Islands of India is the report that has been published recently by the Zoological Survey of India.

• Total area of A&N Islands, which comprises of 572 islands, islets and rocky outcrops, is about 8,249 sq. km has around total 11,009 species.
• It comprises only 0.25% of India’s geographical area but is home to more than 10% of country’s fauna species.
• Presence of such large number of species in such small area makes A&I Islands one of the richest ecosystems and biodiversity hot spots in India.
• About marine fauna, of the ten species of marine fauna found on islands, dugong/sea cow and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin are both classified as Vulnerable under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• About terrestrial mammalian species, 46 terrestrial mammalian species are found. 3 species have been categorised as Critically Endangered —Jenkin’s shrew (C. jenkinsi), Andaman shrew (Crocidura andamanensis) and Nicobar shrew (C. nicobarica).

Zoological Survey of India: Zoological Survey of India is India’s apex organization on animal taxonomy.

•  Its objective is to promote survey, exploration, research and documentation on various aspects of animal taxonomy in Indian subcontinent.
• It also seeks advancement of knowledge on animal taxonomy. It was established in 1916 and headquartered in Kolkata.
• It has been declared as designated repository for National Zoological Collection as per section 39 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002.