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Pakkamalai
Pakkamalai is a mountain and forest reserve in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, located 45 km southwest of Gingee. Geography Pakkamalai is steep-sided plateau that reaches an elevation of over 500 meters. In addition to being a forest reserve, Pakkamalai is a sacred forest. There is a shrine to the Goddess Durga on one of the peaks, and a temple to Perumal (Vishnu) at mid-elevation. Climate Maximum temperature ranges from 30° to 36 °C in the summer, and 24 °C during the winter months. Mean annual rainfall is 700 mm. Ecology Pakkamalai forest reserve covers an area of 22.38 km2, and the mountain's dry forests contain a mix of species characteristic of the coastal dry evergreen forests which lie to the east, and the dry deciduous forests that lie to the west in the Eastern Ghats. Typical dry evergreen species in the forests include ''Atalantia monophylla, Acacia intsia, Combretum albidum, Dichrostachys cinerea'', and ''Psydrax dicoccos'', and ty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grizzled Giant Squirrel
The grizzled giant squirrel (''Ratufa macroura'') is a large tree squirrel in the genus '' Ratufa'' found in the highlands of the Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka, and in patches of riparian forest along the Kaveri River and in the hill forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of southern India. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as near threatened due to habitat loss and hunting. Etymology and common names Grizzled giant squirrels are named for the white flecks of hair that cover their greyish-brown bodies, giving them a grizzled look. Description ''R. macroura'' is the smallest of the giant squirrels found in the Indian subcontinent, with a head and body length of , and tail measuring roughly the same or more, for a total length of . It has small rounded ears with pointed tufts. The home range of an individual is between . Subspecies ''dandolena'' is dorsally brown grizzled with white. Ventrally light brownish crea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deccan Thorn Scrub Forests
The Deccan thorn scrub forests are a xeric shrubland ecoregion of south India and northern Sri Lanka. Historically this area was covered by tropical dry deciduous forest, but this only remains in isolated fragments. The vegetation now consists of mainly of southern tropical thorn scrub type forests. These consist of open woodland with thorny trees with short trunks and low, branching crowns; spiny and xerophytic shrubs; and dry grassland. This is the habitat of the great Indian bustard and blackbuck, though these and other animals are declining in numbers; this area was at one time home to large numbers of elephants and tigers. Almost 350 species of bird have been recorded here. The remaining natural habitat is threatened by overgrazing and invasive weeds, but there are a number of small protected areas which provide a haven for the wildlife. Trees in these forests have adapted to not require much water. Geography This ecoregion covers the semi-arid portions of the Deccan Pl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Villupuram District
Viluppuram, Villupuram or Vizhuppuram is one of the 38 districts that make up the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was founded on 30 September 1993, prior to which it was part of the Cuddalore district. Vizhuppuram district lies in the way of the national highway connecting Tiruchirappalli and Chennai, and contains historical landmarks like the 500 year-old Gingee Fort. __TOC__ History Vizhuppuram district was once a part of the South Arcot district along with the Cuddalore district. Later, the Cuddalore district was bifurcated and Vizhuppuram district came into existence on 30 September 1993. As a result, the Vizhuppuram district's history closely resembles that of Cuddalore's. The Cholas were among the earliest rulers. Karikala Chola was the most influential. Simhavishnu Pallava overthrew the Cholas, and the region came under the Pallava rule. Vijayalaya Chola restored the rule of Chola, marking the beginning of the Chola Empire. The entire district became a war zone during ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deccania Pubescens
''Deccania'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. ''Deccania pubescens'', which is endemic to India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so .... References External links ''Deccania'' in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae Monotypic Rubiaceae genera Gardenieae {{Ixoroideae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protected Areas Of Tamil Nadu
The Protected areas of Tamil Nadu State in South India cover an area of , constituting 2.54% of the geographic area and 15% of the recorded forest area. It ranks 14th among all the States and Union Territories of India in terms of total protected area. Creation and administration of Protected areas in South India originated with the Maharajas of the Southern Princely States' private hunting grounds. The Mudumalai National Park, established in 1940, was the first modern Wildlife Sanctuary in South India. Most protected areas throughout its 30 Districts are under the stewardship of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (India) and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Biosphere reserves The three Biosphere Reserves in Tamil Nadu are: *Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve: ; established in 1989. *Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: , of which 2537.6 km² is in Tamil Nadu. Established in 1986. *Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve: ; established in 2001. National parks Tamil Nadu has ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hills Of Tamil Nadu
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not as tall, or as steep as a mountain. Geographers historically regarded mountains as hills greater than above sea level, which formed the basis of the plot of the 1995 film ''The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain''. In contrast, hillwalkers have tended to regard mountains as peaks above sea level. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' also suggests a limit of and Whittow states "Some authorities regard eminences above as mountains, those below being referred to as hills." Today, a mountain is usually defined in the UK and Ireland as any summit at least high, while the official UK government's definition of a mountain is a summit of or higher. Some definitions include a topographical prominence requirement, typically o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poecilotheria Metallica
''Poecilotheria metallica'', also known as the peacock tarantula, is an Old World species of tarantula. It is the only blue species of the genus ''Poecilotheria''. Like others in its genus it exhibits an intricate fractal-like pattern on the abdomen. The species' natural habitat is deciduous forest in Andhra Pradesh, in central southern India. It has been classified as Critically endangered by the IUCN. Description ''Poecilotheria metallica'' has similar intricate geometric body coloration as other ''Poecilotheria'' species, but it is the only species in the genus to be covered in blue hair. While it is young, ''P. metallica'' is less chromatic, the coloring turns to blue as it matures. This blue is much less significant in the mature males. Males also have more slender bodies, and their legs are longer. The definitive trait of a mature male are the revelation of emboli at the end of their pedipalps following their "mature molt." Females can be determined through molt conf ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palani Hills
The Palani Hills are a mountain range in the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palani Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range (Kerala) on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, covering an area of . The highest part of the range is in the southwest, and reaches 1,800-2,500 metres (5,906-8,202 feet) elevation; the eastern extension of the range is made up of hills 1,000-1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high. It is also home to the main temple of Lord Muruga, who is worshipped as the primary god in Tamil Nadu. Geography Vandaravu peak is the highest peak in the Palani hills. The range lies between the Cumbum Valley on the south, which is drained by the Vaigai River and its upper tributaries, and the Kongunadu region to the north. The northern slopes are drained by the Shanmukha River, Nanganji River, and Kodavanar River, which a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Premna Tomentosa
''Premna'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, first described for modern science in 1771. It is widespread through tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and various islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. ;Species # '' Premna acuminata'' R.Br. - Australia, New Guinea # '' Premna acutata'' W.W.Sm. - southwestern China (Yunnan, Sichuan) # ''Premna alba'' H.J.Lam - Palau # '' Premna ambongensis'' Moldenke - Madagascar # '' Premna amplectens'' Wall. ex Schauer - Thailand, Myanmar # '' Premna angolensis'' Gürke - tropical Africa # '' Premna angustiflora'' H.J.Lam - Palau # ''Premna annulata'' H.R.Fletcher - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam # ''Premna aureolepidota'' Moldenke - Madagascar # ''Premna balakrishnanii'' A.Rajendran & P.Daniel - Tamil Nadu # '' Premna balansae'' Dop - Vietnam # '' Premna barbata'' Wall. ex Schauer - Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar # '' Premna bengalensis'' C.B.Clarke - Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ochna Lanceolata
''Ochna lanceolata'' is a species of plant in the family Ochnaceae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an .... It is an 8m tall plant with greyish bark and reddish blaze. Leaves are simple, alternate; lamina narrow elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate; apex acute; base acute with serrate margin. Flowers show raceme inflorescence. Fruit is a single-seeded drupe. The tree is known as ''bo kera/mal kera'' in Sinhala language. References External links Biflavonoids from ''Ochna lanceolata'' lanceolata Flora of India (region) Flora of Sri Lanka {{malpighiales-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hildegardia Populifolia
''Hildegardia populifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is found only in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India. It is threatened by habitat loss; just about 20 trees are known to exist on the eastern slopes of the Kalrayan Hills. This is a deciduous tree growing up to 20 meters tall. It has lobed leaves and panicles of flowers with red sepals and no petals. Most trees produce both male and bisexual flowers.Raju, A. J. S., Chandra, P. H., & Krishna, J. R. (2014)Monoecy, anemophily, anemochory and regeneration ecology of ''Hildegardia populifolia'' (Roxb.) Schott. and Endl.(Malvaceae), an economically important endemic and endangered dry deciduous tree species of southern Eastern Ghats, India.''Journal of Threatened Taxa'', 6(2), 5434-5446. The bee '' Trigona iridipennis'' feeds on the pollen and nectar. The flowers are visited by several bird species, such as the red-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus cafer''), rufous-backed shrike ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Garuga Pinnata
''Garuga pinnata'' is a deciduous tree species from the family Burseraceae. It occurs in Asia: from the Indian sub-continent, southern China and Indo-China; in Vietnam it may be called ''dầu heo''. No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life. Description and ecology File:Garuga_pinnata_(Kakad)_in_Kinnarsani_WS,_AP_W_IMG_5726.jpg, Flowers File:Garuga_pinnata_(Kakad)_in_Kinnarsani_WS,_AP_W2_IMG_5733.jpg, Fruit File:Garuga_pinnata_(Kakad)_in_Kinnarsani_WS,_AP_W_IMG_5735.jpg, Bark Plant galls may occur on ''G. pinnata'' caused by '' Phacopteron lentiginosum'' (Psylloidea: Phacopteronidae), whose populations may be regulated by parasitoids In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionary strategies within parasi .... References Roxburgh W (1819) In: ''Hort. Bengal'' 33; ''Pl. Corom.'' iii. 5. t. 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
