Flora
Karnataka has a rich diversity of flora. It has a recorded forested are of 38,720 km2 which constitutes 20.19% of the total geographical area of the state. These forests support 25% of elephant and 10% of tiger population of India. Sandalwood is considered as the state tree and lotus is considered as the state flower. Karnataka has five national parks Anshi, Bandipur, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh and Nagerhole.Some species of trees found in Karnataka are Callophyllum tomentosa, Callophyllum wightianum, Garcina cambogia, Garcina morealla, Alstonia scholaris, Flacourtia montana, Artocarpus hirsutus, Artocarpus lacoocha, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Grewia tilaefolia, Santalum album, Shorea talura, Emblica officinalis, Vitex altissima and Wrightia tinctoria.
Endangered Species of Karnataka
Karnataka is the home of few critically endangered species of flora that include evergreen trees like Dipterocarpus bourdilloni, Hopea erosa and Hopea jacobi, Croton lawianus (a small tree) and Pinnatella limbata (a type of moss).
Some of the endangered species of flora include evergreen trees like Cynometra bourdillonii, Cynometra travancorica, Hopea glabra, Hopea parviflora, Hopea ponga, Hopea racophloea, Hopea wightiana, Shorea roxburghii and Tarenna agumbensis and flowering plants like Glochidion pauciflorum, Glochidion tomentosum, Ixora lawsoni and Syzygium stocksii. Other endangered trees found in Karnataka include Isonandra stocksii, Kingiodendron pinnatum, Maesa velutina, Myristica magnifica, Rapanea striata and Xylosma latifolium.
Fauna
Karnataka has a wide variety of habitats that abound with different species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes and insects. It is one of the richest states in India in terms of wildlife. The exotic fauna of Karnataka varies from the grand elephant to the magnificent tiger. The forests of Karnataka are home to 25% of the elephant population and 10% of the tiger population found in India
MAMMALS: Karnataka has several species of striking mammals including the sloth bears, Asiatic elephant, Bengal tiger, wild boars, gaurs, black panthers, Asiatic wild dogs, Indian leopard, small Indian civet, Indian flying fox,etc.
BIRDS: The colourful and exotic species of birds found in Karnataka include the Malabar parakeet, Grey francolin, Little grebe, Painted stork, Cattle egrets, Storm petrels,etc.
REPTILES: Karnataka has a remarkable diversity of reptiles. Among the reptiles found in the dense forests of the state are various species of dangerous snakes like the Indian python, the King cobra, the trinket snake, the Indian cobra, the common krait, the large eyed bronze back and the common rat snake.
ENDANGERED FAUNA OF KARNATAKA:
The Forest Department of Karnataka has declared 40 animals as endangered species in the state. Some of the endangered fauna of Karnataka include the following:
• Lion tailed macau
• Tiger
• Elephants
• Sloth bear
• Black buck
• Indian brown mongoose
• Wild dog
• Kolar-leaf nosed bat
• Travancore flying squirrel
• Spotted eagle
• Olive ridley turtle
• Leatherback turtle
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