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06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

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loris, is vulnerable. This is chiefly due to habitat<br />

destruction and use of this species as a laboratory<br />

animal in experiments. The other mammals<br />

include Macaca silinus - lion tailed macaque. This<br />

is also endangered due to habitat destruction<br />

(shrinkage of vegetation). The Malabar civet -<br />

Viverra megaspila is also one of the species,<br />

which is endangered.<br />

The fishing cat - Felis viverrina live on tidal<br />

creeks, rivers and mangrove forests. Due to<br />

destruction of the habitat their numbers have<br />

reduced. The gaur - Boss. gaurus also lives in<br />

tropical forests but their numbers are also<br />

shrinking.<br />

Among amphibians the Malabar tree toad<br />

Nectophryne tuberculosa is endemic to this area.<br />

But their numbers have reduced to the extent that<br />

it is difficult to sight.<br />

a. Avian fauna typical of the region are:<br />

Thickbilled Warbler - Pharogamaticola aidon<br />

Indian Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus ste1wtoreus<br />

Migratory wag tail - MotacWa flara<br />

Greatpied hornbill - Buceros Mcornis<br />

Malabarpied hornbill - Buceros spp.<br />

Langhing Thrushes Garrulax<br />

Mountain Thrushes - Zoothera dauma<br />

Large woodshrike<br />

Fairy Blue bird<br />

Yeilowbacked sun bird<br />

Spider hunters<br />

Woodpeckers<br />

Blue bird bee-eater<br />

b. Mangrove Fauna :<br />

- Tephrodornis virgatus<br />

- Irena puella<br />

- Aethopyga siparaja<br />

- (Anachnothera)<br />

- (Di1wpium javane11$e,<br />

Hemicircus, Dryocopus<br />

Picumnus<br />

- (Ntctoyornis athertoni)<br />

(Salim Ali, 1960).<br />

The distribution and importance of mangrove<br />

fauna is very important. The mangrove faunal<br />

diversification is very few but is exclusive to it.<br />

Species found on the tree are of the rainforest<br />

.origin, whereas, those seen in and on the<br />

substratum are mainly of marine and estuarine<br />

nature.<br />

Bird's in the mangroves seek food and nesting in<br />

the trees. Several species of Phalacrocorax<br />

(Cormorants) are commonly seen. Darters (snake<br />

birds) are mainly represented by Anhinga<br />

Vembanad Lake<br />

anhinga (L). Herons use the mangrove fishing<br />

ground and often nest with cormorants and<br />

Darters communally. While the heron, Egretla<br />

alba (L) is common, the night heron (Nycticorax<br />

nycticorax) is occasionally seen. The bird<br />

sanctuary in Kumarokom abodes about 3000 night<br />

herons. It is also famous for little, cormorant<br />

(Podiceps ruficollis), Egrets, Darters, bitterns,<br />

water hens etc. Teals are winter visitors and is a<br />

common sight in Kuttanad region especially in<br />

Kumarakom. Ardeola greyii (the paddy bird) is<br />

common in lowlands and throughout the<br />

mangroves. Falcons, hacks eagles, Brahminy kite,<br />

Haliasur indus and vultures are usually seen in<br />

the mangroves and adjacent sea coast. Water hen<br />

(Amaurornis sp.), chestnest bittern (Ixobrychus<br />

cinnamomeus) and several species of king fishers<br />

are available Crocodiles and monitors are very<br />

rare. Nerodia piscater (Water snake) Ptyas<br />

mucosus (rat snake), Chersydrus granulatus<br />

etc. are often occurring in mangroves. Fish eating<br />

mammals such as Hespestesare often seen. Lutoa<br />

vulgaris is a common otter in Vembanad Lake.<br />

Mangrove areas are notorious for the mosquito<br />

population.<br />

87<br />

The molluscs are a conspicuous in intertidal<br />

areas. Bivalves and several species of gastropods<br />

such as the mangrove snail Telescopium<br />

telescopium feed on the substratum. Polychaetes<br />

and barnacles attached to trunks and roots of<br />

trees are commonly seen.<br />

The commercially important prawns<br />

Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Penaeus indicus<br />

and Metapenaeus sp form the bulk of the prawn<br />

landings from the backwater and estuaries. The<br />

mud crab Scylla serrata is also abundant<br />

frequently seen. The fiddler crab Uca sp. and the<br />

mud lobster Thallassina anomula are common.<br />

Fishes of the mangrove areas are diverse. It is well<br />

known that many of them enter the mangrove for<br />

breeding. Juveniles of many species spend their<br />

life in mangrove for food and protection from<br />

predators .<br />

c. Commercially important fish species<br />

are as follows :<br />

Mugil cephalus, Liza parsia, Chanos chanos,<br />

Sarotherodon mossambicus, Etroplus<br />

sura tensis, E.maculates, Ambassis<br />

gymnocephalus, Mystus gulio, Trachysurus

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