India Reference Libraries
The Bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the Bull whaler, Zambezi River shark or colloquially Zambi, is common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and well-known for its unpredictable, often aggressive behavior. They have a tolerance for fresh water that is unique among marine sharks, and can travel far up rivers, posing a threat to those who venture into the water. As a...
The Ricefish are a family (Adrianichthyidae) of small ray-finned fish that are found in fresh and brackish waters from India to Japan and out into the Indo-Australian Archipelago, most notably Sulawesi. There are about 27 species, some extremely rare and endangered, and some 2-4 may already be extinct. Most of these species are quite small, with maximum lengths in the 0.79-1.57 in (2-4 cm)...
The Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra, Naja naja, is a species of venomous snake native to the Indian subcontinent. The Indian Cobra is one of the four most venomous snakes in India, but is accountable for few human fatalities. Like other cobras, the Indian cobra is famous for its threat display involving raising the front part of its body and spreading its hood. On the rear of this hood are...
The Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris, also called the Iranian, Marsh, or Persian Crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries. These countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Iran. Mainly a freshwater species, the Mugger crocodile is found in lakes, rivers and marshes. Muggers prefer slow-moving, shallower bodies of water rather...
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is closely related to the brown hyena. It lives in northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and western India. It is extinct in Europe, but can occasionally be spotted in Anatolia, Turkey. Striped hyenas are largely scavengers, but will also eat small animals, fruit and insects. They are nomadic, moving from water hole to water hole, but never straying more...
The striped-necked mongoose (Herpestes vitticollis) is a species of mongoose found in southern India.
The Bengal tiger or Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It is the most common tiger subspecies, and lives in a variety of habitats. It lives in grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves. Its fur is orange-brown with black stripes,...
The jungle cat (Felis chaus), also called the swamp lynx (although not related to the lynxes), is a small cat with a rather short tail. Dependent on the subspecies the color of the fur is yellowish-grey to reddish-brown. While vertical bars are visible on the fur of kittens, these bars disappear in adult cats. Due to the pointed ears and the long legs this cat resembles a small lynx. This...
The Indian Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris) is a relatively small hedgehog native to India and Pakistan. Due its extremely large ears, it used to be considered a subspecies of long-eared hedgehog. The Indian Long-eared Hedgehog is notable for a quite complex mating ritual that involves "dancing" around females for several days before mating.
The madras treeshrew (Anathana ellioti), also known as the Indian treeshrew is a species of treeshrew. It is found in the hill forests of central and southern India. This treeshrew is 6.3 to 7.28 in (16.0 to 18.5 cm) long with a tail of 6.5 to 7.68 in (16.5 to 19.5 cm). The madras treeshrew is found on the Indian subcontinent south of the Ganges River. This species of treeshrew spends much...
