Question 41 from UPSC CSE 2020 - ENVIRONME NT

Question

With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon Frogmouth, Coppersmith Barbet, Gray-chinned Minivet, and White-throated Redstart are

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Birds

Strategy: *   Identify commonalities among listed species through naming patterns.
*   Recognize 'barbet', 'minivet', and 'redstart' as terms associated with birds in Indian biodiversity.
*   Clarify 'frogmouth' as a type of nocturnal bird, not an amphibian, within this context.
*   Deduce the answer as birds by recalling avian species' names and eliminating other animal classes.

Key Info: ## Species Information

*   **Ceylon Frogmouth** (Batrachostomus moniliger)
    A small, nocturnal bird of the Podargidae family, found in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. It is named for its broad, flat, frog-like bill and nocturnal habits.
*   **Coppersmith Barbet** (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
    A bird in the Megalaimidae family, resident to the Indian subcontinent and south-eastern Asia. It is best known for its repetitive metallic call and crimson markings.
*   **Gray-chinned Minivet** (Pericrocotus solaris)
    A bird of the Campephagidae family, ranging across the Himalayas, Northeast India, Southeast Asia, and southern China. It features sexual dimorphism in coloring and resides mostly in subtropical forests.
*   **White-throated Redstart** (Phoenicurus schisticeps)
    A member of the Muscicapidae family, found in the Himalayas, Bhutan, parts of China, and Northeast India. It is known for its contrasting white throat and bright plumage.

All listed species are birds, distinct from primates (mammals), reptiles (class Reptilia), and amphibians (class Amphibia). India's bird diversity is globally significant, with several species endemic to the subcontinent and its surrounding regions.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Primates

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Reptiles

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Amphibians