<P> India is home to several well - known large mammals, including the Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard and Indian rhinoceros . Some of these animals are engrained in culture, often being associated with deities . These large mammals are important for wildlife tourism in India, and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs . The popularity of these charismatic animals have helped greatly in conservation efforts in India . The tiger has been particularly important, and Project Tiger, started in 1972, was a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats . Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection . Most of India's rhinos today survive in the Kaziranga National Park . Some other well - known large Indian mammals are: ungulates such as the water buffalo, nilgai, gaur and several species of deer and antelope . Some members of the dog family such as the Indian wolf, Bengal fox, golden jackal and the dhole or wild dogs are also widely distributed . It is also home to the striped hyaena . Many smaller animals such as macaques, langurs and mongoose species are especially well known due to their ability to live close to or inside urban areas Adhu . </P> <P> There is insufficient information about the invertebrate and lower forms of India, with significant work having been done only in a few groups of insects, notably the butterflies, odonates, hymenoptera, the larger coleoptera and heteroptera . Few concerted attempts to document the biodiversity have been made since the publication of The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma series . </P> <P> There are about 2,546 species of fishes (about 11% of the world species) found in Indian waters . About 197 species of amphibians (4.4% of the world total) and more than 408 reptile species (6% of the world total) are found in India . Among these groups the highest levels of endemism are found in the amphibians . </P> <P> There are about 1,250 species of birds from India, with some variations, depending on taxonomic treatments, accounting for about 12% of the world species . </P>

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