Andaman booklet aw.FH10 - Zoological Survey of India

identifiable groups. Of these, only thirteen are inhabited. The
northern section has two islands: Car Nicobar and to its south, the
small island of Battimalv. Car Nicobar is the headquarters of Nicobar
district. The middle section of the group is made up of nine islands,
with Chowra, Teressa, Bompoka and Katchall to the west, and
Nancowry, Camorta, and Trinket to the east. Tillangchong and the
Isle of Man lie slightly to the northeast. The southern section consists
of two large islands, Little and Great Nicobar, together with the eight
smaller islands of Meroe, Trak, Treis, Pulo Milo, Kabra, Menchal,
Kondul and Megapode which are smaller islands (Saldhana, 1989).
Table 1. Geographical and physical profile of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands
Total Area 8,249 km 2
Area of Andaman District 6,408 km 2
Area of Nicobar District 1,841 km 2
Latitude 6°45' N to 13°41' N
Longitude 92°12' E to 93°57' E
Mean annual rainfall 3180.5 mm
Average relative humidity 77%
Coastline 1,962 km
Exclusive Economic Zone 600,000 km 2
Ecosystems
An extraordinary variety of habitat types, ranging from sandy beaches
to coral reefs, mangroves, and mountains with dense forests,
characterize the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are located in
the equatorial belt and have been endowed with an abundance of
flora and fauna. A number of species are endemic and restricted to
small areas because of the islands' geographic isolation.
The land area of the island chain is restricted but the diversity of
forest types, each with its own distinctive floral and faunal
composition, is staggering. Some of the larger islands display a
veritable mosaic of forest types. The tropical forest ecosystem
continuously recycles water. Since most of the islands have very few
perennial rivers and streams, the inland wetlands are restricted.
Basically, small ponds formed by rainwater accumulate inside the
forests. The ponds are valuable sources of freshwater for wildlife
and they also serve as a refuge for endangered species, such as the
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Source: Pande et al. (1991)