Tanisha R: started a stub with sources!

2026-04-15T20:08:02Z

started a stub with sources!

New page

{{short description|Native animals of Gujarat}}
'''Gujarat''', a state located in [[Western India]], includes fauna from ecosystems such as the coast of the [[Arabian Sea]], the semi-arid forests on the [[Kathiawar|Kathiawar Peninsula]], and the arid salt flats of the [[Rann of Kutch]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Gujarat |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gujarat |website=Britannica}}</ref>

It is estimated that [[Gujarat]] is home to more than 500 species of [[mammals]], 2,000 species of [[Bird|birds]], and a wide range{{clarification needed|date=April 2024}} of [[Insect|insects]], [[fish]], [[amphibians]], and [[reptiles]]. The [[Asiatic lion]], an [[endangered species]] of cat, is found in [[Gir National Park]]. Gujarat's coastal areas, including the [[Gulf of Khambhat]] and the [[Gulf of Kutch]], host a nationally important range of species of [[fish]], [[crustaceans]], and [[migratory birds]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rao |first1=N. V. Subba |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CdEUAQAAIAAJ&q=marine+life+of+gujarat |title=Fauna of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat: An Overview |last2=Sastry |first2=D. R. K. |date=2005 |publisher=Zoological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-8171-061-1 |language=en}}</ref> Gujarat's fauna is conserved by [[protected areas]], [[wildlife sanctuaries]], and [[National park|national parks]].

== History ==
In the early 1980s, [[Paleontology|paleontologists]] found [[dinosaur egg]] fossil sites containing hatcheries and remains of at least 13 dinosaur species in [[Balasinor]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-05-11 |title=The wonders of India's Jurassic Park |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8671676.stm |access-date=2024-02-16 |language=en-GB}}</ref> A prominent find was that of a carnivorous [[Abelisauridae|abelisaurid]] named ''[[Rajasaurus|Rajasaurus narmadensis]],'' which lived in the [[Late Cretaceous]] period.

== Mammals ==
[[File:Golden Jackal at Rajkot 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Golden Jackal at Rajkot]]
In the [[Little Rann of Kutch]], the [[Indian Wild Ass|Indian wild ass]], locally known as [[Ghudkhur|Ghudkhar]], inhabits arid grasslands and scrublands. Also present is the [[Indian Elephant|Indian elephant]], found in [[Gir National Park]], [[Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary]], and other forested areas. [[Sloth bear]]s reside in the [[Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=H. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5mRrgEACAAJ |title=Mammals in Gujarat |date=2013 |publisher=Gujarat Forest Department and Gujarat State Biodiversity Board |language=en}}</ref> The [[Blackbuck]] is commonly seen in [[Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar|Velavadar National Park]] and the [[Little Rann of Kutch]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kankane |first1=P. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w40a8qTIpC0C&q=mammals+in+gujarat |title=Status Survey of Some Mammals in Gujarat with Special Reference to Chinkara and Desert Cat |last2=Sharma (Entomologist) |first2=Gaurav |last3=Venkataraman |first3=K. |date=2014 |publisher=Zoological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-8171-391-9 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Indian Rhinoceros]] is also present in the [[Wild Ass Sanctuary]] within the Little Rann of Kutch.

Additionally, smaller animal species in Gujarat include the [[Indian grey mongoose|Indian Gray Mongoose]] and the [[White-footed fox|Desert Fox.]]

[[Humpback dolphin|Humpback Dolphins]] and [[Dugong|Dugongs]] are present and are often spotted in both the [[Gulf of Kutch]] and the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gulf of Kutch IMMA |url=https://www.marinemammalhabitat.org/portfolio-item/gulf-kutch/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Commons category|Mammals of Gujarat}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Biota of India]]
[[Category:Fauna of Gujarat]]

Fauna of Gujarat - Revision history

Tanisha R: started a stub with sources!