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With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 (Birds). All four species mentioned are distinct avian species found within the Indian subcontinent.
- Ceylon frogmouth: A nocturnal bird found in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, known for its cryptic plumage.
- Coppersmith barbet: A common resident bird in India, easily identified by its metronomic call that sounds like a hammer striking copper.
- Gray-chinned minivet: A small, brightly colored passerine bird found in the forests of the Himalayas and Northeast India.
- White-throated redstart: A migratory bird species typically found in the high-altitude shrublands and forests of the Himalayan region.
Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because these species lack the biological characteristics of primates (mammals), reptiles (scaly ectotherms), or amphibians (semiaquatic vertebrates). Their taxonomic classification strictly falls under the class Aves.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question exposes the limit of 'bookish' knowledge. It is unfair to those relying solely on standard texts like Shankar IAS, but a 'sitter' for anyone with a hobby in nature watching or who reads 'The Hindu' Sunday Magazine. The strategy is to recognize 'Family Names' (Barbet, Minivet) rather than memorizing 1,300 individual species.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Class Aves 1,346"
Why this source?
- Provides the taxonomic breakdown for India's vertebrate fauna and explicitly names 'Class Aves'.
- Shows 'Class Aves' as a recognized taxonomic class within India's biodiversity counts.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"533 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus (Statius Muller, 1776)"
Why this source?
- Lists 'Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus' in the India bird checklist (Indian BIRDS publication).
- Inclusion in this bird checklist ties the species to avian taxonomy (i.e., Aves).
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"589 Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Blyth, 1846 Yellow-throated Minivet"
Why this source?
- Lists 'Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Blyth, 1846' in the Indian birds checklist.
- Presence in the checklist indicates it is an avian species (part of Class Aves).
- Provides the taxonomic breakdown for India's vertebrate fauna and explicitly names 'Class Aves'.
- Shows 'Class Aves' as a recognized taxonomic class within India's biodiversity counts.
- Lists 'Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus' in the India bird checklist (Indian BIRDS publication).
- Inclusion in this bird checklist ties the species to avian taxonomy (i.e., Aves).
- Lists 'Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Blyth, 1846' in the Indian birds checklist.
- Presence in the checklist indicates it is an avian species (part of Class Aves).
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > WILDLIFE > p. 41
Strength: 5/5
“animals, India has 81,251 or 6.7% species. According to S.H. Prater (1934), India can be divided into six zoo-geographic regions. India has 350 different mammals, 1200 species of birds, 453 species of reptiles, and 45000 plant species. Moreover, India has 50,000 known species of insects, including 13,000 butterflies and moths. They are: (i) The Himalayan region (ii) The Northern Plains, (iii) The Thar Desert, (iv) The Peninsular Plateau, (v) The Malabar Coast, and (vi) The Nilgiri. Under the pressure of a fast increasing population and heavy demand of food and industrial raw material, the forest cover of India has shrunk substantially.”
Why relevant
Gives explicit counts and a separate category for 'birds' (1200 species) indicating that many species in India are grouped under a distinct taxonomic/organismal class.
How to extend
A student could use that birds are a recognised class in these biodiversity lists and check a field guide or online database to see if the four species are listed under that class.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > INI}IAN BIODIVERSITY T}IVERSE LANDSCAPE > p. 151
Strength: 5/5
“India is recognised as one of the mega-diverse countries, rich in biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. With just 2.4% of the Indian area, India accounts for nearly 70% of the recorded species even while supporting almost 80% of the human population.
In terms of species richness, India ranks seventh in mammals, ninth in birds and fifth in reptiles.
The varied edaphic, climatic and topographic conditions have resulted in a wide range of ecosystems and habitats such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems, and deserts in India with greater biodiversity.”
Why relevant
States India’s ranking 'ninth in birds', treating birds as a major, identifiable group within national biodiversity.
How to extend
Use this grouping to infer that species with bird-like common names (e.g., 'barbet', 'minivet', 'redstart') likely fall into that class and verify via a bird checklist or map.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > IndIA – A MegA-BIodIversIty nAtIon. > p. 22
Strength: 4/5
“For example, one can fnd in India the hyenas and the gazelles of the African system; the wolf, the wild-goat and Kashmir–stag of the European system; the gibbon and elephant of the South-East Asian system. Te fauna peculiar to India, however, includes the south-bear, black-bear, four-horned antelope, and many species of snakes. Te list of birds of India would, among others, include our national bird the peacock, the saurus-crane, the great Indian bustard, etc. Of the 2,50,000 known species of plants in the world, about 45,000 have their occurrence in India. Similarly, out of 1.5 million known animal species in the world, India can claim as many as 75,000.”
Why relevant
Provides examples of named bird species in India (peacock, sarus crane, great Indian bustard), showing how common names are used to list birds in these texts.
How to extend
A student can compare the common-name pattern (e.g., 'barbet', 'redstart') with listed bird examples to suspect these four are birds and then confirm with a bird field guide.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 27
Strength: 4/5
“• 7.Andaman
& Nicobar
Islands: 8.Mangrove
Swamps; Andaman & Nico
bar Islands: Sundarban and
Coastal Areas; giant-dipterocarpus,
lagerstoemia, mangroves,
terminalia,: Avicennia, bruguiria,
excaecaria, neepa-palm,
rhizophora, sonneratia,
sundari,; Bats, crab-eating macaque, coconut-crab,
dolphin, dugong, deer, mega-pode, false
killer-whale, lizards, Nicobar-pigeon, palm
civet, rats, pig, salt-water crocodile,python,
sambar, sea-eagle, sea-snake, white-breasted
swiftlet, viper,: dorippe,
fsh,
monitor-lizard,
monkeys,
Royal-Bengal Tiger, small-crabs, pigs, spot
ted-deer, weaver ants,”
Why relevant
Mentions specific bird taxa in regional biogeographic lists (e.g., white-breasted swiftlet) demonstrating that regional faunal lists include bird species by common names.
How to extend
Knowing these are included among regional bird entries, a student could consult regional bird checklists or range maps to place the four species into the same category.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“• National Park/Sanctuaries: 26. Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve; State/States: Barpeta (Assam); Dominant Species Protected: Golden Langur, Red Panda, Tiger, elephant, panther, gaur, wild-bufalo, rhino, golden lan gur, civet-cat, otter, swamp-deer, hog-deer, sam bar, pygmy-hog, wild-boar, great-pied hornbill, forican, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 27. Marine National Park; State/States: Gujarat; Dominant Species Protected: Turtles, fshes, corals, molluscs, marine –fauna and fora • National Park/Sanctuaries: 28. Moiling National Park; State/States: Arunachal Pradesh; Dominant Species Protected: Snow-bear, white-leopard, white-fox, brown bear, yak, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 29. Mudumalai Sanctuary; State/States: Nilgiris (Tamil-Nadu); Dominant Species Protected: Elephant, gaur, chital, sambar, tiger, panther, sloth-bear, wild-hog, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 30.”
Why relevant
Lists protected areas with 'Dominant Species Protected' including named birds (great-pied hornbill, weaver), indicating birds are treated as a distinct group in conservation contexts.
How to extend
Since conservation lists segregate birds, a student can look up whether the four species appear in such protected-area bird lists or databases to infer their taxonomic grouping.
Gives explicit counts and a separate category for 'birds' (1200 species) indicating that many species in India are grouped under a distinct taxonomic/organismal class.
A student could use that birds are a recognised class in these biodiversity lists and check a field guide or online database to see if the four species are listed under that class.
States India’s ranking 'ninth in birds', treating birds as a major, identifiable group within national biodiversity.
Use this grouping to infer that species with bird-like common names (e.g., 'barbet', 'minivet', 'redstart') likely fall into that class and verify via a bird checklist or map.
Provides examples of named bird species in India (peacock, sarus crane, great Indian bustard), showing how common names are used to list birds in these texts.
A student can compare the common-name pattern (e.g., 'barbet', 'redstart') with listed bird examples to suspect these four are birds and then confirm with a bird field guide.
Mentions specific bird taxa in regional biogeographic lists (e.g., white-breasted swiftlet) demonstrating that regional faunal lists include bird species by common names.
Knowing these are included among regional bird entries, a student could consult regional bird checklists or range maps to place the four species into the same category.
Lists protected areas with 'Dominant Species Protected' including named birds (great-pied hornbill, weaver), indicating birds are treated as a distinct group in conservation contexts.
Since conservation lists segregate birds, a student can look up whether the four species appear in such protected-area bird lists or databases to infer their taxonomic grouping.
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