| Nature's
Wonderland Meghalaya is a paradise to the botanists
for its variedly rich concentration of interesting and
valuable flora. It is also no less a happy hunting ground
to the zoologists for its interesting, rare and diverse
faunal wealth.
Meghalaya is considered by many biologists to have
been the gateway through which many species of Indo-Chinese
origin, particularly mammals, migrated to Peninsular
India.
It is said that about 50% of the total number of mammal
genera found in the entire Indian sub-continent can
be seen in Meghalaya and its adjoining states in the
North-East. Out of the above, nine genera of mammals,
such as Tupaia, Rhizomys, Cannomys, Chiropodomys, Micromys
etc occur only in Meghalaya and its adjacent areas.
Some of the most interesting animals found in Meghalaya
are:
- Hoolock - the only tailless ape in India
- Golden Cat
- Leopard Cat
- Jungle Cat
- Large Indian Civet
- Binturong or Bear Cat
- Himalayan Black Bear
- Barking Deer
- Pangolin
In the forests of Meghalaya, specially in lower altitudes,
multifarious species of birds can be seen in abundance.
Some of the common birds are:
- Hoopoe
- Long tailed Broadbill
- Scarlet Minivet
- Burmese Roller
- Blue-throated Barbet
- Red-vented Bulbul
- Himalayan Black Bulbul
- Himalayan Whistling Thrush
- Spotted Forktail
- Black-breasted Kalij Pheasant
- Red Jungle Fowl
- Mynas like Jungle Mynas, Hill Mynas etc.
- Turtle-dove
Besides, hornbills including the Great Indian hornbill,
florican, owl, black drongo and many other birds are
also found.
Reptile population in Meghalaya includes lizards and
snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous. Important ones
are:
- Indian Cobra
- King cobra
- Coral Snake
- Vipers
- Python
- Blind Snake
- Copperhead
- Red-necked Kulback
- Green Tree Racer
Besides mammals, birds and reptiles, Meghalaya has
a number of amphibians and fishes and insects. Amphibians
like frogs, toads etc. and fishes like rohu, mrigal,
kalibaus, puti and many more of hill stream adaptation
are found abundantly in Meghalaya. Among the insect
population, ants, flies, bees, beetles are common.
Meghalaya's butterflies are world famous, among which
are Blue Peacock, the Karserhed, the Orange Oak Leaf,
the Dipper, the Bhutan Glory. It is for this exquisitely
diverse, rare and wonderful animal life that Meghalaya
is called a veritable Nature's Wonderland
Mammals
Some species of different families
of mammals namely Primates, the Cats, Civets,
Mongooses, Dogs, Bear, Weasels, Bats, Rodents,
Elephants, Gaur, Wild Buffalo, Serow, Deer, Pigs
and Pangolins are seen roaming in the forests
of Meghalaya. In Meghalaya we come across apes
as well as monkeys and lemurs. The only type of
apes found in Meghalaya as also in India is Hoolock
Gibbon. In Meghalaya, we have both macaques and
langurs. Of the macaques, Rhesus Macaque and Assamese
Macaque are found. The Golden Langur is a very
rare species of Meghalaya and is on the verge
of extinction. They inhabit the evergreen forests
of Meghalaya. Among lemurs, the Slow Loris is
found in Meghalaya. |
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The Feline Beauties
 |
In Meghalaya, among the Cat Family
the following are found: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded
Leopard, Golden Cat, Leopard Cat and Jungle Cat. |
Civets-The Little Predators
| In Meghalaya forests,
the following are the most important Civets:
- The Large Indian Civets
- The Small Indian Civets
- The Common Palm Civet or Toddy
Cat
- The Binturong or Bear Cat
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Mongooses-The Smaller Hunters In Meghalaya,
the usual types of Mongooses found are:
- The Common Mongoose
- The small Indian Mongoose
The Scavenger Mammals The
Dog Family comprises Wolves, Jackals, Foxes and Dogs,
all of which are found in Meghalaya. In Meghalaya, the
Indian foxes commonly found. It lives in open country
and seldom enters forest.
The Hefty Climbers In
Meghalaya, usually two species of bears are found-Sloth
Bear and The Himalayan Black Bear.
The Weasel Family The
Weasel Family in Meghalaya comprises Weasels, Otters,
Martens and Badgers. The Common Otter, Yellow Throated
Marten and the Hog-Badger are commonly found.
The Supersonic Parachuted Animals
In Meghalaya, both vegetarian and carnivorous bats
are found. Some bats dwell on trees, but their most
usual shelter is the cave. Meghalaya's famous Siju Cave
is very much infested with bats.
The Gnawing Animals In
Meghalaya, the most interesting rodents are:
- Flying Squirrel
- Malayan Giant Squirrel
- Himalayan Squirrel
- Indian Porcupine
Bulky Body, Subtle Mind
 |
In Meghalaya, there are about 2,000
elephants in the Garo Hills and 500 in the jungles
of the Jaintia Hills. The average height of an
adult Meghalayan mail elephant is about 270 cm.
The Wild Buffalo is also found in Meghalaya. |
Goat-Antelopes
The Serow is common in Meghalaya.
In Meghalaya, usually two varieties of deer are
found - Sambar and Barking Deer. Wild Boars and
the Pangolins or scaly ant-eaters are also common
here. |
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The Winged Bipeds
 |
Magpie-Robin is a favourite bird
to be seen in Meghalaya. The joyful notes and
vivacity of the Red-vented Bulbul make it very
popular in Meghalaya. The Hill Myna is usually
found in pairs or in flocks in the hill forests
of Meghalaya. In Meghalaya Sal forests, the Red
Jungle Fowl are a common sight but their population
is dwindling fast. The Large Pied Hornbill and
the Great Indian Hornbill are found in Meghalaya.
The Great Indian Hornbill is in fact the largest
bird in Meghalaya. The Peacock Pheasant can be
seen in the forests of Garo and Jaintia hills.
In cultivation fields and wooded country in Meghalaya,
the Large Indian Parakeet is common. The Common
Green Pigeon is found in flocks in wooded country
in Meghalaya. The Black-necked Stork is a common
bird on marshland, beels, lakes and rivers in
Meghalaya - usually found solitary, wading in
shallow water. Blue Jay is a common bird in Meghalaya,
usually found about cultivation fields near human
habitations. The Kalij Pheasant is very fond of
thick undergrowth in jungle ravines, frequents
cultivation around hill villages in Garo hills,
Jaintia hills and Khasi hills. Among the Indian
Great Horned Owl, the race found in Meghalaya
is bengalensis. |
Amphibians, Reptiles &
Fishes
| In Meghalaya, amphibians
are represented by frogs and toads. In Meghalaya
four types of reptiles are found - Lizards, Crocodiles,
Tortoises and Snakes. Among the non-poisonous
snakes found in Meghalaya, the following may be
mentioned: Python, Blind snakes, Copper head,
Green tree racer, Red necked Kulback. The poisonous
snakes in Meghalaya include: Indian cobra, King
cobra, Coral snake and Vipers. In Meghalaya's
rivers and beels, are found many species of fishes.
Major carps like Lobeo rohita, L. kalbasa, L.
gonius, Katla-katla, Cirrhinus mrigala are the
prized and most coveted fish species. Amongst
the minor carps, Barbus, Stigma, B. sarana, B.
ticto, B. conchonius, B. phutuna are also found.
The jheels usually contained Joelfishes like Channa
striatus, C. punctatus, C. marutius, Anabas spp.,
Clarias Sp. Some of the species of fishes in Meghalaya
show cold hill stream adaptation. |
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The Winged Delights
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Meghalaya is a happy abode of splendid
varieties of butterflies, which are simply exquisite.
Varied climate and multiple plant life of near
temperate to sub-tropical ones as also a richly
diverse topography make Meghalaya a natural storehouse
of beautiful butterflies. About 250 species of
butterflies are found in Meghalaya, out of about
1,000 species seen in India. Some of the exquisite
varieties of butterflies of Meghalaya which are
admired all over the world are: Blue Peacock,
the Kaiser-E-Hind, Leafs-Butterfly, the Dipper,
the Bhutan Glory. The Yellow Orange Tip has been
recorded from Barapani during June. The Vagrant
has been recorded from Nongpoh during February.
The Common Blue Bottle has been recorded from
Cherrapunjee, Mawphlang, Laitkor and Shillong
during July to November. The Red-Breast Jazebel
has been recorded from Nongpoh and Shillong during
October. |
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