India home to 191 species of cockroaches, 60% of them are endemic, says ZSI study
A recent study by the Zoological Survey of India reveals that India is home to 191 species of cockroaches, with over 60% being endemic to the country. The research highlights the significant gap in genetic data for these species, which limits understanding of their systematics. The study emphasizes the importance of DNA barcoding in uncovering hidden species diversity and understanding the ecological role of cockroaches.
- ▪India has 191 documented species of cockroaches, with 119 being endemic.
- ▪Less than 20% of this diversity is represented in genetic databases, limiting systematics resolution.
- ▪The study developed the largest DNA barcode reference library for cockroaches in peninsular India.
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India is home to 191 species of cockroaches and 119 of these species (more than 60% of the species) are endemic to India, a recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) highlighted. Endemism is the ecological state where a species or taxonomic group is native to a single, highly defined geographic location. The publication titled DNA barcodes and species delimitation reveal overlooked diversity in Indian cockroaches (Blattodea), reveals that India’s hidden cockroach diversity is far greater than previously recognized.The paper points out that at present 191 extant species of cockroaches Blattodea have been documented in India, distributed across 74 genera, with 126 species having defined type localities within the country.“Notably, 119 of these species are endemic to India,…
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