Andaman National Park

This page describes about Andaman National Parks, flora and fauna, mammals, Butterflies and Moths and shells.

Wandur National Park

The most striking feature of all these islands is the vegetation. Very dense, it comes right down to the shore, seeming to merge into the sea. Branches and creepers overhang and dip into the seawater.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Andaman & Nicobar Islands are blessed with a unique luxuriant evergreen tropical rainforest canopy, sheltering a mixed germ palms bank, comprising of Indian, Myanmarese, Malaysian and endemic floral strain. So far, about 2200 varieties of plants have been recorded, out of which 200 are endemic and 1300 do not occur in mainland India.

The South Andaman forests have a profuse growth of epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andaman’s harbors mostly moist deciduous forests. The wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers, characterizes North Andaman’s. The north Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests are common in the Andaman’s, they are almost absent in the Nicobars. The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.

Mammals

Timber

Andaman Forest is abounding in plethora of timber species numbering 200 or more, out of which about 30 varieties are considered to be commercial. Major commercial timber species are Gurjan and Pad auk. The following ornamental wood are noted for their pronounced grain formation

Pad auk being steadier than teak is widely used for furniture making.

Burr and the Buttress formation in Andaman Pad auk are World famous for their exceptionally unique charm and figuring. Largest piece of Buttress known from Andaman was a dining table of 13'x 7'. The largest piece of Burr was again a dining table to seat eight persons at a time.

The holy Rudraksha and aromatic Resin trees also occur here.

Butterflies and Moths

Shells

Shells are perhaps the most colorful and fascinating objects known to man other than Gems since time immemorial. They served as money, ornaments, and musical instruments, drinking cups, in magic and in the making of fine porcelains. They were also the symbols in rituals and religious observances, and the returning pilgrims wore them as a token of divine pardon. These islands are traditionally known for their shell wealth specially Turbo, Troches, Murex and Nautilus. Earliest recorded commercial exploitation began during 1929. Shells are important to these islands because some like Turbo; Troches & Nautilus etc. are used as novelties supporting many cottage industries producing a wide range of decorative items & ornaments. Shells such as Giant clam, Green mussel and Oyster support edible shellfishery, a few like Scallop, Clam and Cockle is burnt in kiln to produce edible lime.

The Univalve or one shell group belongs to the class Gastropod a having more than 80,000 species. Sacred Chunk belongs to this group. Their body, in the course of development, go through a complicated process, 'torsion' i.e. the visceral mass is twisted though 90 degree together with the shell that covers it. Under mysterious circumstances many a time this process proceeds in the reverse direction thus creating an abnormal shell which otherwise lives like a normal shell. A classic example is the most wanted left-handed chunk.

The Bivalve or Pelecypoda has about 20,000 living species. Majority of then burrows in sand or mud such as Pearl Oyster Wing oyster, Giant clam etc.

A third group, which is comparatively smaller, is called Cephalopod a, which includes Octopus, Squid, Nautilus etc. The soft body animal, which lives inside the shell, is covered with a thick layer of specialized epithelium cells known as rankle, which in turn secretes a two-tier shell material making the shell. The outer layer having a different color pattern is organic in constitution, technically called periostracum. Calcium ions from the environment are absorbed into the blood and deposited evenly under this layer. The next inner layer is called 'nacre' or 'mother of pearl' responsible for the pearly luster common to many shells.

History

Nicobar Islands

Wildlife

Place to see

Andaman Beaches

Andaman tour packages

Holidays in Andaman

Stay in Andaman

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