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WESTERN GHATS
Along the south-western coast of India lies the western ghats mountain range. These ranges are known for their rich bio-diveristy and natural heritage. The mountains intercept the rain-bearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, hence known also as monsoon mountains.
It covers an approximate area of 160,000 square km.
- It consist of 25% of the India's biodiversity.
- Consist of 140 mammal species, 510 birds, 260 reptiles, 180 amphibian species.
- The western ghats are home to more than 5000 species of plants and about 35% of these are endemic to this area. Some plants have been discovered very recently in the last decade. The Semecarpus Kathalekanensis is among them. The ghats are also home to special kind of fresh water swamps known as Myristica swamps. An indicator of these swamps is an endemic palm found along the stream.
- A large number of herbivores also make the ghats their home due to this abundant vegetation. And the Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is one of them. It is a high altitude dweller and is found mostly in grasslands above 1,200 meters.
- One flagship bird of the western-ghats, the Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) is found motly on treetops of fruiting trees. Though figs form a major part of their diet, they do sometimes feed on fish and small mammals.
- A group of frogs known as bush frogs are mostly found on sitting on leaves and calling for their mates. 9 bush frogs have been discovered in the year 2011 alone.
