Biodiversity Basics
Biodiversity Profile of Kerala
| Biodiversity rich areas | India | Kerala |
| Biodiversity hotpots | 4 (Himalayas, Western Ghats, North east part of Indo Burma, Nicobar islands) |
Western ghats region |
| Agrobiodiversity hotspots |
22 | Malabar region |
| Natural world heritage site – Western Ghats |
7 including Western Ghats 39 serial sites | 19 serial sites (Agasthyamalai Periyar, Anamalai, Nilgiri Thalakkavery Sub Clusters)
|
| Endemic centres | 3 megacentres (Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, Western Himalayas) | 3 (Agasthyamala, Anamalai- high ranges and Silent Valley- Wayanad).
|
| Globally important agricultural heritage systems | 10 | 1 ( Kuttanad below sea level farming)
|
| UNESCO World network of Biosphere Reserves | 10 | 1 (Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve)
|
Biodiversity of Westernghat
| Group | Total Species | % of Endemism |
| Angiosperms | 7974 | 28 |
| Butterflies | 330 | 11 |
| Fishes | 288 | 41 |
| Amphibians | 220 | 78 |
| Reptiles | 225 | 62 |
| Birds | 508 | 4 |
| Mammals | 120 | 12 |
| Ants | 350 | 20 |
| Odonates | 174 | 40 |
| Molluscs | 269 | 76 |
| ( Indias National Report CBD, 2014) |
Taxa of Western ghats with high diversity
| Taxa | Number of genera & species (Approximate) |
| Poaceae | 120 genera; 430 species |
| Leguminosae | 85 genera; 350 species |
| Orchidaceae | 60 genera; 285 species |
| Acanthaceae | 45 genera; 125 species |
| Cyperaceae | 21 genera;170 species |
| Euphorbiaceae | 55 genera; 150 species |
| Asteraceae | 58 genera; 150 species |
| Lamiaceae | 25 genera; 120 species |
| Rubiaceae | 40 genera; 110 species |
| Asclepiadaceae | 30 genera; 95 sspecies |