On a routine forest patrol in Karnataka’s Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, beat forester Ajmeer K noticed something that many people might have walked past.

“A freshwater crab moved across the forest floor, but its colour and unusual movement caught his attention. He, who regularly patrols the forests of the Kollur range, decided to look closer. That small moment of inquisitiveness has now led to the scientific discovery of a new species,” as reported by The Times of India.

The crab has been named Ghatiana karnataka, and its discovery adds another chapter to what scientists already know about the extraordinary biodiversity of the Western Ghats. Ajmeer co-authored the scientific description with Santanu Mitra of the Zoological Survey of India. Their research was recently published in the journal Species.

It began with a closer look

Ajmeer first noticed the crab during a patrol in the Kollur range last year. Its unusual colour and the way it moved made him curious enough to investigate instead of simply continuing on his route.

He contacted Santanu, who also suspected that the crab might represent an undocumented species.

Following the necessary permissions from the forest department, specimens were collected for a detailed taxonomic study. Researchers examined both male and female crabs, documenting their physical characteristics, colouration and habitat before confirming the species as new to science.

That process matters because spotting an unfamiliar animal is only the beginning. To establish a new species scientifically, researchers have to show that it is distinct from species already known.

Meet Ghatiana karnataka

The newly........

© The Better India