BIOGEOGRAPHIC ZONES OF

INDIA
THE HIMALAYAS
The Himalayas consist of the youngest and loftiest mountain chains in the
world. The Himalayas have attained a unique personality owing to their
high altitude, steep gradient and rich temperate flora.Oak, chestnut,
conifer, ash, pine, deodar are abundant in Himalayas. Chief species
include wild sheep, mountain goats, ibex, shrew, and tapir.
THE THAR DESERT
This region consists of parts of Rajasthan, Kutch, Delhi and parts of
Gujarat. The climate is characterised by very hot and dry summer and
cold winter. Rainfall is less than 70 cm. The plants are mostly
xerophytic. Babul, Kikar, wild palm grows in areas of moderate rainfall.
TRANS-HIMALAYAN REGON
The Himalayan ranges immediately north of the Great
Himalayan range are called the Trans- Himalayas. The Trans-
Himalayan region with its sparse vegetation h as the richest
THE GANGETIC PLAIN wild sheep and goat community in the world.The faunal
In the North is the Gangetic plain extending up to groups best represented here are wild sheep and goats (chief
the Himalayan foothills. This is the largest unit of
ancestral stock), ibex, snow leopard, marbled cat, marmots
the Great Plain of India. The aggradational Great
and black-necked crane.
Plains cover about 72.4mha area with the Ganga
and the Brahmaputra. The trees belonging to
these forests are teak, sal, shisham, mahua
etc.The fauna includes elephants, black buck,
gazelle, rhinoceros, Bengal fl orican, crocodile,
freshwater turtle .

Indian Bustard, a highly endangered bird is found here. Camels, wild

asses, foxes, and snakes are found in hot and arid parts of the desert. NORTH-EAST
North-east India is one of the richest flora regions in
SEMI ARID the country. It has several species of orchids,
Adjoining the desert are the semi-arid areas, a transitional bamboos, ferns and other plants. Here the wild
zone between the desert and the denser forests of the relatives of cultivated plants such as banana, mango,
Western Ghats. The natural vegetation is thorn forest. This citrus and pepper can be grown.Mammalian fauna
region is characterized by discontinuous vegetation cover with includes 390 species of which 63% are found in
open areas of bare soil and soil-water deficit throughout the Assam. The area is rich in smaller carnivores. The
year country's highest population of elephants are found
here.
THE COASTS
India has a coastline extending over 7,516. 4 km.It has
WESTERN GHATS sandy beaches,mangroves,mud flats,coral reefs and
The mountains along the west coast of peninsular India are the Western DECCAN PENINSULA marine angiosperm pastures which make them the
Ghats. The mountains rise to average altitudes between 900 and 1500 m It is India's largest Bio-geographical wealth and health zones of India.The backwaters are the
above sea level Western Ghats are amongst the 25 biodiversity hot-spots region. The highlands of the plateau characteristic features of this coast.
recognized globally.Significant secies endemic to this region include Nilgiri are covered with diff erent types of
langur,lion tailed Macaque,malabar grey Hornbill.The Travancore tortoise and forests.The Deccan plateau includes the
Cane turtle are endangered taxa restricted to tis area. region lying south of the
Satpura range.it extends up to th e
ISLANDS
The Two groups of islands, i.e., the Arabian Sea islands and Bay
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southern tip of peninsular

India.Fauna like tiger, sloth bear, wild
boar, sambar and chital are found
throughout the zone along with wild
buff aloes.
Islands. In India endemic island biodivesity is found only
here.The Andaman water monitor, giant robber crab, 4 species of
turtles, wild boar, Andaman day gecko and the harmless
Andaman water snake are found only in these islands. Coral
reefs are stretched over in the Andamans and Nicobar.