Biodiversity in India

Abstract

On the basis of the ecosystems, India has been divided into 10 biogeographic zones and 26 biotic provinces. Physically, the country is divided into four relatively well-defined regions: the Himalayan Mountains; the Gangetic Plains; the southern (Deccan) Plateau; and the islands of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar. With over 50,200 plant species, India represents over 12% of the world's known floral diversity. Insect diversity in India is characterized by a high level of endemism. The diversity of insects is greater in the northeastern states, the Western Ghats and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and these areas also have a high level of endemism. The Indian subcontinent has 2123 species and subspecies under 78 families and 20 orders thus representing 13.66 % of the world avian diversity. The recent estimate of aves, based on the discovery as well as the new records to India, is 1302 species.