Zebrafish can regenerate aged discs in human vertebrae.
About
◾️A study by Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, discovered that a protein called Cellular communication network factor 2a (Ccn2a) secreted from intervertebral disc cells induces disc regeneration in aged degenerated discs in humans.
◾️Zebrafish is a small (2-3 cm long) freshwater fish found in tropical and subtropical regions.
◾️The fish is native to South Asia’s Indo-Gangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams.
It attracts developmental biologists due to its adequate regeneration capacity of almost all its organs, including the brain, heart, eye, and spinal cord.
◾️It has a similar genetic structure (around 70%) to humans.
◾️IUCN Red List Status: Least concerned.