Question map
Which of the following is not a bird ?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1: Golden Mahseer.
The Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) is a large species of freshwater fish found in the Himalayan rivers. It is often referred to as the "Tiger of the Water" and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is not a bird.
The other options are categorized as follows:
- Indian Nightjar: A nocturnal bird characterized by its cryptic plumage and distinctive calls, commonly found across the Indian subcontinent.
- Spoonbill: A genus of large, long-legged wading birds, easily identified by their unique flat, spatula-shaped bills used for filter-feeding in shallow water.
- White Ibis: A species of wading bird belonging to the Threskiornithidae family, known for its long, down-curved bill and white plumage.
Since the Golden Mahseer is an ichthyological species (fish) and the others are avian species, Option 1 is the correct choice.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a 'Flagship Species' test disguised as a taxonomy question. Golden Mahseer is the 'Tiger of the Water' and a conservation priority. The typo 'Mahsecr' was a minor hurdle. If you follow 'State Symbols' or 'Project Species', this was a 10-second kill.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Shows an example of a bird name formed with 'Golden' (Eurasian Golden Oriole), indicating 'Golden + noun' is a common bird-naming pattern in these sources.
A student could check whether 'Mahsecr' appears as a noun in bird name lists or field guides (or on a world map/region lists) to see if 'Golden Mahsecr' fits the same naming pattern for a bird.
Contains lists of winter and summer birds including 'Eurasian Golden Oriole' and many compound bird names, reinforcing the pattern of descriptive compound names for bird species.
Compare 'Golden Mahsecr' against such published bird lists (migratory/resident lists) to see if it appears among named species.
Lists 'golden-eagle' among wildlife examples, giving another instance where 'golden' prefixes a well-known bird species name.
Use the repeated occurrence of 'golden-' prefixed bird names to suspect 'Golden Mahsecr' might be intended as a bird name and then search authoritative bird checklists or taxonomic databases for 'Mahsecr'.
Gives the scale of avian diversity in India (1,200 species), implying many named bird species exist and that unfamiliar names might still be valid bird taxa.
Recognize that absence from a small list doesn't disprove existence; a student should consult comprehensive species lists or regional checklists to confirm whether 'Golden Mahsecr' is listed.
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