Common Animal species - 2
REPTILES:
India has a wide
variety of lizards,
snakes and turtles,
with a high level of
endemism. The lizards
include the
common garden
lizard,
Fan throated
l i z a r d ,
Chamelion,
Skink, Common
Monitor and Water Monitor. Some of
these are threatened due to trade in reptile skins.
Indian snakes include the Rock Python,
Russell’s viper and the Vine snake. We rarely
appreciate the fact
that only a few species
of snakes are
poisonous and most
snakes are harmless.
The Star tortoise
and
Travancore tortoise
are now rare. The Olive Ridley and Flapshell
turtle are the well-known turtles of India.
Many turtles are becoming increasingly rare due
to poaching of adults and eggs. The crocodile
is our largest reptile
which is poached for
its prized skin. The
gharial is endemic to
India and is highly
threatened.
Amphibia:
Most of the amphibians found in India are frogs and toads. These include several species like the Indian Bull frog, Tree frog, etc. These amphibians are mostly found in the hotspots in the Northeast and the Western Ghats. It is now thought that global warming and increasing lev-els of UV radiation may be seriously affecting amphibian populations in some areas.
Invertebrates:
Invertebrates include a variety of taxa that inhabit both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Microscopic animals like protozoa and zooplankton form the basis of the food chain in aquatic habitats. Coral is formed by colonies of polyp like animals. Worms, molluscs (snails), spiders, crabs, jellyfish, octopus are a few of the better known invertebrates found in India.There are more than a million insect species on earth that are known to science. They include grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, ants, bees, butterflies and moths. India is rich in its butterfly and moth species.
Marine Life:
Marine ecosystems are most frequently associated
with fish and crustacea like crabs and
shrimp, which we use as food. The other species
that are endangered include the marine
turtles, which are reptiles, and whales that are
mammals. There are a large number of species
of freshwater fish found in our Indian rivers and
lakes that are now threatened by the introduction
of fish from abroad as well as due to being introduced
from one river into another. Fish are
also now seriously affected by pollution. Marine
fisheries are being over harvested in our
coastal waters and the fish catch has decreased
seriously over the last few years. Mechanized
boats with giant, small-meshed nets are a major
cause of depleting this resource. There are
many endangered fish such as the Mahseer
which once grew to over a meter in length.
Many species of marine animals such as the
whales, sharks and dolphins that live in the
Indian Ocean are now threatened by extinction
due to fishing in the deep sea.
Amphibia:
Most of the amphibians found in India are frogs and toads. These include several species like the Indian Bull frog, Tree frog, etc. These amphibians are mostly found in the hotspots in the Northeast and the Western Ghats. It is now thought that global warming and increasing lev-els of UV radiation may be seriously affecting amphibian populations in some areas.
Invertebrates:
Invertebrates include a variety of taxa that inhabit both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Microscopic animals like protozoa and zooplankton form the basis of the food chain in aquatic habitats. Coral is formed by colonies of polyp like animals. Worms, molluscs (snails), spiders, crabs, jellyfish, octopus are a few of the better known invertebrates found in India.There are more than a million insect species on earth that are known to science. They include grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, ants, bees, butterflies and moths. India is rich in its butterfly and moth species.
Marine Life:
Marine ecosystems are most frequently associated
with fish and crustacea like crabs and
shrimp, which we use as food. The other species
that are endangered include the marine
turtles, which are reptiles, and whales that are
mammals. There are a large number of species
of freshwater fish found in our Indian rivers and
lakes that are now threatened by the introduction
of fish from abroad as well as due to being introduced
from one river into another. Fish are
also now seriously affected by pollution. Marine
fisheries are being over harvested in our
coastal waters and the fish catch has decreased
seriously over the last few years. Mechanized
boats with giant, small-meshed nets are a major
cause of depleting this resource. There are
many endangered fish such as the Mahseer
which once grew to over a meter in length.
Many species of marine animals such as the
whales, sharks and dolphins that live in the
Indian Ocean are now threatened by extinction
due to fishing in the deep sea.
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