Learn the wildlife of the Western Ghats
India
Whe Western Ghats is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 8,832 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.
Start this trip in KnowKi →
Most recorded here
The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.
Birds
- Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus1,584
- Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus1,031
- Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus979
- Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus870
- Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela840
- White-cheeked Barbet Psilopogon viridis801
- Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis798
- Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus788
- Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis782
- Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata679
Plants
- Common lantana Lantana camara488
- Siam weed Chromolaena odorata459
- Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica377
- Tropical milkweed Asclepias curassavica339
- Trailing Daisy Sphagneticola trilobata314
- Flame lily Gloriosa superba285
- Striped bladderwort Utricularia striatula275
- Crown flower Calotropis gigantea226
- Tropical soda-apple Solanum viarum214
- East Indian screw tree Helicteres isora207
Mammals
- Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata2,095
- Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica1,775
- Asian Elephant Elephas maximus1,402
- Gaur Bos gaurus1,215
- Chital Axis axis1,067
- Sambar Rusa unicolor686
- Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii617
- Wild Boar Sus scrofa496
- Nilgiri Tahr Nilgiritragus hylocrius474
- Lion-tailed Macaque Macaca silenus410
Insects
- Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita1,997
- Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina1,676
- Common Five-ring Ypthima baldus1,461
- Crimson Marsh Glider Trithemis aurora1,444
- Common Mormon Swallowtail Papilio polytes1,317
- Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias1,315
- Common Four-ring Ypthima huebneri1,287
- Stream Ruby Heliocypha bisignata1,200
- Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe1,185
- Common Sailer Neptis hylas1,180
Spiders and kin
- Giant Golden Orbweaver Nephila pilipes1,547
- Orange-and-black Pear Spider Leucauge fastigata329
- Garden cross spider Argiope pulchella311
- Oriental Spiny Orb-weaver Gasteracantha geminata297
- Ornamental Tree Trunk Spider Herennia multipuncta241
- Two-striped Telamonia Telamonia dimidiata217
- Leucauge tessellata207
- Heavy-bodied Jumper Hyllus semicupreus200
- Gasteracantha dalyi191
- Abandoned-web Orb-weaver Parawixia dehaani187
Reptiles
- Malabarian Pit Viper Craspedocephalus malabaricus1,605
- Indian Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor1,136
- Hump-nosed Viper Hypnale hypnale636
- Northern Western Ghats Vine Snake Ahaetulla borealis581
- Roux's Forest Lizard Monilesaurus rouxii541
- Keeled Indian Mabuya Eutropis carinata487
- Chequered Keelback Fowlea piscator471
- Dussumier's Litter Skink Sphenomorphus dussumieri465
- Common Bamboo Viper Craspedocephalus gramineus427
- Western Ghats Flying Lizard Draco dussumieri407
Amphibians
- Malabar Gliding Frog Rhacophorus malabaricus1,089
- Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus969
- Waynad bush frog Pseudophilautus wynaadensis798
- Bicolored Frog Clinotarsus curtipes761
- Coorg Yellow Bush Frog Raorchestes luteolus405
- Indus Valley Bullfrog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus397
- Western Tree Frog Polypedates occidentalis325
- Winged gliding frog Rhacophorus lateralis288
- Variable Bush Frog Raorchestes akroparallagi279
- Amboli bush frog Pseudophilautus amboli240
How a trip works
A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.
Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.