WAlbino gaur or white bison are a type of gaur, occasionally seen in the Manjampatti Valley, a 110.9 km2 (42.8 sq mi) protected area at the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. They are occasionally called Manjampatti white bison. These gaur are notable for their distinctive ash-grey color as opposed to the almost black color of most gaur. Since 1929, there have been at least 19 documented sightings of these rare animals, including the 2004 photographs of N. A. Naseer.
WHousing more than 200 resident and wintering bird species, Chennai has long been a haven for bird watchers. It is the one of the few urban areas in India with diverse range of birds including greater flamingo, black baza, osprey, Indian eagle-owl, Coppersmith barbet, Spot billed pelican and pied avocet can be seen. The following are some known birding hotspots in and around Chennai.
WThis article lists the birds found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 578 species of birds have been spotted in Tamil Nadu. The list also sometimes includes the local Tamil name in italics following the English common name. This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature follow the conventions of the IOC World Bird List, version 10.2. This list also uses British English throughout. Any bird names or other wording follows that convention.
WThe bare-bellied hedgehog, also known as the Madras hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog that is endemic to dry arid regions and scrubby jungles in southeastern India. As it was believed to be rare, it was formerly listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It is now known to be locally common in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, resulting in its new listing as a species of Least Concern.
WIndrella is a monotypic genus containing the single species Indrella ampulla, a tropical terrestrial air-breathing gastropod mollusk in the family Ariophantidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
WLabiobaetis soldani is a species of mayfly found in the Tirunelveli district of India. The species was named after Dr. T. Soldan. The larvae were collected in a slow-flowing perennial stream. Larvae were light brown in coloration with yellow antennae and gills on abdominal segments 1-7. Male larvae measured 4 millimeters while female larvae measured 4.8 millimeters. Male imagoes were 5.2 millimeters, while females measured 5.0 millimeters. Both sexes had transparent forewings 3.5 millimeters long and no hind wings. Head and thorax were dark brown, with yellow legs. Males' abdomens were reddish brown or white, while females' were brown.
WThe Nilgiri langur is a langur found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka, Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu, and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head. It is similar in size and long-tailed like the gray langurs. Females have a white patch of fur on the inner thigh. It typically lives in troops of nine to ten monkeys. Its diet consists of fruits, shoots and leaves. The species is classified as vulnerable due to habitat destruction and poaching for its fur and flesh, the latter believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
WThe Nilgiri marten is the only marten species native to southern India. It lives in the hills of the Nilgiris and parts of the Western Ghats. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
WNilgiri sheep is a breed of sheep found only in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu State in India. It is bred in the hilly parts of Nilgiri and known for its fine wool. A national plan has been implemented to save the Nilgiri sheep from certain extinction is on way by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Conservation.
WRaorchestes coonoorensis, also known as the Coonore bushfrog or Coonoor bush frog, is a species of frogs endemic to the Western Ghats, India. It is reported from its type locality, Sim's Park in Coonoor, with an additional observation from Kothagiri; both locations are in the state of Tamil Nadu. Its altitudinal range is 1,780–1,850 m (5,840–6,070 ft) asl.
WRaorchestes dubois is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.
WThe Nilgiri tahr is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western & Eastern Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Despite its local name, it is more closely related to the sheep of the genus Ovis than the ibex and wild goats of the genus Capra.
WTrimeresurus macrolepis, commonly known as the large-scaled pitviper is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats of South India. No subspecies are currently recognized.