India is home to a vast array of species of all shapes and sizes. From the Asian Elephant to the Great Indian hornbill, the country’s biodiversity is legendary. This article will list out the animal species of India, as well as the National Parks that are inhabited by some of them.
The information from this article will be useful in the UPSC Prelims exam.
Latest Context:
Ladakh Union Territory administration recently adopted Snow Leopard and Black-necked Crane as State animal and State bird, respectively. Till 5th August 2019, black-necked crane was the state bird of Jammu & Kashmir. The black necked crane is found in eastern Ladakh’s high-altitude wetlands and marshes and these birds arrive in March for breeding and migrate by October end or early November. In total, there are about 7,500 snow leopards left in the world, out of which 500 are in India. Out of that, the population of snow leopards is between 200-300 in Ladakh alone, according to few experts. This is the rationale behind the decision of adoption of snow leopard as the state animal of Ladakh and black-necked crane as the state bird of Ladakh.
To read more about the List of Indian State Birds, check the linked article.
Species in News – UPSC Notes:-Download PDF Here
| The following links will also be of immense help to the candidates in their preparation for the UPSC Exams |
List of Species of India in News [UPSC Prelims]
Below is the list of Animal Species in India, Latin name, and the subsequent locations within India:
Species of India in News – UPSC Notes
| Species Name | Latin Name | Location within India/Description | Conservation Status |
| Oriental Darter / Snakebird | Anhinga melanogaster |
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| Clouded Leopard | Neofelis nebulosa |
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| Indian Flapshell Turtle | Lissemys punctata |
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| Gharial | Gavialis gangeticus |
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| Bengal Florican / Bengal Bustard | Houbaropsis bengalensis |
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| Lesser Florican / Likh / Kharmore | Sypheotides indicus |
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| Olive Ridley Turtle | Lepidochelys olivacea |
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| Giant Leatherback Turtle / Lute Turtle | Dermochelys coriacea |
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| Ooceraea Joshii | Ooceraea joshii |
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Not Protected |
| Greater Adjutant Stork | Leptoptilos dubius |
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| Indian Star Tortoise | Geochelone elegans |
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| Houbara Bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii |
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| Euphranta Siruvani | Euphranta siruvani |
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Not Protected |
| Indian Pangolin | Manis crassicaudata |
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| Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus |
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| Red Panda | Ailurus fulgens |
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| Caracal | Caracal caracal |
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| Himalayan Brown Bear | Ursus arctos isabellinus |
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| Asiatic Lion | Panthera leo leo | Gir Sanctuary, Gujarat |
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| Lion Tailed Macaque | Macaca silenus | Western Ghats |
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| Sloth Bear | Melursus ursinus | Western Ghats, Karnataka |
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| Indian Flying Fox | Pteropus giganteus | The entirety of Indian Subcontinent |
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| Indian Rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis |
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| Nilgai (Asian Antelope) | Boselaphus tragocamelus | Range from foothills of the Himalayan Mountains southward to Mysore. |
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| Hoolock Gibbons | Hylobates hoolock | Arunachal Pradesh and Assam |
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| Snow Leopard | Panthera uncia |
Read more to know the List of Indian State Animals 2023, from the linked article. |
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| Blackbuck | Antilope cervicapra |
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| Indian Leopard | Panthera pardus fusca |
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| Asian Elephant | Elephas maximus |
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| Great Indian Bustard | Ardeotis nigriceps | Dry grasslands of India but mainly found in Rajasthan |
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| Himalayan Ibex | Capra sibirica hemalayanus | Found in the Himalayas to 5500 m |
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| The Gaur | Bos gaurus | Western Ghats and their outflanking hills in southern India |
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| Great Indian Hornbill | Buceros bicornis | Western Ghats and in the forests along the Himalayas |
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| Black Necked Crane | Grus nigricollis |
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| Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus |
Read more about re-introduction of the Cheetah in India in the linked article. |
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Find previous years’ UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology questions by visiting the linked article.
For more information about upcoming Government Exams, visit the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials will be found through the links given below:
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