In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Karnataka 4. Andhra Pradesh Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
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.