Biodiversity
India and CBD
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Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. It includes the variability of species in terrestrial, aerial and aquatic habitats, the diversity of ecosystems and the diversity of genes they harbor. It is an essential component of the nature and it ensures the survival of human species by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. Indirectly, biodiversity serves the humans by providing the basic life supporting systems such as clean air, water and fertile soil. The convention on biodiversity has defined it more precisely as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, INTER ALIA, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part, this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Over the ages, human race used plants and animals as icons to establish cultural identity. The aesthetic value of biodiversity is better realized and it could not be valued ideally with the current economic valuation models. Of late, biodiversity is more reckoned for its unbelievable potential for supplying novel genes for a variety of applications in biotechnology and pharmacology.
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The Convention on Biological Diversity, of which India is a signatory, advocates that every country has the responsibility to conserve, restore and sustainable use the biological diversity within its jurisdiction. Further, the human species has the moral responsibility to ensure the survival of other living beings in the biosphere and conserve them for the benefit of future generations. In fact, conservation ethos is interwoven in the cultural, spiritual and religious background of India, even though not fully practiced at present. Kerala, a state nestled in the southern reaches of the Western Ghats in India, proudly embodies extraordinary bio-geographic significance. Here, an astonishing 95% of the Western Ghats’ flowering plants and 90% of its vertebrate fauna find their sanctuary, characterised by remarkable levels of uniqueness. The varied topography and microclimates of Kerala play an important role in nurturing this vast biodiversity. From lush forests to tranquil backwaters, each ecosystem contributes to the medley of life, fostering a harmonious balance. These interconnected eco-complexes, shaped by the intricate interplay of climate, geography and species interactions, continually evolve, presenting a dynamic tableau of nature’s wonders. Recognising and comprehending the ever-changing flora and fauna of Kerala is paramount for effective conservation and management efforts. By exploring and understanding into the composition of this vibrant ecosystem, we can ensure its preservation for generations to come.
Kerala state is having rich biodiversity with different types of unique ecosystems viz. Forest ecosystem, Wetland ecosystem, Mangrove ecosystem, Marine ecosystem etc. Read more......
Biodiversity of Western Ghats
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Group
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Total Species
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% of Endemism
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Angiosperms
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7974
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28
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Butterflies
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330
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11
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Fishes
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288
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41
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Amphibians
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220
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78
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Reptiles
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225
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62
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Birds
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508
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4
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Mammals
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120
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12
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Ants
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350
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20
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Odonates
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174
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40
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Molluscs
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269
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76
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Taxa of Western Ghats with High Diversity
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Taxa
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Number of genera & species (Approximate)
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Poaceae
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120 genera; 430 species
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Leguminosae
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85 genera; 350 species
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Orchidaceae
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60 genera; 285 species
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Acanthaceae
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45 genera; 125 species
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Cyperaceae
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21 genera;170 species
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Euphorbiaceae
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55 genera; 150 species
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Asteraceae
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58 genera; 150 species
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Lamiaceae
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25 genera; 120 species
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Rubiaceae
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40 genera; 110 species
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Asclepiadaceae
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30 genera; 95 sspecies
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Floral Biodiversity of Kerala
Species in major Group of plants-India & Kerala
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Sl.No
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Plant Groups
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World(estimated)
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India*
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Kerala **
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% in India
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1
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Bryophytes
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14,500
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2504
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465***
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18.57
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2
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Pteridophytes
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12,000
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1267
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337
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26.59
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3
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Gymnosperms
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650
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74
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5
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6.75
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4
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Angiosperms
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250,000
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17,926
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4606
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25.69
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* India 5th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity , 2014
**Plant Biodiversity of Kerala State – An overview , W. Arisdason & P. Lakshminarasimhan, BSI
***Checklist of Bryophytes of Kerala, Manju, C.N., K.P. Rajesh and P.V. Madhusoodanan, Tropical Bryology Research Reports, No : 7, 2008
Faunal Diversity
Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems in a given place.
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Animal groups
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No of genera/species
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Protozoa
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63 generas
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Porifera
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22 (genera)
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Cnidaria
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90 genera
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Chaetognatha
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18
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Platyhelminthes
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117 genera
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Aschelminthes
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265
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Acanthocephala
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27
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Annelida
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91
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Mollusca(Fresh water)
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26
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Insects
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6000
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Non-insect Arthropda
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600
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Echinodermata
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8
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Vertebrate Diversity – Kerala
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Taxonomic group
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Orders/species
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Families
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Species
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Fishes
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41
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172
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905
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Amphibians
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2
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11
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151
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Reptiles
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3
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24
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173
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Birds
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22
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88
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500
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Mammals
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13
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35
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118
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All Vertebrates
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81
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330
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1847
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(Nameer et al 2015)
Terrestrial Vertebrates of India & Kerala
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Taxonomic group
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India*
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Kerala
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Percent in Kerala
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1
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Fishes
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3022
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189 (6.2 %)
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6.2
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2
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Amphibians
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342
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151 (44.1 %)
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44.1
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3
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Reptiles
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526
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164 (31.1%)
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31.1
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4
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Birds
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1233
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469 (38.0%)
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38.0
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5
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Mammals
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423
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95 (22.4%)
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22.4
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6
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All Vertebrates
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5546
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1068
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19.2
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(Source: India’s 5th National Report to Convention on Biological Diversity, Nameer et al 2015)
Vertebrates endemic to Western Ghats & Kerala
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Taxonomic group
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Endemic to Western Ghats
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Endemic to Kerala
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Fishes
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131
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57
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Amphibians
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136
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36
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Reptiles
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87
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10
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Birds
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17
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0
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Mammals
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15
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1
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All Vertebrates
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386
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104
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References
- Kerala State Biodiversity Board
- FishBase.org
- State of the Environment Report (SoE) 2007 published by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Wikipedia.org
- AmphibiaWeb.org
- reptile-database.org
- ibc.lynxeds.com
- birdlife.org
- birdskerala.com
- Mammal Species of the World. Don E. Wilson & Dee Ann M. Reeder. JHU Press. 2005
- keralaforest.org