(Bison or gaur)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Deciduous forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Heavy body with relatively short limbs. A prominent muscular ridge from shoulder to the middle of back. An ashy forehead and white feet. Standing height, in male is 175-196 cm. at the shoulder, the female is slightly smaller. The horns of a bull are almost a half-circle with a slight posterior bend at the tip and measure
68-76 cm. along the curve, the horns of a cow are narrower. The old bull is black and almost hairless, but the cow is dark or reddish-brown and possesses short hairs.
Distribution : India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Indian gazelle, chinkara)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : Dry deciduous, thorny and desert.
Diagnostic Characters : A full grown male measures about 65 cm. at the shoulder with horns averaging 25-40 cm. while the horns of a doe, usually 10-13 cm. The body above is light chestnut, the colour deepening where it joins the white of the underparts on the flanks and buttocks. There is a white streak down each side of the face and a dusky patch above the nose. The horns of the male have a S-shaped curve, with 15-25 rings. Horns of female are smooth, hornless females also found.
Distribution : India, Iran, Pakistan.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
Tetracerus
quadricornis Blainville
(Four horned antelope)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Well wooded, watered, undulating dry deciduous forest, transition zone between scrub and dry deciduous forests.
Diagnostic Characters : The male possesses four smooth horns on the head, the posterior pair about 8-10 cm. in length are situated on top of the head and the anterior pair, about 2-3 cm. long, or even smaller are located on the forehead between and above the eyes. The female is hornless. The standing height of a male is about 65 cm. at the shoulder. The fur is thin, harsh and soft. The coat colour varies from brown to rufous brown above, and white below. A dark stripe runs down the front of each leg.
Global Distribution : India, Nepal.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except the North-east.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
Boselaphus
tragocamelus Pallas
(Nilgai or blue bull)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Dry deciduous and thorn forest.
Diagnostic Characters : Males usually 130-140 cm. high, females much smaller. Adult bull has a coarse iron-grey coat, a white ring below each fetlock and two white spots on each cheek, the chin, inside of ears and the undersurface of tail are white. Young bulls and the male has a distinctive tuft of stiff black hairs on the throat. The bull has a pair of distinctly keeled, stout, cone like horns, averaging 20 cm. in length.
Global Distribution : India, Pakistan.
Regional Distribution : Central, North, North-eastern, North-western India up to Andhra Pradesh.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Chital)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Moist and dry deciduous forests.
Diagnostic Characters : The coat colour is a bright rufous-fawn profusely spotted with white at all ages. Old bucks are more brownish in colour and darker. The antlers have three times, a long brow tine set nearly at right angles to the beam and two branch tines at the top. The outer tine, the continuation of the beam, is always longer.
Global Distribution : India, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Sambhar)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Thickly wooded forest.
Diagnostic Characters : Height at shoulder level averaging about 140-150 cm. The coat is coarse and shaggy. In stags, it forms a mane about the neck and throat. The general colour is brown, with a yellowish or greyish tinge. The underparts are paler. Females are lighter in tone. Old stags tend to become very dark, almost black. The antlers are stout and rugged. The brow tine is set at an acute angle with the beam. At its summit, the beam forks into two nearly equal tines.
Global Distribution : India, South-east Asia, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Barking deer)
Habit : Terrestrial, herbivorous.
Habitat : Any forest except mangroves and desert, moist mixed deciduous.
Diagnostic Characters : Height of an adult male is about 50-75 cm. at shoulder. The antlers are small, consisting of a short brown tine and an unbranched beam, generally below 13 cm. They are set on bony hair-covered pedicels, 8-10 cm. long, which extend down each side of the face as bony ridges. In the doe, tufts of bristly hair replace the horns. The old male is browner in colour.
Global Distribution : China, India, South-east Asia.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Wild boar)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : Brush.
Diagnostic Characters : A well grown male stands 90 cm. high at shoulder level. It has a crest or mane of black bristles reaching from the neck down the back. The general colour is black, mixed with grey, rusty brown and white hairs. The young are browner and old boars greyer. Tusks are well developed in males, which curve outwards and project from the mouth.
Global Distribution : Asia, Europe.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Indian wolf)
Habit : Terrestrial, carnivorous.
Habitat : Forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Size larger or moderately large, measuring 90-105 cm. in the head and body length and 67-75 cm. in height at the shoulder. Tail relatively longer and tipped black. Dorsal body colour is greyish fulvous, usually with a brownish tinge, and sometimes mixed with black; face and the limbs are reddish and the lower surface is dingy white. The skull is large, forehead convex, elevated, passing into the upper surface of the muzzle by a concave curvature.
Global Distribution : India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and North-eastern India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Indian fox)
Habit : Terrestrial, carnivorous.
Habitat : Forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Body relatively smaller and slimmer, about 45-60 cm. in the head and body length and 25-30 cm. in the length of tail. Body colour greyish, tail black-tipped, ears being the same tint as the nape, or sometimes darker. Mammae two pairs.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Nepal.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Wild dog)
Habit : Terrestrial, carnivorous.
Habitat : All forest areas except mangroves.
Diagnostic Characters : The head and body are about 90-100 cm. in length but legs are relatively shorter. Body colour varies from paler to deeper red. Relatively longer, black-tipped bushy tail. The skull and teeth are smaller than in the wolf.
Global Distribution : Endemic to India.
Regional Distribution : South of Ganges river.
Status : Lower risk, near threatened.
(Panther)
Habit : Terrestrial, semi-arboreal.
Habitat : Forests, scrub-jungle, open country.
Diagnostic Characters : About 170-215 cm. in total length, including the tail and about 60 cm. in shoulder height. The coat is sleek and short haired. The ground colour varies from pale yellow, rich tawny to rufous fawn and has dark spots arranged in rosettes all over the sides of the body and the tail, except at the tip, which is ringed. The spots down the middle of the back and on the head, limbs and belly are solid black instead of being arranged in rosettes.
Global Distribution : Africa, Asia.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Vulnerable.
(Tiger)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : Dense forest, thorny, semi-evergreen, evergreen, mangroves, grassland.
Diagnostic Characters : Numerous, nearly vertical dark stripes extending from the spine over the flanks to the belly, generally broken into smaller, simple or looped stripes and conspicuous against the bright typically reddish-yellow or yellowish-tan colour of the upper side and the pale, typically white hue of the underside. The tail is heavily but irregularly banded and has a black tip, but no tuft.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal.
Regional Distribution : All over India except Harayana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
Status : Endangered.
(Jungle cat)
Habit : Crepescular, nocturnal, terrestrial,
Habitat : Open forest, grassland, dry deciduous, evergreen.
Diagnostic Characters : Much larger than a domestic cat. Body colour varies from yellowish-grey to tawny rufous and the under surface is paler. The average length of the hair on the flanks is 37 mm.
Global Distribution : Africa, India, Indo-China, Myanmar, South-west Asia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Leopard cat)
Habit : Terrestrial, semi-arboreal.
Habitat : Grasslands, scrub, wet and moist forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Size just about that of a domestic cat. The colour of the body above is pale fulvous, varying from ochraceous to greyish. Body pattern bold, consisting of large black spots or black and rusty rosettes on the flanks. Tail over half the length of the head and body and with a distinct pattern of black rings.
Global Distribution : South and South-east Asia.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except Deccan Plateau and Western India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Grey mongoose)
Habit : Terrestrial, diurnal/nocturnal.
Habitat : Open scrub, cultivation, rocky patches, forest edges.
Diagnostic Characters : Medium to tolerably large mongoose, the tail long, sometimes longer than the head and body. Body greyish in colour, sometimes a trifle darker. Winter coat, with the contour hairs longer and more coarsely speckled.
Global Distribution : India, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Himalayan foothill to Cape Camorin except in moist forests and true deserts.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Ruddy mongoose)
Habit : Terrestrial, diurnal/nocturnal.
Habitat : Dry and moist forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Slightly large-sized mongoose. Tail longer, sometimes longer than head and body, and tipped black. Body colour generally darker and usually with more pronounced tendency to redness.
Global Distribution : India, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Peninsular India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Striped hyaena)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : Dry thorn, semi-urban, rare in forests but common in scrubs.
Diagnostic Characters : A long crest-like mane extending from the head to the root of the tail. Presence of vertical dark stripes on the body and transverse bars on the upper parts of the legs. The general colour varies from pale brown to tawny, buff, or white. There are 3 pairs of mammae. The neck is approximately the same tint as the head and body.
Global Distribution : India, North Africa, South-west Asia.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India up to desert (sub-peninsular India).
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
Paradoxurus
hermaphroditus Pallas
(Common palm civet or toddy cat)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : Tropical forests, rural and urban areas except high altitudes.
Diagnostic Characters : Longitudinal stripes on the back; spots on the sides, shoulders and thighs and sometimes on the base of the tail. Hairs on the neck directed backwards. Contour hairs are typically long and shaggy. Facial vibrissae black. The head typically shows a variable pattern, the ‘mask’, composed of white patches on a black ground. Legs black. Tail also black, at least at the end, generally paler at the base and sometimes faintly striped.
Global Distribution : South and South-east Asia.
Regional Distribution : Peninsular India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Small Indian civet)
Habit : Terrestrial, semi-arboreal, nocturnal.
Habitat : All forests, human habitats, except deserts and high altitudes.
Diagnostic Characters : The anterior edges of the ears are set close together on the forehead, a feature which, in conjunction with the shorter, more pointed muzzle, gives a more alert aspect to the face. Body colour relatively dull, varying from brownish or olivaceous-grey to light grey, occasionally only with a brighter ochreous tinge. Tail long, black ringed. Body with a pattern of dark stripes and spots.
Global Distribution : South Asia and South-east Asia.
Regional Distribution : All over India except deserts and high altitudes.
Status : Vulnerable.
(Large Indian civet)
Habit : Terrestrial, semi-arboreal.
Habitat : Forests.
Diagnostic Characters : The body colour is generally grey or tawny, a black spinal stripe running from behind the shoulders to the root of the tail, the tail exhibits a variable number of complete black and white rings. The front of the muzzle on each side has a whitish patch emphasized by blackish behind, and the chin and fore throat are blackish.
Global Distribution : India, Southern China over South-east Asia to the Malaya Peninsula.
Regional Distribution : Northern India.
Status : Vulnerable.
(Sloth bear)
Habit : Terrestrial, arboreal.
Habitat : Forests, grasslands, hill tops.
Diagnostic Characters : A bear of moderate size, with a large head. Coat sometimes very long, thick and shaggy from the ears backwards. General colouration typically black, with a little brown or grey, occasionally brown all over. A pale crescentic or V-shaped patch usually present on the chest. Claws on the forefeet very long and typically ivory-white.
Global Distribution : India, Nepal, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Vulnerable.
(Flying fox or Giant fruit bat)
Habit : Arboreal, mainly frugivorous.
Habitat : Forests and swamps with a large body of water supply.
Diagnostic Characters : Size of an average adult is about 23 cm. and wing span about 4 feet. These large bats have a dark brown body with black wings. The males are light yellowish on the back of the neck and shoulders. They have prominent claws (thumbs) used for moving through the branches.
Global Distribution : South Asia.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Indian pipistrelle)
Habit : Arboreal.
Habitat : Crevices of buildings, bark of trees.
Diagnostic Characters : Small-sized, forearm length on average 31. Dorsal fur blackish-brown, with tips slightly rufescent; venter a little paler. Tragus curving forward and bluntly rounded. A small lobe present below the calcar.
Global Distribution : Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(House shrew)
Habit : Fossorial.
Habitat : Occasionally in all sorts of habitats, particularly near human dwellings, forests, crop fields.
Diagnostic Characters : A long pointed snout, projecting considerably beyond the lower lip, small eyes, rounded ears, body covered with soft fur, feet and tail sparsely clad with hair. Head and body length about 15 cm., tail about 8 cm. long. The soft fur is pale grey or tipped with brown, or the coat is ashy brown or fawn. The pinkish skin of the snout, ears, feet and tail shows through the sparse hairs.
Global Distribution : Africa, Asia, Europe, North America.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Black-naped hare)
Habit : Terrestrial.
Habitat : All habitats except high altitudes.
Diagnostic Characters : It measures about 40-50 cm. in head and body length. It has a greyish-white coat with a blackish patch on the nape. The underparts are whitish. The tail is short and greyish.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except in high altitudes.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Indian pangolin)
Habit : Terrestrial, nocturnal, fussorial.
Habitat : Scrub, urban cultivation, dry and moist forests except true desert.
Diagnostic Characters : Relatively larger, the head and body measuring 60-75 cm. in length and the tail about 45 cm. long. The upper side of the body, the tail and the outer side of the limbs are covered with large overlapping scales, the longitudinal rows of which vary from 11-13. The undersurface of the body is clothed with coarse, bristly hair. A less prominent ear-conch is present.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Pakistan.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India except North-eastern region, desert and the Himalayas.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Rhesus macaque)
Habit : Semi-arboreal.
Habitat : Urban, semi-urban, forested area.
Diagnostic Characters : A median size or tolerably large macaque, with the tail uniformly hairy throughout, typically pendulous, not carried in an arch above the level of the buttocks. The head, shoulders, arms, and foreback generally olivaceous in hue, but the loins, rump, and the base of the tail are orange-red in varying intensities. The face is sometimes suffused with red.
Global Distribution : India, Indo-China, Myanmar.
Regional Distribution : Throughout Northern India (North of Godavari) up to Assam.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Langur)
Habit : Semi-arboreal.
Habitat : Urban, semi-urban, forest area.
Diagnostic Characters : Relatively thinner, typically shorter coat, the whisker hairs concealing the ears to a much lesser extent. Upper side tolerably uniform, darker or lighter shining sepia-brown, rather paler on the shoulders and head. Limbs apart from the hands and feet, and the tail nearly the same colour as the back, but the tail-tip often pale and the legs below the knee often paler than the thigh. Hands and feet black or brown.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Pakistan.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Bandicoot rat)
Habit : Fossorial.
Habitat : Cultivated fields, swampy areas, forest fringes, godowns.
Diagnostic Characters : Large rats, head and body length is generally 20-35cm. Tail usually shorter than the head and body, dark in colour. The colour above is blackish or dark brown, underparts lighter, greyish. Hand with four fingers, all clawed, and foot with five toes, all clawed, the outer digits shorter than the central three.
Global Distribution : China, India, South Asian countries.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Bandicoot rat)
Habit : Fossorial.
Habitat : Cultivated fields, swampy areas, forest fringes, godowns.
Diagnostic Characters : Very large rats, head and body normally exceeding 200 mm., and at maximum about 345 mm. Tail usually but not always shorter than head and body, wholly dark throughout. Colour above blackish or blackish-brown, sometimes with a profusion of whitish hairs intermixed, general effect dark. Many long hairs are present on the back, the fur sparse and harsh; undersurface lighter, greyish at base often, the ends of the hairs mostly black.
Global Distribution : China, India, South Asian countries.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Indian bush rat)
Habit : Terrestrial, arboreal.
Habitat : Bush, scrub jungle and nurseries in forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Rather thickset and heavy, small-sized rats, with soft fur. Colour above yellowish-brown, speckled with black, sometimes varying to grey. Underparts usually drab-grey, varying to yellowish or whitish. Tail shorter than head and body, normally well haired, near black above, near white below. Hand with four functional fingers, the fifth very short, though clawed. Second finger tends to be a little shorter than the two central ones. Foot has five toes.
Global Distribution : India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Almost throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Indian field mouse)
Habit : Terrestrial, fossorial.
Habitat : Grasslands, crop fields, forest fringes.
Diagnostic Characters : Head and body length apparently 80 mm. at highest. Tail usually shorter than head and body length. The fur usually without spines. Colour above brown, lighter or darker, sometimes sandy. Feet usually are whitish or pale. Tail is nearly constantly bicolor (dark above, pale below). Underparts are whitish or grey, or dull grey. Hand with four clawed fingers and foot with five toed claws. Mammae usually 10.
Global Distribution : India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Blanford’s rat)
Habit : Fossorial.
Habitat : Dry or moist deciduous forests, evergreen forests, sometimes among rocks or scrubs.
Diagnostic Characters : The colour of the back varies from lighter or reddish-brown to grey. Dorsal fur is dark grey basally. Feet most often white. Belly and underparts white. Tail is long, usually exceeding 120% of head and body length; usually wholly dark basally and wholly white terminally. The tail is well haired and tends to be slightly tufted terminally. Foot with five toes, all bearing claws, the fifth hind toe rather long, not very much shorter than the central three.
Global Distribution : India, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : East to Bihar and West Bengal, North to Madhya Pradesh, Peninsular India.
Status : Lower risk-near threatened.
(Black rat)
Habit : Terrestrial, arboreal.
Habitat : Ubiquitous in and around human habitation, scrub, secondary forests, mangrove swamp.
Diagnostic Characters : Small to medium size, body colouration blackish to dark brown. Tail rather long, dark, sometimes tipped pale. Underparts greyish or dirty white. Feet usually dark, occasionally with white or whitish toes.
Global Distribution : All around the world.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
(Giant flying squirrel)
Habit : Arboreal.
Habitat : Forests.
Diagnostic Characters : Relatively large in size, the head never white strongly contrasted with the back (the cheeks can be white but except, in rare individual variations, never the forehead). No dark saddle patch on the back, and the middle of the neck and back not markedly darker than the sides, shoulders or parachutes.
Global Distribution : Burma, Formosa, India, Indonesia, Indo-China, Malaya, Nepal. Regional Distribution : Assam, Kashmir, Punjab, Peninsular India.
Status : Threatened.
(Three striped palm squirrel)
Habit : Arboreal, diurnal, commensal of humans.
Habitat : Near human habitation, forest.
Diagnostic Characters : Head and body length 140-149 mm. Tail averaging about 100% of head and body or slightly less. Sides, limbs and back except for the saddlepatch greyish or brownish. On the back are three whitish or buff stripes separated by two wide brownish or blackish bands. A narrow dark band is present on the outer side of each outer white stripe.
Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Five striped palm squirrel)
Habit : Arboreal, nocturnal, commensal.
Habitat : Human habitation, forest.
Diagnostic Characters : The tail is about as long as body, or a little more or less. There are four mammae. Feet and digits without peculiarity, no functional thumb and fourth finger slightly dominant as a rule. The fur is short. The back is brownish or greyish, the feet pale, often whitish. The back has five whitish or white stripes separated by four dark brown bands. The underparts are white or whitish.
Global Distribution : India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan.
Regional Distribution : Throughout India but more widespread in Central and Northern India.
Status : Lower risk-least concern.
(Indian porcupine)
Habit : Fossorial and cave dwelling.
Habitat : Rocky hill sides and also any other open land and forest.
Diagnostic Characters : Large size, head and body length up to 74 cm. Tail short, usually less than one-fifth of the head and body length, covered with several short, apparently white quills, mixed with large and well developed rattling-quills. The whole of the back is covered with long and narrow quills which tend to hide the thicker and more powerful, sharp quills, which are either white or black terminally, but on each of them, there are several alternating bands of black and white.
Distribution : India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, west to Israel and north to Turkistan. Status : Lower risk-least concern.