News: Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and collaborating institutions have discovered three new species of aquatic beetles from freshwater habitats in Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

About the Beetles

• Belong to the Familyà Hydrophilidae (Aquatic Scavenger Beetles).
• Genus: Amphiops.
• Adapted to shallow freshwater habitats such as ponds, wetlands, and vegetated water bodies.

Newly Discovered Species

• Amphiops hyderabadi – Discovered in a seasonal pond in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Amphiops kinnerasani – Found in a roadside pond within Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana.
• Amphiops sandi – Discovered in Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Features

• Each species exhibits unique body structures, punctation patterns, and reproductive characteristics.
• Genetic analysis using COI mitochondrial DNA barcoding revealed 7–17% genetic divergence, confirming them as distinct species.

Significance

• Highlights India's rich and largely unexplored freshwater biodiversity.
• Strengthens scientific understanding of aquatic insect diversity and evolution.

Emphasizes the importance of conserving freshwater ecosystems and wetlands