Previous Year Question

(a) Golden Mahseer is not a bird.

• The Golden Mahseer is a large freshwater fish.

• Its scientific name is Tor putitora, and it belongs to the family Cyprinidae.

• It is found primarily in the clean, cold and fast-flowing rivers of the Himalayan region.

• In India, its distribution occurs in rivers associated with the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.

• For breeding, it may migrate from the main river channel towards tributaries or upstream areas.

• Its population is affected by dam construction, obstruction of river connectivity, water pollution, excessive fishing and habitat degradation.

• Due to its large size, strength and fighting nature, it is considered a popular sport fish.

• It is also frequently called the “Tiger of Indian Rivers”.

(b) Indian Nightjar is a bird.

• The scientific name of the Indian Nightjar is Caprimulgus asiaticus.

• It is primarily a crepuscular and nocturnal bird.

• Its brown and mottled plumage provides camouflage among the ground and dry leaves.

• It catches and feeds upon flying insects.

• Its broad mouth helps it capture insects during flight.

(c) Spoonbill is a bird.

• The Spoonbill is a waterbird with long legs and a long, spoon-shaped bill.

• The Eurasian Spoonbill, or Platalea leucorodia, occurs in India.

• It searches for small aquatic organisms and other food by sweeping its bill from side to side in shallow water.

• It is found in lakes, marshes, estuaries and other shallow wetlands.

• It belongs to the family Threskiornithidae.

(d) White Ibis is a bird.

• The White Ibis is a waterbird with long legs and a downward-curving bill.

• In India, the Black-headed Ibis was formerly also called the Oriental White Ibis.

• Its scientific name is Threskiornis melanocephalus.

• It searches for food in wetlands, paddy fields, marshes and shallow-water areas.

• It feeds on insects, molluscs, crustaceans, frogs and other small aquatic organisms.

• The ibis also belongs to the family Threskiornithidae.