Quick answer: Dicharax tilariensis is a newly described micro land snail found in the semi-evergreen forests of the Tilari region in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, in the northern Western Ghats. It was in the news at the end of October 2026 when Thackeray Wildlife Foundation researchers described it in the Journal of Conchology. It is only the second Dicharax species known to be endemic to the northern Western Ghats.
Why Dicharax tilariensis is in the news
Amrut Bhosale, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation named the species in the Journal of Conchology, which is published by the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. It is named after Tilari, its only known home.
Key facts about Dicharax tilariensis
- Where found: Near Swapnavel Point, close to Tilarinagar, in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
- Altitude: About 700–800 m above sea level.
- Habitat: Semi-evergreen forest. It lives in leaf litter, rotting organic matter and moist soil.
- How it was identified: By its shell pattern and the inner structure of its operculum, the lid that closes the shell opening.
- Endemism: It is the second Dicharax endemic to the northern Western Ghats. The first was Dicharax devraivasi, described in 2025 from sacred groves (devrais) in Kolhapur district by the same research group.
Western Ghats biodiversity snapshot
| Feature | Detail (UNESCO) |
|---|---|
| Extent | About 1,600 km long and around 140,000 sq km. The only break is the 30 km Palghat Gap. |
| World Heritage Site | A serial site of 39 component areas in 7 sub-clusters, inscribed in 2012 |
| Hotspot status | Together with Sri Lanka, one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity |
| Endemism | Trees 54%, amphibians about 65%, reptiles 62%, freshwater fishes 53% |
Tilari: a corridor landscape
Tilari (often spelled Tillari) is in the hills where Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts meet Goa. In 2020, Maharashtra declared 29.53 sq km of the Dodamarg forest range in neighbouring Sindhudurg as the Tillari Conservation Reserve. It has breeding tigers and links the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve with the tiger populations of Goa and Karnataka.
What does “endemic” mean?
A species is endemic when it occurs naturally in only one area and nowhere else in the world. Micro snails move very little and need steady moisture, so they are often confined to a single hill or forest patch. Losing that one patch could wipe out the species.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Questions on the Western Ghats often cover its states, the Palghat Gap, the 2012 UNESCO listing and its status as a biodiversity hotspot.
- Conservation reserves such as Tillari, which are a protected-area category under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, are often compared with sanctuaries and national parks.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Dicharax tilariensis, described in 2026, is a
(a) frog (b) micro land snail (c) freshwater crab (d) gecko
Answer: (b) — a micro land snail from Tilari, Kolhapur.
Q2. The only major break in the Western Ghats is the
(a) Thal Ghat (b) Bhor Ghat (c) Palghat Gap (d) Shencottah Gap
Answer: (c) — UNESCO describes the 30 km Palghat Gap as the only break.
Q3. A species found naturally in only one region is called
(a) exotic (b) endemic (c) invasive (d) cosmopolitan
Answer: (b) — endemic.
Q4. Tillari Conservation Reserve is in which district?
(a) Kolhapur (b) Ratnagiri (c) Sindhudurg (d) Satara
Answer: (c) — Dodamarg range, Sindhudurg.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Dicharax tilariensis discovered?
Near Swapnavel Point, close to Tilarinagar, in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, at about 700–800 m altitude.
Who described the species?
Amrut Bhosale, Tejas Thackeray and Akshay Khandekar of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, in the Journal of Conchology.
Why is it called endemic?
It has been found only at its discovery site in the Tilari region and nowhere else.
Which was the first endemic Dicharax of the northern Western Ghats?
Dicharax devraivasi, described in 2025 from sacred groves in Kolhapur district.
Also read on NCA: Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | Online NDA coaching
Sources: GK365 summary of Journal of Conchology report, Journal of Conchology record (D. devraivasi), UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Free Press Journal on Tillari reserve. Facts as reported up to 1 November 2026.
Featured image background: Shishirdasika / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
