Himalayan Ibex

Himalayan Ibex

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Conservation

In News: 

• A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has proved that Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex. 

Key takeaways:

• The scientists assumed that the ‘montane systems’ which are formed due to climatic oscillations and temporal topographic metamorphosis might have broken up the adjoining distribution of widespread species. 
• This might have also led to the accelerated allopatric speciation (speciation because of geographic and reproductive isolation).
• Study will help in the global understanding of the Ibex distribution and evolution.

Important value additions:

Ibex

• Siberian Ibex is a species of wild goat. 
• It is distributed in diverse habitats, ranging from cold deserts, rocky outcrops, steep terrain, high-land flats and mountain ridges to low mountains and foothills.
• Himalayan Ibex is distributed in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. 
• IUCN status of Ibex – Least concern. 

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th March 2020

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Zoological Survey of India

• It was founded by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as the premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.
• ZSI (zoology) as well as ASI (archaeology), BSI (botany), FSI (forests), FiSI (fisheries), GSI (geology), IIEE (ecology), NIO (oceanography), RGCCI (Census of India) and SI (cartography) are key national survey organisations of India.