Daily Current Affairs Quiz 27 May 2023

d) Amphibians

The Axolotl, a species of salamander( (lizard-like amphibians) possesses an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost body parts, inspiring researchers to delve into the secrets of this unique regenerative power.
· Axolotl are amphibians that spend their whole lives underwater. They exist in the wild in only one place—Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City, a network of artificial channels, small lakes, and temporary wetlands that help supply water to nearby Mexico City’s 18 million residents.

Prey:

· They feast on a menu of mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and some fish.

· Special Feature:

· They have fascinated scientists for their ability to regenerate lost body parts and for their rare trait of neoteny, which means they retain larval features throughout life.

Threat:

· Axolotl populations have declined considerably due to a combination of habitat loss (largely driven by Mexico City’s continued urbanisation), water pollution, and invasive fish species (such as carp and tilapia, which compete with axolotls for food and prey upon them).

Protection Status:

· International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has classified the axolotl as a critically endangered species since 2006.

The Axolotl, a species of salamander (lizard-like amphibians) possesses an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost body parts, inspiring researchers to delve into the secrets of this unique regenerative power.

a) P.T. Usha

India’s star sprinter PT Usha is fondly called the ‘Payyoli Express’.

c) Indonesia

The Garuda Shakti Exercise is a bilateral joint special force exercise between India and Indonesia. This joint military exercise is being organized as part of the bilateral defence cooperation between Indonesia and India. It has been held since 2012, involving Para Special Force of the Indian Army.

b) Maharashtra

Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve is situated in Maharashtra’s Gondia district. It is currently witnessing a slight surge in tiger population.
Two tigresses captured recently in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur by the forest department will be released into the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), as part of a tiger translocation programme.

b) South Africa

South Africa is set to manufacture a cost-effective and generic variant of the long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) drug, used for HIV prevention, marking the first time the country produces this medication.
The move is significant as the majority of medicine production on the African continent is limited to only 38 countries, resulting in less than 40% of medicines being manufactured locally.