Flora and Fauna In Goa

he rugged western ghats make it an ideal haven for many species of birds and animals and also provide a corridor for migration.  The western ghats called the Sayhadris in Goa, extend for a total of 600kms in Goa of their total length of 3701 kms. The widest belt of forests along the western ghats is in Goa  and neighboring Karnataka state. The high rainfall accounts for this because the elevation of the mountain range  here is lower here. The coastal areas on the other hand, provide the tropical backdrop. There are several plants and trees unique to Goa and some introduced by the Portuguese, most famous of which is the green Chilies, which today has become an essential ingredient in the Indian Curry.

The tropical location of Goa is responsible for its warm humid climate and laterite and lateritic Clayey-loamy soil. The mean temperature even in the coldest month is over 20 degrees centigrade. Average rainfall is over 500mm along the western ghats and a little less elsewhere. The length of the dry season averages from 5 to 6 months. For all these reasons, the dominant vegetation is of the moist decidous type.

Goa is endowed with over 1512 documented species of plants, over 275 genera of birds, over 48 genera of animals and over  60 genera of reptiles. 

About 10% of Goa is set aside as wildlife reserve and these include four large wildlife sanctuaries.

Some of the common trees, plants and shrubs found in Goa are listed below

Local name in Konkani	Botanical name	Common English name
Ambo	Mangifera indica	Mango tree
Ambado	Spondia mangifera
Ananas	Ananas comosus	Pineapple tree
Apto	Bahuhinia racemosa
Asoka	Saraca indica
Assan	Pterocarpus marsupium
Awala	Embilica officinalis
Bayo	Cassia fistula	Indian laburnum tree
Bavalgi	Vitex altissima
Bibba	Semicarpus anacardium
Bhedas	Syzgium caryophyllatum
Bhendi	Thespecia populinea
Bhiran	Garcinia indica
Billemad	Caryota urens
Boke	Bischofia javanica
Boram	Zizuphus mauriliana
Brev-Damar	Canarium strictum
Caju	Anacardium occidentale	Cashew tree
Chandado	Macaranga peltata
Char	Buchanania lanzan
Datura	Datura stramonium	Datura plant
Dhamen	Grewia tiliaefilia
Elamb	Machilus marcamtha
Goinda	Diospyros motana
Goting	Terminalia bellerica
Gunj	Adenanthera pavonia
Gulmohar	Delonix regia
Hedu	Adina cordifolia
Hirda	Terminalia chebula
Irai	Calophyllum wightianum
Jagan	Falcouria latifolia
Jamun	Syzgium cumini
Karmal	Dillenia pentagyna
Katekawach	Bridelia retusa
Kadam	Anthocephalus envamba
Kalamb	Mytragyna parviflora
Kaidol	Sterculia urens
Kala Siras	Albizzia odoratissima
Karanji	Pongamia pinnata
Karamb	Olea diocia
Kadu Khajur	Melia comporita
Kakad	Garunga pinnata
Kalakundo	Wrightia tinctoria
Kamdel	Carallia brachiata
Kamdeli	Rhizophora mucoronata
Karo	Strychonos nux-vomica
Keli	Musa paradisiaca	Banana tree
Khair	Acacia catechu
Kharvat	Ficus asperrma
Kindal	Terminalia paniculata
Kumbiyo	Careya arborea
Kudo	Hollarhena antidysentric
Kusum	Schleichera Oleosa
Lavang	Cinamomum zylariccum
Matti	Terminalia tomentosa / crenulata	State Tree
Moi	Lanea grandis
Naal	Cocos nucifera	Coconut palm
Nano	Lagerstoemia lanceolata
Nagin	Sterculia foetida
Onwal	Mimusops elengi
Oondi	Calophyllum inophyllum
Otomb	Artocarpus lakoocha
Palas	Butea monosperma
Padval	Stereospernum personatum
Pal Phanas	Artocarpus hirsuta
Papaya	Carica papaya	Papaya tree
Pave	Hopea wightiarius
Phanas	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Jackfruit tree
Pipal	Ficus religiosa
Pongaro	Erythrima indica	Flame of the forest
Ranjaiphal	Myristica malabarica
Ran Bhendi	Thespecia lampa
Rinte	Sapindus emarginalis
Saguvan	Tectona grandis
Salai	Aparora lindhyana
Savai Matti	Terminalia arjuna
Saton	Alstonia scholarias
Sawar	Bombax malabaricum
Semdri	Mallotus philllipinensis
Siras	Albizzia lebbek
Shivan	Gmelina arborea
Sissum	Dalbergia latifolia
Taman	Lagerstoemia speciosa
Tetu	Oroxylium indicum
Vad	Ficus bengalensis
Vavalo	Holoptelia integrifolia
Zamba	Xylia xylocarpa

Some of the common animals found in Goa are listed below

Local name in Konkani	Botanical name	Common English name
Van Mannus	Loris tardigradus	Slender Loris
Makad	Macaca radiata	Bonnet Macaque
Vandor	Presbytis entellus	Langur
Vag	Panthera tigris	Tiger
Bibtto Vag	Panthera pardus	Leopard
Ran Manzor	Paradoxurus hermap[hroditus	Toddy Cat
Baul Manzor	Felis chaus	Jungle Cat
Vagati	Felis bengalensis	Leopard Cat
Katanoor	Viverricula indica	Small Indian Civet
Mongus	Herpestes edwardsi	Common Mongoose
Bhalu	Melursus ursinus	Sloth Bear
Colo	Canisaureus	Jackal
Yeul	Hyena hyena	Striped Hyena
Deucolo	Cuon alpinus	Wild Dog
Uldh	Lutra lutra	Common Otter
Uldh	Lutra perspicillata	Smooth Indian Otter
Vagul	Rousettus leshenaulti	Fulvous Fruit Bat
Vagul	Rhinophus rouxi	Rufus Horse Shoe Bat
Pako	Pteropus giganteus	Indian Flying Fox
Shenkaro	Ratufa indica	Indian Giant Squirrel
Khadi Khar	Funambulus palmarum	Three Striped Palm Squirrel
Channi	Funambulus pennant	Five Striped Palm Squirrel
Pak Mazor	Petaurista petaurista	Common Giant Flying Squirrel
Undir	Mus booduga	Indian Field Mouse
Undir	Rattus rattus	Common House Rat
Koli Undir	Bandicot Indica	Bandicoot
Chueha	Rattus blanford	Blanford's Rat
Sal	Hystrix indica	Common Indian porcupine
Soso	Lepus nigricollis	Hare
Govo Redo	Bos gaurus	Indian Bison
Sambhar	Cervus unicolor	Sambhar Antelope
Chital	Axix axis	Cheetal
Bhenkaro	Muntiacus muntjack	Barking Deer
Pisoi	Tragulus meminna	Mouse Deer
Kuring	Axix porcinus	Hog Deer
Ran Dukar	Sus scrofa	Wild Boar
Tiryo	Manis crassicaudata	Pangolin
Dugong	Dygong dugon	Sea Cow