Flora and Fauna of India and Andhra Pradesh

What to remember

• India has seven broad forest groups, from wet evergreen forests of heavy rain areas to thorn forests of dry areas. Andhra Pradesh mainly has dry deciduous, scrub and thorn forests, with mangroves on the coast.
• Protection works at three levels: law (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972), protected areas (national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, tiger reserves) and special projects (Project Tiger, Project Elephant).
• State symbols are favourite exam facts. Andhra Pradesh: blackbuck (animal), rose-ringed parakeet or Rama Chiluka (bird, since 2018), jasmine (flower), neem (tree).

Vegetation types of India

Plants grow based on rainfall, temperature, soil and height above sea level. India has a very wide range of climates, so it has a very wide range of forests. The common classification has these main groups.

• 1. Tropical wet evergreen forests. Found where rainfall is very high, as in the Western Ghats, the north-eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Trees are tall, dense, and keep leaves all year. Examples: ebony, mahogany, rosewood.
• 2. Tropical semi-evergreen forests. A mix of evergreen and deciduous trees in areas with slightly less rain.
• 3. Tropical moist deciduous forests. Trees shed leaves for a short dry period. Teak and sal are the best-known trees. These are commercially very important.
• 4. Tropical dry deciduous forests. Found in areas with moderate to low rainfall. Teak, sal, bamboo, Indian rosewood and red sanders are examples in the peninsula.
• 5. Tropical thorn and scrub forests. Found in dry regions. Trees are short, with thorns and deep roots. Babul (acacia), cactus-type plants and khair are examples.
• 6. Montane (mountain) forests. Vegetation changes with height. Oak, chestnut, deodar, fir, spruce and rhododendron are examples.
• 7. Littoral and swamp (mangrove) forests. Grow in salty tidal water along coasts and river mouths. Roots stand out of mud and help breathing (pneumatophores). The Sundarbans in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta is the largest mangrove area. The name of the tree "sundari" gave the region its name.

Forests and plants of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has a long coast, the Eastern Ghats, the Nallamala and Seshachalam hills, and river deltas. Because of this, it has several kinds of vegetation.

• Dry deciduous forests cover large hill areas. Common trees: teak, terminalia, neem, tamarind, bamboo and Indian kino (vengai).
• Scrub and thorn forests are found in drier inland parts, especially Rayalaseema.
• Mangroves grow in the Godavari and Krishna deltas. Coringa and the Krishna estuary are the best-known mangrove areas.
• Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus, Erra Chandanam) is an endemic tree. It grows naturally only in a limited area of the Eastern Ghats hills, mainly the Seshachalam and Nallamala region. It is highly valued for its wood and is protected by strict rules against felling and smuggling.
• Medicinal plants and non-timber produce such as tamarind, honey, soapnut and gum are collected by tribal communities like the Chenchu in the Nallamala forest.
• Kolleru is a large freshwater lake between the Godavari and Krishna deltas. It is a Ramsar wetland and an important place for migratory birds.

Fauna of India

India is among the countries with very rich biodiversity. Major animals include the tiger, Asiatic lion (only in Gir, Gujarat), one-horned rhinoceros (Assam and parts of the north-east), Asian elephant, leopard, gharial, king cobra, Indian bison (gaur) and many birds. The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal.

Fauna and protected areas of Andhra Pradesh

• Animals: tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog (dhole), spotted deer, sambar, chousingha, blackbuck, pangolin, slender loris, jackal and star tortoise.
• Birds: pelican, painted stork, flamingo, spoonbill, ibis, egret. The Nelapattu and Pulicat areas are famous for these. Pulicat is a large coastal lagoon shared with Tamil Nadu.
• Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam) Tiger Reserve lies in the Nallamala hills. It is one of the biggest tiger reserves in India by area.
• Sri Venkateswara National Park lies in the Seshachalam hills. Papikonda National Park lies along the Godavari gorge. Rollapadu is known for the great Indian bustard. Sri Lankamalleswara is known for Jerdon's courser, a rare bird. Coringa is a mangrove wildlife sanctuary on the Kakinada coast. Kambalakonda is a sanctuary near Visakhapatnam. Koundinya is an elephant sanctuary in the south of the state. Seshachalam is the biosphere reserve.

Conservation tools and laws

In-situ conservation means protecting species in their natural homes (national parks, sanctuaries). Ex-situ conservation means protecting outside the natural home (zoos, seed banks, botanical gardens).

Biodiversity hotspots are areas with many endemic species that are under threat. Parts of India fall in four of them: the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands). Endemic species are those found only in a particular area.

Difference between national park and sanctuary: A national park has stronger protection and allows no grazing or private rights. A sanctuary may allow some human activity, such as grazing, under rules.

More about adaptation and habitats

Plants and animals adapt to the place where they live. In dry thorn forests, leaves are small or turned into spines, so the plant loses less water. In mangroves, roots rise above the mud to take in air, and many seeds sprout while still on the tree. In the cold mountain forests, conifers have a cone shape and needle leaves so that snow slides off. Animals also adapt: the blackbuck runs fast on open grassland, while the slender loris is a night animal that lives in trees.

Wetlands are lands that are wet for much or all of the year. Lakes, lagoons, river deltas, mangroves and marshes all count. They filter water, store flood water and give food and shelter to birds and fish. India has many wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention, and Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh is one of them. Coastal wetlands such as Pulicat and the Godavari-Krishna delta are also winter homes of birds that fly from colder lands. Birds that travel long distances each year are called migratory birds.

Threats to biodiversity: loss of habitat because of farming and building, hunting and poaching, smuggling of valuable wood such as red sanders, pollution, climate change and invasive plants that crowd out local ones. Human and animal conflict increases when forests shrink. Corridors that join forest patches help elephants and tigers move safely.

Forest cover and community role: Local communities, including tribal groups, help protect forests through joint forest management. Under this idea the forest department and village groups share duties and benefits. Social forestry means planting trees on village and farm land to reduce pressure on natural forests.

Exam traps

• 1. Tiger vs lion: Tiger is the national animal. Asiatic lions live only in Gir.
• 2. National bird vs AP state bird: Peacock is national. The rose-ringed parakeet (Rama Chiluka) has been the AP state bird since 2018; the Indian roller (Palapitta) is Telangana's state bird.
• 3. Blackbuck vs chinkara: Blackbuck is the AP state animal. Chinkara is a different gazelle.
• 4. National park vs biosphere reserve: A biosphere reserve has three zones and includes human settlements in buffer or transition areas.
• 5. Project Tiger vs Project Elephant: 1973 and 1992. Do not swap them.
• 6. Ramsar vs CITES: Ramsar is about wetlands. CITES is about trade in species.
• 7. In-situ vs ex-situ: Zoo is ex-situ. National park is in-situ.
• 8. Red sanders vs sandalwood: Red sanders is Pterocarpus. Sandalwood is Santalum album, a different tree.

One-liners

• 1. Sundarbans is the largest mangrove area of India.
• 2. Wildlife Protection Act was passed in 1972.
• 3. Project Tiger began in 1973.
• 4. Project Elephant began in 1992.
• 5. National aquatic animal is the Ganges river dolphin.
• 6. AP state animal is the blackbuck.
• 7. AP state flower is jasmine.
• 8. AP state tree is neem.
• 9. Kolleru is a Ramsar wetland of freshwater.
• 10. Seshachalam is a biosphere reserve in AP.
• 11. Red sanders is endemic to the Eastern Ghats hills of AP.
• 12. Chenchu is the tribe linked to the Nallamala forest.

Practice questions

1. Which animal is the state animal of Andhra Pradesh?

   1. Nilgai
   2. Blackbuck
   3. Sambar
   4. Chinkara
   Answer

   B. Blackbuck

   The blackbuck is the state animal of Andhra Pradesh.

2. The Indian roller, known locally as Palapitta, is the state bird of which state among the following?

   1. Gujarat
   2. Assam
   3. Kerala
   4. Andhra Pradesh
   Answer

   D. Andhra Pradesh

   Indian roller (Palapitta) is the state bird of Andhra Pradesh.

3. Which tree is the state tree of Andhra Pradesh?

   1. Teak
   2. Neem
   3. Peepal
   4. Banyan
   Answer

   B. Neem

   Neem is the state tree of Andhra Pradesh.

4. Which one is the national aquatic animal of India?

   1. Gharial
   2. Ganges river dolphin
   3. Olive ridley turtle
   4. Saltwater crocodile
   Answer

   B. Ganges river dolphin

   The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal.

5. Which is the largest mangrove region of India?

   1. Bhitarkanika
   2. Pichavaram
   3. Coringa
   4. Sundarbans
   Answer

   D. Sundarbans

   The Sundarbans in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta is the largest mangrove area.

6. Project Tiger was launched in which year?

   1. 1980
   2. 1973
   3. 1992
   4. 1972
   Answer

   B. 1973

   Project Tiger began in 1973; the Wildlife Protection Act was 1972.

7. Project Elephant was launched in which year?

   1. 2005
   2. 1986
   3. 1973
   4. 1992
   Answer

   D. 1992

   Project Elephant was started in 1992.

8. Which tree is endemic to the Eastern Ghats hills of Andhra Pradesh and famous for its red wood?

   1. Rosewood
   2. Red sanders
   3. Teak
   4. Sandalwood
   Answer

   B. Red sanders

   Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus, Erra Chandanam) is endemic to a limited Eastern Ghats area of AP.

9. Which freshwater lake between the Godavari and Krishna deltas is a Ramsar wetland?

   1. Pulicat
   2. Loktak
   3. Chilika
   4. Kolleru
   Answer

   D. Kolleru

   Kolleru is a large freshwater Ramsar lake in coastal AP.

10. The Asiatic lion is found in the wild only in which place?

    1. Sundarbans
    2. Gir forest
    3. Nallamala hills
    4. Kaziranga
    Answer

    B. Gir forest

    Asiatic lions live naturally only in the Gir region of Gujarat.

11. Which forest type has teak and sal as its best-known trees?

    1. Tropical wet evergreen
    2. Mangrove
    3. Montane
    4. Tropical moist deciduous
    Answer

    D. Tropical moist deciduous

    Teak and sal are typical of moist deciduous forests.

12. Which of the following is the national tree of India?

    1. Banyan
    2. Neem
    3. Mango
    4. Peepal
    Answer

    A. Banyan

    The banyan is the national tree.

13. Mangrove trees show special roots standing out of the mud. What are these roots called?

    1. Tap roots
    2. Prop roots
    3. Stilt buds
    4. Pneumatophores
    Answer

    D. Pneumatophores

    Pneumatophores are breathing roots of mangroves.

14. Which tribe is closely associated with the Nallamala forest?

    1. Santhal
    2. Bhil
    3. Chenchu
    4. Gond
    Answer

    C. Chenchu

    The Chenchu live in the Nallamala forest and collect forest produce.

15. Which protected area in Andhra Pradesh lies along the Godavari gorge?

    1. Kambalakonda
    2. Papikonda National Park
    3. Sri Venkateswara National Park
    4. Rollapadu
    Answer

    B. Papikonda National Park

    Papikonda National Park lies along the Godavari gorge.

16. Rollapadu sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh is known for protecting which bird?

    1. Great Indian bustard
    2. Pelican
    3. Flamingo
    4. Painted stork
    Answer

    A. Great Indian bustard

    Rollapadu is known for the great Indian bustard.

17. Jerdon's courser, a rare bird, is protected at which sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Sri Lankamalleswara
    2. Coringa
    3. Nelapattu
    4. Atapaka
    Answer

    A. Sri Lankamalleswara

    Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary is linked with Jerdon's courser.

18. Which one is a biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Manas
    2. Simlipal
    3. Seshachalam
    4. Gir
    Answer

    C. Seshachalam

    Seshachalam is a biosphere reserve in AP.

19. Pulicat lagoon is shared by Andhra Pradesh and which other state?

    1. Kerala
    2. Tamil Nadu
    3. Karnataka
    4. Odisha
    Answer

    B. Tamil Nadu

    Pulicat is a coastal lagoon shared with Tamil Nadu.

20. Which law gives species-wise schedules of protection in India, with Schedule I as the highest protection?

    1. Environment Protection Act, 1986
    2. Forest Act, 1927
    3. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
    4. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
    Answer

    D. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

    The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 contains schedules, with Schedule I the highest.

21. Which convention is concerned with the protection of wetlands of international importance?

    1. Basel Convention
    2. Ramsar Convention
    3. CITES
    4. Montreal Protocol
    Answer

    B. Ramsar Convention

    Ramsar is the wetlands convention; CITES deals with trade in species.

22. Zoos and seed banks are examples of which type of conservation?

    1. Habitat
    2. Community
    3. Ex-situ
    4. In-situ
    Answer

    C. Ex-situ

    Conservation outside the natural habitat is ex-situ.

23. A farmer's cattle graze regularly inside a protected area under permitted rules. This is most likely allowed in which type of area?

    1. Core area of a tiger reserve
    2. Strict nature reserve
    3. National park
    4. Wildlife sanctuary
    Answer

    D. Wildlife sanctuary

    Sanctuaries may allow some rights such as grazing under rules; national parks do not.

24. A tall dense forest with evergreen trees such as ebony and mahogany is found in a region of very heavy rain. Which forest type is this?

    1. Tropical wet evergreen forest
    2. Thorn forest
    3. Mangrove forest
    4. Dry deciduous forest
    Answer

    A. Tropical wet evergreen forest

    Ebony and mahogany belong to tropical wet evergreen forests.

25. Short trees with thorns, deep roots and acacia and khair are typical of which forest type?

    1. Tropical thorn and scrub forest
    2. Montane forest
    3. Wet evergreen forest
    4. Moist deciduous forest
    Answer

    A. Tropical thorn and scrub forest

    Thorny short trees are typical of dry thorn and scrub forests.

26. Which forest type is common on the hills of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Wet evergreen
    2. Alpine meadow
    3. Coniferous
    4. Dry deciduous
    Answer

    D. Dry deciduous

    Dry deciduous forest is the main type of AP's hills.

27. Which of the following is a biodiversity hotspot that includes part of the Nicobar Islands?

    1. Caribbean
    2. Sundaland
    3. Mediterranean basin
    4. Cape Floristic
    Answer

    B. Sundaland

    Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland hotspot.

28. Species that are found only in one particular region and nowhere else are called what?

    1. Exotic
    2. Keystone
    3. Endemic
    4. Migratory
    Answer

    C. Endemic

    Endemic species occur only in a specific area.

29. A biosphere reserve differs from a national park mainly because it has what?

    1. Core, buffer and transition zones
    2. Only one core area
    3. No legal boundary
    4. Only marine area
    Answer

    A. Core, buffer and transition zones

    Biosphere reserves have three zones, with human use allowed in outer zones.

30. Which of the following is the national reptile of India?

    1. Gharial
    2. Indian python
    3. Monitor lizard
    4. King cobra
    Answer

    D. King cobra

    The king cobra is the national reptile.

31. Which animal is the national heritage animal of India?

    1. Tiger
    2. Elephant
    3. Lion
    4. Rhinoceros
    Answer

    B. Elephant

    The elephant is the national heritage animal.

32. Which of the following is a coastal mangrove wildlife sanctuary of Andhra Pradesh on the Kakinada coast?

    1. Nelapattu
    2. Kolleru
    3. Coringa
    4. Rollapadu
    Answer

    C. Coringa

    Coringa is the mangrove sanctuary near Kakinada.

33. Consider the statements. 1. Project Tiger started in 1973. 2. Project Elephant started in 1992. Which is/are correct?

    1. Both 1 and 2
    2. 1 only
    3. 2 only
    4. Neither
    Answer

    A. Both 1 and 2

    Both dates are correct.

34. Consider the statements. 1. Red sanders and sandalwood are the same tree. 2. Red sanders is the species Pterocarpus santalinus. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    They are different trees; red sanders is Pterocarpus santalinus.

35. Consider the statements. 1. National parks allow grazing under rules. 2. Biosphere reserves have core, buffer and transition zones. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. Both 1 and 2
    3. Neither
    4. 2 only
    Answer

    D. 2 only

    Grazing is not allowed in national parks; biosphere reserves have three zones.

36. Consider the statements. 1. Ramsar Convention deals with trade in endangered species. 2. CITES deals with wetlands. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither
    Answer

    D. Neither

    The two are swapped: Ramsar is for wetlands and CITES for trade in species.

37. Consider the statements. 1. Mangroves grow in salty tidal water. 2. Sundarbans lies in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Neither
    4. Both 1 and 2
    Answer

    D. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

38. Consider the statements. 1. Blackbuck is the AP state animal. 2. Jasmine is the AP state flower. Which is/are correct?

    1. Both 1 and 2
    2. 1 only
    3. 2 only
    4. Neither
    Answer

    A. Both 1 and 2

    Both are AP state symbols.

39. Consider the statements. 1. In-situ conservation protects species in their natural homes. 2. A botanical garden is an in-situ method. Which is/are correct?

    1. Both 1 and 2
    2. 1 only
    3. 2 only
    4. Neither
    Answer

    B. 1 only

    A botanical garden is ex-situ, so only statement 1 is correct.

40. Match the forest area with its tree: 1. Montane - Deodar; 2. Mangrove - Sundari; 3. Moist deciduous - Teak. Which pairs are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. 1 and 3 only
    Answer

    C. 1, 2 and 3

    All three pairs are correct.

41. Match the national symbol with the species: 1. Bird - Peacock; 2. Flower - Lotus; 3. Fruit - Banana. Which pairs are correct?

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer

    B. 1 and 2 only

    National fruit is mango, so only 1 and 2 are correct.

42. Match: 1. Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam) Tiger Reserve - Nallamala hills; 2. Papikonda - Godavari gorge; 3. Coringa - Seshachalam hills. Which pairs are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer

    A. 1 and 2 only

    Coringa is a mangrove sanctuary on the coast, not in the Seshachalam hills.

43. Match: 1. Nelapattu - birds; 2. Rollapadu - great Indian bustard; 3. Koundinya - elephants. Which pairs are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer

    D. 1, 2 and 3

    All three pairs are correct.

44. Which of the following is a large coastal lagoon famous for flamingos and pelicans in the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu region?

    1. Chilika
    2. Wular
    3. Pulicat
    4. Kolleru
    Answer

    C. Pulicat

    Pulicat is a coastal lagoon known for migratory birds.

45. The slender loris, pangolin and star tortoise are examples of what in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Introduced weeds
    2. Marine fish
    3. Wildlife of the forests and scrub
    4. Crop pests
    Answer

    C. Wildlife of the forests and scrub

    They are forest and scrub wildlife found in the state.