Fauna of India 2837147 225683338 2008-07-14T21:53:31Z Jonathan Cardy 4071608 disambig Buffalo [[Image:Thumb_strip_india_biodiv.jpg|thumb|100px|Glimpses of biodiversity]] {{WildlifeofIndia}} [[India]] encompasses some of the world's most [[biodiversity|biodiverse]] regions. The political boundaries of India encompass a wide range of ecozones—desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, riverine areas as well as island archipelago. It hosts three [[biodiversity hotspot]]s: the [[Western Ghats]], the Eastern [[Himalayas]], and the hilly ranges that straddle the India-[[Myanmar]] border. These hotspots have numerous [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] species.<ref name="TERI website">http://www.teriin.org/biodiv/hotspot.htm</ref> India's 3,166,414 square kilometres shows a notable diversity of [[Ecoregions in India|habitats]], with significant variations in [[rainfall]], [[altitude]], [[topography]], and [[latitude]]. The region is also heavily influenced by [[Monsoon|summer monsoon]]s that cause major seasonal changes in vegetation and habitat. India forms a large part of the [[Indomalaya|Indomalayan]] biogeographical zone and many of the floral and faunal forms show Malayan affinities with only a few [[taxa]] being unique to the Indian region. The unique forms includes the snake family [[Uropeltidae]] found only in the [[Western Ghats]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. Fossil taxa from the [[Cretaceous]] show links to the [[Seychelles]] and Madagascar chain of islands.<ref name="">Jean-Claude Rage (2003) Relationships of the Malagasy fauna during the Late Cretaceous: Northern or Southern routes? Acta Paleontologica Polonica 48(4):661-662 [http://app.pan.pl/acta48/app48-661.pdf PDF]</ref> The Cretaceous fauna include reptiles, amphibians and fishes and an extant species demonstrating this [[phylogeography|phylogeographical]] link is the [[Purple Frog]]. The separation of India and Madagascar is estimated to have taken place about 88 million years ago. A fossil tooth of what is believed to be of from a lemur-like primate from the Bugti Hills of central Pakistan however has led to suggestions that the lemurs may have originated in Asia. These fossils are however from the Oligocene (30 million years ago) and have led to controversy.<ref>Marivaux L., Welcomme J.-L., Antoine P-O., Métais G., Baloch I.M., Benammi M., Chaimanee Y., Ducrocq S., and Jaeger J.-J. (2001) A fossil lemur from the Oligocene of Pakistan. Science, 294: 587–591.</ref><ref> [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1022_TVlemur.html Oligocene Lemur fossil hints at Asian origin] Accessed February 2007</ref> Lemur fossils from India in the past led to theories of a lost continent called [[Lemuria (continent)|Lemuria]]. This theory however was dismissed when [[continental drift]] and [[plate tectonic]]s became well established. The flora and fauna of India have been studied from very early times and recorded in folk traditions and later by researchers following more rigorous scientific approaches (See [[Indian natural history|Natural history in India]]). A little under 5% of this total area is formally classified under [[Protected areas of India|protected areas]]. India is home to several well known large mammals including the [[Asian Elephant]], [[Bengal Tiger]], [[Asiatic Lion]], [[Leopard]] and [[Indian Rhinoceros]]. Some of these animals are engrained in culture, often being associated with deities. These large mammals are important for wildlife tourism in India and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs. The popularity of these charismatic animals have helped greatly in conservation efforts in India. The tiger has been particularly important and [[Project Tiger]] started in 1972 was a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats.<ref>[http://projecttiger.nic.in/ Project Tiger] Accessed Feb, 2007</ref> Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection.<ref>[http://envfor.nic.in/pe/pe.html Project Elephant] Accessed Feb, 2007</ref> Most of India's rhinos today survive in the [[Kaziranga National Park]]. Other well known large Indian mammals include ungulates such as the [[Bubalus bubalis|Water Buffalo]], [[Nilgai]], [[Gaur]] and several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family such as the [[Indian Wolf]], [[Bengal Fox]], [[Golden Jackal]] and the [[Dhole]] or Wild Dogs are also widely distributed. It is also home to the [[Striped Hyaena]]. Many smaller animals such as the [[Macaque]]s, [[Langur]]s and [[Mongoose]] species are especially well known due to their ability to live close to or inside urban areas. <gallery> Image:200407_Elephant_9.JPG|[[Asian Elephant]] Image:Panthera_tigris_tigris.jpg|[[Tiger]] Image:Panthera_leo_persica_male.jpg|[[Asiatic Lion]] Image:Indian_Rhinoceros.jpg|[[Indian Rhinoceros]] </gallery> ==Diversity== There is insufficient information about the invertebrate and lower forms of India with significant work having been done only in a few groups of insects notably the butterflies, odonates, hymenoptera, the larger coleoptera and heteroptera. Few concerted attempts to document the biodiversity have been made since the publication of the [[Fauna of British India]] series. There are about 2546 species of fishes (about 11% of the world species) found in Indian waters. About 197 species of amphibians (4.4% of the world total) and more than 408 reptile species (6% of the world total) are found in India. Among these groups the highest levels of endemism are found in the amphibians. There are about 1250 species of birds from India with some variations depending on taxonomic treatments accounting for about 12% of the world species<ref>http://www.wcmc.org.uk/igcmc/main.html WCMC website</ref>. There are about 410 species of mammals known from India which is about 8.86% of the world species.<ref>Nameer, PO (1998). Checklist of Indian mammals. Kerala Forest Department, Thiruvananthapuram</ref> The [[World Conservation Monitoring Centre]] gives an estimate of about 15,000 species of flowering plants in India. ==Biodiversity hotspots== ===The Western Ghats=== {{main|Western Ghats}} The Western Ghats are a chain of hills that run along the western edge of peninsular India. Their proximity to the ocean and through orographic effect, they receive high rainfall. These regions have [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests|moist deciduous forest]] and [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests|rain forest]]. The region shows high species diversity as well as high levels of endemism. Nearly 77% of the amphibians and 62% of the reptile species found here are found nowhere else.<ref name="RJRD">Daniels, R. J. R. (2001) Endemic fishes of the Western Ghats and the Satpura hypothesis. Current Science 81(3):240-244 [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/aug102001/240.pdf PDF]</ref> The region shows biogeographical affinities to the [[Malay Peninsula|Malayan]] region, and the Satpura hypothesis proposed by [[Sunder Lal Hora]] suggests that the hill chains of Central India may have once formed a connection with the forests of northeastern India and into the Indo-Malayan region. Hora used torrent stream fishes to support the theory, but it was also suggested to hold for birds. <ref>Ripley, Dillon S. (1949) Avian relicts and double invasions in Penisular India and Ceylon. Evolution 2:150-159</ref> Later studies have suggested that Hora's original model species were a demonstration of [[convergent evolution]] rather than speciation by isolation.<ref name="RJRD"/> More recent [[phylogeography|phylogeographic]] studies have attempted to study the problem using molecular approaches.<ref>Karanth, P. K. (2003) Evolution of disjunct distributions among wet-zone species of the Indian subcontinent: Testing various hypotheses using a phylogenetic approach Current Science, 85(9): 1276-1283 [http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/nov102003/1276.pdf PDF]</ref> There are also differences in taxa which are dependent on time of divergence and geological history.<ref>Biswas, S. and Pawar S. S. (2006) Phylogenetic tests of distribution patterns in South Asia: towards an integrative approach; J. Biosci. 31 95–113 [http://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/mar2006/95.pdf PDF]</ref>Along with Sri Lanka this region also shows some faunal similarities with the Madagascan region especially in the reptiles and amphibians. Examples include the ''Sibynophis'' snakes, the [[Purple frog]] and Sri Lankan lizard genus ''[[Nessia]]'' which appears similar to the Madagascan genus ''[[Acontias]]''. <ref>[http://www.pdn.ac.lk/socs/zaup/reptiles/affinities.html affinities<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Numerous floral links to the Madagascan region also exist.<ref>[http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Madagasc/biomad1.html Biogeography of Madagascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> An alternate hypothesis that these taxa may have originally evolved out-of-India has also been suggested.<ref>Karanth, P. 2006 Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some tropical Asian biota. Current Science 90(6):789-792 [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/mar252006/789.pdf]</ref> Biogeographical quirks exist with some taxa of Malayan origin occurring in [[Sri Lanka]] but absent in the [[Western Ghats]]. These include insects groups such as the [[zoraptera]] and plants such as those of the genus ''[[Nepenthes]]''. ===The Eastern Himalayas=== [[Image:Red Panda.JPG|right|thumb|250px|The [[Red Panda]] is native to the [[Himalayas]] in India and Nepal and southern China.]] The Eastern Himalayas is the region encompassing Bhutan, northeastern India, and southern, central, and eastern Nepal. The region is geologically young and shows high altitudinal variation. It has nearly 163 globally threatened species including the One-horned Rhinoceros (''[[Rhinoceros unicornis]]''), the [[Wild Asian Water buffalo]] (''Bubalus bubalis (Arnee)'') and in all 45 mammals, 50 birds, 17 reptiles, 12 amphibians, 3 invertebrate and 36 plant species. <ref>http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/where_we_work/eastern_himalayas/eastern_himalayas_info.xml Conservation International 2006</ref><ref>http://assets.panda.org/downloads/final_ehimalayas_ep.pdf</ref> The Relict Dragonfly (''[[Epiophlebia laidlawi]]'') is an endangered species found here with the only other species in the genus being found in [[Japan]]. The region is also home to the Himalayan Newt (''[[Tylototriton verrucosus]]''), the only [[salamander]] species found within Indian limits.<ref>[http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=27738 Amphibian Species of the World - Desmognathus imitator Dunn, 1927<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Indo-Burma=== This region borders the Indian political boundary and extends into the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and includes the Andaman Islands. It is contiguous with the entire Myanmar region. <ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/indo_burma/ Biodiversity Hotspots - Indo Burma - Overview<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Image:Bugunliocichla1.svg|thumb|The [[Bugun Liocichla]] was described in 2006]] The region has provided new mammal species which are very surprising for recent times. Some of these recent discoveries include that of the [[Arunachal macaque]] (''Macaca munzala''), a species that was well known to the locals but introduced to science in 2004. Other recent discoveries from this region include the [[Laotian rock rat]], the [[Leaf Muntjac]] and the [[Bugun Liocichla]]. The Khasi Hills toad (''[[Bufoides meghalayanus]]'') is known from just a few locations within India.<ref>[http://www.biodiversityscience.org/publications/hotspots/IndoBurma.html Hotspots Revisited<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Extinct and fossil forms== During the early Tertiary period, the Indian tableland, what is today peninsular India, was a large island. Prior to becoming an island it was connected to the African region. During the tertiary period this island was separated from the Asian mainland by a shallow sea. The Himalayan region and the greater part of Tibet lay under this sea. The movement of the Indian subcontinent into the Asian landmass created the great Himalayan ranges and raised the sea bed into what is today the plains of northern India. [[Image:ElephasGanesa.jpg|thumb|''Elephas ganesa'' a fossil elephant from the Siwaliks]] Once connected to the Asian mainland, many species moved into India. The Himalayas were created in several upheavals. The Siwaliks were formed in the last and the largest number of fossils of the Tertiary period are found in these ranges. <ref name="prater">Prater, S. H. (1971) The Book of Indian Animals. BNHS</ref> The Siwalik fossils include [[Mastodon]]s, [[hippopotamus]], [[rhinoceros]], [[Sivatherium]], a large four-horned ruminant, [[giraffe]], [[horse]]s, [[camels]], [[Gaur|bison]], [[deer]], [[antelope]], [[pigs]], [[chimpanzees]], [[orangutans]], [[baboon]]s, [[langurs]], [[macaques]], [[cheetahs]], [[Saber tooth cat|Sabre-toothed tigers]], [[lion]]s, [[tiger]]s, [[sloth bear]], [[Aurochs]], [[leopard]]s, [[wolves]], [[dholes]], [[porcupines]], [[rabbit]]s and a host of other [[mammals]].<ref name="prater"/> Many fossil tree species have been found in the intertrappean beds <ref>Stewart R. Hinsley [http://www.malvaceae.info/Fossil/Wood.html Notes on fossil wood](Accessed September 2006) </ref> including ''Grewioxylon'' from the Eocene and ''Heritieroxylon keralensis'' from the middle [[Miocene]] in Kerala and ''Heritieroxylon arunachalensis'' from the Mio-[[Pliocene]] of Arunachal Pradesh and at many other places. The discovery of ''[[Glossopteris]]'' fern fossils from India and Antarctica led to the discovery of Gondwanaland and led to the greater understanding of [[continental drift]]. Fossil ''[[Cycads]]''<ref>Robert Buckler (1999) A brief review of the fossil cycads. [http://www.plantapalm.com/vce/evolution/fossils.pdf PDF] </ref> are known from India while seven ''Cycad'' species continue to survive in India.<ref>http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/cycadpg?region=ind Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney, Australia</ref><ref>Singh, Rita, P. Radha (2006) A new species of Cycas from the Malabar Coast, Western Ghats, India. Volume 58(2):119-123</ref> ''[[Titanosaurus indicus]]'' was perhaps the first dinosaur discovered in India by [[Richard Lydekker]] in 1877 in the Narmada valley. This area has been one of the most important areas for paleontology in India. Another dinosaur known from India is ''[[Rajasaurus narmadensis]]'' <ref>Rajasaurus and Indian Dinosaur. Geological Survey of India. [http://www.gsi.gov.in/rajasaur.pdf PDF]</ref>, a heavy-bodied and stout carnivorous abelisaurid (theropod) dinosaur that inhabited the area near present-day Narmada river. It was 9 m in length and 3 m in height and somewhat horizontal in posture with a double-crested crown on the skull. Some fossil snakes from the [[Cenozoic]] era are also known. <ref>Rage J.-C., Bajpai S., Thewissen J. G. M. & Tiwari B. N. 2003. Early Eocene snakes from Kutch, Western India, with a review of the Palaeophiidae. Geodiversitas 25 (4) : 695-716 [http://www.mnhn.fr/publication/geodiv/g03n4a6.pdf PDF]</ref> Some scientists have suggested that the Deccan lava flows and the gases produced were responsible for the global extinction of dinosaurs however these have been disputed. <ref>[http://www.cosis.net/abstracts/EGU05/11195/EGU05-J-11195-1.pdf Floodvolcanism is the main cause of mass extinctions: Nice try, but where is the evidence? PDF]</ref> <ref>[http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/thomas.wolosz/volcanism.htm Volcanism]</ref> ''[[Himalayacetus subathuensis]]'' the oldest-known whale fossil of the family Protocetidae (Eocene), about 53.5 million years old was found in the Simla hills in the foothills of the Himalayas. This area was underwater (in the Tethys sea) during the Tertiary period (when India was an island off Asia). This whale may have been capable of living partly on land. <ref>[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/classification/Whalefossils.shtml Whale fossils]</ref> <ref>Bajpai, S. and Gingerich P.D. (1998) A new Eocene archaeocete (Mammalia, Cetacea) from India and the time of origin of whales Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:15464–15468 [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gingeric/PDFfiles/PDG344_himalayacetus_opt.pdf PDF]</ref> Other fossil whales from India include ''Remingtonocetus'' approximately 43-46 million years old. Several small mammal fossils have been recorded in the intertrappean beds, however larger mammals are mostly unknown. The only major primate fossils have been from the nearby region of Myanmar. * See also [[Geology of India]] ===Recent extinctions=== [[Image:Ophrysia_superciliosa_hm.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Illustration of a [[Himalayan Quail]] from [[Allan Octavian Hume|A. O. Hume]]'s work. Last seen in 1876]] The exploitation of land and forest resources by humans along with hunting and trapping for food and sport has led to the extinction of many species in India in recent times. Probably the first species to vanish during the time of the Indus Vally civilisation was the species of wild cattle, ''Bos primegenius nomadicus'' or the wild [[zebu]], which vanished from its range in the [[Indus]] valley and western India, possibly due to inter-breeding with domestic cattle and resultant fragmentation of wild populations due to loss of habitat.<ref name="IWH2">Rangarajan, M. (2001) India's Wildlife History, pp 4.</ref> Notable mammals which became extinct include the Indian / [[Asiatic Cheetah]], [[Javan Rhinoceros]] and [[Sumatran Rhinoceros]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Vivek Menon|title=A field guide to Indian mammals|publisher=Dorling Kindersley, Delhi|year=2003|ISBN=0143029983}}</ref> While some of these large mammal species are confirmed extinct, there have been many smaller animal and plant species whose status is harder to determine. Many species have not been seen since their description. [[Image:AsiaticCheetah.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The now extinct [[Indian Cheetah]]]] ''Hubbardia heptaneuron'', a species of grass that grew in the spray zone of the [[Jog Falls]] prior to the construction of the Linganamakki reservoir, was thought to be extinct but a few were rediscovered near Kolhapur. <ref>IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin - December 2002 [http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/ebulletin2002/ebulletindec02.html] Accessed October 2006</ref> Some species of birds have gone extinct in recent times, including the [[Pink-headed Duck]] (''Rhodonessa caryophyllacea'') and the [[Himalayan Quail]] (''Ophrysia superciliosa''). A species of warbler, ''[[Acrocephalus orinus]]'', known earlier from a single specimen collected by [[Allan Octavian Hume]] from near Rampur in Himachal Pradesh was rediscovered after 139 years in Thailand.<ref>Threatened birds of Asia [http://www.rdb.or.id/detailbird.php?id=693] Accessed October 2006</ref><ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/07/headlines/headlines_30028700.php March 6, 2007]</ref> Similarly, the [[Jerdon's Courser]] (''Rhinoptilus bitorquatus''), named after the zoologist [[Thomas C. Jerdon]] who discovered it in 1848, was rediscovered in 1986 by Bharat Bhushan, an ornithologist at the [[Bombay Natural History Society]] after being thought to be [[extinct]]. ==Species estimates== An estimate of the numbers of species by group in India is given below. This is based on Alfred, 1998.<ref>Alfred, J.R.B. (1998) Faunal Diversity in India: An Overview: In Faunal Diversity in India, i-viii, 1-495. (Editors. Alfred, JRB, et al., 1998). ENVIS Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta.</ref> <table CELLSPACING=0 COLS=4 border=1> <tr> <td width=262 height=17 align=left><b>Taxonomic Group</b></td> <td width=125 align=left><b>World species</b></td> <td width=101 align=left><b>Indian species</b></td> <td width=66 align=left><b>% in India</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><b>PROTISTA</b></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Protozoa</td> <td align=right SDVAL="31250" SDNUM="2057;">31250</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2577" SDNUM="2057;">2577</td> <td align=right SDVAL="8.24" SDNUM="2057;">8.24</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0">Total (Protista)</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="31250" SDNUM="2057;">31250</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="2577" SDNUM="2057;">2577</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="8.24" SDNUM="2057;">8.24</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><b>ANIMALIA</b></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> <td align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><BR></td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Mesozoa</td> <td align=right SDVAL="71" SDNUM="2057;">71</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10" SDNUM="2057;">10</td> <td align=right SDVAL="14.08" SDNUM="2057;">14.08</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Porifera</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4562" SDNUM="2057;">4562</td> <td align=right SDVAL="486" SDNUM="2057;">486</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10.65" SDNUM="2057;">10.65</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Cnidaria</td> <td align=right SDVAL="9916" SDNUM="2057;">9916</td> <td align=right SDVAL="842" SDNUM="2057;">842</td> <td align=right SDVAL="8.49" SDNUM="2057;">8.49</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Ctenophora</td> <td align=right SDVAL="100" SDNUM="2057;">100</td> <td align=right SDVAL="12" SDNUM="2057;">12</td> <td align=right SDVAL="12" SDNUM="2057;">12</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Platyhelminthes</td> <td align=right SDVAL="17500" SDNUM="2057;">17500</td> <td align=right SDVAL="1622" SDNUM="2057;">1622</td> <td align=right SDVAL="9.27" SDNUM="2057;">9.27</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Nemertinea</td> <td align=right SDVAL="600" SDNUM="2057;">600</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Rotifera</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2500" SDNUM="2057;">2500</td> <td align=right SDVAL="330" SDNUM="2057;">330</td> <td align=right SDVAL="13.2" SDNUM="2057;">13.2</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Gastrotricha</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3000" SDNUM="2057;">3000</td> <td align=right SDVAL="100" SDNUM="2057;">100</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3.33" SDNUM="2057;">3.33</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Kinorhyncha</td> <td align=right SDVAL="100" SDNUM="2057;">100</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10" SDNUM="2057;">10</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10" SDNUM="2057;">10</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Nematoda</td> <td align=right SDVAL="30000" SDNUM="2057;">30000</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2850" SDNUM="2057;">2850</td> <td align=right SDVAL="9.5" SDNUM="2057;">9.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Nematomorpha</td> <td align=right SDVAL="250" SDNUM="2057;">250</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Acanthocephala</td> <td align=right SDVAL="800" SDNUM="2057;">800</td> <td align=right SDVAL="229" SDNUM="2057;">229</td> <td align=right SDVAL="28.62" SDNUM="2057;">28.62</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Sipuncula</td> <td align=right SDVAL="145" SDNUM="2057;">145</td> <td align=right SDVAL="35" SDNUM="2057;">35</td> <td align=right SDVAL="24.14" SDNUM="2057;">24.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Mollusca</td> <td align=right SDVAL="66535" SDNUM="2057;">66535</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5070" SDNUM="2057;">5070</td> <td align=right SDVAL="7.62" SDNUM="2057;">7.62</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Echiura</td> <td align=right SDVAL="127" SDNUM="2057;">127</td> <td align=right SDVAL="43" SDNUM="2057;">43</td> <td align=right SDVAL="33.86" SDNUM="2057;">33.86</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Annelida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="12700" SDNUM="2057;">12700</td> <td align=right SDVAL="840" SDNUM="2057;">840</td> <td align=right SDVAL="6.61" SDNUM="2057;">6.61</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Onychophora</td> <td align=right SDVAL="100" SDNUM="2057;">100</td> <td align=right SDVAL="1" SDNUM="2057;">1</td> <td align=right SDVAL="1" SDNUM="2057;">1</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 bgcolor="#C0C0C0" align=left>Arthropoda</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="987949" SDNUM="2057;">987949</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="68389" SDNUM="2057;">68389</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="6.9" SDNUM="2057;">6.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Crustacea</td> <td align=right SDVAL="35534" SDNUM="2057;">35534</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2934" SDNUM="2057;">2934</td> <td align=right SDVAL="8.26" SDNUM="2057;">8.26</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Insecta</td> <td align=left><BR></td> <td align=left><BR></td> <td align=right SDVAL="6.83" SDNUM="2057;">6.83</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Arachnida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="73440" SDNUM="2057;">73440</td> <td align=left><BR></td> <td align=right SDVAL="7.9" SDNUM="2057;">7.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Pycnogonida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="600" SDNUM="2057;">600</td> <td align=left><BR></td> <td align=right SDVAL="2.67" SDNUM="2057;">2.67</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Pauropoda</td> <td align=right SDVAL="360" SDNUM="2057;">360</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left><BR></td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Chilopoda</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3000" SDNUM="2057;">3000</td> <td align=right SDVAL="100" SDNUM="2057;">100</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3.33" SDNUM="2057;">3.33</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Diplopoda</td> <td align=right SDVAL="7500" SDNUM="2057;">7500</td> <td align=right SDVAL="162" SDNUM="2057;">162</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2.16" SDNUM="2057;">2.16</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Symphyla</td> <td align=right SDVAL="120" SDNUM="2057;">120</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4" SDNUM="2057;">4</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3.33" SDNUM="2057;">3.33</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Merostomata</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4" SDNUM="2057;">4</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2" SDNUM="2057;">2</td> <td align=right SDVAL="50" SDNUM="2057;">50</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Phoronida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="11" SDNUM="2057;">11</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3" SDNUM="2057;">3</td> <td align=right SDVAL="27.27" SDNUM="2057;">27.27</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Bryozoa (Ectoprocta)</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4000" SDNUM="2057;">4000</td> <td align=right SDVAL="200" SDNUM="2057;">200</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5" SDNUM="2057;">5</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Endoprocta</td> <td align=right SDVAL="60" SDNUM="2057;">60</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10" SDNUM="2057;">10</td> <td align=right SDVAL="16.66" SDNUM="2057;">16.66</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Brachiopoda</td> <td align=right SDVAL="300" SDNUM="2057;">300</td> <td align=right SDVAL="3" SDNUM="2057;">3</td> <td align=right SDVAL="1" SDNUM="2057;">1</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Pogonophora</td> <td align=right SDVAL="80" SDNUM="2057;">80</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Praipulida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="8" SDNUM="2057;">8</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left><BR></td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Pentastomida</td> <td align=right SDVAL="70" SDNUM="2057;">70</td> <td align=left> </td> <td align=left> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Chaetognatha</td> <td align=right SDVAL="111" SDNUM="2057;">111</td> <td align=right SDVAL="30" SDNUM="2057;">30</td> <td align=right SDVAL="27.02" SDNUM="2057;">27.02</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Tardigrada</td> <td align=right SDVAL="514" SDNUM="2057;">514</td> <td align=right SDVAL="30" SDNUM="2057;">30</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5.83" SDNUM="2057;">5.83</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Echinodermata</td> <td align=right SDVAL="6223" SDNUM="2057;">6223</td> <td align=right SDVAL="765" SDNUM="2057;">765</td> <td align=right SDVAL="12.29" SDNUM="2057;">12.29</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Hemichordata</td> <td align=right SDVAL="120" SDNUM="2057;">120</td> <td align=right SDVAL="12" SDNUM="2057;">12</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10" SDNUM="2057;">10</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Chordata</td> <td align=right SDVAL="48451" SDNUM="2057;">48451</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4952" SDNUM="2057;">4952</td> <td align=right SDVAL="10.22" SDNUM="2057;">10.22</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Protochordata (Cephalochordata+Urochordata)</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2106" SDNUM="2057;">2106</td> <td align=right SDVAL="119" SDNUM="2057;">119</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5.65" SDNUM="2057;">5.65</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Pisces</td> <td align=right SDVAL="21723" SDNUM="2057;">21723</td> <td align=right SDVAL="2546" SDNUM="2057;">2546</td> <td align=right SDVAL="11.72" SDNUM="2057;">11.72</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Amphibia</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5150" SDNUM="2057;">5150</td> <td align=right SDVAL="209" SDNUM="2057;">209</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4.06" SDNUM="2057;">4.06</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Reptilia</td> <td align=right SDVAL="5817" SDNUM="2057;">5817</td> <td align=right SDVAL="456" SDNUM="2057;">456</td> <td align=right SDVAL="7.84" SDNUM="2057;">7.84</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Aves</td> <td align=right SDVAL="9026" SDNUM="2057;">9026</td> <td align=right SDVAL="1232" SDNUM="2057;">1232</td> <td align=right SDVAL="13.66" SDNUM="2057;">13.66</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left>Mammalia</td> <td align=right SDVAL="4629" SDNUM="2057;">4629</td> <td align=right SDVAL="390" SDNUM="2057;">390</td> <td align=right SDVAL="8.42" SDNUM="2057;">8.42</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0">Total (Animalia) </td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="1196903" SDNUM="2057;">1196903</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="868741" SDNUM="2057;">868741</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="7.25" SDNUM="2057;">7.25</td> </tr> <tr> <td height=17 align=left bgcolor="#C0C0C0">Grand Total (Protosticta+Animalia)</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="1228153" SDNUM="2057;">1228153</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="89451" SDNUM="2057;">871318</td> <td align=right bgcolor="#C0C0C0" SDVAL="7.28" SDNUM="2057;">7.09</td> </tr> </table> ==Taxonomic lists and indices== This section provides links to lists of species of various taxa found in India. ===Animals=== ====Invertebrates==== [[Image:Praying mantis india.jpg|thumb|right|A [[praying mantis]]]] [[Image:Harpegnathos_saltator_fight.jpg|thumb|''[[Harpegnathos saltator]]'']] * Arachnids [[Image:BannerghattaBlackSpiderFr.jpg|thumb|An [[Idiopidae|Idiopid]] spider endemic to India]] **[[List of spiders of India|Spiders of India]] * Insects ** Coccinellidae *** [http://www.angelfire.com/bug2/j_poorani/index.html Ladybird beetles of India] ** Odonata *** [[List of odonates of India|Dragonflies and damselflies of India]] ** Lepidoptera *** [[List of butterflies of India|Butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)|Papilionid butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Pieridae)|Pierid butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Nymphalidae)|Nymphalid butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Lycaenidae)|Lycaenid butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Hesperiidae)|Hesperid butterflies of India]] **** [[List of butterflies of India (Riodinidae)|Riodinid butterflies of India]] *** [[List of moths of India|Moths of India]] ** Hymenoptera *** [[List of ants of India|Ants of India]] ====Vertebrates==== [[Image:BarbusTorDay.jpg|thumb|Deccan Mahseer ''[[Tor khudree]]'']] *[[List of fishes of India|Fishes of India]] *[[List of amphibians of India|Amphibians of India]] *[[List of reptiles of South Asia|Reptiles of India]] **[[List of snakes of South Asia|Snakes of India]] *[[List of birds of South Asia|Birds of South Asia]] *[[List of mammals of India|Mammals of India]] ===Plants=== See [[Flora of India]] ==Threatened species== Many plants and animals are threatened or endangered due largely to habitat loss and population pressure apart from hunting and extraction. India stands out as one of the few countries with high human populations as well as a high number of threatened species. <ref>IUCN (2004) A Global Species Assessment. ISBN 2-8317-0826-5 [http://www.iucn.org/bookstore/HTML-books/Red%20List%202004/completed/Section7.html]</ref> ===Threatened plant species=== {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" | '''Threat Category (IUCN)''' | '''Number of species''' |- | Extinct | 19 |- | Extinct/Endangered | 43 |- | Endangered | 149 |- | Endangered/Vulnerable | 2 |- | Vulnerable | 108 |- | Rare | 256 |- | Indeterminate | 719 |- | Insufficiently Known | 9 |- | No information | 1441 |- | Not threatened | 374 |- | '''TOTAL''' | '''3120''' |} ===Threatened Animal species=== '''Number of species per group according to IUCN threat categories (1994)'''<br /> [[Image:Red_cat_india.png|Threat categories Source: [http://www.wcmc.org.uk/igcmc/main.html WCMC]]] ==See also== * [[Endemic birds of South Asia]] * [[Ecoregions in India]] * [[Indian natural history]] * [[Flora and fauna of Karnataka]] * [[List of Indian state birds]] * [[Endangered Mammals of India]] * [[Flora of India]] * [[Fauna of British India]] * [[Wildlife of India]] * [[Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve]], Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India * [[Endemic birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], India ==References== <div class="references-small"> <References/></div> ==General reading== * R. E. Hawkins (Ed.) 1986. Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History. Oxford University Press. India. ISBN 0-19-561623-5 ==External links== * [http://www.wcmc.org.uk/igcmc/main.html World Conservation Monitoring Center] * [http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/maps/biodivin.htm Tata Energy Research Institute] * [http://www.zeroextinction.org/search_form_country.cfm Alliance for Zero extinction] * [http://envis.nic.in/ffc.asp The official Indian Environment information site] {{Asia topic|Fauna of}} [[Category:Fauna of India| ]] [[dv:އިންޑިޔާގެ ސޫފާސޫފި]]