Three new fish species spotted using tools in the Laccadive Sea

Three fish species in the Laccadive Sea have been found to be capable of using tools. They used live or dead coral structures as anvils to break the hard shells of sea urchins so they could get to the edible bits inside Unlike primates, birds, otters, octopuses, and many other animals that scientists know are capable of wielding tools

Lakshadweep Islands:

• India’s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.
• It comprises 12 atolls, three reefs, five submerged banks, and ten inhabited islands.
• All Islands are 220 to 440 km away from the coast of Kochi in Kerala, in the emerald Arabian Sea.
• It is directly under the control of the Centre through an Administrator.
• There are three main group of islands:
  • Amindivi Islands
  • Laccadive Islands
  • Minicoy Island.
• Amindivi Islands are the northernmost while Minicoy island is the southernmost.
• All are tiny islands of coral origin (Atoll) and are surrounded by fringing reefs.
• Malayalam is spoken in all the islands except Minicoy where people speak Mahl which is written in Divehi script.
• Lakshadweep has a tropical climate (27-32 degree celsius) around the year.

Prelims Takeaway

• Lakshadweep Islands
• Coral