Released on Tuesday, World Environment Day, Animal Discoveries, 2017 from the ZSI lists 300 new species of fauna. With these discoveries, the number of animal species in India stands at 1,01,167, which is 6.45% of the faunal species found in the world. In 2017, scientists discovered some 20 species of balsams and three species each of wild musa (banana) and jamun. The Himalayas contributed to 35% of all plant discoveries (18% of the plant discoveries from the western Himalayas and 17% from the eastern Himalayas). Among the States, Kerala recorded the highest number of discoveries — 66 species, sub-species and varieties of plants and 52 species of animals.

Source: The Hindu June 05, 2018 16:40 UTC