Indian Biodiversity - Fauna

The Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula) is a rare, tree-dwelling spider found in limited forest areas in India.

Statement I is incorrect: * It is a spider (arachnid), not an omnivorous crustacean.

Statement II is correct: * Its habitat is restricted to some forest areas in the Eastern Ghats.

Statement III is correct: * It is arboreal, living in trees and tree crevices.

So, the correct answer is: D

* Cicada: Known for their loud buzzing sounds, cicadas are insects.

* Froghopper: Also known as spittlebugs, they are small, jumping insects.

* Pond Skater: These insects are known for their ability to walk on the surface of water.

All three organisms are classified as insects.

* Statement 1 is correct. Lions can breed throughout the year, but they do show some seasonal preferences depending on their location and environmental factors like rainfall.

* Statement 2 is correct. Cheetahs have a different vocal structure compared to lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, preventing them from roaring. They purr, chirp, and make other bird-like sounds.

* Statement 3 is incorrect. Both male lions and male leopards use scent marking extensively to define their territories. They spray urine and scrape the ground, leaving both olfactory and visual signals for other cats.

_Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct._

* Orangutans are known for their intelligence and tool-use capabilities. They have been observed using sticks in various ways, including scraping insects from holes in trees and logs, extracting honey from beehives, and even using leaves as utensils.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Most common Indian squirrels, such as the Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus species) and the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), are arboreal. They build nests, known as dreys, in tree branches, hollows, or crevices using twigs and leaves, rather than making burrows in the ground.

Statement 2 is Correct: Many squirrel species exhibit "scatter hoarding" behavior. They store food materials like nuts and seeds by burying them in various shallow locations in the ground to retrieve them during times of food scarcity. This behavior is a key ecological process for seed dispersal.

Statement 3 is Correct: Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores. While their diet primarily consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi, they also consume insects, caterpillars, bird eggs, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or young birds.

* Lion-tailed Macaque: This is a diurnal animal, meaning it's active during the day.

* Malabar Civet: This is a nocturnal animal, primarily active at night.

* Sambar Deer: These are crepuscular animals, most active during dawn and dusk.

Therefore, only one (1) of the fauna is generally nocturnal or most active after sunset (Malabar Civet).


* The honey bee dance, also known as the waggle dance, is a form of communication performed by worker honey bees to other members of the honey bee colony. The waggle dance was famously decoded by Austrian scientist, Karl von Frisch. * The direction the bee moves in relation to the hive indicates direction; if it moves vertically, the direction to the source is directly towards the Sun. * The duration of the waggle part of the dance signifies the distance. Hence, option (C) is the correct answer.

The Golden Mahseer (*Tor putitora*) is a species of large freshwater fish, not a bird. Often referred to as the 'Tiger of the Water', it is native to the Himalayan region and inhabits the rapid streams and rivers of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. It is recognized by its large golden scales and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The other options—Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill, and White Ibis—are all avian species found in various habitats across India.

* The Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet, and White-throated redstart are all species of birds.

* The Ceylon frogmouth is a species native to the Western Ghats and parts of Sri Lanka. Known for its unique frog-like appearance and nocturnal habits, it thrives in dense forests.

* The Coppersmith barbet is a small, colorful bird found across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. It is named after the sound it makes, which resembles the sound of a coppersmith striking metal.

* The Gray-chinned minivet is a species commonly found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This bird is known for its vibrant plumage and its presence in hilly, forested areas.

* The White-throated redstart is a striking bird found in regions of Nepal, Bhutan, central China, and the far northern parts of Myanmar and Northeast India. It is known for its contrasting black and white plumage and bright red tail feathers.

Herbivorous turtles: Many turtle species, such as the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise, are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits, and other plant material.

Herbivorous fish: There are numerous herbivorous fish species, including surgeonfish, parrotfish, and tangs. These fish feed on algae and seaweed, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems.

Herbivorous marine mammals: While many marine mammals are carnivorous, some, like manatees and dugongs, are herbivores, feeding on seagrasses and other underwater plants.

Viviparous snakes: Not all snakes lay eggs; some, like boas, vipers, and sea snakes, are viviparous. This means they give birth to live young that have developed inside the mother's body.

The first state in India to declare a state butterfly was Maharashtra. Maharashtra designated the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as its state butterfly in 2015. It's a large, black colored butterfly with velvet wings and bright blue spots.

Statement 1 is correct: Kharai camels can swim up to three kilometers in seawater. This rare trait allows them to reach offshore mangrove islands, where they forage for food.

Statement 2 is correct: Their name "Kharai" comes from the Gujarati word for "salty" because they primarily graze on saline plants and mangroves. This dietary adaptation allows them to thrive in the harsh coastal environment.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Kharai camels are herded by local communities (Maldhari) in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Their milk is consumed, and male calves are sometimes sold. Hence, the correct answer is option A.


The great hornbill, also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is predominantly frugivorous, but also preys on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

The great hornbill is native to the forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland Southeast Asia and Sumatra. Its distribution is fragmented in the Western Ghats and in the foothills of the Himalayas.

1. Painted Stork: These are wading birds and typically feed on fish, frogs, and insects in shallow water. They are not known for following cattle. 2. Common Myna: These are insectivores and often follow cattle or other grazing animals to catch insects flushed out by their movement. 3. Black-necked Crane: These are primarily herbivores and feed on grains, plants, and aquatic vegetation. They are not known for following cattle for insects.

Thus, the correct answer is 2 only.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Gharial (*Gavialis gangeticus*) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It has faced a drastic population decline due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and entanglement in fishing nets.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Leatherback turtle (*Dermochelys coriacea*) is categorized as Vulnerable globally on the IUCN Red List. In India, it is a high-priority conservation species found primarily in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Statement 3 is Correct: The Swamp deer (*Rucervus duvaucelii*), or Barasingha, is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It faces threats from habitat fragmentation and conversion of grasslands to agricultural land.

In the context of this UPSC question, the term "endangered" is used as a general descriptor for species facing a significant threat of extinction. Under the IUCN Red List, the categories of Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU) are collectively referred to as 'Threatened' species. Since all three animals fall into these high-risk categories and are protected under Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act, they are all considered endangered in the broader sense of the term.

Statement 1 is Correct: The lion-tailed macaque is endemic to the Western Ghats, and its natural habitat includes the evergreen forests of Tamil Nadu, such as the Anaimalai Hills. Statement 2 is Correct: Kerala hosts a significant portion of the population, particularly in the Silent Valley National Park, which is known for having the largest contiguous population of this species. Statement 3 is Correct: The species is found in the rainforests of the Western Ghats within Karnataka, specifically in regions like the Sirsi-Honnavara and Kudremukh ranges. Statement 4 is Incorrect: The lion-tailed macaque is strictly endemic to the Western Ghats of South India; it is not found in Andhra Pradesh, as the state's geography primarily consists of the Eastern Ghats and coastal plains where this species does not occur naturally.

The species found in India among the given options are the Star Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, and Pygmy Hog.

1. Star Tortoise (*Geochelone elegans*): It is found in the dry scrub forests of India (specifically in the south and west), Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 2. Monitor Lizard: India is home to four species: the Bengal Monitor, the Water Monitor, the Desert Monitor, and the Yellow Monitor. All four species are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 3. Pygmy Hog (*Porcula salvania*): It is the smallest and rarest wild pig in the world. Once found across the Himalayan foothills, it is now restricted to a few locations in India, primarily the Manas National Park in Assam. It is listed as Critically Endangered. 4. Spider Monkey: These are New World monkeys native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America (from southern Mexico to Brazil). They are not found in the wild in India.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1, 2, and 3 only.