Wildlife of India

{{Main|Fauna of India}}

File:Elephas_maximus_(Bandipur).jpg, the largest animal species in India]]

India has an estimated 92,873 species of fauna, roughly about 7.5% of the species available worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Species_1067.aspx|title=List of Species|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/fauna.php|title=Fauna of India|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 December 2023}} Insects form the major category with 63,423 recorded species. India is home to 423 mammals, 1233 birds, 526 reptiles, 342 amphibians, 3022 fish apart from other species which form 7.6% of mammal, 14.7% of amphibian, 6% of bird, 6.2% of reptilian species worldwide.{{cite report|url=http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html|title=Biodiversity profile for India|publisher=United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), World Conservation Monitoring Centre|access-date=1 December 2023}} Among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.

The Indian subcontinent was formerly an island landmass (Insular India) that split away from Gondwana around 125 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous.{{cite journal |last1=Parmar |first1=Varun |last2=Prasad |first2=G.V.R. |date=1 March 2020 |title=Vertebrate evolution on the Indian raft - Biogeographic conundrums |journal=Episodes |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=461–475 |doi=10.18814/epiiugs/2020/020029 |issn=0705-3797|doi-access=free }} Late Cretaceous Insular Indian faunas were very similar to those found on Madagascar due to their shared connection until around 90 million years ago.{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018216307970|journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology|volume=468|date=15 February 2017|page=70-75|title=Faunal similarity in Madagascan and South Indian Late Cretaceous vertebrate faunas|author=Thomas John Dixon Halliday|doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.11.046 }} The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event around 66 million years ago caused the extinction of many animals native to Insular India, such as its titanosaurian and abelisaurid dinosaurs.{{Citation |last=Chatterjee |first=Sankar |title=The Age of Dinosaurs in the Land of Gonds |date=2020 |work=Biological Consequences of Plate Tectonics |series=Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology |pages=181–226 |editor-last=Prasad |editor-first=Guntupalli V.R. |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-49753-8_8 |access-date=2024-08-12 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-49753-8_8 |isbn=978-3-030-49752-1 |editor2-last=Patnaik |editor2-first=Rajeev}} During the early Cenozoic era, around 55-50 million years ago, the Indian subcontinent collided with Laurasia, allowing animals from Asia to migrate into the Indian subcontinent. Some elements of India's modern fauna, such as the frog family Nasikabatrachidae and the caecillian family Chikilidae, are suggested to have been present in India prior to its collision with Asia.

Four species of megafauna (large animals) native to India became extinct during the Late Pleistocene around 10,000-50,000 years ago as part of a global wave of megafauna extinctions, these include the very large elephant Palaeoloxodon namadicus (possibly the largest land mammal to have ever lived), the elephant relative Stegodon, the hippopotamus Hexaprotodon, and the equine Equus namadicus. These extinctions are thought to have been after the arrival of modern humans on the Indian subcontinent. Ostriches were also formerly native to India, but also became extinct during the Late Pleistocene.{{Cite journal |last1=Turvey |first1=Samuel T. |last2=Sathe |first2=Vijay |last3=Crees |first3=Jennifer J. |last4=Jukar |first4=Advait M. |last5=Chakraborty |first5=Prateek |last6=Lister |first6=Adrian M. |date=January 2021 |title=Late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions in India: How much do we know? |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277379120307022 |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |volume=252 |pages=106740 |bibcode=2021QSRv..25206740T |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106740 |s2cid=234265221}}{{Cite journal |last1=Jukar |first1=A.M. |last2=Lyons |first2=S.K. |last3=Wagner |first3=P.J. |last4=Uhen |first4=M.D. |date=January 2021 |title=Late Quaternary extinctions in the Indian Subcontinent |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |volume=562 |pages=110137 |bibcode=2021PPP...56210137J |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.110137 |s2cid=228877664 |doi-access=free}}

India is home to several well-known large animals, including the Indian elephant,{{cite journal|author1=Baskaran, N.|name-list-style=amp|author2=Desai, A. A.|year=1996|title=Ranging behaviour of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, South India|journal=SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group|volume=15|pages=41–57|url=http://www.asesg.org/PDFfiles/Gajah/15-41-Bskaran.pdf}} Indian rhinoceros,{{cite journal|author=Choudhury, A. U.|year=1985|title=Distribution of Indian one-horned rhinoceros|journal=Tiger Paper|volume=12|issue=2|pages=25–30|url=http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=refs&CODE=ref_detail&id=1165235391}} and Gaur. India is the only country where the big cats tiger and lion exist in the wild. Members of the cat family include Bengal tiger,{{cite book|author=Jhala, Y. V.|author2=Qureshi, Q.|author3=Nayak, A. K.|year=2019|title=Status of Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey in India 2018. Summary Report. TR No./2019/05|publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority & Wildlife Institute of India|location=New Delhi, Dehradun}} Asiatic lion,{{cite journal|author1=Singh, H. S.|author2=Gibson, L.|name-list-style=amp|url=http://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lab/cons-lab/documents/Singh_Gibson_Biol_Cons_2011.pdf|title=A conservation success story in the otherwise dire megafauna extinction crisis: The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) of Gir forest|year=2011|journal=Biological Conservation|volume=144|issue=5|pages=1753–1757|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.009}} Indian leopard,{{cite journal|author=Mondal, K.|author2=Gupta, S.|author3=Bhattacharjee, S.|author4=Qureshi, Q.|author5=K. Sankar|name-list-style=amp|title=Prey selection, food habits and dietary overlap between leopard Panthera pardus (Mammalia: Carnivora) and re-introduced tiger Panthera tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora) in a semi-arid forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Western India|doi=10.1080/11250003.2012.687402|year=2012|journal=Italian Journal of Zoology|volume=79|issue=4|pages=607–616|doi-access=free}} snow leopard,{{cite journal|author1=Mishra, C.|year=1997|title=Livestock depredation by large carnivores in the Indian trans-Himalaya: conflict perceptions and conservation prospects|journal=Environmental Conservation|volume=24|issue=4|pages=338–343|doi=10.1017/S0376892997000441|url=http://snowleopardnetwork.org/bibliography/Mishra_Conflict_1997.pdf}} and clouded leopard.{{cite journal|last1=Choudhury|first1=A. U.|year=1992|title=The Clouded Leopard in Assam|journal=Oryx|volume=27|issue=1|pages=51–53|doi=10.1017/s0030605300023966|doi-access=free }} Representative and endemic species include blackbuck, nilgai, bharal, barasingha, Nilgiri tahr, and Nilgiri langur.

There are about 31 species of aquatic mammals including dolphins, whales, porpoises, and dugong.{{cite report|url=https://zsi.gov.in/uploads/documents/importantLinks/english/73.pdf|title=Aquatic mammals of India|year=2011|publisher=Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India|access-date=1 December 2023}} Reptiles include the gharial, the only living members of Gavialis and saltwater crocodiles. Birds include peafowl, pheasants, geese, ducks, mynas, parakeets, pigeons, cranes, hornbills, and sunbirds. Endemic bird species include great Indian hornbill, great Indian bustard, nicobar pigeon, ruddy shelduck, Himalayan monal, and Himalayan quail.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/25528/7-rare-and-exotic-wildlife-species-that-can-be-found-in-india/|title=7 Rare and Exotic Wildlife Species that can be found in India|date=19 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indianwildlifemoments.com/indian-wildlife-animals-south-asia-fauna.tm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302142419/http://www.indianwildlifemoments.com/indian-wildlife-animals-south-asia-fauna.tm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2022|title=Animals in Indian Sub-Continent}}

File:Nelumno nucifera open flower - botanic garden adelaide2.jpg, the national flower of India]]

{{Main|Flora of India}}

About 24.6% of the total land area is covered by forests.{{cite web|url=https://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_854.aspx|title=Protected areas|publisher=Government of India|access-date=1 December 2023}} It has various ecoregions ranging from the high altitude Himalayas, tropical evergreen forests along the Western Ghats, desert in the north-west, coastal plains and mangroves along the peninsular region.{{cite web|url=https://era-india.org/ecoregion/|title=Eco-regions of India|work=Ecoregion restoration alliance|access-date=1 December 2023}} India's climate has become progressively drier since the late Miocene, reducing forest cover in northern India in favour of grassland.{{Cite journal |last1=Polissar |first1=Pratigya J. |last2=Uno |first2=Kevin T. |last3=Phelps |first3=Samuel R. |last4=Karp |first4=Allison T. |last5=Freeman |first5=Katherine H. |last6=Pensky |first6=Jennifer L. |date=April 2021 |title=Hydrologic Changes Drove the Late Miocene Expansion of C 4 Grasslands on the Northern Indian Subcontinent |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020PA004108 |journal=Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology |language=en |volume=36 |issue=4 |doi=10.1029/2020PA004108 |issn=2572-4517}}

There are about 29,015 species of plants including 17,926 species of flowering plants. This is about 9.1% of the total plant species identified worldwide and 6,842 species are endemic to India. Other plant species include 7,244 algae, 2,504 bryophytes, 1,267 pteridophytes and 74 gymnosperms. One-third of the fungal diversity of the world exists in India with over 27,000 recorded species, making it the largest biotic community after insects.{{cite journal|title=Fungal biodiversity: Distribution, conservation and prospecting of fungi from India|journal= Current Science|volume=89|issue=1|year=2005|name-list-style=amp|author1=Manoharachary, C.|author2=Sridhar, K.|author3=Singh, R.|author4=Adholeya, A.|author5=Suryanarayanan, T. S.|author6=Rawat, S.|author7=Johri, B.N.|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jul102005/58.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828204205/http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jul102005/58.pdf|archive-date=August 28, 2017}}{{cite report|url=http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no33639/fungi-india-19892001-jamaluddin-mg-goswami-bm-ojha|title=Fungal biodiversity: Distribution, conservation and prospecting of fungi from India|access-date=1 December 2023}}

{{Main|Conservation in India}}

India harbors 172 (2.9%) IUCN-designated threatened species.{{cite report|author=Groombridge, B.|year=1993|title=The 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals|publisher=IUCN|page=286}} These include 39 species of mammals, 72 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles, three species of amphibians, two species of fish, and a number of insects including butterflies, moths, and beetles.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/india-birds-decline-species-biodiversity-climate-crisis-a9342371.html|title=India's bird populations 'declining sharply', research shows|website=Independent.co.uk |date=18 February 2020|access-date=1 December 2023}}

Human encroachment, deforestation and poaching are significant challenges that threaten the existence of certain fauna and flora. Government of India established a system of national parks and protected areas in 1935, which have been subsequently expanded to nearly 1022 protected areas by 2023. Various laws have been enacted such as Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and special projects such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant and Project Dolphin have been initiated for the protection of forests, wildlife and critical species.{{cite book |author=Tritsch, M.E. |title=Wildlife of India |publisher=Harper Collins |year=2001 |isbn=0-00-711062-6 |location=London}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTW6uvi8IQ0C|title=Forest Environment and Biodiversity|last1=Singh|first1=M. P.|last2=Singh|first2=J. K.|last3=Mohanka|first3=R.|date=2007|publisher=Daya Publishing House|isbn=9788170354215|pages=116–118}}

As of 2023, there are 1022 protected areas including 106 national parks, 573 wildlife sanctuaries, 220 conservation reserves and 123 community reserves. In addition, there are 55 tiger reserves, 18 biosphere reserves and 32 elephant reserves.

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• List of birds of India
• List of mammals of India
• List of reptiles of South Asia
• Wildlife population of India

{{Reflist}}

• Saravanan, Velayutham. Environmental History of Modern India: Land, Population, Technology and Development (Bloomsbury Publishing India, 2022) [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=58163 online review]
• {{cite journal|journal=Tropical Ecology|volume=43|issue=1|title=Conservation of wetlands of India – a review|pages=173–186|year=2002|author1=Prasad, S.N.|name-list-style=amp|author2=Ramachanandra, T.V.|author3=Ahalya, N.|author4=Sengupta, T.|author5=Kumar, A.|author6=Tiwari, A.K.|author7=Vijayan, V.S.|author8=Vijayan, L.|citeseerx=10.1.1.526.3559|url=http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.526.3559&rep=rep1&type=pdf}}
• {{cite journal|title=Fungal biodiversity: Distribution, conservation and prospecting of fungi from India|journal= Current Science|volume=89|issue=1|year=2005|name-list-style=amp|author1=Manoharachary, C.|author2=Sridhar, K.|author3=Singh, R.|author4=Adholeya, A.|author5=Suryanarayanan, T. S.|author6=Rawat, S.|author7=Johri, B.N.|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jul102005/58.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828204205/http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jul102005/58.pdf|archive-date=Aug 28, 2017}}
• {{cite book|title=Fungi of India 1989–2001|year=2004|author1=Jamaluddin, M.G.|author2=Goswami|author3=B.M. Ojha|publisher=Scientific Publishers|isbn=8172333544}}

• [http://www.envfor.nic.in/ Official website of: Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests]
• [http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/legis.html "Legislations on Environment, Forests, and Wildlife" from the Official website of: Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests]
• [http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/legis.html#S "India's Forest Conservation Legislation: Acts, Rules, Guidelines", from the official website of the Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests]
• [http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/legis.html#R Wildlife Legislations, including - "The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act" from the Official website of: Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests]

{{Geography of India}}

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{{Tourism in India}}

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India

Category:Biota of India