๐ Q.4 IAS Prelims 2023 โ Environment & Ecology (Nocturnal Fauna)๐งท Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
๐ The Question
Consider the following fauna:
- Lion-tailed Macaque
- Malabar Civet
- Sambar Deer
How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
โ Correct Answer: (b) Only two
๐งโ๐ซ Classroom Explanation
Fauna-wise analysis:
๐น 1. Lion-tailed Macaque โ
- A diurnal primate
- Active during daylight hours
- Lives in the upper canopy of tropical evergreen forests
โก๏ธ Not nocturnal
๐น 2. Malabar Civet โ
- Strictly nocturnal and extremely elusive
- Rarely sighted; activity peaks at night
โก๏ธ Nocturnal
๐น 3. Sambar Deer โ
- Crepuscular to nocturnal
- Most active during dusk, night, and early dawn
โก๏ธ Counts as nocturnal/after sunset
โ๏ธ Hence, 2 out of 3 are nocturnal or active after sunset.
โก Curiosity Raiser
Why does UPSC club civets and deer with primates?
๐ To test whether you distinguish activity patterns, not habitats.
๐ Enrich Notes (UPSC Edge)
- Diurnal: Active during daytime (e.g., monkeys, squirrels)
- Nocturnal: Active at night (e.g., civets, owls, bats)
- Crepuscular: Active at dawn & dusk (e.g., deer, cats)
๐ง UPSC often treats โcrepuscularโ as functionally nocturnal in MCQs.
๐๏ธ IAS Monk Whisper
โIn the forest, survival depends not just on where you live โ but when you live.โ