Kerala Flora and Fauna

Much of Kerala‘s notable biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the eastern hills. Almost a fourth of India’s 10,000 plant species are found in the state. Among the almost 4,000 flowering plant species (1,272 of which are endemic to Kerala and 159 threatened) are 900 species of highly sought medicinal plants.

Its 9,400 km┬▓ of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevationsΓÇö3,470 km┬▓), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevationsΓÇö4,100 km┬▓ and 100 km┬▓, respectively), and montane subtropical and temperate ( shola ) forests (highest elevationsΓÇö100 km┬▓). Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested Two of the world’s Ramsar Convention listed wetlandsΓÇöLake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlandsΓÇöare in Kerala , as well as 1455.4 km┬▓ of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century, much of the remaining forest cover is now protected from clearfelling. Kerala ‘s fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: 102 species of mammals (56 of which are endemic), 476 species of birds, 202 species of freshwater fishes, 169 species of reptiles (139 of them endemic), and 89 species of amphibians (86 endemic). These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, salinization, and resource extraction.

Eastern Kerala‘s windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests, which are common in the Western Ghats. Here, sonokeling (Indian rosewood), anjili , mullumurikku ( Erythrina ), and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala . Other plants include bamboo, wild black pepper, wild cardamom, the calamus rattan palm (a type of climbing palm), and aromatic vetiver grass ( Vetiveria zizanioides ). Living among them are such fauna as Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Leopard ( Panthera pardus ), Nilgiri Tahr, Common Palm Civet, and Grizzled Giant Squirrel. Reptiles include the king cobra, viper, python, and crocodile. Kerala‘s birds are legionΓÇöPeafowl, the Great Hornbill, Indian Grey Hornbill, Indian Cormorant, and Jungle Myna are several emblematic species. In lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as kadu (stinging catfish and Choottachi (Orange chromideΓÇö Etroplus maculatus ; valued as an aquarium specimen) are found.