Western ghats of India is known as
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option D —
Endemic Home
The Western Ghats are frequently referred to as an "Endemic Home" because they are one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity.Why the Western Ghats are unique:
High Endemism: A significant percentage of the species found here—including amphibians, reptiles, fish, and flowering plants—are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized for its immense ecological value, the range influences the Indian monsoon weather pattern by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds.
Biodiversity Hub: While covering less than 6% of India's land area, it contains more than 30% of all plant, fish, bird, and mammal species found in the country.
Key Species Examples:
Lion-tailed Macaque: An endangered primate found only in the rainforests of the Western Ghats.
Nilgiri Tahr: A mountain goat endemic to the open montane grassland habitat of the southern portion of the range.
Purple Frog: A unique amphibian that spends most of its life underground.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
More Environment & Ecology questions
From across UPSC, JKPSC, and JKSSB papers — same subject, different years.
Which of the following missions are covered under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?i. National Solar Missionii. Nationa...
Consider the following statements:1. Organisms that can tolerate and survive in a wide range of temperatures are called stenothermal.
2. ...
Consider the following statements:1. Buckyballs, also known as fullerenes, are fascinating carbon molecules that resemble soccer balls.
2...
Ecological foot print is a method of gauging the
Arrange the following International Environmental Initiatives in chronological order:
1. Brundtland report
2. Vienna Convention
3. Stockh...