Question

Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?

Answer 1

• India supports the growth of large variety of species of flora and fauna. The main reason is that India has favourable climate and varied topographic conditions like plains, plateaus, mountains etc.
  
• India is a diversified country with vast variety of flora and fauna. The main factors responsible for distribution of flora and fauna are favourable topography, availability of mineral, freshwater resources, suitable climatic conditions and soil fertility.
  
• From the recent estimates 47,000 species of flora are found in this country so far. Of the estimated 47,000 plant species, about 15,000 flowering species are endemic (indigenous) to India.
  
• India has approximately 90,000 species of animals, 2,000 bird species, which constitutes 13% of world fauna. Apart from this there are 2,546 fish species which represent 12% of world’s fatal marine life. India also has 5 to 8 percent of world’s reptiles, amphibians and mammals.