From bugs to blossoms: India logs 709 new animal species, 353 plant taxa in 2025

Kolkata: India added 709 new species to its fauna in 2025, including 483 species new to science and 226 recorded for the first time in the country, according to data released on Monday, June 30.

The country also added 353 taxa to its flora, of which 14 are infraspecific taxa, details from the Zoological Survey of India and Botanical Survey of India show.

The findings were released by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in Kolkata.“India’s total faunal biodiversity now stands at 1,05,953 species, reaffirming its status as one of the world’s premier mega diverse nations,” a press statement from ZSI said.

The annual discoveries cover new species and new records across groups ranging from insects and reptiles to flowering plants. The ZSI and BSI document India’s biodiversity through field surveys and taxonomic research, with the annual releases tracking additions to the national checklist.

India is one of 17 recognised mega diverse countries, hosting 7-8% of all recorded species globally.