India Becomes First Nation To Prepare Full List of Fauna
The Fauna of India Checklist Portal is the first comprehensive document on the faunal species reported from India. India has become the first country in the world to prepare a checklist of its entire fauna, covering 104,561 species. The ‘Fauna of India Checklist Portal’ was launched on the occasion of the 109th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata on Sunday by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav.
“India is a global champion in biodiversity conservation,” Yadav said, referencing the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative as a testament to the country’s dedication to environmental preservation. This program was one of the first major initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his re-election. Additionally, Yadav highlighted other government initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity, such as the International Big Cat Alliance. He pointed to the successful relocation of cheetahs to India as an example of the country’s effective conservation efforts.
Among the 1,358 bird species present in India, there are 79 that are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. The Western Ghats Bio-geographic zone has the highest number of these species at 28, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands being the next most important area for endemism.
Category | Region | Number of Species |
---|---|---|
Total Mammalian Species in India | 455 | |
Highest Mammalian Diversity | Meghalaya | 163 |
West Bengal | 161 | |
Arunachal Pradesh | 142 | |
Tamil Nadu | 139 | |
Assam | 138 | |
Sikkim | 137 | |
Kerala | 134 | |
Union Territories with High Mammalian Diversity | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 68 |
Ladakh | 59 | |
Delhi | 38 | |
High Endemism | Tamil Nadu | 23 |
Karnataka | 19 | |
Kerala | 19 | |
High Endemism Regions | Western Ghats hill streams of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands | |
Monotypic Genera | Anathana (Madras Treeshrew) | Found only in India |
Latidens (Salim Ali’s fruit bat) | Found only in India | |
Nilgiritragus | Found only in India | |
Rare Megabat Species | Latidens salimalii (Salim Ali’s fruit bat) | Monotypic genus Latidens |
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