Lakshadweep Islands Index ● Flora of Lakshadweep Islands ● Fauna of Lakshadweep Islands ● Observations ● Inference ● Applications ● Extension and scope in future ● Bibliography Flora of Lakshadweep Islands Artocarpus incisa ( Bread Fruit)
➢ a species of flowering tree (Moraceae) ➢ Trees that bear breadfruit can reach heights of 26 meters ➢ may produce 200 or more grapefruit-sized fruits in a single season on a single tree with no maintenance. Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) ➢ Plants are extremely special due to their rare nature of flowering every 12 years ➢ The plant is usually 25 to 60 cm high ➢ Received its name from the purplish-blue flower Banana, Vazha (Musaparadisiaca) • is a perennial herb that grows from a bulk of rhizome • The fruit grows in large hanging bunches where it has about 10 to 20 fingers • It grows in humid, tropical areas and is the world's largest herb Colocassia, Chambu (Colocasia antiquarum) ➢ They are herbaceous perennial plants with a large corm on or just below the ground surface. ➢ The leaves are large to very large, 20–150 cm (7.9–59.1 in) long, with a sagittate shape ➢ Plant gets its name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield. Drumstick, moringakkai (Moringa Oleifera) ➢ is a small to medium evergreen or deciduous tree that can grow to a height of 10-12 m ➢ It has a spreading open crown, typically umbrella-shaped ➢ The fruit is a typically 3- valved capsule, 10 to 60 cm in length, often referred to as a “pod” and looking like a drumstick (hence the Jackfruit,Chakka (Artocarpus incisa)
• The jackfruit tree is 15
to 20 metres (50 to 70 feet) tall at maturity and has large stiff glossy green leaves about 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) long • Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, reaching up to 60 cm (about 2 feet) long and weighing up to 18 kg (about 40 pounds). Wild Almond (Terminalia Catappa)
• The tree grows to 35
metres (115 feet) tall, with an upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal branches • The leaves are large, 15– 25 cm (6–9+3⁄4 in) long and 10–14 cm (4– 5+1⁄2 in) broad, ovoid, glossy dark green, and leathery. Kanni (Scaevolakeeningil) • is a genus of flowering plants in the Goodenia family, Goodeniaceae. • It is a large bush reaching up to about 4 m in height typical of littoral zones where it grows very close to the sea exposed to the salt spray, usually on sandy or pebbly soils Punna (Calaphylluminophyllum) • Calophyllum inophyllum is a low- branching and slow- growing tree, it spreads with a broad and irregular crown • Usually reaches 8 to 30 m (26 to 98 ft) in height • The flower is 25 to 30 mm (0.98 to 1.18 in) wide Chavok (Casurina equisetifolia) • Casuarina equisetifolia, commonly known as coastal she- oak, horsetail she- oak,beach sheoak, beach casuarina or whistling tree is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae • is a monoecious tree that typically grows to a height of 6–12 m (20– 39 ft) Cheerani (Thespesia Populnea) • is a tree found commonly on coasts around the world • tree reaches a height of 6–10 m (20–33 ft) tall and its trunk can measure up to 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) in diameter • able to grow in the wide range of soil types that may be present in coastal environments, Coconut, Thenga (Cacos nucifera) • The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos. • is the only crop of economic importance in Lakshadweep • These are found in different varieties such as Laccadive micro, Laccadive ordinary, green dwarf etc Pacific turtle grass (Thalassia hemprichii) • is a widespread species of seagrass in the genus Thalassia, native to the shores of the Indian Ocean. • Its growth rate increases with CO2 enrichment, and it can tolerate lowered light conditions caused by algal blooms, allowing for it to respond positively to ocean acidification and other disturbances Noodle sea grass (Cymodocea isoetifolia) • a species of flowering plant in the family Cymodoceaceae, growing underwater in marine habitats • It forms seagrass meadows in shallow sandy or muddy locations in the Indian Ocean • They prevent sea erosion and movement of the beach sediments. FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLAND Brown noddy (Anous stolidus) • The brown noddy has a wingspan of 75–86 cm and measures 38–45 cm in length. • Dark chocolate-brown in color, with a crown and forehead in a lighter shade of grey or white • Dark foot and legs are paired with a long, wedge-shaped tail Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon falcula) • a member of the family Chaetodontidae is called Chaetodon falcula, often known as the black wedged butterflyfish or falcula butterflyfish • Chaetodon falcula has a white body with several slender, vertical dark grey lines as its only markings • There are yellow fins on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Tharathasi (Sterna fuscata) • It is a bird of the tropical oceans, breeding on islands throughout the equatorial zone. • The wings and deeply forked tail are long, and it has dark grey upperparts and white underparts Clams /Snails ( Molluscans) • Molluscs have a mantle or mass of soft flesh that covers the soft body and encloses the internal organs. • They have a mantle with glands that secret a substance that hardens into a shell. Money cowrie (Cypraea monita) • is a species of small sea snail,a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. • It is a quite small cowry, up to 3 cm (1.2 in), irregular and flattened, with very calloused edges and roughly subhexagonal. Hermit Crab (Paguroidea) • Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea • Most hermit crabs salvage empty seashells to shelter and protect their soft abdomens • Hermit crabs live at a range of depths from shallow coral reefs and shorelines to deep bottoms Parrot fish (Callyedon sordidus) • is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae • occurs in both coral rich and open pavement areas of shallow reef flats, in lagoon reefs and seaward reefs, it can also be found at drop-offs Surgeonfish (acanthurus lineatus) • This species reaches about 38 centimeters in length. • Much of the body has black-edged blue and yellow stripes, and the top of the head is striped with yellow. • The lined surgeonfish is associated with reefs, living in marine waters just a few meters deep Observations ● The region does not have a rich flora and there is also an absence of forest in the region. ● Nearly 400 species of flowering plants have been documented, including three species of sea grasses ● It has over 600 species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals, 82 species of seaweed, 52 species of crabs, 2 species of lobsters, 48 species of gastropods, 12 species of bivalves, 101 species of birds in Lakshadweep
● From Lakshadweep 400 species of plants, 101
species of birds and 603 species of marine Inference ● Lakshadweep, is an archipelago of group of 36 islands is known for its beaches and lush green landscape with flora and fauna ● The natural landscapes, the sandy beaches, abundance of flora and fauna and the absence of a rushed lifestyle enhance the mystique of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep has a tropical climate and it has an average temperature of 27° C – 32° C ● Coral reefs provide habitat, breeding ground, shelter, nesting place and niche for many protected species like coelenterate, holothurians, echinoderms, mollusks, sponges and marine turtles, mammals and many other fauna & flora. ● The Islands must be prepared to face and deal with problems like wildlife crimes, over exploitations, unsustainable fishing, pollutions,unemployment, sanitation, disturbance to the fragile ecology and many more. It is high time to protect and conserve these fragile and most dedicate ecosystems by all means to Applications • The vast knowledge of flora and fauna of Lakshadweep Islands help to preserve its mixed biodiversity.
➢ Conservation of lagoons , Coral reefs and coastal land
can promote a sustainable ecosystem in the island.
➢ Study of flora and fauna is very important to
understand the special features of flora and fauna of islands, that can be used to prevent the extinction and endangerment of several species. ➢ The Department of Environment & Forest, under U.T of Lakshadweep Administration was bifurcated in the year 1999. Before that it was functioning with the Department of Science & Technology. During the year 2018, a total of 6 Divisions were created in the department, for the convenience of the better administration and management, with a view to protect Extension and scope in future • Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar Island, the most precious place of our India, are famous for their nature, biodiversity and wildlife which cannot be seen all over India • They serve as the economic lifeline for coastal community and plays a pivotal role in shaping the diversification of the eco system • These diverse floral and faunal diversity of Lakshadweep needs an efficient science – based protective approach for now and for the future • Future studies are very relevant to understand the ecological conservation of this island which helps to attain a sustainable island with self sufficient resources. Bibliography 1. https://lakshadweep.gov.in/about-lakshadweep/fauna- flora/ 2. Ayyam Velmurugan et al (2008). Biodiversity and Climate Change Impacts on the Lakshadweep Islands 3. https://www.india-travel-information.com/india- information/union-territories-of-india/lakshadweep/flora-and- fauna/ 4. https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/316652- Lakshadweep-Check-List 5. https://www.webindia123.com/territories/lakshadweep/land /fauna.htm 6. https://doef.utl.gov.in/uploads/Annual_Report_2018-19.pdf 7. https://greenverz.com/lakshadweep-islands/ 8. https://zenodo.org/record/3342533 9. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/indiastatisti cs/save-lakshadweep-33051/ Thanks for understanding us
