The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along

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 ...

's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

in the south passing some parts of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

as well as

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and 3 ...

. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz., Mahanadi, Godavari,

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

, and Kaveri. Deomali with 1672 m height is the tallest point in

. Arma Konda/Jindhagada Peak with 1680 m is the highest point in

. BR hill range located in

is the tallest hill range in Eastern Ghats with many peaks above 1750 m height. Kattahi betta in BR hills with the height of 1822 m is the tallest peak in Eastern Ghats. Thalamalai hill range in

is the second tallest hill range. Araku range is the third tallest hill range.

Geology

The Eastern Ghats are made up of

charnockite Charnockite () is any orthopyroxene-bearing quartz-feldspar rock formed at high temperature and pressure, commonly found in granulite facies metamorphic regions, ''sensu stricto'' as an endmember of the charnockite series. Charnockite series Th ...

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies under ...

gneiss Gneiss ( ) is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. It is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures a ...

khondalite Khondalite is a Foliation (geology), foliated metamorphic rock. In India, it is also called ''Bezwada Gneiss'' and ''Kailasa Gneiss''. It was named after the Khonds, Khond tribe of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh because well-formed examples of the ...

metamorphic Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock to new types of rock in a process called metamorphism. The original rock (protolith) is subjected to temperatures greater than and, often, elevated pressure of or more, causi ...

es and

quartzite Quartzite is a hard, non- foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone.Essentials of Geology, 3rd Edition, Stephen Marshak, p 182 Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tec ...

rock formations. The structure of the Eastern Ghats includes thrusts and strike-slip faults all along its range.

Limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

, bauxite and iron ore are found in the Eastern Ghats hill ranges. The Eparchaean Unconformity of the Tirumala Hills is a major discontinuity of

stratigraphic Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithostra ...

significance that represents an extensive period of

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...

and non-deposition. It is seen at the steep natural slopes, road scars and ravines in the Tirumala ghat roads in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

Hill ranges

As with the Western Ghats, these mountain ranges also have local names along the discontinuous hill ranges. The Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers flow from headwaters on the Kolar Plateau eastward through gaps in the Ghats to empty into the Bay of Bengal; the Javadhu Hills lie between the two rivers. There are waterfalls in remote areas, such as the Kiliyur Falls.

Madhurawada Madhurawada is a major business and residential area of Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram stretch of National Highway 16 around 16 km from the city center of Visakhapatnam. This region ...

Dome in the Eastern Ghats mobile belt is formed by a tectonic arrangement with the khondalite suite and quartz Archean rocks along the Eastern Ghats north of

Visakhapatnam , image_alt = , image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura submarine museu ...

. The Maliya Range is located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats. The Maliya Range generally ranges between elevations of 900–1200 m, although some of its summits soar higher. The tallest peak in this range is Mahendragiri (1,501 m). The Madugula Konda Range is located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats. The Madugula Konda range is higher than the Maliyas and generally ranges between elevations of 1100–1400 m. Prominent summits include the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats - Arma Konda (1680 m), Gali Konda (1643 m) and Sinkram Gutta (1620 m). The Similipal

massif In geology, a massif ( or ) is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. The term also refers to a ...

is considered the farthest northeast extension of the Eastern Ghats.

Rivers

The Eastern Ghats are the source area for many small and medium rivers of the east coastal plains of South India. Rivers flowing through the Eastern Ghats include: *

Brahmani Brahmani (Sanskrit: ब्रह्माणी, IAST: Brahmāṇī) or Brahmi (Sanskrit: ब्राह्मी, IAST: Brāhmī), is one of the seven Hindu mother goddesses known as Sapta Matrikas. She is a form of Saraswati and is considered ...

* Godavari * Kaveri *

* Mahanadi * Subarnarekha * Tungabhadra Rivers originating on the Eastern Ghats include: * Baitarani River * Budhabalanga River * Rushikulya River * Vamsadhara River *

Palar River Palar is a river of southern India. It rises in the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka state, and flows in Karnataka, in Andhra Pradesh and in Tamil Nadu before reaching its confluence into the Bay of Bengal at Vayalur ab ...

* Nagavali River * Champavathi River * Gosthani River * Sarada River *

Sabari River Sabari River is one of the main tributaries of Godavari. It originates from the western slopes of Eastern Ghats in Odisha state from Sinkaram hill ranges at 1370 m MSL. It is also known as Kolab river in Odisha.The Sabari river basin receives ...

Sileru River Sileru River is a tributary of Sabari River. It originates in Andhra Pradesh and also flows through Odisha before merging with Sabari. Sabari river crosses the border into Andhra Pradesh to merge with Godavari river. Sileru (known as Machkund in i ...

Tammileru Tammileru is a medium river which forms the boundary between Krishna district and Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by ar ...

Gundlakamma River The Gundlakamma River ( te, గుండ్లకమ్మ నది) is a seasonal waterway that flows through the east-central part of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It arises in the Nallamala Hills, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats. Its m ...

* Pennai Yaru River *

Swarnamukhi Swarnamukhi is a river in southern India. This is an independent river which rises at an elevation of 300 m in the Eastern Ghats ranges near Pakala in Tirupati district and flows through 130 kms towards Bay of Bengal .The holy Hindu temples of ...

* Kundu River *

Vellar River The Vellar River is a river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It originates in the Kalrayan Hills, and flows generally eastward through Salem, Perambalur, and Cuddalore districts, before flowing into the Bay of Bengal near Parangipettai. The r ...

* Penna River

Fauna

The endemic fauna of the Eastern Ghats are the Jerdon's courser ''(Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)'' and

grey slender loris The gray slender loris (''Loris lydekkerianus'') is a species of primate in the family Loridae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka and inhabits subtropical and tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threa ...

''(Loris lydekkerianus)''. The rare geckos found here are the Indian golden gecko ''( Calodactylodes aureus)'', granite rock gecko ''( Hemidactylus graniticolus)'', Yercaud slender gecko ''(

Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus The Southern Ghats slender gecko (''Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus'') is a species of gecko with a restricted distribution in the hills of southern India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is ...

)'', other lizards such as Sharma's skink ('' Eutropis nagarjuni''), and snakes such as Gower's shieldtail snake ''( Rhinophis goweri)'', Shortt's shieldtail snake ''( Uropeltis shorttii)'', Nagarjun Sagar racer ''( Coluber bholanathi)''.

Mammals

Indian elephant The Indian elephant (''Elephas maximus indicus'') is one of four extant recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List as the wild pop ...

''(Elephas maximus indicus)'',

blackbuck The blackbuck (''Antilope cervicapra''), also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope native to India and Nepal. It inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources. It stands up to high at the shoulder. Ma ...

''(Antilope cervicapra)'',

Asian palm civet The Asian palm civet (''Paradoxurus hermaphroditus''), also called common palm civet, toddy cat and musang, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, it is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern as it accommodates to a broad rang ...

''(Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)'',

small Indian civet The small Indian civet (''Viverricula indica'') is a civet native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its widespread distribution, widespread habitat use and healthy populations living in agr ...

''(Viverricula indica)'', Madras treeshrew ''(Anathana ellioti)'', common grey mongoose ''( Urva edwardsii)'', sambar deer ''(Rusa unicolor)'',

Indian crested porcupine The Indian crested porcupine (''Hystrix indica'') is a hystricomorph rodent species native to southern Asia and the Middle East. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It belongs to the Old World porcupine family, Hystricidae. De ...

''(Hystrix indica)'', Indian bison ''(Bos gaurus)'',

wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...

''(Sus scrofa)'', common muntjac ''(Muntiacus muntjak)'',

Indian leopard The Indian leopard (''Panthera pardus fusca'') is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. The species ''Panthera pardus'' is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations have declined following habita ...

''(Panthera pardus fusca)'', Bengal tiger ''(Panthera tigris tigris)'',

dhole The dhole (''Cuon alpinus''; ) is a canid native to Central, South, East and Southeast Asia. Other English names for the species include Asian wild dog, Asiatic wild dog, Indian wild dog, whistling dog, red dog, red wolf, and mountain wolf. It ...

''(Cuon alpinus)'',

golden jackal The golden jackal (''Canis aureus''), also called common jackal, is a wolf-like canid that is native to Southeast Europe, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and regions of Southeast Asia. The golden jackal's coat varies in color from a pale creamy ...

''(Canis aureus)'',

Indian giant squirrel The Indian giant squirrel or Malabar giant squirrel (''Ratufa indica'') is a large multi-coloured tree squirrel species endemic to forests and woodlands in India. It is a diurnal, arboreal, and mainly herbivorous squirrel. Distribution and ...

''(Ratufa indica)'',

Indian hare The Indian hare (''Lepus nigricollis''), also known as the black-naped hare, is a common species of hare native to the Indian subcontinent, and Java. Introductions It has been introduced to Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Andaman Islands, Irian Jay ...

''(Lepus nigricollis)'',

Asian house shrew The Asian house shrew (''Suncus murinus'') is a shrew species native to South and Southeast Asia that has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008 because of its large population and wide distribution. It has been introduced i ...

''(Suncus murinus)'', tufted grey langur ''(Semnopithecus priam)'',

Indian flying fox The Indian flying fox (''Pteropus medius'', formerly ''Pteropus giganteus''), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of flying fox native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the largest bats in the world. It is of interest ...

''(Pteropus giganteus)'',

bonnet macaque The bonnet macaque (''Macaca radiata''), also known as zati,Chambers English Dictionary is a species of macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers, along wit ...

''(Macaca radiata)'',

rhesus macaque The rhesus macaque (''Macaca mulatta''), colloquially rhesus monkey, is a species of Old World monkey. There are between six and nine recognised subspecies that are split between two groups, the Chinese-derived and the Indian-derived. Generally ...

''(Macaca mulatta)'',

Bengal fox The Bengal fox (''Vulpes bengalensis''), also known as the Indian fox, is a fox endemic to the Indian subcontinent from the Himalayan foothills and Terai of Nepal through southern India, and from southern and eastern Pakistan to eastern India an ...

''(Vulpes bengalensis)'',

smooth-coated otter The smooth-coated otter (''Lutrogale perspicillata'') is an otter species occurring in most of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 and is threa ...

''(Lutrogale perspicillata)'',

jungle cat The jungle cat (''Felis chaus''), also called reed cat, swamp cat and jungle lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to the Middle East, the Caucasus, South and Southeast Asia and southern China. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, littoral ...

''(Felis chaus)'', cheetal ''(Axis axis)'',

Nilgai The nilgai (''Boselaphus tragocamelus'') (, literally meaning "blue cow") is the largest Asian antelope and is ubiquitous across the northern Indian subcontinent. It is the sole member of the genus ''Boselaphus'' and was described by Peter S ...

, Indian boar, Indian Wolf, Indian mole-rat ''(Bandicota bengalensis)''. There are about 400 tigers in the eastern ghats.

Birds

A survey conducted by ATREE in the northern Eastern Ghats hill region identified more than 205 species of birds including the relatively rarer ones like Brook’s flycatcher ('' Cyornis poliogenys'') and Jerdon’s baza. Threatened bird species like the Malabar pied hornbills were also spotted in a couple of habitats. Other bird species found in the Eastern Ghats include the

Great Indian bustard The great Indian bustard (''Ardeotis nigriceps'') or Indian bustard, is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent. A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of t ...

''(Ardeotis nigriceps)'',

red-wattled lapwing The red-wattled lapwing (''Vanellus indicus'') is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicat ...

''(Vanellus indicus)'',

spot-billed pelican The spot-billed pelican (''Pelecanus philippensis'') or gray pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds in southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to Indonesia. It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially larg ...

''(Pelecanus philippensis)'', blue peafowl ''(Pavo cristatus)'', Indian pond heron ''(Ardeola grayii)'',

hoopoe Hoopoes () are colourful birds found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, notable for their distinctive "crown" of feathers. Three living and one extinct species are recognized, though for many years all of the extant species were lumped as a single ...

''(Upupa epops)'', spotted owlet ''(Athene brama)'',

greater coucal The greater coucal or crow pheasant (''Centropus sinensis''), is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. A widespread resident in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is divided into several subspeci ...

''(Centropus sinensis)'',

pied crested cuckoo The Jacobin cuckoo (''Clamator jacobinus''), also pied cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the mons ...

''(Clamator jacobinus)'', Oriental white ibis ''(Threskiornis melanocephalus)'',

Indian pitta The Indian pitta (''Pitta brachyura'') is a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. It inhabits scrub jungle, deciduous and dense evergreen forest. It breeds in the forests of the Himalayas, hills of central and western India, and migrat ...

''(Pitta brachyura)'',

Indian paradise flycatcher The Indian paradise flycatcher (''Terpsiphone paradisi'') is a medium-sized passerine bird native to Asia, where it is widely distributed. As the global population is considered stable, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List sin ...

''(Terpsiphone paradisi)'', red-vented bulbul ''(Pycnonotus cafer)'', red-whiskered bulbul ''(Pycnonotus jocosus)'',

jungle babbler The jungle babbler (''Argya striata'') is a member of the family Leiothrichidae found in the Indian subcontinent. Jungle babblers are gregarious birds that forage in small groups of six to ten birds, a habit that has given them the popular name ...

''(Turdoides striata)'', painted stork ''(Mycteria leucocephala)'', black-rumped flameback ''(Dinopium benghalense)'',

brahminy kite The brahminy kite (''Haliastur indus''), formerly known as the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards, and harrie ...

''(Haliastur indus)'', jungle myna ''(Acridotheres fuscus)'', Indian spotted eagle ''(Aquila hastata)'',

Indian vulture The Indian vulture (''Gyps indicus'') is an Old World vulture native to India, Pakistan and Nepal. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2002, as the population severely declined. Indian vultures died of kidney fa ...

''(Gyps indicus),'' and Malabar whistling thrush ''(Myophonus horsfieldii)''.

Amphibians

Up to 30 species of amphibians including the Gunther's toad ('' Bufo hololius''), pond frogs (''

Euphlyctis ''Euphlyctis'' is a genus of frogs in family Dicroglossidae distributed from the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan and Afghanistan to India, Nepal, through Myanmar and Thailand to Malaya, and Sri Lanka. None of the four species assessed by ...

''), cricket frog ('' Fejervarya''), bull frogs ('' Hoplobatrachus''), burrowing frogs ('' Sphaerotheca''), balloon frogs ('' Uperodon''), small-mouthed frogs (''

Microhyla ''Microhyla'', commonly known as the rice frogs or narrow-mouthed frogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Microhylidae. It consists of 42 species of diminutive frogs. Members of this genus are widespread from Ryukyu Is. in Japan, and throughout ...

''), and tree frog ('' Polypedates'') occur here. Endemic ones include the golden-backed frogs ''(

Hylarana ''Hylarana'', commonly known as golden-backed frogs, is a genus of true frogs found in tropical Asia. It was formerly considered highly diverse, containing around 84 to 96 valid species, but taxonomic revision resulted in a major change in the c ...

'' spp.), the bush frog '' Raorchestes terebrans'' and the recently described

caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians. They mostly live hidden in the ground and in stream substrates, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. Caecilians are mostly distributed in the tropics o ...

'' Gegeneophis orientalis'' and an '' Ichthyophis'' species that is known from old records.Srinivasulu, C., & Das, I. (2008). The herpetofauna of Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: an annotated checklist, with remarks on nomenclature, taxonomy, habitat use, adaptive types and biogeography. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 11, 110-131.Ganesh, S. R., & Arumugam, M. (2015). Species Richness of Montane Herpetofauna of Southern Eastern Ghats, India: A Historical Resume and a Descriptive Checklist. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 23(1), 7-24.

Reptiles

Nearly 100 species of reptiles occur in the Eastern Ghats. Many endangered species are also present, including the mugger crocodile ''(Crocodylus palustris)'',

Indian black turtle The Indian black turtle (''Melanochelys trijuga'') or Indian pond terrapin is a species of medium-sized freshwater turtle found in South Asia. Description Despite its name, the color of its upper shell or carapace can vary from reddish to dar ...

''( Melanochelys trijuga)'',

Indian flapshell turtle The Indian flapshell turtle (''Lissemys punctata'') is a freshwater species of turtle found in South Asia. The "flap-shelled" name stems from the presence of femoral flaps located on the plastron. These flaps of skin cover the limbs when they re ...

''( Lissemys punctata)'', Indian tent turtle ''( Pangshura tentoria)'',

Indian star tortoise The Indian star tortoise (''Geochelone elegans'') is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forest. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2016, as the pop ...

''( Geochelone elegans)'',

Leith's softshell turtle Leith's softshell turtle (''Nilssonia leithii'') is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is found in peninsular Indian rivers including the Bhavani, Godavari, and Moyariii Rivers. The types.... locality is Pune in India. ...

''( Nilssonia leithii)'', many of which are found in the northern rivers and riverine valley tracts. Bhitarkanika Crocodile

Among lizards are the Roux's forest calotes '' Monilesaurus rouxii'', those of the genera ('' Psammophilus''), ('' Sitana''), Indian chameleon ('' Chamaeleo zeylanicus''), Reticulated gecko ''( Hemidactylus reticulatus)'', the rock geckoes '' Hemidactylus giganteus'', '' Hemidactylus graniticolus'', the golden gecko ('' Calodactylodes aureus''), the slender gecko (''

''), the rare ground geckoes (''

Cyrtodactylus nebulosus ''Cyrtodactylus nebulosus'', also known as the clouded Indian gecko, is a species of gecko found in India. Description :Note that the following diagnostic description may include ''Cyrtodactylus collegalensis __NOTOC__ ''Cyrtodactylus colleg ...

''), (''

Cyrtodactylus collegalensis __NOTOC__ ''Cyrtodactylus collegalensis'', also known as the Kollegal ground gecko or forest spotted gecko, is a species of gecko found in and around Mysore hills, at the junction of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, in South India. Recen ...

''), the recently rediscovered ('' Geckoella jeyporensis''), Leschenault's snake-eye ('' Ophisops leschenaultii''), Blinking snake-eye ('' Ophisops minor''), Ashwamedh's skink ('' Eutropis ashwamedhii''), Beddome's skink '' Eutropis beddomei'', Nagarjun's skink ('' Eutropis nagarjuni'') and

Bengal monitor The Bengal monitor (''Varanus bengalensis''), also called the common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard distributed widely in the Indian Subcontinent, as well as parts of Southeast Asia and West Asia. This large lizard is mainly a terrestrial a ...

''(Varanus bengalensis)''. Noteworthy lizards include the

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

, fossorial genera of leg-less

skinks Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Sk ...

such as Sepsophis punctatus, Barkudia melanosticta and Barkudia insularis that are known only from the northern ranges and along the adjoining Eastern coastal plains in northern

and

. Among

snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

s are the beaked worm snake ('' Grypotyphlops acutus''), the

shield-tailed snakes like '' Uropeltis ellioti'', '' Uropeltis shorttii'', the recently described '' Rhinophis goweri'', the

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...

Indian rock python The Indian python (''Python molurus'') is a large python species native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is also known by the common names black-tailed python, Indian rock python, and Asian ...

(''

Python molurus The Indian python (''Python molurus'') is a large python species native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is also known by the common names black-tailed python, Indian rock python, and Asian ...

''), Forsten's cat snake ('' Boiga forsteni''), yellow-green cat snake ('' Boiga flaviviridis''), Srilankan flying snake ('' Chrysopelea taprobanica''), Nagarjun Sagar racer ('' Coluber bholanathi''), green keelback ('' Rhabdophis plumbicolor''), Duméril's black-headed snake (''

Sibynophis subpunctatus ''Sibynophis subpunctatus'', commonly known as Duméril's black-headed snake or Jerdon's many-toothed snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Bangladesh, India , Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Behavior ''Sibynophis subpunctatus'' is ...

''), Indian reed snake ('' Liopeltis calamaria''). Apart from the Big Four Indian

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

snakes,

ones like the Beddome's coral snake ''(

Calliophis beddomei Beddome's coral snake (''Calliophis beddomei)'' is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to hills of peninsular India. Etymology ''C. beddomei'' is named after Richard Henry Beddome (1830-1911), British arm ...

)'' and the Indian green Bamboo pit viper ('' Trimeresurus gramineus'') and the rare King cobra ''( Ophiophagus hannah)'' and the Banded krait ''( Bungarus fasciatus)'' are also known from parts of this region.

Protected areas

Sanctuaries and national parks of the Eastern Ghats:

National Parks

* Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha *

Simlipal National Park Simlipal is a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha covering . It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary with a ...

, Odisha * Sri Venkateswara National Park, Andhra Pradesh

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Indian state of Odisha."Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary". Odisha Forest Development Corporation. Accessed 29 July 2014 The sanctuary has an area of 87 km² ...

, Odisha *

Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Malkangiri district, Odisha, India. It covers an area of 160 km². The terrain is hilly, and covered with mixed deciduous forests.Negi, Sharad Singh (1993). ''Biodiversity and Its Conser ...

, Odisha *

Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary was created on 6 May 1981 and is located in Nayagarh, Odisha, India, adjacent to the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary. It is of sanctuary land, home to bear, elephant, leopard, sambar deer and spotted deer. The ...

, Odisha *

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located in the Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Odisha, covering a total area of 346.91 km2. It is situated near the city of Sambalpur's Hirakud Dam. The Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is an important l ...

, Odisha * Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, Odisha *

Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary wildlife sanctuary situated Keonjhar district in Odisha, India, covering an area of 191 km2 was established in 1978. Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary was declared vide F.F.A.H. notification dated the 6th December 1978 S.R.O. ...

, Odisha *

Kapilasa Wildlife Sanctuary Kapilasa Wildlife Sanctuary or ''Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary'' is situated in Dhenkanal district of Odisha state in India . It is spread across in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It is classified as an Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ...

, Odisha *

Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary () is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district and a popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is about 15 km from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi ...

, Odisha *

Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Malkangiri district, Odisha, India. It covers an area of 430 km², mostly small hills and valleys. It is in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests The Eastern Highlands m ...

, Odisha *

Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Baliguda subdivision of Kandhamal district of Odisha state in India. It is classified as an Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest. Around 52 tribal villages such as Kutia Kondh and Desia Kondh inha ...

, Odisha * Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha *

Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary The Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ganjam District, Odisha, India. The wildlife sanctuary has an area , in the Lakhari Valley of the Eastern Ghats range. The plant communities include coastal Sal ''(Shorea robusta)'' forests an ...

, Odisha * Saptasajya Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha *

Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and a proposed tiger reserve located in the Nuapada district of Odisha, adjoining Chhattisgarh. It has a total area of . The sanctuary harbours a great diversity of wildlife habitats, with a va ...

, Odisha *

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is an estuary situated near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the third largest stretch of mangrove forests in India with 24 mangrove tree species and more than 120 bird species. It is home to the critically ...

, Andhra Pradesh *

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary located in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the rarest eco-regions of the world because it harbors vast tracts of pristine mangrove forests. It is believed by conservationists to ...

, Andhra Pradesh * Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh * Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh * Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh * Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh *

Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary headquartered in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the only habitat in the world which provides home for the Jerdon's courser highly endangered bird species.http://www.discovered ...

, Andhra Pradesh * Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka * Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu *

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Madurantakam taluk of the Chengalpattu District in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The sanctuary is about from Chennai on National Highway 45 ( H45. It is easily reachable fr ...

, Tamil Nadu

Reserves

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in India. The reserve spreads over five districts, Kurnool District, Prakasam District, Guntur District, Nalgonda District and Mahabub Nagar district. The total area of the tiger ...

, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana *

Satkosia Tiger Reserve Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in the Nayagarh district of Odisha, India covering an area of 988.30 km². History Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1976, with an area of 796 km². Satkosia Tiger Reserve was de ...

, Odisha * Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu * Sunabeda Tiger Reserve, Odisha According to a study published in 2018, the forest cover of the Eastern Ghats has shrunk drastically since 1920 and several plant species endemic to this region face the threat of extinction.

References

{{Physical geography topics Mountain ranges of India Landforms of Tamil Nadu Landforms of Andhra Pradesh Landforms of Odisha Landforms of Karnataka Landforms of Telangana Physiographic provinces

Geology

Hill ranges

Rivers

Fauna

Mammals

Birds

Amphibians

Reptiles

Protected areas

National Parks

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Reserves

See also

References