Faunal identification

A total of 9601 species of animals (3294 species terrestrial and 6307 species marine) with 1123 endemic species were recorded till now from Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the active participation of Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair from the date of inception to till date. It represents 10.24% faunal components of India.

Terrestrial

Marine

Description of New Species

Three new species of animals comprising of one species of bird and two species of scleractinian corals were described till now from these regional centre while the holotype specimens of scleractinian corals are deposited in National Zoological Collections of ZSI, Port Blair.

 Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Gruiformes

Family: Rallidae

Genus: Rallina

Species: Rallina sp. Rajeshkumar, Raghunathan and Rasmussen, 2012

 
Phylum: Cnidaria Hatschek, 1888

Class: Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1834

Order: Scleractinia Bourne, 1900

Family: Faviidae Gregory, 1900

Genus: Favites Link, 1807

Species: Favites monticularis Tamal Mondal, Raghunathan and Venkataraman, 2013
 

Phylum: Cnidaria Hatschek, 1888

Class: Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1834

Order: Scleractinia Bourne, 1900

Family: Fungiidae Dana, 1846

Genus: Ctenactis Verrill, 1864

Ctenactis triangularis Tamal Mondal and Raghunathan, 2013 

New Record to India

A total of 639 species of faunal components were identified as new distributional record to India during the period of last 7 years. The new records animals are composed of 239 species of scleractinian corals, 13 species of sea anemones, 2 species of gorgonians, 4 species of alcyonacean corals, 156 species of opisthobranchs, 1 species of gastropod, 1 species of octopus, 14 species of echinoderms, 33 species of polyclads, 2 species of nematods, 1 species of sponge, 28 species of crabs, 5 species of shrimps, 1 species of lobster, 14 species of ascidians and 126 species of reef associated fishes.

National Coral Reef Research Institute

Monitoring the health of corals and coral associated faunal communities are being undertaken. 10 permanent monitoring plots were established in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to make long term studies on the status of coral reef biodiversity. Studies were carried out on the Post-tsunami recruitment, growth and developmental pattern on corals and their biodiversity. Intensive surveys were carried out to measure the effect of massive coral bleaching during April-May 2010, while consecutive studies were carried out to record the recovery and recruitment of corals as resilience effect.  

Lead Institution

Serving as a lead institution for undertaking research in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (GNBR) towards the recognition of GNBR under UNESCO - Man and Biosphere Programme Network.  

Status Survey

• ·         Conducted the status survey on Schedule – IV gastropod Trochus niloticus in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and submitted recommendations to Government of India to delist the species from Schedule category as their wild population increased considerably. 
• ·         Status survey on Schedule – I holothurians was also conducted in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and submitted recommendations to Government of India to delist 3 species from Schedule-I category as their wild population increased considerably.
• ·         Three species of sharks were included under CITES Appendix-II on the basis of recommendation made by this office.
• ·         Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko Linnaeus, 1758) was included under Schedule-I of W(P)A, 1972 as per the recommendation made by this office. 

EIA studies 

EIA studies conducted for the construction of marine jetties in Katchal, Teresa Islands and Haddo in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, alignment of road in Great Nicobar Island and at Indian Coast Guard DHQ-09 campus, Ariel Bay of Diglipur, extension of airstrip in North Andaman and Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar Island, construction of wet basin at Haddo, Port Blair, construction of Desalination Plant at Indian Coast Guard DHQ-09 at Ariel Bay, construction of Deficient Single Living Accommodation at Indian Coast Guard DHQ-09 at Ariel Bay, construction of Workshop Facilities for CASU at Indian Coast Guard DHQ-09 at Ariel Bay, special repair to Existing Boundary Wall and Extension of Boundary Wall at Indian Coast Guard DHQ-09 at Ariel Bay, extraction of impervious mineral at Bambooflat of South Andaman, construction of bridge and rural road at Nischintapur and over Kalighat Nallah at Diglipur, Construction of Dam at Khudirampur, North Andaman, for the alternate allotment of land as tenant of submergence of cultivable land at Bimblitan and Ograbraj, South Andaman, extension of existing jetty at Hut Bay for Indian Coast Guard  were made. 

Management Plan

Management action plan form Loha Barrack Crocodile Sanctuary was prepared and submitted to Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. 

Ph.D. programme

Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre is afflicted under Pondicherry University for conducting Ph.D. degree programme in Zoology, Marine Biology, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Taxonomy and Zoogeography from the academic session 2010-11. So far 18 students were enrolled for Ph.D. degree under Pondicherry University under the supervision of Dr. C. Raghunathan, Scientist-D & Officer-in-Charge and Dr. C. Sivaperuman, Scientist-D while 1 scholar was awarded Ph.D. degree, 1 scholar is awaited for public viva-voce examination and 1 scholar submitted his Pre-Ph.D. synopsis. 

Identification and advisory services

More than 350 identification and advisory services are being rendered to Department of Environment and Forest, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, law enforcing authorities on the various confiscated and seized animal/material such as Birds, Molluscs, Polychaetes, Sea cucumbers, Sponges, Soft Corals, Gorgonids, Corals, Fishes, Snakes, Turtles, Elephant tusk etc. Delivering lectures, talks and presentations at various fora on the conservation of faunal resources of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Identification of several group of faunal communities were made for several research institutes, laboratories and universities.  

Regional Museum

The museum of Zoological Survey of India is the only Natural History Museum in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are about 2500 of exhibits displayed in the museum exposition, which covers various groups of animals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Besides, posters depicting the faunal diversity have been displayed to create awareness among the school children and general public.