Serbian scientists have named a new species of beetle after the tennis player Novak Djokovic, a Serbian tennis player due to its speed, strength, flexibility, durability and ability to survive in a difficult environment.It is named Duvalius Dokovici.
- The new species of beetle belongs to the Duvalius genus that is present in Europe. It was discovered several years ago in an underground pit in western Serbia.
- The insect is a specialised underground Coleoptera beetle, a predator which lost its eyes living deep underground.
About Novak Djokovic:
i. Novak Djokovic, a 35-year-old Serbian tennis player, took up tennis at the age of 4 and ascended to the junior ranks.
ii. He became Europe’s top-ranked 14-and-under player, and later he became the number one 16-and-under player on the Continent before turning professional in 2003.
iii. He entered the top 100 of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) at age 18, and in 2006 he won his 1st ATP event. In 2008, he seized a bronze medal at the Olympics in Beijing.
iv. He has won 90 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles titles, 21 Grand Slam singles titles (second behind Rafael Nadal, who has 22), 5 ATP Finals titles, and a record 38 ATP Masters titles.
A New Genus, 2 species of Semi-terrestrial freshwater crabs spotted in the Western Ghats in Kerala
Researchers at the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala have recognized a new genus, 2 new species of semi-terrestrial freshwater crabs from separate places in the southern arm of the Western Ghats in Kerala.
- The new species have been named Pavizham gavi and Rajathelphusa brunnea by Smrithy Raj and A. Biju Kumar.
- It was published in the journal Zoological Studies.
Key Points:
i. Pavizham gavi was spotted at a waterfall in Gavi, Pathanamthitta (Kerala), while Rajathelphusa brunnea was found in Mattupetty, Idukki (Kerala).
ii. The species is named after Gavi where it was found. Pavizham means red coral in Malayalam since it has a red carapace and legs, and the chelipeds (claws) are light red
iii. Rajathelphusa brunnea has a brown-to-dark brown carapace and legs, and its name ‘brunnea’ has been derived from the Latin for dark brown. The tips of the fingers and legs are yellowish-orange. These species live in deep burrows that connect to subterranean water channels
