Why in news?
- The researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) Tamil Nadu Wetland Mission are the first in the world to photograph the moth species Mimeusemia ceylonica.
- It was first illustrated and described by English entomologist George Hampson and was sighted 127 years ago - at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in 1893.
- Mimeusemia ceylonica is a moth species belonging to the subfamily Agaristinae and family Noctuidae.
Key facts about Kalakkad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
- The Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu is one of the protected areas having diverse flora and fauna.
- It was declared as the “First Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu” and the 17th Tiger Reserve of the country.
- It consists of the Kanyakumari Wildlife sanctuary in the south and the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in the North.
- The river Thamirabarani originates from this tiger reserve.
- The reserve is also known as the “River Sanctuary” with as many as 14 rivers originating from this Tiger Reserve.
- Flora: This region has got vegetation types which gradually change from dry thorn forest to dry deciduous, moist deciduous and a patch of West coast wet evergreen forests on the higher reaches of the reserve.
- Fauna: Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Pipit, Grey Headed Bulbul, Blue Winged Parakeet etc.
