Write a brief note on flora and fauna of India.

Flora and Fauna in India:

(i)In fact, India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity, and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world, estimated to be 1.6 million. This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be discovered.

(ii)Over 81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 species of flora are found in India so far. Of the estimated 47,000 plant species, about 15,000 flowering species are endemic (indigenous) to India.

(iii)Some estimates suggest that at least 10 per cent of India’s recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list.

(iv)Many of these would now be categorised as ‘critical’, that is on the verge of extinction like the cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet, and plants like madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and hubbardia heptaneuron,(a species of grass). 

(v)Among the larger animals in India, 79 species of mammals, 44 of birds, 15 of reptiles, and 3 of amphibians are threatened. Nearly 1,500 plant species are considered endangered. Flowering plants and vertebrate animals have recently become extinct at a rate estimated to be 50 to 100 times the average expected natural rate.