The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu by, passing parts of Karnataka and Telangana on the way. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. Zindagad Konda is the highest point in both Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats at . The Biligiriranga Hills in Karnataka are the tallest hill range in the Eastern Ghats, with many peaks above 1500 m in height.

Geology

The Eastern Ghats are made up of charnockite,

granite 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 an ...

, khondalite, granite and quartzite rock formations. The structure of the Eastern Ghats includes thrusts and

strike-slip fault In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock across which there has been significant displacement as a result of rock-mass movements. Large faults within Earth's crust result from the action of plate tectonic ...

s along its range. Limestone, bauxite and

iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the fo ...

are found in Eastern Ghats hill ranges. The Eastern Ghats are an ancient orogenic belt which formed from the collision of crustal rocks during the Archean Eon. The belt became part of the Indian subcontinent during the

Gondwana Gondwana () was a large landmass, often referred to as a supercontinent, that formed during the late Neoproterozoic (about 550 million years ago) and began to break up during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago). The final stages ...

period because of continental drift, making the mountains significantly older than the Western Ghats. The

Eparchaean Unconformity Tirupati Eparchaean Unconformity, a notified National Geo-heritage Monument Tirumala Hills Tirumala is a spiritual town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the suburbs of the Tirupati, Tirupati urban agglomeration. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupa ...

is a major discontinuity of stratigraphic significance that represents an extensive period of erosion and non-deposition. It can be seen at the steep natural slopes, road scars and ravines in the

Tirumala ghat roads Tirumala ghat roads are two asphalt steep natural slopes ghat roads between Tirupati and Tirumala. They are in Seshachalam Hills range in Pūrva Ghaṭ. Route Descriptions Both ghat roads are double lane type, follow different paths along th ...

in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

Hill ranges

As with the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats have local names along the discontinuous hill ranges. The

Ponnaiyar The South Pennar River (also known as ''Dakshina Pinakini'' in Kannada and ''Thenpennai or Ponnaiyar'' or ''Pennaiyar'' in Tamil) is a river in India. Bangalore, Hosur, Tiruvannamalai, and Cuddalore are the important cities on the banks of Sou ...

and

Palar 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 abo ...

rivers flow from headwaters on the

Kolar Plateau Kolar Plateau is a region that lies to the south Karnataka, formerly Mysore state, in Southern India. The famous Kolar gold fields are part of the region. It is, basically, a dry zone, with abundant scrub vegetation suitable only for Sheep husban ...

eastward through gaps in the Ghats to empty into the Bay of Bengal. The Javadhu Hills lie between the two rivers. There are waterfalls along remote stretches of the rivers, such as

Kiliyur Falls Kiliyur Falls is a waterfall on the Periyaaru river in the Shervaroyan hill range in the Eastern Ghats, Tamil nadu, India. The waters overflowing the Yercaud Lake fall into the Kiliyur Valley. See also *List of waterfalls in India *List of wat ...

. Madhurawada Dome in the Eastern Ghats mobile belt was formed by a tectonic arrangement with the khondalite suite and quartzite Archean rocks north of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The

Maliya Range Maliya was a goddess worshiped by Hittites in the Bronze Age. She was most likely a deified river in origin, but she was also associated with gardens and with artisanship, specifically with leatherworking and carpentry. The oldest attestations of ...

is located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats, generally ranging between elevations of 900–1,200 m. The tallest peak in this range is Mahendragiri (1,501 m). The

Madugula Konda Range Madugula is a village in Anakapalli district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It was also known as Vaddadi or Vaddadimadugula and was founded by the rulers of the Matsya dynasty. Later, it merged into the kingdom of Nandapur - Jeypore and ...

is also located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats. It is higher than the Maliyas and generally ranges between elevations of 1,100–1,400 m. Prominent summits include the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats,

Arma Konda Arma Konda or Sitamma Konda, is a mountain peak in the northern part of the Eastern Ghats and located in Godavari River basin. It is located in the Madugula Konda sub-range north of Paderu village in Andhra Pradesh, India. Highest point in A ...

(1,690 m), along with Gali Konda (1,643 m) and Sinkram Gutta (1,620 m). The

Similipal 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 an ...

massif is considered the furthest 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 * Godavari * Kaveri * Krishna * Mahanadi * Subarnarekha * Tungabhadra Rivers originating on the Eastern Ghats include: *

Baitarani River The Baitarani (also spelled Vaitarani) is one of six major rivers of Odisha, India. Venerated in popular epics and legends, the Baitarani River is a source of water for agricultural irrigation. The coastal plain of Odisha has the name of "H ...

Budhabalanga River The Budhabalanga River (ବୁଢାବଳଙ୍ଗ ନଦୀ) (also called Balanga River) flows through the districts of Mayurbhanj and Balasore in the Indian state of Odisha. Course The Budhabalanga, meaning old Balanga, rises in the Simili ...

* Rushikulya River *

Vamsadhara River River Vamsadhara or River Banshadhara is an important east flowing river between Rushikulya and Godavari, in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh states in India. The river originates in the border of Thuamul Rampur in the Kalahandi district and Kalyansin ...

* Palar River *

Nagavali River The River Nagavali also known as Langulya is one of the main rivers of Southern Odisha and North Andhra States in India, between Rushikulya and Godavari basins. Origin and course Nagavali River originates from a hill near Lakhbahal village ...

Champavathi River River Champavathi ( te, చంపావతి) is a small river which originates in the Eastern Ghats at an altitude of 1,200 metres above mean sea level near Andra village and flows eastwards and joins the Bay of Bengal near the village K ...

Gosthani River The Gosthani rises in the Ananthagiri Hills of the Eastern Ghats and flows through the Borra Caves which lie near its source. It is the largest river flowing through Visakhapatnam city. It flows for 120 km before joining the Bay of Bengal ...

Sarada River River Sarada is a medium-sized river in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The geographic coordinates of the river are north latitude 17 25 to 18 17 and east longitude of 82 32 to 83 06. The catchment area of the basin is 2,665 s ...

* Sabari River * Sileru River * Tammileru * Gundlakamma River * Pennai Yaru River * Swarnamukhi *

Kundu River The Kundu River also known as ''Kunderu'', ''Kumudvathi'' is a tributary of the Penna River in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Originating as a spring near the village of Uppalapadu in Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool District, it go ...

* Vellar River *

Penna River Penna (also known as Pinakini, Pennar, Penner, Penneru (Telugu), Pennai (Tamil)) is a river of southern India. This is a unique river in world where after originating from Nandi hills, it flows as two different streams, one in North and South ...

Fauna

The endemic fauna of the Eastern Ghats include Jerdon's courser ('' Rhinoptilus bitorquatus'') and the grey slender loris (''

Loris lydekkerianus 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 threat ...

''). Rare geckos live here as well, including the Indian golden gecko (''

Calodactylodes aureus The Indian golden gecko or Beddome's golden gecko (''Calodactylodes aureus'' ) is a species of gecko known only from the Eastern Ghats of India.Sreekar R, Srinivasulu C, Seetharamaraju M, Srinivasulu CA. 2010. Selection of egg attachment sites b ...

''), granite rock gecko (''

Hemidactylus graniticolus ''Hemidactylus graniticolus'' is a cryptic rock-dwelling species of large gecko found in India. The holotype was described from hills near Harohalli village in the Bangalore Rural District, Karnataka.Ishan Agarwal, Varad B. Giri & Aaron M. Bau ...

'') and Yercaud slender gecko ('' Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus''). Other endemic reptiles include Sharma's

skink 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. Ski ...

(''

Eutropis nagarjuni Sharma's mabuya (''Eutropis nagarjuni'') is a species of skinks found in India. It was described by Sharma (1969) from hills south of Vijaypuri on the right bank of the river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state ...

'') and

snakes 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 joi ...

such as Gower's shieldtail snake (''

Rhinophis goweri ''Rhinophis goweri'', also known as Gower's shieldtail snake, is a recently described, little-known species of snake of the family Uropeltidae. It is endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu in South India. Description ''Rhinophis goweri'' can ...

''), Shortt's shieldtail snake (''

Uropeltis shorttii ''Uropeltis shorttii'', also known commonly as the Shevaroy Hills earth snake and Shortt's shieldtail snake, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. This specie ...

'') and the Nagarjun Sagar racer (''

Platyceps bholanathi ''Platyceps bholanathi'', also known as the Nagarjun Sagar racer, Nagarjunasagar racer, Nagarjuna racer, Bhola Nath's racer, or Sharma's racer, is a species of colubrid snake. It is found in peninsular India, in the Eastern Ghats and the Dec ...

'').

Mammals

Mammals found in the Easter Ghats include the Indian elephant ''(Elephas maximus indicus''), blackbuck (''Antilope cervicapra''), Asian palm civet (''Paradoxurus hermaphroditus''), small Indian civet (''Viverricula indica''),

Madras treeshrew The Madras treeshrew (''Anathana ellioti''), also known as the Indian treeshrew, is a species of treeshrew in the monotypic genus ''Anathana'' found in the hill forests of central and southern India. The genus name is derived from the Tamil name ...

(''Anathana ellioti''), common grey mongoose ('' Urva edwardsii''),

sambar deer The sambar (''Rusa unicolor'') is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Populations have declined substantially due to severe hunting, local ins ...

(''Rusa unicolor''), Indian crested porcupine (''Hystrix indica''),

Indian bison The gaur (''Bos gaurus''; ), also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to Indian Subcontinent , South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been listed as Vulnerable species, Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global populatio ...

(''Bos gaurus''),

Indian boar The Indian boar (''Sus scrofa cristatus''), also known as the Andamanese pig or Moupin pig,Lydekker, R. (1900), The great and small game of India, Burma, & Tibet', London : R. Ward, pp. 258-266 is a subspecies of wild boar native to India, Nepal, ...

(''Sus scrofa'' ''cristatus''), common muntjac (''Muntiacus muntjak''), Indian leopard (''Panthera pardus fusca''), Bengal tiger (''Panthera tigris tigris''), dhole (''Cuon alpinus''), golden jackal (''Canis aureus''), Indian giant squirrel (''Ratufa indica''), Indian hare (''Lepus nigricollis''), Asian house shrew (''Suncus murinus''),

tufted grey langur The tufted gray langur (''Semnopithecus priam''), also known as Madras gray langur, and Coromandel sacred langur, is an Old World monkey, one of the species of langurs. This, like other gray langurs, is mainly a leaf-eating monkey. It is found i ...

(''Semnopithecus priam''), Indian flying fox (''Pteropus giganteus''), bonnet macaque (''Macaca radiata''), rhesus macaque (''Macaca mulatta''), Bengal fox (''Vulpes bengalensis''), smooth-coated otter (''Lutrogale perspicillata''), jungle cat (''Felis chaus''), cheetal (''Axis axis''), nilgai (''Boselaphus tragocamelus''), Indian wolf (''Canis lupus pallipes'') and Indian mole-rat (''Bandicota bengalensis''). There are about 400 tigers living 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 relatively rare ones like Brook’s flycatcher (''Cyornis poliogenys'') and Jerdon’s baza (''Aviceda jerdoni''). Threatened bird species like the Malabar pied hornbill (''Anthracoceros coronatus'') were also spotted in a couple of habitats. Other bird species found in the Eastern Ghats include the Great Indian bustard (''Ardeotis nigriceps''), red-wattled lapwing (''Vanellus indicus''), spot-billed pelican (''Pelecanus philippensis''),

blue peafowl The Indian peafowl (''Pavo cristatus''), also known as the common peafowl, and blue peafowl, is a peafowl species native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been introduced to many other countries. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and ...

(''Pavo cristatus''), Indian pond heron (''Ardeola grayii''), hoopoe (''Upupa epops''),

spotted owlet The spotted owlet (''Athene brama'') is a small owl which breeds in tropical Asia from mainland India to Southeast Asia. A common resident of open habitats including farmland and human habitation, it has adapted to living in cities. They roost in ...

(''Athene brama''), greater coucal (''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 The black-headed ibis (''Threskiornis melanocephalus''), also known as the Oriental white ibis, Indian white ibis, and black-necked ibis, is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in the South and Southeast A ...

(''Threskiornis melanocephalus''), Indian pitta (''Pitta brachyura''), Indian paradise flycatcher (''Terpsiphone paradisi''), red-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus cafer''), red-whiskered bulbul (''Pycnonotus jocosus''), jungle babbler (''Turdoides striata''),

painted stork The painted stork (''Mycteria leucocephala'') is a large wading bird, wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia. Thei ...

(''Mycteria leucocephala''),

black-rumped flameback The black-rumped flameback (''Dinopium benghalense''), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or lesser goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in ...

(''Dinopium benghalense''), brahminy kite (''Haliastur indus''), jungle myna (''Acridotheres fuscus''),

Indian spotted eagle The Indian spotted eagle (''Clanga hastata'') is a large bird of prey native to South Asia. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. The typical eagles are often united with the buteos, sea eagles and other more heavyset Ac ...

(''Aquila hastata''), Indian vulture (''Gyps indicus'')' and

Malabar whistling thrush The Malabar whistling thrush (''Myophonus horsfieldii'') is a whistling thrush in the family ''Muscicapidae''. The bird has been called ''whistling schoolboy'' for the whistling calls that they make at dawn that have a very human quality. The ...

(''Myophonus horsfieldii'').

Amphibians

Up to 30 species of amphibians live in the Eastern Ghats, including Gunther's toad (''

Bufo hololius ''Duttaphrynus hololius'', known as Günther's toad, Malabar toad, or rock toad, is an uncommon, rock-dwelling toad found in the Eastern Ghats and Deccan plateau of peninsular India. Description The crown of this toad lacks bony ridges and has a ...

''), pond frogs ('' Euphlyctis'' spp.), cricket frogs (''

Fejervarya ''Fejervarya'' is a genera of frogs in the family Dicroglossidae found in Asia. First proposed in 1915 by István József Bolkay, a Hungarian naturalist, the genus did not see widespread adoption at first. As late as the 1990s it was generally i ...

'' spp.), bull frogs (''

Hoplobatrachus ''Hoplobatrachus'' is a genus of frogs in the family Dicroglossidae. This genus is found in both Sub-Saharan Africa and southern and southeastern Asia. It is the sister taxon of ''Euphlyctis'', although there is some evidence that it might be p ...

'' spp.), burrowing frogs ('' Sphaerotheca'' spp.), balloon frogs ('' Uperodon'' spp.), small-mouthed frogs ('' Microhyla'' spp.) and tree frogs (''

Polypedates ''Polypedates'' is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, the shrub frogs and Paleotropic tree frogs. They belong to subfamily Rhacophorinae. Members of this genus are collectively known as whipping frogs. They occur in eastern and sout ...

'' spp.). Endemic species include the golden-backed frogs ''( Hylarana'' spp.), the bush frog (''

Raorchestes terebrans ''Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus'', also known as the sacred grove bushfrog, sacred grove bush frog or Similipal bush frog, is a critically endangered species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. Distribution and habitat It is endemic to India and ...

''), the recently described caecilian ''

Gegeneophis orientalis ''Gegeneophis'' is a genus of amphibians in the family Grandisoniidae The Grandisoniidae are a family of common caecilians found in Africa, Seychelles and India. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes. The family w ...

'', and an ''

Ichthyophis ''Ichthyophis'' is a genus of caecilians (limbless amphibians, sometimes called the Asian caecilians) found in Southeast Asia, the southern Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippi ...

'' species that is known only 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 (''Melanochelys trijuga''), Indian flapshell turtle (''Lissemys punctata''), Indian tent turtle (''Pangshura tentoria''), Indian star tortoise (''Geochelone elegans'') and Leith's softshell turtle (''Nilssonia leithii''), many of which are found in the northern rivers and riverine valley tracts. Bhitarkanika Crocodile

Among the

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

s present are Roux's forest calotes (''Monilesaurus rouxii''), ''

Psammophilus ''Psammophilus'' is a genus of agamid Agamidae is a family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Overview Ph ...

'' and ''

Sitana ''Sitana'' is a genus of lizards, collectively known as the fan-throated lizards, from the family Agamidae. They are found in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The genus comprises fourteen species, including several recently discovered specie ...

'' species,

Indian chameleon The Indian chameleon (''Chamaeleo zeylanicus'') is a species of chameleon found in Sri Lanka, India, and other parts of South Asia. Like other chameleons, this species has a long tongue, feet that are shaped into bifid claspers, a prehensile tail ...

(''Chamaeleo zeylanicus''), reticulated gecko (''Hemidactylus reticulatus''), rock geckoes ''

Hemidactylus giganteus ''Hemidactylus giganteus'', also known as the giant leaf-toed gecko, the giant southern tree gecko, or the giant gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to India. Description Snout longer than the distance between the eye and the ear-opening, 1.5 ...

'' and ''

'', golden gecko (''

''), slender gecko ('' Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus''), rare ground geckoes '' Cyrtodactylus nebulosus'' and '' Cyrtodactylus collegalensis'', the recently rediscovered ''

Geckoella jeyporensis ''Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis'', also known as the Jeypore Indian gecko, the Jeypore ground gecko, or the Patinghe Indian gecko, is an endangered species of gecko found in India, which was until recently considered extinct. Described from a single ...

'', Leschenault's snake-eye (''

Ophisops leschenaultii ''Ophisops leschenaultii'', commonly called Leschenault's snake-eye, Leschenault’s lacerta, or Leschenault's cabrita, is a species of lacertid lizard endemic to India and eastern Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this lizard is called in Sinhala. ...

''), blinking snake-eye (''

Ophisops minor ''Ophisops nictans'', the lesser snake-eyed lacerta, is a species of lizard found in Sri Lanka and India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the secon ...

''), Ashwamedh's skink (''

Eutropis ashwamedhii ''Eutropis'' is a genus of skinks belonging to the subfamily Mabuyinae. For long, this genus was included in the "wastebin taxon" ''Mabuya''; it contains the Asian mabuyas. They often share their habitat with the related common skinks ('' Sphe ...

''), Beddome's skink (''

Eutropis beddomei ''Eutropis beddomei'', commonly known as Beddome's mabuya or Beddome's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to India and Sri Lanka. Etymology ''E. beddomei'' is named after Richard Henry Beddome, 1830-191 ...

''), Nagarjun's skink (''

'') and Bengal monitor (''Varanus bengalensis''). Noteworthy lizards include endemic,

fossorial A fossorial () animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily, but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, meerkats, and mole salamanders, as well as many beetles, wasps, and bees. Prehistoric eviden ...

species of leg-less skinks such as ''

Sepsophis punctatus The spotted Eastern Ghats skink (''Sepsophis punctatus'') is a species of skink. It endemic to India and known from its type locality in Andhra Pradesh (Darakondah, Golconda Hills, then Madras Presidency) and from Odissa Odisha (English: ...

'', ''

Barkudia melanosticta ''Barkudia melanosticta'' commonly known as Visakhapatnam limbless skink or Russell's legless skink is a skink endemic to Vishakapatnam region of Coromandel Coast, in Andhra Pradesh state of southeastern India. One of the foremost of Indian repti ...

'' and ''

Barkudia insularis ''Barkudia insularis'' commonly known as the Madras spotted skink is a critically endangered limbless skink which was described in 1917 by Nelson Annandale and rediscovered in the wild in 2003. Little is known about the species but it was p ...

'' that are known only from the northern ranges and along the adjoining Eastern coastal plains in northern Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Among snakes present are the beaked worm snake (''

Grypotyphlops acutus ''Grypotyphlops acutus'', also known as the beaked worm snake, beaked blind snake, or beak-nosed worm snake, is a harmless blind snake species endemic to peninsular India. It is the only species in the genus ''Grypotyphlops''. No subspecies are ...

''), endemic shield-tailed snakes like ''

Uropeltis ellioti ''Uropeltis ellioti'', commonly known as Elliot's earth snake and Elliot's shieldtail, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to India. Etymology The specific name or epithet, ''ellioti'', is in honor of Scott ...

'' and ''

'', the recently described ''

'', the endangered Indian rock python ('' Python molurus''), Forsten's cat snake (''

Boiga forsteni ''Boiga forsteni'', also known as Forsten's cat snake, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged colubrid endemic to South Asia. Geographic range ''Boiga forstenii'' is found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India (Sikkim, West Bengal, Maharashtra, ...

''), yellow-green cat snake (''

Boiga flaviviridis ''Boiga flaviviridis'', the yellow-green cat snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake of the family Colubridae, which is found in India. It is a rear fanged, nocturnal, arboreal species of snake that probably feeds on lizards, f ...

''), Srilankan flying snake (''

Chrysopelea taprobanica ''Chrysopelea taprobanica'', the Sri Lankan flying snake or Indian flying snake, is a species of gliding snake distributed in India and Sri Lanka. It can glide, as with all species of its genus ''Chrysopelea'', by stretching the body into a flatt ...

''), Nagarjun Sagar racer (''

Coluber bholanathi ''Platyceps bholanathi'', also known as the Nagarjun Sagar racer, Nagarjunasagar racer, Nagarjuna racer, Bhola Nath's racer, or Sharma's racer, is a species of colubrid snake. It is found in peninsular India, in the Eastern Ghats and the Deccan ...

''), green keelback (''

Rhabdophis plumbicolor ''Rhabdophis plumbicolor'', known as the green keelback or lead keelback, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae native to parts of the Indian subcontinent. Description :''See snake scales for terminology used'' ''R. plu ...

''), Duméril's black-headed snake ('' Sibynophis subpunctatus'') and Indian reed snake (''

Liopeltis calamaria The calamaria reed snake (''Liopeltis calamaria'') is a species of snake found in some parts of South Asia. Description The following description is from Malcolm Arthur Smith's ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma''. Reptili ...

''). Apart from the Big Four Indian venomous snakes, endemic ones like

Beddome's coral snake 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 ...

('' Calliophis beddomei''), Indian green

Bamboo pit viper ''Craspedocephalus gramineus'', known as the bamboo pit viper, Indian green pit viper, or common green pit viper, is a venomous pit viper species found in the southern and north eastern parts of India. No subspecies are currently recognized. D ...

(''

Trimeresurus gramineus ''Craspedocephalus gramineus'', known as the bamboo pit viper, Indian green pit viper, or common green pit viper, is a venomous pit viper species found in the southern and north eastern parts of India. No subspecies are currently recognized. D ...

''), the rare King cobra ('' Ophiophagus hannah'') and

Banded krait The banded krait (''Bungarus fasciatus'') is a species of elapid snake found on the Indian Subcontinent, in Southeast Asia, and in southern China. It is the largest species of krait, with a maximum length up to . Although the banded krait is ven ...

(''

Bungarus fasciatus The banded krait (''Bungarus fasciatus'') is a species of elapid snake found on the Indian Subcontinent, in Southeast Asia, and in southern China. It is the largest species of krait, with a maximum length up to . Although the banded krait is ven ...

'') are also known from parts of this region.

Protected areas

Sanctuaries and national parks of the Eastern Ghats:

National Parks

Bhitarkanika National Park Bhitarkanika National Park is a large national park in northeast Kendrapara district in Odisha in eastern India. It was designated on 16 September 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site on 19 August 2002. The area is also been designate ...

, Odisha * Simlipal National Park, Odisha *

Sri Venkateswara National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh, India. The total area of the park is 353 km2. The park is known for its many waterfalls, including the Talakona, Gundalakona and Gunjan ...

, 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 Conserv ...

, 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 san ...

, Odisha * Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha *

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is a marine wildlife sanctuary located in Odisha and is a very popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. It is the world's largest nesting beach for Olive Ridley Turtles. It extends from Dhamra River mouth in the no ...

, 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, 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 mo ...

, Odisha * Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha *

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary ( or, କୁଲଡିହା ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ଅଭୟାରଣ୍ୟ) is situated in the Balasore district of Odisha, India. The sanctuary is spread across in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region. It is li ...

, Odisha * Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha *

Saptasajya Wildlife Sanctuary Saptasajya is a village in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India. Important establishments include ICAR Saptasajya Mango germplasm bank, High School, Teakwood garden and Bee Farm. Geography This small village is situated at a distance of from ...

, 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 v ...

, Odisha * Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh * Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh *

Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants, which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring r ...

, Andhra Pradesh *

Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary The Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest located near Visakhapatnam. It has been under the control of Andhra Pradesh Forest Department since 10 March 1970. Earlier the land was under the control of Maharajah of Vizianagaram. ...

, Andhra Pradesh *

Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary Papikonda National Park is a national park in India, located near Rajamahendravaram in the Papi Hills of the Alluri Sitharama Raju and Eluru districts of Andhra Pradesh, and covering an area of . It is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area an ...

, Andhra Pradesh * Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh * Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh *

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar districts of Karnataka, India. The Cauvery River passes through its midst. An area of was established as Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on 14 Ja ...

, Karnataka *

Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary The Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Sanctuary is named as it is located above the north of Cauvery river in Tamil Nadu state and south of river conne ...

, Tamil Nadu * Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

Reserves

* Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, 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 Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is a protected area and tiger reserve in the Eastern Ghats in the Erode District of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a tiger population of 83 individuals and a leopard population of 111 individuals accordin ...

, Tamil Nadu *

Sunabeda Tiger Reserve 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 v ...

, 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