UPSC IAS

Consider the following :

• Cashew
• Papaya
• Red sanders

How many of the above trees are actually native to India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one” option2=”Only two” option3=”All three” option4=”None” correct=”option1″]

Out of the three trees listed, only Red Sanders is native to India.

– Cashew (*Anacardium occidentale*) is native to Brazil and was introduced to India by the Portuguese.
– Papaya (*Carica papaya*) is native to tropical America (southern Mexico and Central America) and was later spread globally.
– Red Sanders (*Pterocarpus santalinus*) is endemic to a specific geographical region in India, namely the Eastern Ghats mountain range in the southern part of the Indian peninsula.

Identifying native species is important for biodiversity conservation and understanding ecological roles. While Cashew and Papaya are now widely cultivated in India, they are not indigenous to the country’s flora. Red Sanders is valued for its rich red wood and is unfortunately listed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN due to overexploitation.

Consider the following :

• Butterflies
• Fish
• Frogs

How many of the above have poisonous species among them ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one” option2=”Only two” option3=”All three” option4=”None” correct=”option3″]

All three groups listed – Butterflies, Fish, and Frogs – contain species that are poisonous.

– Butterflies: Some butterfly species, like the Monarch butterfly, are poisonous due to toxins accumulated from their host plants (e.g., milkweed). These toxins make them unpalatable to predators.
– Fish: Many fish species are poisonous if eaten (e.g., pufferfish containing tetrodotoxin). Additionally, many fish are venomous, possessing spines or barbs that deliver toxins (e.g., stonefish, lionfish, stingrays).
– Frogs: Numerous frog species, particularly brightly colored ones in tropical regions (like poison dart frogs), secrete potent toxins through their skin as a defense mechanism. These toxins can be extremely dangerous or even lethal to predators.

The terms “poisonous” (toxic when eaten or touched) and “venomous” (delivers toxin via bite, sting, etc.) are distinct, but both fall under the umbrella of containing toxins for defense or offense. The question asks about “poisonous species,” which generally encompasses both forms of toxicity in common usage, and in this context, species with either type of toxicity are found in all three groups.

Consider the following statements :

1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season.

2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.

3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

Let’s evaluate each statement:
1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season. This statement is generally correct. Lions can breed throughout the year, although the timing of births might be influenced by local conditions such as prey availability, which can lead to peak periods in some areas. However, they are capable of breeding year-round, unlike some animals with strict seasonal breeding.
2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. This statement is correct. Cheetahs belong to the genus *Acinonyx*, while the roaring big cats (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard) belong to the genus *Panthera*. Cheetahs vocalize with chirps, purrs, hisses, and growls but lack the anatomical structure (specifically, the hyoid bone structure) that allows true roaring.
3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking. This statement is incorrect. Leopards, both male and female, are solitary and highly territorial. They actively scent mark their territories using urine, feces, and by rubbing scent glands against objects. Male lions also scent mark, although their territorial behaviour is linked to the pride structure. The statement’s assertion that male leopards *do not* scent mark is false.
Based on the analysis, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

– Lions can breed year-round.
– Cheetahs cannot roar; they chirp, purr, etc.
– Both male lions and male leopards use scent marking to define territory.

The ability to roar is linked to the morphology of the hyoid bone. In roaring cats (*Panthera* genus), the hyoid bone is not fully ossified, allowing for a wider range of vocalization, including roaring. Non-roaring cats, including cheetahs and domestic cats, have a fully ossified hyoid bone and purr instead of roar.

Consider the following pairs :

	Country	Animal found in its natural habitat
1.	Brazil	Indri
2.	Indonesia	Elk
3.	Madagascar	Bonobo

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one” option2=”Only two” option3=”All three” option4=”None” correct=”option4″]

Let’s evaluate each pair:
1. Brazil, Indri: The Indri (Indri indri) is the largest living lemur and is found only in Madagascar, not Brazil. Incorrect match.
2. Indonesia, Elk: The term “Elk” usually refers to *Cervus canadensis*, native to North America and East Asia. While some deer species in Indonesia might be colloquially referred to with “elk” in their name (like the Sambar deer or ‘Indian Elk’), the standard “Elk” is not naturally found in Indonesia. Incorrect match.
3. Madagascar, Bonobo: Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are found only in the Congo Basin in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo), not in Madagascar. Incorrect match.
None of the given pairs are correctly matched regarding the natural habitat of the animals.

– Indri are native to Madagascar.
– Bonobos are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
– Elk (*Cervus canadensis*) are native to North America and East Asia.

Zoogeography, the study of the geographical distribution of animal species, reveals that different regions of the world have distinct faunas due to evolutionary history, climate, and geographical barriers. Madagascar is famous for its unique biodiversity, including many endemic species of lemurs.