Saturday, April 23, 2011

INDIAN CAMEL


INDIAN CAMEL

Classification
 
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Camelidae
Genus : Camelus
Zoological name : Camelus bactrianus
Found In : Kaziranga and Desert National Park in India


Indian Camel Physical appearance : Indian Camel is 6 feet long and weighs around 700 kg. It is 7 feet high from its hump. It tail is 50 cm long. It is characterized by long curved neck, large mouth and high hump. They are usually brown or black in colour. Camel's nasal passages are properly covered with the large muscular nostrils. Camels have thin, long and powerful legs. They have large eyes with long eyelashes and bushy eyebrows.but small ears. Indian camels have broad, flat and leathery pads with two toes on each foot with leathery patches on their knees.

Species : Camelus bactrianus, Camelus dromedarius, Camelus gigas, Camelus hesternus, Camelus sivalensis

Presence in India : India Camel is mostly found in the North Western part of India.They are also spotted in the Kaziranga and Desert National Park.

Habitat : Camels mostly prefer dry places.

Diet : Camels are herbivorous. They feed on grass, grains, wheat, oats, dried leaves, and seeds . As their humps contain fat, they can go without food for 3-4 days.

Reproduction : Camels reach the level of sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age. The gestation period lasts for 13 months after which the a single calf is born. The calves start walking within two hours of birth.

Conservation status : IUCN Red List of Threatened species.

Lifespan : Camel lives up to the 40 years of age.

  

INDIAN ELEPHANT

INDIAN ELEPHANT

Classification
 
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Proboscidea
Family : Elephantidae
Genus : Elephas
Species: E. maximus
Zoological name : Elephas maximus
Found In : Manas, Cobett and Periyar National Park in India


Indian Elephant Physical appearance : The average height of the Indian Elephant is estimated to be about 7 to 12 feet and weighs anything between 3,600 kg to 5000 kg. The length of their head and body is around 550 to 640 cm and shoulder height is 250 to300 cm. They have thick and dry skin. The colour of their skin varies from grey to brown. They have smaller ears which are straight at the bottom, an arched back and a single finger like proturbance that is located at the tip of the trunk. Their brain weigh around 5kg.They have unique modified incisor teeth known as tusks. Their heart beat 28 times a minute. They are considered as the endangered species.

Presence in India : The Indian Elephants are found in the wild in the dense forested areas of India including tropical forests of South India, North East India and the Sub Himalayan Region. Manas, Corbett, Dalma and Palamu, Bandipur and Nagarhole, Periyar and Madumalai are the best places to watch the Asian Elephants in its natural habitat.

Habitat : Indian Elephants live in different habitat in open grassland, marshes and savannas. They can also be found in jungles, water sources and mountainous regions.

Diet : The Indian Elephants mostly feeds on a wide variety of grasses. They are also dependent upon cultivated crops, bark, root, twigs, fruits and leaves. They are one among the herbivorous animals. An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day.

Reproduction :There is no specific mating season for the Indian Elephants. Both males ans females become sexually mature at about 14 years of age. The gestation period is usually 20- 22 months and the females have the capability of giving birth to a calf in every four to five years. At birth elephants can be one meter tall and weigh around ninety kilograms. They can stand soon after the birth. Female elephants supervise their young ones for several years after weaning.

Conservation status : The population of the Indian Elephants lies somewhere between 38,000 and 51,000. They have been continuously haunted by the people for the food, for ivory and for the domestic stock. They have suffered the great habitat loss due to the deforestation and agriculture.

Lifespan : Lifespan of the Indian Elephants is about 70 years.

 

INDIAN LEOPARD

INDIAN LEOPARD

Classification
 
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Genus : Panthera
Species: P. pardus
Zoological name : Panthera pardus
Found In : Corbett National Park, Kaziranga National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve


Indian Leopard Physical appearance : Their head is larger than their body. Male weigh around 91 kg and the females weigh around 60 kg. It has long dark tail measuring 3 feet. Males are usually larger than the females. The leopard's coat has a background color of pale, cream-yellow on its underside that darkens slightly to an orange-brown on its back. It has short eyes and broad paws. They have dark spots on their face, head, throat, chest, and legs. The rest of their body is covered in "rosettes".

Presence in India : Indian Leopards are easily spotted in the Corbett National Park, Kaziranga National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary.

Habitat : Indian Leopards prefer dry deciduous forests, desert ecosystems, tropical rainforests and northern coniferous forests.

Diet : Indian Leopards are carnivorous. They feed on monkeys, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, wild pigs, wild boars and many more.

Reproduction :Indian Leopards mate through out the year. Females give birth to two cubs per litter. Cubs are weaned at about 4 months of age. New born open up their eyes between eight to tenth day of the birth.

Conservation status : Critically endangered

Lifespan : Indian Leopards live u to the 21 -23 years of age. 



 
  

INDIAN LION

INDIAN LION
Classification
 
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Genus : P.leo
Species: P. l. persica
Zoological name : P. l. persica
Found In : Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and Lion Sanctuary in India


Indian Lion Physical appearance : Indian Lion is 8 -9 feet long and weighs around 200- 250 kg. It is 2.5 – 2.9 m tall. It has a majestic mane and a big tail tuft. It has large elbows. Total length of their tail ranges from 70 -105 cm.

Presence in India : Indian Lions are mostly found in North western and central parts of India and are easily spotted in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Lion Sanctuary.

Habitat : Indian Lion prefers grasslands, shrub and open deciduous forests.

Diet : Indian Lion is carnivorous and feeds on Nilgai, Wild pig, Chital, Sambar, goats and camels.

Reproduction :Indian Lions reach the level of sexual maturity in 3- 4 years of age. Their breeding season rests between October to November. The gestation period rests for 31 – 2 months after which the females give birth to 3- 4 cubs.

Conservation status : Critically endangered. They are being widely killed by the tribal people for meat.

Lifespan : Longevity of the Indian Lion exceeds to 12 – 16 years. Females have longer lifespan than the males.

INDIAN RHINO

INDIAN RHINO

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Rhinocerotidae
Genus : Rhinoceros
Species: R. unicornis
Zoological name : Rhinoceros unicorn
Found In : Kaziranga National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park in India


Indian Rhino Physical appearance : Indian Rhinoceros is silver brown in colour and has folds all over its body. Both male and female rhinoceros have one horn. Males weigh around 2200 kg while the females weigh around 1600 kg. Male rhino is 1.8 m tall while the females are 1.6 m tall. They do not have hairs on their body. Their horn is 20 -61 cm long. It has well developed incisor teeth and two long canine teeth in its lower jaw. They have poor eyesight.

Presence in India : Indian Rhinos are mostly found in the North eastern parts of India especially Assam and the foothills of the Himalayas. Indian Rhinos can also be spotted in the Kaziranga and Bandhavgarh National Park in India.

Habitat : Indian Rhinos prefers tropical bush lands, riverine grasslands, marshy low lands and reed beds.

Diet : Indian Rhinoceros is herbivorous. They feed on fruits, twigs, leaves, cultivated crops, shrubs and aquatic plants.

Reproduction :Females attain sexual maturity at 4 years of age and the males attain the sexual maturity at 8 years of age. They mate throughout the year. Gestation period rests for 462- 491 days after which the female give birth to single rhino calf. New born do not have horn. They are weaned around 18 months.

Conservation status : Endangered species

Lifespan : Lifespan of the Indian Rhinos is about 47 years.

Friday, April 22, 2011

NEELGAI

NEELGAI

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Subfamily : Bovinae
Genus : Boselaphus
Species: B. tragocamelus
Zoological name : Boselaphus tragocamelus
Found In : SariskaTiger Reserve, Ranthambore National Park and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary


NeelgaiPhysical appearance : Neelgai is 6- 7 feet long and weigh around 120 -240 kg. They are 4- 5 feet tall. They have erectile mane on the nape and back and the hair pennant in the middle of the underside of the neck. They have white spot on their cheeks, lips and throat Along the underside is a thin white stripe, which "balloons" at the rear. They have long and slender head. Males have 8 -10 inch long horns. It has relatively small horns. Their tail is 40- 45 cm long.Male coat is gray blue and female coat is yellow brown in colour.

Presence in India : Neelgai are widely found in the jungles of Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam and Haryana. They are also commonly seen in some of the National parks and wildlife Sanctuaries such as Sariska, Ranthambore, Panna and Sultanpur.

Habitat : Neelgai prefers to live in open plains, woodlands, dense jungles and grasslands.

Diet : Neelgai feeds on plants, seeds, branches, leaves, fruit, flowers, stems and buds.

Reproduction : Neelgai reach the level of sexual maturity in 18 months. They do not have any specific breeding season. The gestation period rests for 275 days. Usually twins are born at a time. Young ones weigh around 30 -35 pounds.

Conservation status : Declared by the IUCN as being at low risk of extinction.

Lifespan : Neelgai lives up to 20- 30 years of age.

ROYAL BENGAL TIGER

ROYAL BENGAL TIGER

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Genus : Panthera
Subspecies: P. t. tigris
Species: P.tigris
Zoological name : Panthera tigris tigris
Found In : Corbett, Manas, Bandipur, Sariska, Kanha, Ranthambore and Sundarbans National Park.


Royal Bengal Tiger Physical appearance : Royal Bengal Tigers are 6 - 9 feet long and weigh around 400- 600 pounds. They have large head, big ears and thick whickers. Its fur are reddish gold in colour. They have stripes all over their body. Males are usually larger than the females. Their tail is 3 feet long. They have large padded paws with retractable claws. They have white spot on the back of their ears, which looks like eyes. Bengal Tigers have great vision and strong sense of smell.

Presence in India : Royal Bengal Tigers are easily found in the jungles of West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They are also spotted in some of the major National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India such as Corbett, Manas, Bandipur, Sariska, Kanha, Ranthambore and Sundarbans National Park.

Habitat : Royal Bengal Tigers prefers dense forests and lush grasslands.

Diet : Bengal Tigers are carnivorous. They feed on large variety of mammals such as deer, antelope, pigs, buffaloes, humans, wild boars, gaurs, hares, monkeys, wild ox, langur, peacocks, wolves, crocodiles, dholes and many more.

Reproduction :Bengal Tiger reach the level of sexual maturity in 3- 4 years of age. They usually mate during the spring season. Gestation period rests for 95 -112days after which the tigress give birth to two to four cubs.

Conservation status : Highly endangered

Lifespan : Lifespan of the Royal Bengal Tigers exceeds up to the 15 years of age.