NEW DELHI: Discovery of as many as 67 new animal species, including amphibians and insects, last year by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is a reason enough to gladden any environmentalist.

According to a latest publication by ZSI, which was released by President Pratibha Patil, 28 new species were discovered from Eastern Himalayas in north eastern states, while 20 from the Western Ghats in 2007.

From the north eastern states, also known as a bio- geographical 'Gateway' for much of the Indian fauna and flora, the scientists discovered 28 new species. Of these, two species of fishes from Meghalaya and Arunanchal Pradesh, 18 species of Helminth parasites from Mizoram, four species of Acarina from Tripua and Mizoram and a species of Colepteran from Nagaland and Mizoram were discovered. Much of the research in Western Ghats has been focused on vertebrates such as mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes and among invertebrates on butterflies and ants.

Two amphibians, one fish and three insects were among those discovered from the region. Similarly, two new species each of Arachnids and Coleoptra and four species of Nematodes were discovered from Central and Western Ghats which the, ZSI said, "warrants for further explorations."

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