Animals in India

The jungles of India, an abode of natural treasures, are close to what Rudyard Kipling presented in his famous work, The Jungle Book (1894). 

However, India is not only about dense forests. You would find almost every biome here, from mountains in the north to deserts in the west, mangrove forests in the east to rainforests in the south. This makes India one of the most biodiverse countries (8th) in the world. India has 4 of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots – the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region, the Sundaland, and the Western Ghats.

With more than 102,700 animal species, its fauna is as varied as its geographical diversity. In fact, of all the animals in the world, about 7.6% of mammals, 14.7% of amphibians, 6.2% of reptiles, and 6% of birds live in India.

Animals like the Asiatic lion, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, and Nilgiri Blue Robin are endemic to India.

However, over the years, several animals have been at risk of extinction due to human intervention and poaching. To combat this, the government set up several protected areas in 1935. Today, India has around 106 national parks, 18 biosphere reserves, and 565 wildlife sanctuaries.

Animals in India

List of Indian Animals

Mammals

  • Asiatic Lion
  • Asiatic Black Bear
  • Asiatic Leopard
  • Asian Elephant
  • Barasingha Deer
  • Binturong
  • Indian Rhinoceros
  • Gray Langurs
  • Gee’s Golden Langur
  • Honey Badger
  • Hog Badger
  • Himalayan Musk Deer
  • Bengal Tiger
  • Indian Leopard
  • Indian Crested Porcupine
  • Red Goral
  • Snow Leopard
  • Clouded Leopard
  • Himalayan Tahr
  • Himalayan Serow
  • Indian Palm Squirrel
  • Lion-tailed Macaque
  • Indian Elephant
  • Bharal
  • Ganges River Dolphin
  • Malabar Giant Squirrel
  • Nilgiri Tahr
  • Spotted Deer
  • Samba Deer
  • Dhole
  • Sloth Bear
  • Zebu
  • Nilgiri Marten
  • Indian Muntjac
  • Indian Wolf
  • Indian Pangolin
  • Four-horned Antelope
  • Kashmir Stag
  • Wild Water Buffalo
  • Indian Wild Ass
  • Indian Bison
  • Indian Wild Dog
  • Markhor
  • Indian Jackal
  • Striped Hyena
  • Indian Civet
  • Himalayan Brown Bear
  • Indian Flying Fox
  • Sangai Deer
  • Kashmir Stag
  • Nilgai
  • Blackbuck
  • Red Panda
  • Bengal Fox
  • Gee’s Golden Langur
  • Smooth-coated Otter

Birds

Reptiles

  • Giant King Cobra
  • Indian Cobra
  • Indian Green Pi Viper
  • Saw Scaled Viper
  • Indian Rock Python
  • Russell’s Viper
  • Checkered Keelback
  • Burmese Python
  • Brahminy Blind Snake
  • Red Sand Boa
  • Bengal Monitor
  • Indian Chameleon
  • Banded Krait
  • Indian Rat Snake
  • Indian Golden Gecko
  • Indian Red Scorpion
  • Spiny Tailed Lizard
  • Oriental Garden Lizard
  • Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
  • Saltwater Crocodile
  • Banded Krait
  • Beauty Rat Snake

Insects

Other Invertebrates

  • Banana Spider
  • Black Widow Spider

Fish

  • Ganges Shark
  • Giant Devil Catfish
  • Indian Mottled Eel
  • Butterfly Fish
  • Rohu
  • Indian Carp
  • Mrigal Carp
  • Mahseer
  • Hilsa
  • Gangetiic Ailia
  • Cichlid
  • Orangefin Labeo

Amphibians

  • Ornate Torrent Toad
  • Kerala Stream Toad
  • Tonkin Toad
  • Himalayan Toad
  • Amboli Toad
  • Malabar Tree Toad
  • Indian Five-fingered Frog
  • Karavali Skittering Frog
  • Crab-eating Frog
  • Jerdon’s Bullfrog
  • Marbeled Sand Frog
  • Burrowing Frog
  • Sikkim Lazy Toad
  • Glandular Bush Frog
  • Kalakad Gliding Frog

FAQs

Q. What is the national animal of India?

A. Bengal Tiger; since April 1973

Q. Which animals of India live in the oceans?

A. Ganges River Dolphin, Mugger Crocodile,Ganges Shark, Smooth-coated Otter

Q. Which animals found in India are endangered?

A. Bengal Tiger, Dhole, Asiatic Lion, Lion-tailed Macaque, South Asian River Dolphin

Q. Which animals from Indian are the most dangerous?

Indian Cobra, Great King Cobra, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Black Bear

Q. What is India’s biggest animal?

A. Indian Elephant, weighing from 4,400 to 11,000 lb.

Q. Which of India’s animals are extinct?

Asian Straight-tusked Elephant, Indian Aurochs, Asiatic Cheetah

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