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Hidden diversity in Sri Lanka's killifish revealed: New study ...
The Island | April 06, 2026 A groundbreaking new study led by an international team of scientists, including Sri Lankan researcher Tharindu Ranasinghe, has uncovered striking genetic distinctions in two closely related killifish species—reshaping longstanding assumptions about freshwater biodiversity shared between Sri Lanka and India. - BY IFHAM NIZAM Anlocheilus parvusPublished recently in Zootaxa, the research brings together leading ichthyologists such as Hiranya Sudasinghe, Madhava Meegaskumbura, Neelesh Dahanukar and Rajeev Raghavan, alongside other regional experts, highlighting a growing South Asian collaboration in biodiversity science.For decades, scientists debated whether Aplocheilus blockii and Aplocheilus parvus were in fact the same species. But the new genetic analysis confirms they are “distinct, reciprocally monophyletic sister species,” providing long-awaited clarity to their taxonomic identity.Speaking to The Island, Ranasinghe said the findings underscore the hidden complexity of Sri Lanka's freshwater ecosystems.“What appears superficially similar can be genetically very different,” he noted. “Our study shows that even widespread, common-looking species can hold deep evolutionary histories that we are only now beginning to understand.”A tale of two fishesThe study reveals that Aplocheilus blockii is restricted to peninsular India, while Aplocheilus parvus occurs both in southern India and across Sri Lanka’s lowland wetlands.Despite their close relationship, the two species show clear genetic separation, with a measurable “genetic gap” distinguishing them. Subtle physical differences—such as the pattern of iridescent scales—also help scientists tell them apart. This story is from the April 06, 2026 edition of The Island. Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers. Already a subscriber? Sign In The Island Delhi's No. 4 bet pays off as Rizvi delivers again Ninth over into Delhi Capitals’ chase, Sameer Rizvi brought out an audacious flick. 5 mins April 06, 2026The Island Sun overhead until 15 April; heat index to reach caution level The Department of Meteorology yesterday said that the sun would be positioned directly overhead across parts of the country from yesterday until 15 April. 1 min April 06, 2026The Island IBH Real Estate celebrates six years of growth IBH Real Estate marks six years in business this year, having grown from a modest venture founded in 2020 by Rom...
Sri Lanka's Invasive Species Crisis: A Growing Threat to Forests and ...
Sri Lanka’s famous biodiversity is in danger. Forests like the Kanneliya rainforest, a once-rich haven for endemic frogs such as the whistling shrub frog (Pseudophilautus nemus), are now choked by fast-growing invasive plants. Hard milkwood (Alstonia macrophylla), introduced in the 1950s, has spread rapidly, displacing native trees and altering habitats. In wetlands and reservoirs, alien fish like the giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes), likely released from aquariums, are devouring native fish and upsetting whole food webs. Read here This alarming trend appears widespread, not isolated. In Kanneliya, part of the larger Sinharaja forest complex, selective logging in the 1970s–80s left gaps that invaders like Alstonia and mahogany quickly filled. Locals and scientists warn these exotic species compete with endemic plants for sunlight and pollinators. Read here and here. At the same time, ornamental plants such as the Velvet Tree (Miconia calvescens) and Sikkim knotweed have taken over montane zones like Nuwara Eliya, forming dense thickets that block native growth. Similar stories play out across Sri Lanka: Lantana, Clidemia, Tradescantia and many others are pervasive, choking understoreys and wrecking soil stability. Alstonia trees dominating a forest patch. Image by the Invasive Alien Species of Sri Lanka Facebookpage In freshwater ecosystems, invasive species are equally disruptive. Fishermen around Deduru Oya reported a boom in giant snakehead numbers after the fish were released from ornamental tanks. Snakeheads are top predators with no natural enemies in Sri Lankan waters, and they “eat small fish and the babies of other fish”, leaving native species such as the endemic Labeo heladiva dangerously depleted. Villagers and the government have launched a programme to kill snakeheads, and in late 2025, Sri Lanka banned the import, possession and sale of several invasive fish species in an attempt to prevent further introductions. Read here A giant snakehead fish caught from the Deduru Oya reservoir. Image by Eranga Jayawardena Management Gaps and Policy Shortcomings Sri Lanka adopted a National Invasive Species Policy and Action Plan in 2016, but in practice coordination is poor. A government analysis noted that institutions have not harmonised policies, leaving risk reduction “under-developed” and uncoordinated. In other words, although rules exist, implementation lags. There are insufficient inspections of plant and fish imports and little early...
A fascinating conservation study looking to assess karst geodiversity ...
“The literature review identified 18 endemic freshwater species, consisting of five Cℎerax species, ten rainbowfish species of the genus Melanotaenia, and three ...
Articles | Biodiversity and Conservation | Springer Nature Link
Founded in 1992, Biodiversity and Conservation is an international journal that publishes articles on all aspects of biological diversity, its conservation, ...
