Flora and Fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
An exclusive tropical rainforest cover blesses Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The cover is made of an assorted flora with elements from Indian, Malaysian, Myanmarese, and widespread floral strains. About 2,200 varieties of plants have been recorded so far. Fauna is no less diverse. Explore the following account to know about flora and fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Flora
Maximum land is used for farming. Paddy is main food crop of Andaman and arecanut and coconut of Nicobar. Pulses, oilseeds, mango, papaya, root crops are also grown abundantly. Rubber, palm, cashew, pepper and nutmeg are also cultivated. The South Andaman forests enjoy a bountiful growth of epiphytic vegetation. The Middle Andamans harbor typically moist deciduous forests. North Andaman is characterized by the wet evergreen type. Evergreen forests are the leading vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands crop up only in the Nicobar. Deciduous forests are common in the Andaman, but absent in the Nicobar.
This unusual forest canopy is made-up of twelve types-
- Andamans moist deciduous forest
- Andamans secondary moist deciduous forest
- Giant evergreen forest
- Andamans tropical evergreen forest
- Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forest
- Wet bamboo brakes
- Mangrove forest
- Cane brakes
- Andamans semi-evergreen forest
- Littoral forest
- Brackish water mixed forest
- Submontane hill valley swamp forest
200 or more Timber species are found here. Chief commercial species are Gurjan and Padauk. Marble Wood, Padauk, Chooi, Silver Grey and Kokko are celebrated for grain formation. Aromatic Dhoop/Resin and Rudraksh trees are also found here.
Fauna
Despite its isolation from adjacent land masses, these islands are surprisingly rich with a diversity of animal life.
Mammals
About 50 varieties of forest mammals are found here. Some are endemic. With 26 species, rodents form the largest group. 14 species of bat are also here. The Barking Deer, Spotted Deer Axis and Sambar were all introduced to the Andaman District, though the Sambar didn't survive. Interview Island (the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the ANI) holds feral elephants.
Birds
ANI has 270 bird species (including endemics). The Nicobar island group has a higher endemicity than the Andaman. There are total 14 species endemic to ANI. The State Bird of the Andaman is the Andaman Wood pigeon. Some common birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Crake, Andaman Hawk Owl.
Shells
Traditionally, these islands are known for their shell affluence, especially in the genera Murex, Turbo, Nautilus and Trochus. Shells are of utmost significance to these islands. They produce a broad range of decorative items and ornaments. Shells such as green mussel, giant clam and oyster support safe to eat shellfishery, a few such as scallop, cockle and clam are burnt in kilns to manufacture edible lime.
Butterflies and Moths
About 225 species of the larger and most spectacular butterflies of the planet are here. Ten species are endemic to these Islands. Mount Harriet National Park is amongst the richest areas of butterfly and moth variety on these Islands.
Undoubtedly flora and fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is abundant and diverse.