New Lichen Species Identified in Kerala’s Mathikettan Shola National Park

Researchers conducting field surveys in Mathikettan Shola National Park, a protected reserve in Idukki district of Kerala, reported the discovery of a previously undocumented lichen species.\n\nSpecimens collected during a systematic lichen inventory were examined in the laboratory and determined to belong to a species not described in existing scientific literature.\n\nThe finding adds to the growing list of endemic flora in the Western Ghats, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity and the need for continued taxonomic research.\n\nThe Hindu reported the discovery, and the scientists intend to publish a formal description of the new species in a peer‑reviewed journal.