With reference to crocodile species in India, consider the following s...
- Crocodiles are an indispensable part of the ecosystem, popularly known as the guardians of the marine ecosystem. There are three known species of crocodiles, found in India, namely
- The Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)
- The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
- The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus); Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Mugger Crocodile: The Mugger crocodiles are one of the three crocodilians, found in the Indian subcontinent. They mostly live in lakes, freshwater ponds, the major rivers of India, or man-made reservoirs.
- In India, the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, located in the Anaimalai Hills of Tirupur district across the Amaravathi river is notable for housing the largest population of the mugger crocodile. In South India, the Chinnar, Thennar, and Pambar rivers house the largest wild population of Mugger crocodiles. They are also found in the freshwater lakes in the Ranthambore National Park.
- Gharial Crocodile: The Gharial crocodiles are found in the northern part of the Indian Subcontinent in major rivers, like the Ganges, Chambal, Mahanadi, and Son.
- Saltwater Crocodile: The Saltwater Crocodiles are the largest crocodilians among the crocodile family and the largest of all living reptiles in the world. They are found in the saline and brackish mangrove swamp forest of Bhitarkanika and the Sunderbans.
- Recently, Odisha emerged as the only state to house all species of crocodiles. Odisha’s Kendrapara became the only district in India to be home to all three species of crocodilians found in the country. With the natural increase in Gharial count in Odisha, the state has emerged as the only state to have all three species of crocodiles. The freshwater Gharials are found at Satakosiya in Mahanadi and the muggers & saltwater crocodiles are found at Bhitar, Kanika National park in the state of Odisha. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
With reference to crocodile species in India, consider the following s...
Statement 1: Only three types of crocodile species are found in India.
There are actually three species of crocodiles found in India: the Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), and the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). These three species are native to different parts of India and have distinct characteristics and habitats.
Statement 2: Uttar Pradesh is the only state to house all species of crocodiles found in India.
This statement is incorrect. While Uttar Pradesh does have all three species of crocodiles found in India, it is not the only state to house them. Other states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Assam also have populations of these crocodile species.
Explanation:
The first statement is correct as there are indeed only three types of crocodile species found in India, namely the Mugger crocodile, Saltwater crocodile, and Gharial.
However, the second statement is incorrect. While Uttar Pradesh does have all three species of crocodiles, it is not the only state to house them. Let's take a look at the distribution of these crocodile species in India:
1. Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris):
- Found in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
- They are generally found in freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
2. Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus):
- Found mainly in the coastal regions of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- They are the largest living reptiles and are adapted to both saltwater and freshwater habitats.
3. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus):
- Found in the rivers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Assam.
- They have a distinct long, narrow snout and primarily feed on fish.
Therefore, it can be concluded that Uttar Pradesh is not the only state to house all three species of crocodiles found in India. Other states also have populations of these crocodile species, making statement 2 incorrect. The correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
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