Want to know more about the wildlife in India? Here's a list of 21 animals in India that you can run into in the wild:


Bengal tiger

The Bengal tiger is renowned for its power and force. They live primarily in India, merely tin can also exist found in Bangladesh, Nepal, Kingdom of bhutan, Myanmar, and China.

The female Bengal tiger gives nascence to litters of 2-vi cubs, which they raise with a little help from the male, or no help at all. The tiger cubs commencement hunt when they're around 18 months old and stay with their mother for around 2-3 years before leaving to find their own territory.

The Bengal tiger is not only 1 of the almost powerful animals in Republic of india, but it's also India's national animal.

  • Common name: Bengal tiger
  • Scientific name: Panthera Tigris Tigris
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: eight-x years
  • Body length: 1,5- 2 m (5-6 ft)
  • Tail length: 0,5-1 m (2-iii ft)
Bengal tiger

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian elephant

The elephant is ane of the biggest mammals on globe, and therefore one of the biggest animals in India. Elephants live in a matriarchal family group of related females called a herd. A herd tin can consist of around 100 elephants, and it'due south oftentimes led by the oldest and largest female.

Indian elephants similar to eat grass, roots, fruits, and leaves. A fun fact is that they tin eat nigh 330 pounds of food a solar day.

  • Common name: Indian elephant
  • Scientific name: Elephas maximus indicus
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Plant eater
  • Average life span in the wild: 60-70 years
  • Length: Up to 6,v m (6 ft)
  • Tiptop: ii-3,5 m (vi – 11 ft) at the shoulder
  • Weight: 5 tons
animals in india

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Indian rhinoceros

The Indian rhinoceros lives primarily in northern India and Nepal. These big animals expect a chip different from their African relatives. The pare of the Indian rhinoceros makes it await like they have a natural body armor on – which is very different from the African rhinoceros.

Yous can besides hear from the Latin name, Rhino unicornis, that they only have ane horn.

  • Common name: Indian rhino
  • Scientific name: Rhinoceros unicornis
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Herbivore
  • Average life span in the wild: xl years
  • Length: 4 meters (12,five ft)
  • Height at shoulder: Up to 1,8 g (half dozen ft)
  • Weight: 2,ii tons
Indian Rhinoceros

Photograph: Shutterstock

Panthera leo-tailed macaque

The panthera leo-tailed macaque lives in the Western Ghats mountains of Republic of india. Information technology's a diurnal animal, which means that it'south active during the solar day.

The lion-tailed macaques take hair that's either dark-dark-brown or black. They take a black tuft at the end of the tail, merely similar the lions. Unlike about other macaques, the panthera leo-tailed macaques avoid humans.

  • Mutual name: Panthera leo-tailed macaque
  • Scientific name: Macaca silenus
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Omnivore
  • Boilerplate life span in the wild: 20-38 years
  • Length: xx-61 cm (1,6-ii ft)
  • Weight: 3-x kg (6,6-22 lb)
Lion tailed macaque

Photo: Shutterstock

Asiatic lion

Almost all wild lions on this planet live in Africa, but there's a minor population of Asiatic lions that live in India. They alive in the Fir Forest in "prides" (a group of lions) where at that place can exist upwards to 3 males, a dozen related females, and their cubs. The females are the chief hunters, and they often chase together to kill large animals. The Asiatic lion is one of the fastest animals in Republic of india.

It's only the male lions that become characteristic manes, which is the long hair around their heads.

  • Common name: Asiatic lion
  • Scientific proper noun: Panthera leo persica
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: xvi-eighteen years
  • Length (body and tail): Around 2,viii m (ix ft)
  • Weight: 136-226 kg (300-500 lb)
Asiatic Lion

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian leopard

The Indian leopard is a subspecies to the leopard and lives in Republic of india also equally in Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Pakistan. It'southward one of the most cute animals in India. They alive in tropical rain forests, temperate forests, northern coniferous forests, and dry deciduous forests in Bharat.

This leopard is known for beingness an excellent climber, fast runner, and a good swimmer. Information technology tin can run over 58 km per hr (36 mph), leap over half-dozen thou (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically.

  • Mutual name: Indian leopard
  • Scientific proper name: Panthera pardus fusca
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 12-17 years
  • Body length (male): 1,3-one,iv m (4,two-4,8 ft) + 76-91 cm (two,6-iii ft) tail
  • Body length (female): i-1,2 m (3-three,i ft) + 76-91 cm (2,6-3 ft) tail
  • Weight: 50-seventy kg (110-170 lb)
Indian leopard

Photo: Shutterstock

Sloth bear

Sloth bears are native to the Indian subcontinent. It's a lanky bear famous for its shaggy fur and mane around the face. The sloth bear is also characterized past its long lower lip and sickle-shaped claws.

They're first-class hunters of termites, which they can locate by the scent.

  • Common proper noun: Sloth carry
  • Scientific proper name: Melursus ursinus
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: Up to 20 years
  • Length: 1.iv-1.ix m (4-7.6 ft)
  • Height: 60-92 cm (ii-three ft) at the shoulder
  • Weight: Females: lxxx-145 kg (176-320 lb), Males: up to 192 kg (423 lb)
animals in india

Photograph: Shutterstock

Wild h2o buffalo

The wild water buffalo is a big bovine native to the Indian subcontinent and alive mainly in Assam, Kaziranga, Manas, and the Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks. Kaziranga National Park is home to the biggest population of wild water buffaloes in India.

A wild water buffalo tin weight upwards to 1200 kg (2600 lb), which makes them one of the heaviest of the wild bovine species.

  • Common name: Wild water buffalo
  • Scientific name: Bubalus arnee
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Diet: Plant eater
  • Average life span in the wild: Upwards to 25 years
  • Length: two.half dozen m (8.half dozen ft)
  • Height: 1.3 grand (iv.2 ft)
  • Weight: 300-500 kg (661-1102 lb)
Wild Water Buffalo

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian wild ass

Indian wild ass, likewise known equally Ghudkhur is a subspecies of the onager that'south native to Southern Asia. They alive in western Republic of india, as well equally in areas in southern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Today, their last refuge is the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat.

The Indian wild ass is characterized by its sand-colored fur and night mane, followed past a dark brown stripe running along their back to the root of their tail.

A fun fact is that they're one of the fastest animals in Bharat, and can sew together to seventy-80 km per hour (43-49 mph).

  • Common name: Indian wild ass
  • Scientific name: Equus hemionus khur
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Herbivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 20-25 years
  • Length: 2.half-dozen chiliad (8.5 ft)
  • Top: 1.two m (3.nine ft) at the shoulder
  • Weight: 250 kg (551 lb)
indian animals

Photo: Shutterstock

Gaur – One of the heaviest animals in India

The gaur, likewise known as the Indian bison, is the largest of bovines. It's native to southward and Southeast Asia and can exist spotted in several national parks in Republic of india. Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur Nationalpark, and Periyar National Park are just to proper name a few.

It's characterized by its big horns, dark fur, and a strong and massive body that can weight upwardly to 1500 kg (3306 lb). It's one of the heaviest animals in India.

  • Common name: Gaur
  • Scientific name: Bos gaurus
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Plant eater
  • Average life bridge in the wild:
  • Length: ii.5-3.3 g (8.2-10.1 ft) + a tail of seventy-105 cm (28-41 in)
  • Elevation: ane.4-ii.2 thou (4.8-vii.3 ft) at the shoulder
  • Weight: 500-1500 kg (1102-3306 lb)
gaur

Photograph: Shutterstock

Nilgai

The largest Asian antelope is the nilgai, also known every bit the blue bull. They're endemic to the Indian subcontinent and tin can be found in the scrub forests and grassy plains of northern India.

They're big animals characterized by its bluish-gray glaze, white spots on each side of its face up, ears, cheeks, lips, and mentum. Just the males abound horns, and they can go fifteen-24 cm long (v.9-9.4 in).

  • Mutual name: Nilgai
  • Scientific name: Boselaphus tragocamelus
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Diet: Herbivore
  • Average life span in the wild: x years
  • Length: 1.7-2.ane g (five.6-vi.9 ft)
  • Height: 1-one.5 m (3.3-4.9 ft) at the shoulder
  • Weight: Males: 109-288 kg (240-635 lb), Females: 100-213 kg (220-470 lb)
Nilgai

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian pangolin

Indian pangolins lives in the forests and grasslands of Republic of india, and equally well in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.

They have small heads, eyes, and ears, but a long natural language that can be up to 25.five cm (10 in) long. Indian pangolins are covered in hard brown/yellowish colored scales, and they coil up into a ball and emit a strong smelling fluid from their anal if feeling threatened.

  • Mutual proper noun: Indian pangolin
  • Scientific proper noun: Manis crassicaudata
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Diet: Insectivorous
  • Boilerplate life span in the wild: 13 years
  • Length: 45 – 75 cm (xviii – 29.five in)
  • Length of tail: 33 – 45 cm (13 – 17.7 in)
  • Weight: 5 – 35 Kg (eleven – 77 lb)
Pangolin

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian Flying Fox

The Indian flying trick is the largest bat in India, as well as one of the largest bat species in the world. They have chestnut-dark-brown fur on their bodies, long snouts, and large eyes – they wait much like a fob, hence the name. An Indian flying fox can weight upwardly to one.6 kg and accept a wingspan of 1-v meters.

Like most other bats they residue during the twenty-four hour period and are active during the night.

  • Common name: Indian flying play tricks
  • Scientific name: Pteropus giganteus
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Frugivorous / nectarivorous
  • Average life span in the wild: fifteen years
  • Length: 15.five-22 cm (half-dozen.ane-8.7 in)
  • Wingspan: i.ii-1.five m (3.one-4.1 ft)
  • Weight: 1.vi kg (3.5 lb)
animals in india

Photograph: Shutterstock

Chital

The chital, also known every bit the spotted deer is a species of deer that is native to the Indian subcontinent. Other than Bharat they can also be found in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

They accept a gilded-brown fur with white spots. Their rump, throat, belly, ears, tail, and inside of their legs are all white, and their horns tin can go 1 m (3.3 ft) long.

  • Common name: Chital
  • Scientific proper noun: Axis centrality
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Diet: Herbivore
  • Average life span in the wild: v-10 years
  • Length: one.7 yard (5.6 ft)
  • Height: lxx-ninety cm (28-35 in) at the shoulder
  • Weight: 25-75 kg (55-165 lb
Chital

Photo: Shutterstock

Bengal fob

The Bengal Pull a fast one on or Indian fox, as its besides called, is a fox owned to the Indian subcontinent. It can be found in most parts of India, as well every bit in eastern Islamic republic of pakistan, southeastern Bangladesh, and in the Himalayan foothills and Terai of Nepal.

It's a small fox with grayish-beige fur and long pointy ears. It weights effectually two.3-four.1 kg (5-9 lb) and has a body length of 46 cm (18 in) and a 25 cm (10 in) long tail.

During the hottest hours of the day, the Bengal fox hides in their dens. Information technology's during sunset and sunrise when the Bengal fox is the nigh active.

  • Common proper noun: Bengal fox
  • Scientific proper name: Vulpes bengalensis
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 10-12 years
  • Length: 46 cm (eighteen in)
  • Length of tail: 25 cm (10 in)
  • Weight: 2.3-4.1 kg (v-9 lb)
Bengal fox

Photo: Shutterstock

Striped hyena

The striped hyena is lives in western India, likewise every bit in the Middle E, the Arabian Peninsula and in parts of Africa.

Striped hyenas are characterized by its big pointy ears, vertical stripes on their flanks, and vertical stripes on their legs. Similar many other animals that alive in hot climates, their ears radiation rut.

When a striped hyena is feeling threatened, the mane can be erect, which makes them look much bigger and more intimidating to predators.

  • Common name: Striped hyena
  • Scientific proper noun: Hyaena hyaena
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Boilerplate life span in the wild: 12 years
  • Length: 85-130 cm (33-51 in)
  • Length of tail: 25-twoscore cm (9.8-fifteen.7 in)
  • Weight: 22-55 kg (49-121 lb)
Striped hyena

Photo: Shutterstock

Ruddy panda – One of the cutest animals in Republic of india

One of the most loved animals in India is the cute red panda. It's native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. A part of the population lives in the Meghalaya Plateau of northward-eastern India.

Information technology likes to slumber on tree branches or in tree hollows during the day and is the most active during late afternoon. When it'southward hot outside it sleeps stretched out with its legs dangling from the tree branch and all curled up with its tail over its face when its common cold outside.

They're excellent climbers and loves to swallow bamboo, merely tin can also eat small mammals, birds, eggs, flowers, and berries.

  • Common name: Cerise panda
  • Scientific proper noun: Ailurus fulgens
  • Blazon: Mammals
  • Nutrition: Plant eater / Omnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 8 years
  • Length: (20-26 in) + a (12-20 in) long tail
  • Weight: (12-20 lb)
Red panda

Photo: Shutterstock

Gee's gold langur

The gee's golden langur, or golden langur, lives in a small region of western Assam in Bharat, also as in the foothills of the Blackness Mountains of Bhutan. Today, information technology's 1 of the about endangered primate species in Bharat.

The golden langur is characterized by its gilt/cream-colored fur, blackness face, and its long tail. They spend most of their fourth dimension up in high copse where they use their long tail as a balancer when jumping between branches. They like to eat fruit, leaves, seeds, buds, and flowers.

The gee's golden langur is today an endangered animal in India.

  • Common name: Gee's gilded langur
  • Scientific name: Trachypithecus geei
  • Type: Mammals
  • Diet: Herbivore
  • Average life bridge in the wild: Unknown
  • Length: l-75 cm (19.vi-29.5 in)
  • Length of tail: up to 50 cm (nineteen.half dozen in)
  • Weight: nine.5-10.5 kg (21-23 lb)
Gee's golden langur

Photo: Shutterstock

Gharial

Gharials, also known every bit gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian that'southward famous for its long thin snouts and jaws that are lined with more than than 100 sharp teeth. They're found along the Chambal river, Girwa river, and Son river, as well as in Nepal along the Narayani river.

They can weight up to 998 kg (2200 lb) and can get as long as 4.7 g (fifteen.5 ft).

The gharial crocodile is today one of the endangered animals in India.

  • Common name: Gharial
  • Scientific name: Gavialis gangeticus
  • Type: Reptiles
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 40-60 years
  • Length: three.seven-4.vii m (12.2-fifteen.v ft)
  • Weight: 998 kg (2200 lb)
Gavial crocodile

Photo: Shutterstock

Indian Cobra – I of the nearly dangerous animals in India

The Indian cobra is a species that's establish in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kingdom of bhutan, and People's republic of bangladesh. It'southward a member of the "big four", which means that it's one of four venomous snake species responsible for causing the greatest number of serpent bite on humans. It'southward ane of the about dangerous animals in India.

They inhabit plains or open forests, too as rocky terrains and wetlands. They're oftentimes institute nearly water and hides in tree hollows, caves, cracks, rock piles, and small dens.

The Indian cobra varies in both colors and patterns – they can be grey, xanthous, tan, brownish, black or blood-red in color. Nigh of them have the famous dark hood marking, as you can see in the picture beneath.

  • Mutual name: Indian cobra
  • Scientific proper name: Naja naja
  • Type: Reptiles
  • Nutrition: Carnivore
  • Average life span in the wild: 20 years
  • Length: 1-1.five thou (3.3-4.9 ft)
Indian cobra

Photo: Shutterstock

Great hornbill

The smashing hornbill is 1 of the larger members of the hornbill family unit. They're famous for its big size and for its beautiful colors.

The great hornbill likes to swallow fruits only tin can also prey on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

  • Common name: Peachy hornbill
  • Scientific proper name: Buceros bicornis
  • Blazon: Birds
  • Diet: Frugivorous
  • Average life bridge in the wild: 33 years
  • Length: 95-130 cm (37-51 in)
  • Wingspan: 152 cm (60 in)
  • Weight: two.1-4 kg (four.77-8.eight lb)
animals in india

Photograph: Shutterstock


x critically endangered animals in India:

Like many other countries worldwide, there are, unfortunately, endangered animals in India too. Down below you have a list of 10 animals that are critically endangered in Republic of india:

  • Peacock tarantula
  • Ganges shark
  • Red-crowned roofed turtle
  • Asiatic cheetah
  • Himalayan wolf
  • Jenkins' shrew
  • Pygmy pig
  • Namdapha flight squirrel
  • Chinese pangolin
  • Gharial

Practise you accept any other questions about animals in India? Leave a comment below!