1. Western Himalaya - Alpine
Ladakh / J&K / Himachal
Cold Desert
Habitat Biology
- Altitude 3000-5000m, sparse juniper, rocky slopes
- Low oxygen, extreme winter adaptation
Mammals
- Snow Leopard - solitary, thick tail for balance, preys on ibex
Birds
- Himalayan Monal - iridescent pheasant, state bird of Uttarakhand
- Bengal Vulture - scavenger of high valleys
2. Eastern Himalaya - Cloud Forest
Sikkim / ArunachalMontane
Habitat Biology
- Dense rhododendron, moss, high rainfall
- Biodiversity hotspot
Mammals
- Red Panda - arboreal, bamboo feeder, false thumb
Birds
- Great Indian Hornbill - large casque, seed disperser
3. Brahmaputra Valley - Grassland
AssamTerai Grassland
Habitat Biology
- Floodplain tall elephant grass, wetlands
- Annual Brahmaputra floods renew soil
Mammals
- One-horned Rhino - grazes, wallows, Kaziranga stronghold
- Asian Elephant - migratory herds
Birds
- Black-headed Ibis - wetland wader
- Sarus Crane - tallest flying bird
4. Sundarbans - Mangrove Delta
West BengalMangrove
Habitat Biology
- Tidal mangrove, salt-tolerant Sundari trees
- Brackish water, tidal creeks
Mammals
- Bengal Tiger - mangrove-adapted, strong swimmer
Birds
- White-throated Kingfisher - fish hunter
Reptile
- Saltwater Crocodile - apex estuarine predator
5. Central India - Dry Deciduous
Madhya PradeshTeak / Sal
Habitat Biology
- Teak-sal forests, tiger reserves
- Seasonal leaf fall
Mammals
- Bengal Tiger - territorial, core umbrella species
Birds
- Indian Peacock - national bird, lek display
- Indian Eagle-Owl - nocturnal hunter
6. Gir - Thorn Scrub
GujaratSemi-arid
Habitat Biology
- Dry teak, acacia thorn scrub
- Only wild home of Asiatic lion
Mammals
- Asiatic Lion - pride social, smaller mane than African
Birds
- Greater Flamingo - Nal Sarovar wetlands nearby
7. Western Ghats - Evergreen
Karnataka / KeralaUNESCO Hotspot
Habitat Biology
- Evergreen rainforest, high endemism
- Shola-grassland mosaic
Mammals
- Lion-tailed Macaque - endemic, silver mane
- Nilgiri Tahr - mountain goat, Eravikulam
- Asian Elephant - largest population
Birds
- Great Indian Hornbill - canopy frugivore
8. Deccan Plateau - Scrub Grassland
MaharashtraSavanna
Habitat Biology
- Open grass, scrub, rocky outcrops
- Blackbuck grasslands
Mammals
- Blackbuck - spiral horns, fastest Indian antelope
Birds
- Indian Roller - bright blue, farmland hunter
9. Thar Desert - Arid
Rajasthan
Habitat Biology
- Sand dunes, khejri trees, extreme heat
Birds
- Indian Eagle-Owl - desert cliffs
- Bengal Vulture - carcass cleaner
10. Eastern Ghats / Odisha Forest
Odisha / Chhattisgarh
Habitat Biology
- Moist deciduous, elephant corridors
Mammals
- Asian Elephant - corridor migration
11. Coastal Wetlands
Pan-India Coast
Habitat Biology
- Lagoons, mudflats, migratory flyway
Birds
- Greater Flamingo - filter feeder
- Black-headed Ibis
12. Southern Shola - Montane
Tamil Nadu
Habitat Biology
- High altitude stunted forest + grassland
Mammals
- Nilgiri Tahr - cliff dweller
Birds
- Himalayan Monal relative pheasants