TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE, GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The recent discovery of a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh by a team of archaeologists provides crucial insights into the extinction of megafauna in the Indian subcontinent.
EXPLANATION:
- This finding sheds light on the presence of ostriches in southern India during prehistoric times and contributes to the broader understanding of megafauna extinction.
Prehistoric Ostrich Shell
- A team of archaeologists unearthed the world’s oldest known ostrich nest at the Prakasam site.
- The nest, measuring 9-10 feet in width, contained remnants of 9-11 eggs but had the capacity to hold 30-40 eggs at a time.
- This significant discovery highlights the prehistoric presence of ostriches in southern India.
- The earliest documented evidence of ostriches in the Indian subcontinent dates back to Richard Lydekker’s 1884 findings in the Upper Siwalik Hills of present-day Pakistan.
- He identified the extinct species Struthio asiaticus or the Asian ostrich.
- Subsequent discoveries, such as ostrich eggshell beads and engraved pieces reported by an archaeologist in 1989 at Patne, Maharashtra, further support the presence of ostriches in India during the Upper Palaeolithic period.
Understanding Megafauna
- Megafauna generally refers to large animals weighing more than 50 kg.
- The term was first coined by English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in his 1876 book, The Geographical Distribution of Animals.
- Megafauna are classified based on their dietary habits into:
- Megaherbivores: Plant-eaters
- Megacarnivores: Meat-eaters
- Megaomnivores: Animals that consume both plants and meat
- Ostriches, considered megaomnivores, typically weigh between 90 and 140 kg and stand 7 to 9 feet tall.
Implications of the Andhra Discovery
- The discovery in Andhra Pradesh confirms that ostriches were present in southern India 41,000 years ago.
- This finding is crucial for understanding the geographic distribution of these birds during prehistoric times.
- Research on Fossilized Eggshells
- In 2017, researchers at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad analyzed fossilized eggshells from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, establishing the presence of ostriches in India 25,000 years ago.
- This presence is attributed to biogeographical dispersion following the continental drift of Gondwanaland.
- A 2020 study involving researchers from Yale University and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History compiled a database of fossils from 25 sites in India.
- The study, titled “Late Quaternary extinctions in the Indian Subcontinent,” indicated that the disappearance of large animals in the region began around 30,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of humans.
- This supports the “co-evolution hypothesis,” which suggests that fauna evolved alongside hominins, impacting their resilience to extinction.
- Geographic isolation and abiotic factors may have also accelerated their extinction.
The Need for Robust Datasets
- The discovery of the 41,000-year-old ostrich nest underscores the importance of compiling robust datasets to enhance the understanding of megafauna extinction in the subcontinent.
- Detailed classifications and descriptions of species are essential for constructing accurate biological and ecological models.
- Future research should focus on:
- Detailed analysis of newly discovered fossils
- Genetic studies to understand evolutionary links
- Examination of environmental and climatic factors influencing extinction
SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/discovery-prehistoric-ostrich-shells-andhra-9426318/
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