Consider the following Star tortoise Monitor lizard Pygmy hog Spider monkey Which of the above are naturally found in India?: [2013]
Consider the following
- Star tortoise
- Monitor lizard
- Pygmy hog
- Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Star tortoise is correct
- They are native to India, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest and southern India and parts of Sri Lanka.
Monitor lizard is correct
- India is home to four Monitor lizards – the Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), the Asian Water monitor (Varanus salvator), the Yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens) and the Desert monitor (Varanus griseus). These reptiles are mostly solitary and spend their days on the go, often venturing into urban areas for food and water.
Pygmy hog
- Pygmy Hog is the world’s smallest wild pig. It is one of the indicator species of grassland habitats.
- Indicator species: An organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.
- It is found only in Manas WLS (Assam). Earlier, it was found across north India. Pygmy hog-sucking Louse is a critically endangered parasite that feeds only on Pygmy Hogs.
- It lives in sociable family groups of up to 20, led by a matriarch.
Spider monkey is incorrect
- Spider monkeys are New World monkeys. They are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America, while Old World monkeys are found in Africa, central to southern Asia, and Japan.
