Though a large percentage of the total area is desert and even though there is little forest cover, Rajasthan has a rich and varied flora and fauna. The natural vegetation is classed as Northern Desert Thorn Forest (Champion 1936). These occur in small clumps scattered in a more or less open forms. Density and size of patches increase from west to east following the increase in rainfall. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis.
The Aravalli and the south-eastern region is home to the dry deciduous forests, with tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees. The hilly ‘Vagad’ region lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat. With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of ‘Vagad’ lies the Mewar region, home to the cities of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh. The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya Pradesh. North of ‘Hadoti’ and ‘Mewar’ lies the ‘Dhundhar’ region, home to the state capital of Jaipur. Mewat, the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. All these regions have varied flora and fauna distinct to the region.
Plant Biodiversity
ANGIOSPERMS
Wild Species…………………..………….1714
Agro-horticultural Species……...……..320
Total ……………………………………..…2034
GYMNOSPERMS: Wild Species……………...…………...01
CRYPTOGAMS
Liverworts & Hornworts ….…........……37
Mosses………………………………..………42
Ferns……………………….………..………..60
Plants of special interest
· Red data Species ………………………..02
· Orchids…….……………………………….14
· Terrestrial …………………………………08
· Epiphytic ………………………………….06
Parasitic Species….……………………..10
Carnivorous Species ………………….. 05
Endemic Species ….……………………..19
Medicinal Plant Species .…………...... 157+
Animal Biodiversity
FISH……………….……………..114
AMPHIBIANS…………………....14
REPTILES…………………….……67
MAMMALS……………………......87
BIRDS ………………….…….... 510
Some Interesting Aspects of Fauna
Endangered-Mammals……..…16
Endangered-Reptiles……………08
Crt.Endangered-Birds………….03
Endangered……………………….…02
Vulnerable………………….……….13
Conservationdependent.…...01
Threatened……………………..….14
Red data Bird species……….…14
Animals: Schedule I
Mammals……..15
Reptiles…...….05
Birds………..…...6(+Accipitridae)
Endemic Biota: Aravalli Red Spurfowl, Rajasthan Red-whiskered Bulbul, Mt.Abu White-throated Babbler, White-napedTit,
