Hyderabad: Hyderabad has acquired an unusual new namesake—not a biryani, not a celebrity, and not even a tech start-up, but a tiny aquatic beetle discovered in a seasonal pond.Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), along with collaborating institutions, have named the newly identified freshwater species Amphiops hyderabadi after the city. In doing so, they have transformed an otherwise overlooked pond into a point of scientific reference, as documented in the Journal of Natural History.The beetle, smaller than a fingernail and belonging to a group known as aquatic scavenger beetles, was identified during biodiversity surveys. It was discovered alongside two other new species: Amphiops kinnerasani from Telangana’s Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary and Amphiops sandi from Uttar Pradesh’s Sandi Bird Sanctuary.These three species belong to the genus Amphiops, a group typically found in ponds, wetlands, and other shallow freshwater ecosystems. Until now, only three species of this genus had been recorded in India. With these additions, the known count has doubled from three to six.The discoveries were confirmed through detailed morphological analysis and DNA barcoding. Each species exhibited distinct differences in body structure, surface patterns, and reproductive features, clearly separating them from previously known relatives.Further genetic analysis using mitochondrial COI (Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I) gene sequencing revealed significant divergence, ranging from 7% to 17%. Such variation provides strong evidence that these beetles represent separate evolutionary lineages.The habitats from which these species were collected are equally noteworthy. Amphiops hyderabadi was found in a seasonal pond in Hyderabad. Amphiops kinnerasani was collected from a roadside pond within Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, while Amphiops sandi was discovered in the ecologically rich Sandi Bird Sanctuary.Dr Deepa Jaiswal of the Freshwater Biology Regional Centre, ZSI Hyderabad, noted that these findings highlight how India’s freshwater ecosystems continue to harbour unexplored biodiversity despite mounting environmental pressures.Researchers said, beyond taxonomy, the discoveries contribute to a broader understanding of the ecological and evolutionary history of aquatic insects in South Asia. The study suggests that the Indian peninsula may serve as an important centre for the diversification of the genus Amphiops, linking Southeast Asian and other tropical lineages.The beetles appear to be well adapted to shallow freshwater habitats with muddy, vegetated substrates. Scientists said their discovery underscores the importance of conserving wetlands, ponds, and similar ecosystems, many of which face threats from urbanisation, pollution, and habitat degradation.Dr Driti Banerjee, director of ZSI, emphasised that continued surveys and molecular studies may reveal many more undiscovered aquatic species in India’s freshwater environments.
