Consider the following statements regarding Nilgiri Tahr: It is the st...
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister recently launched ‘The Nilgiri Tahr’ project for the conservation of Tamil Nadu’s state animal.
About Nilgiri Tahr:
- It is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats.
- Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius
- Locally, the animal is called ‘Varayaadu’.
- They are known for their gravity-defying skills in climbing steep cliffs, earning them the nickname Mountain Monarch.
- It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- Distribution:
- Their present distribution is limited to approximately 5% of the Western Ghats in southern India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu).
- Eravikulam National Park in Kerala has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr.
- Habitat: They inhabit the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of the South Western Ghats.
- Features:
- It has a stocky body with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane.
- Males are larger than females and of a darker color when mature.
- Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males, reaching up to 40 cm in males and 30 cm in females.
- Adult males develop a light grey area or ’saddle’ on their backs and are hence called ‘saddlebacks’.
- It has a short grey-brown or dark coat.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Nilgiri Tahr: It is the st...
Statement 1: It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
Statement 2: It inhabits the open montane grassland habitats of the Eastern Ghats.
The correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
Explanation:
The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is a rare and endangered species of ungulate found in the Western Ghats in southern India. It is not the state animal of Tamil Nadu, but rather the state animal of Kerala. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.
The Nilgiri Tahr primarily inhabits the montane grasslands of the Nilgiri Hills in the Western Ghats, not the Eastern Ghats. The Nilgiri Hills are located in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. These grasslands are characterized by rolling hills, high altitude plateaus, and steep slopes. The Nilgiri Tahr is specifically adapted to live in these open grassland habitats, where it can graze on the grasses and browse on shrubs and other vegetation. Therefore, statement 2 is also incorrect.
To summarize, neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct. The Nilgiri Tahr is not the state animal of Tamil Nadu, and it does not inhabit the open montane grassland habitats of the Eastern Ghats.
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