Regional Evolution - India & Komodo National Park.

Regional Evolution - Most die hard fans and scientist would vote Madagascar or The Galapagos Islands as the poster region's for evolution. Both of these places are perfect locations don't get me wrong but.. I have two other places that are really interesting when you look at the the wildlife that live there.

When most think of a region such as Africa, they imagine the normal.. Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Zebra, Impala, Rhino, Hippo, Giraffe etc... There are a few places that seem to have taken a species from every corner of the globe and put them in one spot.

I will start with India. Credit - Indiainfo

There are 372 species of mammals in India,, some of which include the majestic elephant, the Indian bison (gaur), rhinoceros, wild Himalayan sheep, nilgai, and the swamp deer. The most superb examples of cats in India are the tiger and the lion, but there are other types as well, the clouded leopard, snow leopard and the marbled cat are a few others found. Several species of monkeys reside in India as well.

1,228 bird species found in India include peacocks, parrots, kingfishers, parakeets, cranes, mynahs, pheasants, ducks, geese and hornbills

446 reptile species including the Gharial, Cobra, Kraits and Python.


I could go on forever, look at the variety.. I don't have to say much in order for you to get my point.
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The Island of Komodo in Indonesia, famous for the largest lizard on the planet, The Komodo Dragon.

Credit (Bali travel online)

MAMMALS
The most commonly seen mammals of Komodo National Park include : Timor deer, wild boar, wild horses, water buffalo and crab-eating macaques, palm civet, bats, mice and Rats.

BIRDS
The birds in Komodo National park represent a mixture of Asian and Australian species
Lesser Sulpher-crested cockatoos, Noisy friarbird, Orange - footed Scrub Fowl, Wallacean Drongo, Gree Jungle Fowl, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-napped Oriele, Collared Kingfishers, Great-billed heron, White-bellied Sea Eagle.

REPTILES
Besides the king of the island, you can find just about any other type of reptiles here as well.

MARINE LIFE - Credit Wikitravel
As far as the marine fauna is concerned, Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of over 260 species of reef building coral, 70 different species of sponges, crustaceans, cartilaginous (incl. manta ray and sharks) and over a 1,000 different species of bony fishes (over 1,000 species), as well as marine reptiles (incl. sea turtles), and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs).


Same with India, the species that roam this island are unique. You can compare this Island with North America - Deer, Buffalo, Boar, Bats, Rodents, Horses... If i were to name off these creatures.. I doubt your first guess would be a small Island dominated by a dragon in Indonesia.
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I wanted to point these landscapes out, wish I would of had more time to explain more reasons why I think these places would make great poster children for evolution.


Take a look at these two links if you like.
http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/india/pro-wildlife.htm

http://www.bali-travel-online.com/komodo_island/fauna.htm


- Joseph W. Ball