Current Affairs Dec 2017 - Environment

1 - 300 fossilised pterosaur eggs discovered

A team of Brazilian and Chinese palaeontologist declared the discovery of hundreds of fossilized eggs laid by Pterosaurs, a group of extinct winged dinosaurs in northwestern China. Pterosaurs that lived in China, more than 100 million years ago, are called to be from a group of extinct winged dinosaurs that were the first known vertebrates to be able to fly. The newfound eggs are of Hamipterus tianshanensis, a species of pterosaur.

2 - Scientists discovered new frog species in Arunachal Pradesh

A new species of frog was found in fast flowing streams of Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Subansiri district. It has been named as Odorrana arunachalensis. It was discovered by a team of scientists of Zoological Survey of India, led by Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor.Odorrana appears to be medium-sized green coloured frog adapted for a life in torrential waters. It has a distinguished character of black band-like mark between the eyes.

3 - New scorpion species discovered in Tripura

According to a study published in Zootaxa, scientist Zeeshan Mirza from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, has discovered the eleventh wood scorpion species from India in Tripura’s Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary.The new species is named Liocheles schalleri. They are also called as dwarf scorpions. Wood scorpions are only about three cm long and live in small burrows on the ground. There are altogether 125 species of scorpions.

4 - Environment Ministry launched project 'Blue Flag'

The 'Blue Flag' is a certification project launched by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, Marina or sustainable boating tourism operator, meets its stringent environmental standards. Under the project, Integrated Coastal Management Programme will finance the cleanliness activity done by each coastal state or union territory for its identified beaches for cleanliness drive. The beaches will not only be cleaned but also will be provided with basic amenities.