FAUNA OF INDIA CHECKLIST PORTAL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)
Context: India has compiled a comprehensive checklist of its entire fauna, encompassing 104,561 species, marking a global first in this achievement.
Fauna of India Checklist Portal
- About: The portal is the first extensive record of faunal species reported from India.
- Launched by: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
- Objective: It serves as a crucial resource for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers, and policymakers.
- Taxonomic Coverage: Includes 121 checklists encompassing all known taxa across 36 phyla.
- Inclusion Criteria: Highlights endemic, threatened, and scheduled species within its comprehensive list.
- Mammalian Diversity in India
oRegional Distribution: Meghalaya, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Sikkim, and Kerala boast the highest number of mammalian species.
oUnion Territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and Delhi exhibit notable mammalian diversity among Union Territories.
oEndemic Species: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala house a significant portion of India's endemic mammal species.
- Endemism in Specific Regions
oWestern Ghats: Noteworthy for high endemism in hill streams across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
oAndaman & Nicobar Islands: Also recognized for significant endemic species presence.
- Unique Genera and Species
oMonotypic Genera: India hosts unique genera such as Anathana, Latidens, and Nilgiritragus, each found exclusively within its borders.
oLatidens salimalii: Salim Ali’s fruit bat, a rare megabat species, is an example of the unique fauna found in India.
oAnathana: The Madras Treeshrew belongs to this monotypic genus, showcasing India's distinctive biodiversity.
- Avian Diversity in India
oTotal Species: India is home to 1,358 bird species.
oEndemic Birds: 79 species are endemic, with the Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Islands as significant areas of endemism.
