Wildlife Encyclopedia

Browse identification guides from our field species database.

Birds verified

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

A heavy-billed parakeet; voice is deeper than the rose-ringed.

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Birds verified

Amur Falcon

Falco amurensis

One of the longest migratory journeys of any raptor.

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Amphibians verified

Asian Common Toad

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

The common Indian toad of towns and villages.

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Mammals verified

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

National Heritage Animal of India.

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Birds verified

Asian Koel

Eudynamys scolopaceus

The male’s “kuoo” call marks the Indian summer.

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Birds verified

Asian Openbill

Anastomus oscitans

A snail specialist; the bill gap helps extract opercula.

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Mammals verified

Asian Small-clawed Otter

Aonyx cinereus

Partly webbed paws adapted for feeling under stones.

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Mammals verified

Asiatic Black Bear

Ursus thibetanus

White chest chevron is the field mark.

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Mammals verified

Asiatic Lion

Panthera leo leo

Restricted in the wild to Gujarat’s Gir landscape.

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Mammals verified

Assamese Macaque

Macaca assamensis

Heavier-built than rhesus; shorter tail.

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Invertebrates verified

Atlas Moth

Attacus atlas

Wingtips resemble a snake’s head — a defensive mimic.

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Reptiles verified

Bamboo Pit Viper

Craspedocephalus gramineus

Heat-sensing pits; often found at face height in shrubs.

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Reptiles verified

Banded Krait

Bungarus fasciatus

Triangular body and a distinct yellow-black pattern.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Banded Racer

Argyrogena fasciolata

A harmless racer; adults lose most banding.

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water

Birds verified

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus

Crosses the Himalaya at extreme altitude.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Barasingha

Rucervus duvaucelii

The only deer adapted to swamp grassland in India.

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Birds verified

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

The pale owl of human buildings.

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Birds verified

Baya Weaver

Ploceus philippinus

Males weave the famous flask-shaped nest.

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pets

Mammals verified

Bengal Fox

Vulpes bengalensis

The only fox endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

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Reptiles verified

Bengal Monitor

Varanus bengalensis

The common large lizard of the Indian plains.

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Mammals verified

Bengal Slow Loris

Nycticebus bengalensis

The only venomous primate; a bite can cause anaphylaxis.

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Mammals verified

Bengal Tiger

Panthera tigris tigris

India holds about 70% of the world’s remaining wild tigers.

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forest

Birds verified

Black Drongo

Dicrurus macrocercus

Aggressive towards crows and raptors near the nest.

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Birds verified

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Nests on city trees and cell towers; extremely tolerant of people.

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water

Reptiles verified

Black Softshell Turtle

Nilssonia nigricans

Survives mainly in temple ponds, not free-flowing rivers.

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water

Birds verified

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Increasingly nests in city trees.

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water

Birds verified

Black-necked Crane

Grus nigricollis

Breeds on the Tibetan plateau; winters in small Indian pockets.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Blackbuck

Antilope cervicapra

State animal of several plains states; males are black-and-white.

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Mammals verified

Bonnet Macaque

Macaca radiata

Endemic to peninsular India.

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Birds verified

Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

A water-edge kite; not a black kite juvenile.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Bronze-back Tree Snake

Dendrelaphis tristis

A bronze vertebral line and large eyes.

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Amphibians verified

Bronzed Frog

Indosylvirana temporalis

A bronze-brown forest-stream specialist.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Buff-striped Keelback

Amphiesma stolatum

A small, striped garden snake of the monsoon.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Burmese Python

Python bivittatus

The large python of the Northeast and Myanmar.

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Mammals verified

Capped Langur

Trachypithecus pileatus

Restricted to northeastern India and adjoining hills.

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Mammals verified

Caracal

Caracal caracal

A desert and grassland specialist now scarce outside a few landscapes.

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water

Birds verified

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Buff-orange breeding plumes on the head and back.

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visibility

Birds verified

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

Also called the crested hawk-eagle.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Checkered Keelback

Fowlea piscator

The common water snake of Indian tanks and paddy.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Chinkara

Gazella bennettii

Can survive long periods without free water.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Chital

Axis axis

White spots persist through adult life.

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air

Birds verified

Cinereous Vulture

Aegypius monachus

One of the world’s heaviest flying birds.

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cruelty_free

Mammals verified

Clouded Leopard

Neofelis nebulosa

A Northeast forest specialist; almost never seen in the open.

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water

Birds verified

Comb Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Males carry a fleshy comb on the bill in breeding season.

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Reptiles verified

Common Cat Snake

Boiga trigonata

Large eyes and a thin neck; hunts geckos at night.

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Reptiles verified

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

The lizard on every Indian verandah light.

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forest

Birds verified

Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Iridescent blue and orange; hovers before a dive.

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Reptiles verified

Common Krait

Bungarus caeruleus

Among the most toxic of the Big Four; painless bites are typical.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Common Kukri

Oligodon arnensis

Named for teeth shaped like a Nepali kukri knife.

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Birds verified

Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis

One of the world’s most successful commensal birds.

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Mammals verified

Common Palm Civet

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Also called the toddy cat; common in towns.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Common Sand Boa

Eryx conicus

Keel-scaled and heavily patterned; a burrower.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Common Trinket Snake

Coelognathus helena

A powerful constrictor of small prey; not venomous.

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Reptiles verified

Common Vine Snake

Ahaetulla nasuta

Expands a dramatic white-and-black gape when threatened.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Common Wolf Snake

Lycodon aulicus

A house snake; bites if grabbed but is non-venomous.

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forest

Birds verified

Coppersmith Barbet

Psilopogon haemacephalus

A small green barbet with a crimson forehead and yellow face.

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Birds verified

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Call is a far-carrying whistled scream.

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water

Birds verified

Demoiselle Crane

Anthropoides virgo

A celebrated wintering crane in Rajasthan villages.

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pets

Mammals verified

Dhole

Cuon alpinus

Whistles rather than barks; hunts cooperatively.

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Mammals verified

Dugong

Dugong dugon

The only herbivorous marine mammal in Indian waters.

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air

Birds verified

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Uses stones to break eggs — a rare tool-using bird.

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water

Birds verified

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Sweeps the bill side to side in shallow water.

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Reptiles verified

Fan-throated Lizard

Sitana ponticeriana

The fan is a display dewlap, not a gliding membrane.

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Mammals verified

Fishing Cat

Prionailurus viverrinus

One of the few cats that regularly hunts in water.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Four-horned Antelope

Tetracerus quadricornis

Males uniquely carry two pairs of horns.

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Amphibians verified

Fungoid Frog

Hydrophylax malabaricus

A Western Ghats endemic with a fungus-like dorsal pattern.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Ganges River Dolphin

Platanista gangetica

Surfaces with a distinctive sideways roll; almost no true eye function.

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waves

Fish verified

Ganges Shark

Glyphis gangeticus

One of the few sharks adapted to freshwater.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Gaur

Bos gaurus

The largest wild cattle species in the world.

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water

Reptiles verified

Gharial

Gavialis gangeticus

Males develop a ghara boss on the snout.

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bug_report

Invertebrates verified

Giant Forest Scorpion

Heterometrus swammerdami

Among the world’s heaviest scorpions; medically milder than the red scorpion.

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Invertebrates verified

Giant Honey Bee

Apis dorsata

Builds single large exposed combs; the common “bee hive on the water tank” species.

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Invertebrates verified

Giant Wood Spider

Nephila pilipes

Females can exceed 15 cm across the legs; males are tiny.

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pets

Mammals verified

Golden Jackal

Canis aureus

Often the first “wolf” report that turns out to be a jackal.

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waves

Fish verified

Golden Mahseer

Tor putitora

The tiger of Himalayan rivers.

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forest

Birds verified

Great Hornbill

Buceros bicornis

State bird of Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.

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forest

Birds verified

Great Indian Bustard

Ardeotis nigriceps

A heavy grassland flier; power lines are the leading threat.

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forest

Mammals verified

Great Indian Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros unicornis

Armour-like skin folds and a single black horn.

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Birds verified

Greater Coucal

Centropus sinensis

Also called the crow-pheasant; weak flier.

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water

Birds verified

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

The taller, paler flamingo of Indian coasts.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Green Keelback

Rhabdophis plumbicolor

One of the few snakes that routinely eats common toads.

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water

Reptiles verified

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Named for green fat, not shell colour.

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water

Birds verified

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Stands motionless before a strike.

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forest

Birds verified

Grey Junglefowl

Gallus sonneratii

Endemic to peninsular India.

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water

Reptiles verified

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

The reef turtle; critically endangered worldwide.

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waves

Fish verified

Hilsa

Tenualosa ilisha

Migrates from the sea into rivers to spawn.

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pets

Mammals verified

Himalayan Brown Bear

Ursus arctos isabellinus

The only brown bear population in India; extremely small.

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forest

Birds verified

Himalayan Monal

Lophophorus impejanus

Males show a rainbow dorsal sheen.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Himalayan Newt

Tylototriton verrucosus

The only caudate amphibian in India.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Himalayan Tahr

Hemitragus jemlahicus

Thick russet coat and a short, goat-like horn curve.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Hog Deer

Axis porcinus

Prefers tall grass; declining with grassland loss.

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pest_control

Mammals verified

Honey Badger

Mellivora capensis

Thick skin and a reputation for fearlessness.

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location_city

Birds verified

House Crow

Corvus splendens

The commensal crow of Indian cities.

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Birds verified

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

A once-ubiquitous commensal now patchy in some cities.

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Reptiles verified

Hump-nosed Pit Viper

Hypnale hypnale

Standard Indian polyvalent antivenom does not cover this species.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Indian Bullfrog

Hoplobatrachus tigerinus

India’s largest common frog; males turn bright yellow in breeding.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Crested Porcupine

Hystrix indica

India’s largest rodent; a crop raider with a defensive rattle.

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visibility

Birds verified

Indian Eagle-Owl

Bubo bengalensis

Also called the rock eagle-owl; ear tufts are prominent.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Indian Egg-eater

Elachistodon westermanni

Has vertebral egg-breaking adaptations like African egg-eaters.

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water

Reptiles verified

Indian Flapshell Turtle

Lissemys punctata

Softshell with femoral flaps that seal the shell.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Flying Fox

Pteropus medius

Roosts in noisy daytime colonies on tall trees.

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pest_control

Reptiles verified

Indian Garden Lizard

Calotes versicolor

Not a chameleon; colour change is limited to the head and forebody.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Giant Flying Squirrel

Petaurista philippensis

Glides between emergent trees at night.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Giant Squirrel

Ratufa indica

A two-foot canopy squirrel with a vivid two-tone coat.

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forest

Birds verified

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

The only hornbill regularly seen in Indian cities.

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pest_control

Mammals verified

Indian Grey Mongoose

Urva edwardsii

Famous snake hunter; actually an opportunistic carnivore.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Hare

Lepus nigricollis

The common wild hare of the Indian plains.

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Mammals verified

Indian Leopard

Panthera pardus fusca

Highly adaptable; regularly reported from city fringes and sugarcane belts.

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bug_report

Invertebrates verified

Indian Moon Moth

Actias selene

Hind-wing tails can exceed the length of the body.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Indian Muntjac

Muntiacus vaginalis

Named for its sharp, bark-like alarm call.

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bug_report

Invertebrates verified

Indian Ornamental Tarantula

Poecilotheria regalis

A CITES-listed ornamental; seizures are a wildlife-crime intake.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Indian Palm Squirrel

Funambulus palmarum

The familiar garden squirrel of South India.

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Mammals verified

Indian Pangolin

Manis crassicaudata

Scales drive illegal trade; never return a pangolin to an unsecured site.

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forest

Birds verified

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

National Bird of India; train of the male is unique.

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forest

Birds verified

Indian Pitta

Pitta brachyura

A short-tailed, brilliantly coloured monsoon migrant.

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water

Birds verified

Indian Pond Heron

Ardeola grayii

Also called the paddy bird.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Indian Rat Snake

Ptyas mucosa

Often called Dhaman; inflates the throat when threatened.

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pets

Mammals verified

Indian Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes pusilla

A northern and western form; not the plains fox.

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bug_report

Invertebrates verified

Indian Red Scorpion

Hottentotta tamulus

Causes the majority of serious scorpion envenomations in India.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Indian Rock Python

Python molurus

India’s largest snake; kills by constriction, not venom.

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forest

Birds verified

Indian Roller

Coracias benghalensis

Electric-blue wings flash in display flight.

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water

Reptiles verified

Indian Roofed Turtle

Pangshura tecta

A small hard-shelled river turtle with a striped neck.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Indian Skipping Frog

Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Also called the skipper frog for its surface-running escape.

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warning

Reptiles verified

Indian Spectacled Cobra

Naja naja

Member of the Big Four; responsible for a large share of elapid bites.

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pest_control

Reptiles verified

Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard

Saara hardwickii

Stores fat in a heavy, spiny tail.

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water

Reptiles verified

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Star-patterned carapace; a CITES Appendix I species.

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water

Reptiles verified

Indian Tent Turtle

Pangshura tentoria

The roofed-turtle of peninsular rivers.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Indian Tree Frog

Polypedates maculatus

Lays eggs in a foam nest above water.

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air

Birds verified

Indian Vulture

Gyps indicus

Population collapsed ~99% after veterinary diclofenac use.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Indian Wild Ass

Equus hemionus khur

The only wild equid in India.

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pets

Mammals verified

Indian Wolf

Canis lupus pallipes

A distinct lineage of wolf adapted to Indian grasslands.

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cruelty_free

Mammals verified

Jungle Cat

Felis chaus

The most widespread wild felid in the Indian plains.

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location_city

Birds verified

Jungle Myna

Acridotheres fuscus

Often in mixed flocks with common mynas.

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warning

Reptiles verified

King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

The only snake that builds a nest and guards eggs.

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location_city

Birds verified

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

The forest and hill crow.

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Birds verified

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Also called the little brown dove.

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water

Reptiles verified

Leatherback Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

The only sea turtle without a hard shell.

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cruelty_free

Mammals verified

Leopard Cat

Prionailurus bengalensis

A forest small cat — not a young leopard.

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water

Birds verified

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Nocturnal whistling flocks over wetlands.

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emoji_nature

Mammals verified

Lion-tailed Macaque

Macaca silenus

Endemic to the Western Ghats; a rainforest flagship.

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water

Birds verified

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Two long nuptial plumes on the nape.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Malabar Gliding Frog

Rhacophorus malabaricus

Can glide between trees using fully webbed feet.

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forest

Birds verified

Malabar Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros coronatus

A casque with a black patch distinguishes adults.

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bug_report

Invertebrates verified

Mangrove Horseshoe Crab

Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda

Not a true crab; more closely related to spiders and scorpions.

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warning

Reptiles verified

Monocled Cobra

Naja kaouthia

Replaces the spectacled cobra in much of eastern India.

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Birds verified

Mottled Wood Owl

Strix ocellata

Endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

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water

Reptiles verified

Mugger Crocodile

Crocodylus palustris

The most widespread crocodilian in India.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Nilgai

Boselaphus tragocamelus

Males are blue-grey; females and young are tawny.

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emoji_nature

Mammals verified

Nilgiri Langur

Semnopithecus johnii

Endemic to the Nilgiri–Anamalai–Periyar belt.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Nilgiri Tahr

Nilgiritragus hylocrius

Endemic to the Western Ghats high-elevation grasslands.

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emoji_nature

Mammals verified

Northern Plains Gray Langur

Semnopithecus entellus

Sacred in many communities; lives in large troops.

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water

Reptiles verified

Olive Ridley

Lepidochelys olivacea

Famous for synchronised arribada nesting at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya.

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water

Birds verified

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Swims with only the neck above water.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Ornate Flying Snake

Chrysopelea ornata

Can glide between trees by flattening its whole body.

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Birds verified

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Worldwide fish-eating raptor; winters widely in India.

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Amphibians verified

Paddy Field Frog

Minervarya agricola

The background croak of Indian paddy in June–July.

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water

Birds verified

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala

Nests colonially with other waterbirds.

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Birds verified

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

A smaller, slimmer woodland parakeet.

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water_drop

Amphibians verified

Purple Frog

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Surfaces for only a few days a year with the first monsoon rains.

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forest

Birds verified

Red Junglefowl

Gallus gallus

The wild ancestor of all domestic chickens.

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diversity_3

Mammals verified

Red Panda

Ailurus fulgens

Called the fire fox; not closely related to the giant panda.

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pets

Reptiles verified

Red Sand Boa

Eryx johnii

The tail mimics a head — the source of the two-headed myth.

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air

Birds verified

Red-headed Vulture

Sarcogyps calvus

Also called the Pondicherry vulture.

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location_city

Birds verified

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

One of the commonest garden birds in India.

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water

Birds verified

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

Nests on gravel roofs and open ground; highly vocal.

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emoji_nature

Mammals verified

Rhesus Macaque

Macaca mulatta

The most common macaque in northern India.

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location_city

Birds verified

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Feral descendant of the wild rock dove.

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location_city

Birds verified

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Males show a rose-and-black neck ring.

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pest_control

Mammals verified

Ruddy Mongoose

Urva smithii

Often seen at forest rest-houses at dusk.

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warning

Reptiles verified

Russell's Viper

Daboia russelii

Responsible for the highest number of fatal snakebites in India.

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cruelty_free

Mammals verified

Rusty-spotted Cat

Prionailurus rubiginosus

Endemic to India and Sri Lanka; often under-recorded.

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water

Reptiles verified

Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodylus porosus

The largest living reptile; a coastal and mangrove species.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Sambar

Rusa unicolor

A key tiger prey species; alarm call is a loud honk.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Sangai

Rucervus eldii eldii

The dancing deer; found only on Loktak’s floating meadows.

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water

Birds verified

Sarus Crane

Antigone antigone

Mates for life; a scheduled wetland flagship.

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Reptiles verified

Saw-scaled Viper

Echis carinatus

Produces a rasping warning by rubbing serrated flank scales.

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Birds verified

Shikra

Accipiter badius

Barred underparts and a staring yellow-orange eye.

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Reptiles verified

Sind Krait

Bungarus sindanus

A northwest form; identification is specialist-level.

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Mammals verified

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Inspiration for Kipling’s Baloo; uses a vacuum-like snout on termite mounds.

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Mammals verified

Small Indian Civet

Viverricula indica

Historically kept for civet musk; now fully protected.

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Mammals verified

Smooth-coated Otter

Lutrogale perspicillata

The otter most often seen on Indian rivers.

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Mammals verified

Snow Leopard

Panthera uncia

Called the Ghost of the Mountains for its camouflage and remoteness.

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Birds verified

Spot-billed Pelican

Pelecanus philippensis

Grey-white with a spotted upper mandible.

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Birds verified

Spotted Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

A gentle garden dove; not a pigeon squab.

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Birds verified

Spotted Owlet

Athene brama

Yellow eyes and white spotting; active at dusk.

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Birds verified

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis

One of the commoner large eagles in the Indian winter.

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Mammals verified

Striped Hyena

Hyaena hyaena

A sloping back and striped coat; not a pack hunter like the spotted hyena.

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Reptiles verified

Tokay Gecko

Gekko gecko

The “to-kay” call carries through the night.

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Fish verified

Wallago Catfish

Wallago attu

Often called the freshwater shark in local markets.

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Reptiles verified

Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

One of the largest lizards in Asia.

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Mammals verified

Western Hoolock Gibbon

Hoolock hoolock

The only ape found in India.

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Fish verified

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

A filter-feeding shark; harmless to people.

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Birds verified

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

Adults are white and grey with a wedge-shaped tail.

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air

Birds verified

White-rumped Vulture

Gyps bengalensis

Adults show a clear white rump and lower back in flight.

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forest

Birds verified

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Chestnut, turquoise and a blazing white throat.

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agriculture

Mammals verified

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

One of the most frequent large-mammal rescue presentations in farmland.

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