Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Vertebrates
The Zoological Survey of India studied and documented about 315 species of various faunal groups belonging to Annelida, Arthropoda (Insecta), Mollusca, Fishes, Amphibia, Reptlia, and Mammals from Silent Valley. These included 8 new records for India and 37 for the Western Ghats. Of the 315 species 39 species including 15 invertebrates are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Mammals
About 41 mammals are recorded from the area. The area harbours a number of mammals especially primates. The area is the abode of several arboreal animals due to the specific nature of vegetation and terrain. Species like Elephants, Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Tiger, Leopard, Sloth bear, Gaur, etc. are found in this area.
The Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) populations are confined to tropical wet evergreen forests. The majority of LTM records are made in the southern region of the Park and adjacent areas of Cullenia-Palaquium tree association. They show an altitude preference of 700-1600 metres.
Out of the 17 lesser carnivores reported from Western Ghats so far, 8 including Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsi) and Rusty spotted cat (Felis rubiginosa) are recorded from Silent Valley and adjoining forest areas of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Birds
A total of 211 species of birds belonging to 40 families under 15 orders have been recorded from Silent Valley. Of them 30 species are rare in the area. The highest bird diversity in the area is noted in the disturbed natural studies. The undisturbed evergreen area is rich in the endemics. It’s the breeding ground for elusive Malay/Tiger Bittern. Around 20 species of raptors are found here. Passeriformes have the maximum representation in the area with 113 species under 17 families.
Reptiles
Silent Valley offers one of the widest possible ranges for reptiles like snakes. Occurrence of 25 species of snakes has been confirmed. Evidences of at least 19 more occurring in the area are found. Its home to the largest venomous snake, King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) and some rarities like Beddome’s keelback (Amphiesma beddomei) and Ceylon cat snake (Boiga ceylonensis).The most frequently seen snake is the Rat snake (Ptyas mucosus). Small terrestrial and burrowing species like Kukri snakes (Oligodon spp), the shield tail snake (Uropeltidae) and Keel backs (Amphiesma, Macropisthodon and Xenochropis spp.) are also seen. Apart from this other rarities like Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) and Horsfield’s spiny lizard (Salea horsfieldii) are also found here.
Checklist of Reptiles from Silent Valley.
| # | Scientific Name | Common Name | Malayalam Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORDER TESTUDINES | |||
| Family Geoemydidae | |||
| 1 | Melanochelys trijuga (Schweigger, 1812) | Indian Black Turtle | Kaarama |
| Family Testudinidae | |||
| 2 | Indotestudo travancorica (Boulenger, 1907) | Travancore Tortoise | Kattama |
| ORDER SQUAMATA | |||
| Family Agamidae | |||
| 3 | Calotes ellioti (Günther, 1864) | Elliot’s Forest Lizard |
Mullont |
| 4 | Calotes calotes (Linnaeus, 1758) | Common Green Forest Lizard | Pacchayont |
| 5 | Calotes rouxii (Duméril & Bibron, 1837) | Roux’s Forest Lizard | Roksinte Ont |
| 6 | Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) | Indian Garden Lizard | Ont |
| 7 | Draco dussumieri (Duméril & Bibron, 1837) | South Indian Flying Lizard | Parayont |
| 8 | Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray, 1831) | South Indian Rock Agama | Paarayont |
| 9 | Salea horsfieldii (Gray, 1845) | Horsfield's Spiny Lizard | Nilgiri Malayont |
| Family Gekkonidae | |||
| 10 | Cnemaspis indica (Gray, 1846) | Indian Day Gecko | Indian Marappalli |
| 11 | Cnemaspis Wynadensis (Beddome, 1870) | Wayanad Day Gecko | Wayanadan Marappalli |
| 12 | Cnemaspis sisparensis (Theobald, 1876) | Sispara Day Gecko | Sispara Marappalli |
| 13 | Hemidactylus brookii (Gray, 1845) | Brook’s House Gecko | Veettu Palli |
| 14 | Hemidactylus frenatus (Schlegel, 1836) | Asian House Gecko | Nattu Palli |
| Family Scincidae | |||
| 15 | Eutropis carinata (Schneider, 1801) | Common Keeled Skink | Arana |
| 16 | Eutropis macularia (Blyth, 1853) | Bronze Grass Skink | Chemban Arana |
| 17 | Eutropis beddomii (Jerdon, 1870) | Beddome's Grass Skink | Beddominte Arana |
| 18 | Beddome’s Cat Skink (Boulenger, 1887) | Ristella beddomii | Bedomi Puchayarana |
| 19 | Sphenomorphus dussumieri (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) | Dussumier’s Litter Skink | Kattaran |
| Family Varanidae | |||
| 20 | Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802) | Bengal Monitor | Utump |
| Family Typhlopidae | |||
| 21 | Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) | Brahminy Worm Snake | |
| 22 | Grypotyphlops acutus (Dumeril & Bibron, 1844) | Beaked Worm Snake | |
| Family Uropeltidae | |||
| 23 | Melanophidium punctatum (Beddome, 1871) | Pied-belly Shieldtail | Melivalan Pamp |
| Family Pythonidae | |||
| 24 | Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758) | Indian Rock python | Perumpamp |
| Family Colubridae | |||
| 25 | Coelognathus helena (Daudin, 1803) | Common Trinket Snake | Kattupamp |
| 26 | Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) | Indian Rat Snake | Chera |
| 27 | Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853) | Russell’s Kukri Snake | Ressel Churutta |
| 28 | Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802) | Common Kukri Snake | Muvarayan Churutta |
| 29 | Dendrelaphis ashoki (Vogel and Van Roojen, 2011) | Ashok's Bronzeback Tree Snake | Varayan Villunni |
| 30 | Dendrelaphis grandoculis (Boulenger. 1890) | Large-eyed Bronzeback Tree Snake | Mala Komberi Pamp |
| 31 | Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw, 1802) | Ornate Flying Snake | Nagathan Pamp |
| 32 | Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome ,1870) | Travancore Wolf Snake | Thiruvithankur Vellivarayan |
| 33 | Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1754) | Common Wolf Snake | Vellivarayan Pamp |
| 34 | Boiga ceylonensis (Günther, 1858) | Ceylon Cat Snake | Kattuvalayan Pamp |
| 35 | Ahaetulla nasuta (Bonnaterre, 1790) | Common Vine Snake | Pachola Pamp |
| 36 | Ahaetulla disar (Gunther, 1864) | Gunther's Vine Snake | Malampachola Pamp |
| 37 | Ahaetulla perroteti (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril, 1864) | Bronze-headed Vine Snake | Chola Pacholan |
| Family Natricidae | |||
| 38 | Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758) | Striped Keelback | Theliyan Pamp |
| 39 | Hebius beddomei (Günther, 1864) | Beddome’s Keelback | Kattu Nirkkoli |
| 40 | Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) | Checkered Keelback | Nirkkoli |
| 41 | Macropisthodon plumbicolor (Cantor, 1839) | Green Keelback | Pachanagam |
| Family Elapidae | |||
| 42 | Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider, 1801) | Common Indian Krait | Vellikettan/Sanguvarayan |
| 43 | Calliophis nigrescens (Gunther, 1862) | Striped Coral Snake | Ettadi Murkhan |
| 44 | Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) | Spectacled Cobra | Murkhan |
| 45 | Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) | King Cobra | Rajavempala |
| Family Viperidae | |||
| 46 | Daboia russelii (Shaw & Nodder, 1797) | Russel’s Viper | Anali |
| 47 | Echis carinatus (Schneider, 1801) | Saw-scaled Viper | Churutta Mandali |
| 48 | Trimeresurus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1854) | Malabar Pit Viper | Chola Mandali |
| 49 | Trimeresurus strigatus (Gray, 1842) | Horseshoe Pit Viper | Latamandali |
Amphibians
47 species of amphibians recorded from the area with several endemics. Some of them include Bufo silent valleynsis, Raorchestes lechiya, Micrixalus nudis, M. thampii, Nannobatrachus beddomei, Pedostibes tuberculosus, Philalithus signatus, Ramanella triangularis and Rhacophorus malabaricus etc.
List of Amphibians
|
Sl. No |
ORDER |
FAMILY |
Common English name |
Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
Common Indian Toad |
Duttaphrynus melanostictus |
|
2 |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
Ridged Toad |
Duttaphrynus parietalis |
|
3 |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
Silent Valley Toad |
Duttaphrynus silentvalleyensis |
|
4 |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
Red Stream Toad |
Ghatophryne rubigina |
|
5 |
ANURA |
BUFONIDAE |
Malabar Tree Toad |
Pedostibes tuberculosus |
|
6 |
ANURA |
DICROGLOSSIDAE |
Skittering Frog |
Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis |
|
7 |
ANURA |
DICROGLOSSIDAE |
Kerala Warty Frog |
Fejervarya keralensis |
|
8 |
ANURA |
DICROGLOSSIDAE |
Nilgiris wart frog |
Fejervarya nilagirica |
|
9 |
ANURA |
DICROGLOSSIDAE |
Indian Bullfrog |
Hoplobatrachus tigerinus |
|
10 |
ANURA |
MICRIXALIDAE |
Nilgiri Dancing Frog |
Micrixalus phyllophilus |
|
11 |
ANURA |
MICRIXALIDAE |
Sairandhri Dancing Frog |
Micrixalus sairandhri |
|
12 |
ANURA |
MICRIXALIDAE |
Wayanad Dancing Frog |
Micrixalus saxicola |
|
13 |
ANURA |
MICRIXALIDAE |
Forest Dancing Frog |
Micrixalus silvaticus |
|
14 |
ANURA |
MICRIXALIDAE |
Silent Valley Dancing Frog |
Micrixalus thampi |
|
15 |
ANURA |
MICROHYLIDAE |
Painted Frog |
Uperodon taprobanius |
|
16 |
ANURA |
MICROHYLIDAE |
Jerdon’s Ramanella |
Uperodon montanus |
|
17 |
ANURA |
NASIKABATRACHIDAE |
Purple Frog |
Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis |
|
18 |
ANURA |
NYCTIBATRACHIDAE |
Wayanad Night Frog |
Nyctibatrachus grandis |
|
19 |
ANURA |
NYCTIBATRACHIDAE |
Kempholey Night Frog |
Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis |
|
20 |
ANURA |
NYCTIBATRACHIDAE |
Miniature Night Frog |
Nyctibatrachus minimus |
|
21 |
ANURA |
NYCTIBATRACHIDAE |
VUB Night Frog |
Nyctibatrachus vrijeuni |
|
22 |
ANURA |
RANIDAE |
Bicoloured Frog |
Clinotarsus curtipes |
|
23 |
ANURA |
RANIDAE |
Yellowish Golden-backed frog |
Indosylvirana flavescens |
|
24 |
ANURA |
RANIDAE |
Indian Golden-backed frog |
Indosylvirana indica |
|
25 |
ANURA |
RANIXALIDAE |
Beddome's leaping frog |
Indirana beddomii |
|
26 |
ANURA |
RANIXALIDAE |
South Indian Frog |
Indirana semipalmata |
|
27 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Green Tree Frog |
Ghatixalus variabilis |
|
28 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Charpa Tree frog |
Polypedates occidentalis |
|
29 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Jerdon's Bush Frog |
Pseudophilautus wynaadensis |
|
30 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Variable Bush Frog |
Raorchestes akroparallagi |
|
31 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Anil's Bush Frog |
Raorchestes anili |
|
32 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Seshachar’s Bush Frog |
Raorchestes charius |
|
33 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Confusing Green Bush Frog |
Raorchestes chromasynchysi |
|
34 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Glandular Bush frog |
Raorchestes glandulosus |
|
35 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Lechiyappan's Bush Frog |
Raorchestes lechia |
|
36 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Water Drop Frog |
Raorchestes nerostagona |
|
37 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Ochlandrae Reed Bush Frog |
Raorchestes ochlandrae |
|
38 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Large Ponmudi Bush Frog |
Raorchestes ponmudi |
|
39 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Kudremukh Bush Frog |
Raorchestes tuberohumerus |
|
40 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Ravi's Bush Frog |
Raorchestes ravii |
|
41 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Star-eyed Bush Frog |
Raorchestes signatus |
|
42 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Silent Valley Bush Frog |
Raorchestes silentvalleyensis |
|
43 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Small Tree Frog |
Rhacophorus lateralis |
|
44 |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
Malabar Gliding Frog |
Rhacophorus malabaricus |
|
45 |
GYMNOPHIONA |
ICHTHYOPHIIDAE |
Bombay Caecilian |
Ichthyophis bombayensis |
|
46 |
GYMNOPHIONA |
ICHTHYOPHIIDAE |
Long-headed Caecilian |
Ichthyophis longicephalus |
|
47 |
GYMNOPHIONA |
ICHTHYOPHIIDAE |
Caecilian |
Uraeotyphlus sps |
Fishes
12 species of fishes are recorded from Kunthi River. Around 40 species of fishes are recorded from Kuthi and Bhavani River system combined. Some of the fishes from Kunthi River include Anguilla bengalensis, Barillius gatensis, Channa gachua, Garra mullya, G. menoni, Glyphothorax gnnadalei, Homaloptera montana, H. pillaii, Lepiodocephalus thermalis, Noemacheilus triangularis, N. guentheri and Puntius melanpyx.
Invertebrates
A total of 164 species of butterflies are recorded from the area. Rarities include �� Sahyadri Birdwing, Pachliopta pandiyana �� Malabar Rose , Papilio liomedo �� Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Papilio Buddha �� Malabar Banded Peacock, Parantirrhoea marshalli �� Travancore Evening Brown and Burara gomata kanara �� Sahyadri Pale Green Awlet. Also 400 species of moths (belonging to 19 families) are found here. The butterflies mostly belong to the families Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae. The fauna contained several endemic and rare species. 18 species of butterflies are reported to be extremely rare. The moths recorded mostly belong to Noctuidae, Pyralidae, Geometridae, and Arctiidae. In general, the Lepidopteran fauna showed resemblance to that of Sri Lanka and contain elements with Malayan, African and Australian affinities. Apart from this 35 species of Odonates are 69 species of ants are also recorded from Silent Valley.
Checklist of Butterflies
|
1. Troides minos (Cramer, [1779]) — Sahyadri Birdwing |
|
2. Pachliopta pandiyana (Moore, 1881) — Malabar Rose |
|
3. Pachliopta aristolochiae aristolochiae (Fabricius, 1775) — Indian Common Rose |
|
4. Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus, 1758) — Crimson Rose |
|
5. Graphium agamemnon menides (Fruhstorfer, 1904) — Dakhan Tailed Jay |
|
6. Graphium doson eleius (Felder & Felder, 1864) — Dakhan Common Jay |
|
7. Graphium teredon (Felder & Felder, 1865) — Narrow-banded Bluebottle |
|
8. Papilio clytia clytia Linnaeus, 1758 — Oriental Common Mime |
|
9. Papilio demoleus demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 — Northern Lime Swallowtail |
|
10. Papilio dravidarum Wood-Mason, 1880 — Malabar Raven |
|
11. Papilio helenus daksha Hampson, 1888 — Sahyadri Red Helen |
|
12. Papilio liomedon Moore, [1875] — Malabar Banded Swallowtail |
|
13. Papilio polymnestor polymnestor Cramer, [1775] — Indian Blue Mormon |
|
14. Papilio polytes romulus Cramer, [1775] — Indian Common Mormon |
|
15. Papilio paris tamilana Moore, 1881 — Sahyadri Paris Peacock |
|
16. Papilio buddha Westwood, 1872 — Malabar Banded Peacock |
|
17. Catopsilia pomona pomona (Fabricius, 1775) — Oriental Lemon Emigrant |
|
18. Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Mottled Emigrant |
|
19. Eurema blanda silhetana (Wallace, 1867) — Sylhet Three-spot Grass Yellow |
|
20. Eurema hecabe hecabe (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Common Grass Yellow |
|
21. Delias eucharis (Drury, 1773) — Indian Jezebel |
|
22. Pieris canidia canis Evans, 1912 — Sahyadri Cabbage White |
|
23. Cepora nerissa phryne (Fabricius, 1775) — Dakhan Common Gull |
|
24. Appias albina swinhoei (Moore, 1905) — Sahyadri Common Albatross |
|
25. Appias indra shiva (Swinhoe, 1885) — Sahyadri Plain Puffin |
|
26. Appias lalage lalage (Doubleday, 1842) — Himalayan Spot Puffin. |
|
27. Appias lyncida latifasciata Moore, 1881 — Sahyadri Chocolate Albatross |
|
28. Appias wardii (Moore, 1884) — Sahyadri Albatross |
|
29. Leptosia nina nina (Fabricius, 1793) — Oriental Psyche |
|
30. Pareronia hippia (Fabricius, 1787) — Common Wanderer |
|
31. Hebomoia glaucippe australis Butler, 1898 — Sahyadri Great Orange-tip |
|
32. Discophora lepida lepida (Moore, 1857) — Sahyadri Duffer |
|
33. Elymnias caudata Butler, 1871 — Tailed Palmfly |
|
34. Melanitis leda leda (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Common Evening Brown |
|
35. Melanitis phedima varaha Moore, 1857 — Sahyadri Dark Evening Brown |
|
36. Parantirrhoea marshalli Wood-Mason, 1881 — Travancore Evening Brown |
|
37. Lethe drypetis todara Moore, 1881 — Dakhan Treebrown |
|
38. Lethe europa europa (Fabricius, 1775) — Dakhan Bamboo Treebrown |
|
39. Lethe rohria neelgheriensis (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) — Common Treebrown |
|
40. Mycalesis anaxias anaxias Hewitson, 1862 — Sahyadri White-bar Bushbrown |
|
41. Mycalesis junonia Butler, 1868 — Malabar Glad-eye Bushbrown |
|
42. Mycalesis mineus polydecta (Cramer, [1777]) — Dakhan Dark-branded Bushbrown |
|
43. Mycalesis perseus tabitha (Fabricius, 1793) — Dakhan Common Bushbrown |
|
44. Mycalesis subdita Moore, 1892 — Tamil Bushbrown |
|
45. Orsotriaena medus mandata (Moore, 1857) — Sahyadri Medus Brown |
|
46. Telinga adolphei (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) — Red-eye Bushbrown |
|
47. Ypthima baldus baldus (Fabricius, 1775) — Common Five-ring |
|
48. Ypthima ceylonica Hewitson, 1865 — White Four-ring |
|
49. Ypthima chenu (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) — Nilgiri Four-ring |
|
50. Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871 — Common Four-ring |
|
51. Zipaetis saitis Hewitson, 1863 — Banded Catseye |
|
52. Rohana parisatis atacinus Fruhstorfer, 1913 — Sahyadri Black Prince |
|
53. Ariadne ariadne indica (Moore, 1884) — Indian Angled Castor |
|
54. Ariadne merione merione (Cramer, [1777]) — Dakhan Common Castor |
|
55. Charaxes agraria Swinhoe, 1887 — Anomalous Nawab |
|
56. Charaxes bharata Felder & Felder, [1867] — Indian Nawab |
|
57. Charaxes schreiber wardii (Moore, 1896) — Sahyadri Blue Nawab |
|
58. Cyrestis thyodamas indica Evans, 1924 — Common Map |
|
59. Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758) — Tawny Coster |
|
60. Cethosia mahratta Moore, 1872 — Sahyadri Lacewing |
|
61. Argynnis castetsi hybrida (Evans, 1912) — Nilgiri Fritillary |
|
62. Cirrochroa thais thais (Fabricius, 1787) — Sahyadri Yeoman |
|
63. Cupha erymanthis maja Fruhstorfer, 1898 — Sahyadri Rustic |
|
64. Phalanta phalantha phalantha (Drury, [1773]) — Oriental Common Leopard |
|
65. Vindula erota saloma de Nicéville, 1886 — Sahyadri Cruiser |
|
66. Libythea laius lepitoides Moore, 1903 — Sahyadri Lobed Beak |
|
67. Libythea myrrha rama Moore, 1872 — Sri Lankan Club Beak |
|
68. Euthalia aconthea meridionalis Fruhstorfer, 1913 — Dakhan Baron |
|
69. Euthalia lubentina lubentina (Cramer, [1777]) — Sahyadri Gaudy Baron |
|
70. Tanaecia lepidea miyana (Fruhstorfer, 1913) — Peninsular Grey Count |
|
71. Athyma inara Westwood, 1850 — Color Sergeant |
|
72. Athyma perius perius (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Common Sergeant |
|
73. Athyma ranga karwara (Fruhstorfer, 1906) — Karwar Blackvein Sergeant |
|
74. Athyma selenophora kanara (Evans, 1924) — Staff Sergeant |
|
75. Moduza procris procris Fruhstorfer, 1906 — Sahyadri Commander |
|
76. Neptis hylas varmona Moore, 1872 — Indian Common Sailer |
|
77. Neptis jumbah nalanda Fruhstorfer, 1908 — Nalanda Chestnut-streaked Sailer |
|
78. Pantoporia hordonia hordonia (Stoll, [1790]) — Oriental Common Lascar |
|
79. Pantoporia sandaka davidsoni Eliot, 1969 — Indian Extra Lascar |
|
80. Parthenos sylvia virens Moore, 1877 — Sahyadri Clipper |
|
81. Hypolimnas bolina jacintha (Drury, 1773) — Oriental Great Eggfly |
|
82. Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764) — Danaid Eggfly |
|
83. Junonia almana almana (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Peacock Pansy |
|
84. Junonia atlites atlites (Linnaeus, 1763) — Oriental Grey Pansy |
|
85. Junonia hierta hierta (Fabricius, 1798) — Oriental Yellow Pansy |
|
86. Junonia iphita iphita (Cramer, [1779]) — Chocolate Pansy |
|
87. Junonia lemonias lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758) — Chinese Lemon Pansy |
|
88. Junonia orithya Butler, 1885 — Pale Blue Pansy |
|
89. Kallima horsfieldii Kollar, [1844] — Southern Blue Oakleaf |
|
90. Kaniska canace viridis Evans, 1924 — Sahyadri Blue Admiral |
|
91. Vanessa indica pholoe (Fruhstorfer, 1912) — Sahyadri Red Admiral |
|
92. Danaus chrysippus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758) — Oriental Plain Tiger |
|
93. Danaus genutia genutia (Cramer, [1779]) — Oriental Striped Tiger |
|
94. Euploea core core (Cramer, [1780]) — Indian Common Crow |
|
95. Euploea klugii kollari Felder & Felder, [1865] — Brown King Crow |
|
96. Euploea sylvester coreta (Godart, 1819) — Double-branded Black Crow |
|
97. Idea malabarica (Moore, 1877) — Malabar Tree-Nymph |
|
98. Parantica aglea aglea (Stoll, [1782]) — Coromandel Glassy Tiger |
|
99. Parantica nilgiriensis (Moore, 1877) — Nilgiri Tiger |
|
100. Tirumala limniace exoticus (Gmelin, 1790) — Oriental Blue Tiger |
|
101. Tirumala septentrionis dravidarum Fruhstorfer, 1899 — Dakhan Dark Blue Tiger |
|
102. Abisara bifasciata suffusa Moore, 1882 — Suffused Double-banded Judy |
|
103. Spalgis epius epius (Westwood, 1852) — Oriental Apefly |
|
104. Anthene lycaenina lycaenina (Felder, 1868) — Dakhan Pointed Ciliate Blue |
|
105. Acytolepis puspa felderi Toxopeus, 1927 — Malabar Common Hedge Blue |
|
106. Caleta decidia (Hewitson, 1876) — Angled Pierrot |
|
107. Castalius rosimon rosimon (Fabricius, 1775) — Continental Common Pierrot |
|
108. Chilades lajus lajus (Stoll, [1780]) — Indian Lime Blue |
|
109. Chilades pandava pandava (Horsfield, [1829]) — Oriental Plains Cupid |
|
110. Discolampa ethion ethion Westwood, 1851 — Oriental Banded Blue Pierrot |
|
111. Euchrysops cnejus cnejus (Fabricius, 1798) — Oriental Gram Blue |
|
112. Everes lacturnus syntala Cantlie, 1963 — Dakhan Cupid |
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113. Freyeria trochylus (Freyer, 1845) — African Grass Jewel |
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114. Jamides alecto eurysaces (Fruhstorfer, 1916) — Himalayan Metallic Cerulean |
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115. Jamides bochus bochus (Stoll, [1782]) — Indian Dark Cerulean |
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116. Jamides celeno celeno (Cramer, [1775]) — Oriental Common Cerulean |
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117. Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) — Pea Blue |
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118. Leptotes plinius plinius (Fabricius, 1793) — Asian Zebra Blue |
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119. Neopithecops zalmora dharma (Moore, [1881]) — Sri Lankan Common Quaker |
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120. Megisba malaya thwaitesi (Moore, [1881]) — Tailless Malayan |
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121. Nacaduba kurava canaraica Toxopeus, 1927 — Karwar Transparent Six-Lineblue |
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122. Petrelaea dana (de Nicéville, [1884]) — Dingy Lineblue |
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123. Prosotas dubiosa indica (Evans, [1925]) — Indian Tailless Lineblue |
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124. Prosotas nora ardates (Moore, [1875]) — Indian Common Lineblue |
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125. Prosotas noreia hampsonii (de Nicéville, 1885) — Indian White-tipped Lineblue |
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126. Pseudozizeeria maha ossa (Swinhoe, 1885) — Dakhan Pale Grass Blue |
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127. Talicada nyseus nyseus (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) — Indian Red Pierrot |
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128. Zizeeria karsandra (Moore, 1865) — Dark Grass Blue |
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129. Zizina otis indica (Murray, 1874) — Indian Lesser Grass Blue |
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130. Zizula hylax hylax (Fabricius, 1775) — Indian Tiny Grass Blue |
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131. Amblypodia anita dina Fruhstorfer, 1907 — Indian Purple Leaf Blue |
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132. Spindasis vulcanus (Fabricius, 1775) — Common Silverline |
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133. Arhopala amantes amantes (Hewitson, 1862) — Lankan Large Oakblue |
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134. Arhopala centaurus pirama (Moore, [1881]) — Tamil Centaur Oakblue |
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135. Surendra quercetorum biplagiata Butler, 1883 — Dakhan Common Acacia Blue |
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136. Cheritra freja butleri Cowan, 1965 — Sahyadri Common Imperial |
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137. Rapala manea schistacea (Moore, 1879) — Bengal Slate Flash |
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138. Rathinda amor (Fabricius, 1775) — Monkey Puzzle |
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139. Pratapa deva deva (Moore, [1858]) — Indian White Tufted Royal |
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140. Tajuria cippus cippus (Fabricius, 1798) — Indian Peacock Royal |
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141. Loxura atymnus atymnus (Stoll, [1780]) — Yamfly |
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142. Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775) — Brown Awl |
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143. Burara gomata kanara (Evans, 1926) — Sahyadri Pale Green Awlet |
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144. Burara jaina fergusonii (de Nicéville, [1893]) — Sahyadri Orange Awlet |
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145. Choaspes benjaminii benjaminii (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) — Sahyadri Indian Awlk ing |
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146. Hasora chromus chromus (Cramer, [1780]) — Oriental Common Banded Awl |
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147. Celaenorrhinus fusca (Hampson, 1888) — Dusky Spotted Flat |
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148. Celaenorrhinus leucocera (Kollar, [1844]) — Common Spotted Flat |
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149. Pseudocoladenia dan dan (Fabricius, 1787) — Sahyadri Fulvous Pied Flat |
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150. Sarangesa dasahara davidsoni Moore, [1866] — Indian Common Small Flat |
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151. Caprona ransonnettii potiphera (Hewitson, 1873) — Dakhan Golden Angle |
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152. Coladenia indrani indra Evans, 1926 — Dakhan Tricolor Pied Flat |
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153. Odontoptilum angulata angulata (Felder, 1862) — Oriental Chestnut Angle |
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154. Tagiades gana silvia Evans, 1934 — Dakhan Suffused Snow Flat |
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155. Tagiades litigiosa litigiosa Möschler, 1878 — Sylhet Water Snow Flat |
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156. Spialia galba (Fabricius, 1793) — Indian Grizzled Skipper |
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157. Baracus hampsoni Elwes & Edwards, 1897 — Malabar Hedge Hopper |
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158. Erionota torus Evans, 1941 — Rounded Palm-Redeye |
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159. Gangara thyrsis thyrsis (Fabricius, 1775) — Oriental Giant Redeye |
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160. Hyarotis adrastus praba (Moore, [1866]) — Bengal Tree Flitter |
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161. Iambrix salsala luteipalpis (Plötz, 1886) — Southern Chestnut Bob |
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162. Matapa aria (Moore, [1866]) — Common Branded Redeye |
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163. Udaspes folus (Cramer, [1775]) — Grass Demon |
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164. Notocrypta curvifascia curvifascia (Felder & Felder, 1862) — Chinese Restricted Dem on |
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165. Notocrypta paralysos mangla Evans, 1949 — Sahyadri Common Banded Demon |
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166. Psolos fuligo subfasciatus (Moore, 1878) — Indian Dusky Partwing |
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167. Quedara basiflava (de Nicéville, [1889]) — Yellow-base Flitter |
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168. Salanoemia sala (Hewitson, [1866]) — Maculate Lancer |
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169. Suastus gremius gremius (Fabricius, 1798) — Indian Palm Bob |
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170. Halpe hindu Evans, 1937 — Sahyadri Banded Ace |
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171. Sovia hyrtacus (de Nicéville, 1897) – White-branded Ace |
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172. Thoressa astigmata (Swinhoe, 1890) — Unbranded Ace |
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173. Oriens concinna (Elwes & Edwards, 1897) — Sahyadri Dartlet |
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174. Oriens goloides (Moore, [1881]) — Smaller Dartlet |
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175. Potanthus palnia palnia (Evans, 1914) — Palni Dart |
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176. Taractrocera ceramas (Hewitson, 1868) — Incomplete Tawny-spotted Grass Dart |
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177. Telicota bambusae bambusae (Moore, 1878) — Oriental Dark Palm-Dart |
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178. Borbo cinnara (Wallace, 1866) — Rice Swift |
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179. Caltoris kumara kumara (Moore, 1878) — Sahyadri Blank Swift |
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180. Polytremis lubricans lubricans (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) — Oriental Contiguous Swift |
Checklist of Odonates
|
Scientific name |
English Name |
|---|---|
|
1. Anax guttatus (Burmeister, 1839) |
Blue-Tailed Green Darner |
|
2. Anax immaculifrons Rambur, 1842 |
Blue Darner |
|
3. Heliogomphus promelas (Selys,1873) |
Spotted Lyretail |
|
4. Merogomphus longistigma (Fraser,1922) |
Long Legged Clubtail |
|
5. Onychogomphus Sps |
Clawtail |
|
6. Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur,1842) |
Ground Skimmer |
|
7. Hylaeothemis indica Fraser,1946 |
Blue Hawklet |
|
8. Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891) |
Brown-Backed Red Marsh Hawk |
|
9. Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, 1865) |
Blue Marsh Hawk |
|
10. Orthetrum luzonicum (Brauer, 1868) |
Tricoloured Marsh Hawk |
|
11. Orthetrum pruinosum (Burmeister,1839) |
Crimson-Tailed Marsh Hawk |
|
12. Orthetrum sabina (Drury, 1770) |
Green Marsh Hawk |
|
13. Orthetrum triangulare (Selys, 1878) |
Blue-Tailed Forest Hawk |
|
14. Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787) |
Blue-Tailed Yellow Skimmer |
|
15. Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) |
Wandering Glider |
|
16. Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842) |
Yellow-Tailed Ashy Skimmer |
|
17. Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798) |
Coral-Tailed Cloud-Wing |
|
18. Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839) |
Crimson Marsh Glider |
|
19. Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842) |
Black Stream Glider |
|
20. Epophthalmia frontalis Selys, 1871 |
Spotted Torrent Hawk |
|
21. Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Stream Glory |
|
22. Vestalis apicalis Selys, 1873 |
Black-Tipped Forest Glory |
|
23. Rhinocypha bisignata Hagen in Selys,1853 |
Stream Ruby |
|
24. Aciagrion hisopa (Selys, 1876) |
Violet-Striped Slender Dartlet |
|
25. Ischnura aurora (Brauer, 1865) |
Golden Dartlet |
|
26. Pseudagrion rubriceps Selys, 1876 |
Saffron-Faced Grass Dart |
|
27. Euphaea dispar (Rambur,1842) |
Nilgiri Torrent Dart |
|
28. Euphaea fraseri (Laidlaw,1920) |
Malabar Torrent Dart |
|
29. Copera marginipes (Rambur, 1842) |
Yellow Bush Dart |
|
30. Protosticta gravelyi Laidlaw,1915 |
Pied Reedtail |
|
31. Protosticta hearseyi Fraser,1922 |
Little Reedtail |
|
32. Caconeura gomphoides (Rambur,1842) |
Pale Spotted Bambootail |
|
33. Caconeura risi (Fraser,1931) |
Wayanad Bambootail |
|
34. Esme longistyla Fraser,1931 |
Nilgiri Bambootail |
|
35. Phylloneura westermanni (Selys,1860) |
Myristica Bambootail |
Flora
Forest types and composition
The forests of Silent Valley Division can be categorized into the following types based on Champion and Seth Classification, 1968.
- Southern Hill Top Tropical Evergreen Forest - 1A / C3
- West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests - I A / C4
- Cane Brakes - 1B / E1
- Wet Bamboo Brakes - I / E2
- West Coast Semi Evergreen Forests - 2 A / C2
- West Coast Secondary Evergreen Dipterocarp Forests- 2A / 2S1
- Nilgiri Sub Tropical Hill Forests - 8 A / C1
- Reed Brakes - 8A /C1 /E1
- South Indian Sub tropical Hill Savannah Woodland - 8A / C1 / DS1.
- Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forests - IIA /C1
- Southern Montane Wet Scrub - II A /C1/ DS 1.
- Southern Montane Wet Grasslands - II A/ C1/ DS2.
About 75-80% of the land in the Protected Area is covered with thick woody vegetation and about 20%of the area is having grassland which are anthropogenic as well as natural in origin and little area is under rocky patches with little vegetation cover and water body such as river, ponds and pools.Silent Valley harbours over 2000 species of plants with over 1000 Angiosperms (Flowering plants) that belong to 136 families. 100 fern and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 100 mosses, 325 fungi, 75 lichens and 200 species of algae are found here.Around 117 orchids are found here.
Key / Unique habitats
Cane Brakes
Cane brakes comprises of an impenetrable thorny thicket sometimes with a few tall trees standing over it, sometimes without it. The stems are typically trailing and may be 60 m or more long, but some species are more or less erect. The soil is permanently wet and usually fine clay, very rich in humus. Important species is Calamus spp.
Wet Bamboo Brakes
Wet bamboo brakes are usually found along streams. The brakes are often dense, even if the bamboos grow in clumps. The bamboos tend to be of the smaller types rather than the big clumped species. Important species is Ochlandra spp.
West Coast Semi Evergreen Forests
Intermediate between tropical evergreen and the moist deciduous forests with evergreen and deciduous dominants usually intimately mixed. Lower storey is mainly evergreen. This type is found mostly on hill slopes from 450 to 1050 mtrs.
Floristics: I. Adina cordifolia, Holoptelea integrifolia, Mesua ferrea, Pterocarpus marsupium, Sterculia guttata, Terminalia tomentosa, Cedrela toona etc.
II. Bischofia javanica, Mallotus philippensis, Kydia calycina, Schleichera oleosa, Evodia luna-ankenda etc.IIa. Bambusa arundinacea, Ochlandra sp.
West Coast Secondary Evergreen Dipterocarp Forests
This type is characterized by nearly pure evergreen Dipterocarpaceae of relatively poor development but with an even and typically dense canopy, without a definite middle storey but with an undergrowth of evergreen shrubs.
Floristics: I/II. Polyalthia fragrans, Vateria indica, Tetrameles nudiflora, Hopea parviflora, Vitex altissima, Salmalia malabarica, Glochidium sp., Macaranga peltata etc.Heavy undergrowth of reeds (Ochlandra sp.)
Nilgiri Sub Tropical Hill Forests
This type is similar to tropical rain forest but not so luxuriant, the trees being smaller and with less shapely boles, and often festooned with herbaceous and cryptogamic epiphytes. A dense undergrowth of Strobilanthes is frequently present. This type is usually distinct above an elevation of 1500 m and thrives best at higher levels, though a transition stage may be distinguished between 1350m and 1500m with characteristic intermediate between tropical rain forest and tropical evergreens.
Floristics: I. Calophyllum elatum, Actinodaphne hookerii, Litsea stockii, Cinnamomum sulphuratum, Canthium dicoccum, Eugenia sp, Rhododendrom nilgiricum, Gaultheria frangitissima.
II. Strobilanthes spp.
Reed Brakes
This type is restricted to moist area and found along streams. It comprise of impenetrable thickets 3 to 5 metre high with scattered over wood of evergreen trees.
Floristics: I. Vernonia monosis, Eugenia spp., Palaquium ellipticum.
II. Ochlandra wightii, Ochlandra travancorica.
South Indian Subtropical Hill Savannah Woodland
This is an open savannah forest with tall coarse grass even 2-3 metre high and scattered trees nearly all deciduous and fire hardy shrubs. This type is found between 1100 metre and 1700 metre.
Floristics: I. Dalbergia latifolia, Anogeissus latifolia.
II. Emblica officianalis, Wendlandia notoniana, Olea dioica.
III. Phoenix humilis.
IV b. Heavy grasses
Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forests
This is a closed evergreen forest; the trees being mostly short boled and branchy though often attaining a considerable girth. The height of the forest is relatively low, rarely exceeding 6 metres. The crowns are usually very dense and rounded with entire coriaceous leaves which tend to be red to a varying degree when young, giving a range of colours which is one of the most conspicuous features of this type. The branches are clothed with mosses, ferns and other epiphytes. The forest is usually found in patches (sholas) in the more sheltered sites on rolling grasslands. . In all the upper reaches of Silent Valley above 1800 metres this type is encountered. The flora is a varied one including elements of both tropical and temperate origin.
Floristics: I. Ternstroemia gymnanthera, Eugenia calophyllifolia, E. Arnottiana, E.montana, Michelia nilgirica, Gordonia obtusa, Xantolis tomentosa, Ilex wightiana, Meliosma wightii, Elaeocarpus spp. Photinia montana, Cinnamomum wightii, Litsea wightiana, Rhododendren nilagiricum, Euonymaus crenulatus, Glochidion neilgherrense, Symplocos laurina etc.
II. Turpinia cochinchinensis, Rhamnus wightii, Viburnum erubescence etc.
III. Gaultheria fragrantissima, Psychotria congesta, Vaccinium leschenaultia, Mahonia leschenaultii, Strobilanthes spp.
IV a.Impatiens spp.
V. Rosa leschenaultiana, Clematis wightiana, Rubus spp., Schefflera spp., Elaeagnus latifolia, Toddalia asiatica.
Southern Montane Wet Scrub
This is the low evergreen scrub of varying density often with bracken form and seedlings or often stunted growth of shola species, notably Rhododendron and
Eugenia arnotiana.
Floristics: Rhodomyrtus, Hypericum mysorense, Dodonaea viscosa, Mahonia leschenaultia, Berberis tinctoria, Rubus spp., Strobilanthes spp., Pteridium aquilinum.
Southern Montane Wet Grasslands
This type occurs in rolling downlands.
Floristics: I &II. Nil
IV b. Bothriocloa pertusa, Ischaemum pilosum, Themeda cymbarica, T. triandra, Cymbopogon polyneuros, Eragrostis nigra, Tripogon bromoides.
RET species
Silent Valley harbours a good number of wild relatives of crop plants. The crop species diversity observed in genera like Piper, Syzygium, Solanum, Dioscorea, Garcinia and Panicum is quite remarkable.
Two species of Orchids, Ipsea malabarica and Vanda thwaitesii, which were long thought to be extinct, were rediscovered from Silent Valley. Dendrobium panduratum, thought to be endemic to Sri Lanka and extinct was recorded from Silent Valley. Three species have very narrow range of distribution, Bulbophyllum silentvalliensis, Eria tiagii, and Ipsea malabaricai> which are endemic to Silent Valley. Among the orchids, 45 species and one sub species belonging to 27 genera are terrestrial in habit while 66 species in 27 genera are epiphytic.
The Cullenia exarillata has been identified as a key stone species for the park area. It provides resources such as fruits for LTM, Nilgiri langur, Giant squirrels and birds. Other species identified as key stone species and para key stone species are Macaranga indica, Dalbergia lanceolaria, Ficus spp. Maesa indica, Carpus spp. Thunbergia mysorensis, and Loranthus spp.
Many new and interesting plants have been reported from Silent valley including species like Embelia gardneriana, Hedyotis hirsutissima, Nostolachma crassifolia and Murdannia lanceolata.
