Ranni Forest Division

The Ranni Forest Division in Kerala, India, was constituted on 7 July 1958, comprising the Ranni, Vadasserikkara and Goodrical ranges, with its headquarters at Ranni.[1] It covers the parts of Konni reserve forest and the reserves of Ranni, Goodrical, Rajampara, Karimkulam, Kumaramperoor, Valiyakavu, and Schettakkal. It covers an area of 1,059 square kilometres (409 sq mi).[2]

Ranni Forest Division
Malayalam: റാന്നി വനം ഡിവിഷൻ
Karikulam forest area in Ranni range under Ranni division
Map
Administrative map of Ranni Forest Division
Geography
LocationKerala, India
Coordinates9°22′29″N 76°46′43″E
Area1,059 km2 (409 sq mi)
Administration
Established7 July 1958
Governing bodyKerala Forest and Wildlife Department
Websiteforest.kerala.gov.in

Types of forests and composition

Reserve forests covering 1,057 square kilometres (408 sq mi) and vested forests covering 1.5 square kilometres (0.6 sq mi) are the major types of forests in this division. The Ranni Forest Division, with its natural beauty and richness in flora and fauna, is a storehouse of many varieties of plants and animals.[3] The forests in the Ranni range can be classified into the following categories.

  • West coast tropical evergreen forests
  • West coast semi-evergreen forests
  • Southern moist mixed deciduous forests
  • Southern sub tropical wet hill forests
  • Southern montane wet temperate forests
  • Reed breakes
  • Grass lands
  • Manmade forests

Divisions of Ranni forest

  Goodrical (61.74955%)
  Vadasserikkara (25.38657%)
  Ranni (12.86388%)

Goodrical range

The Goodrical forest range is situated in the eastern side of Pathanamthitta district, with an area of 654 square kilometres (253 sq mi). Comparatively, human interference is less in these forests than in others in India. But at times of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, these forests ranges are crowded with devotees. Evergreen and semi-evergreen types of forests are here. There are three forest stations under this range:[4]

Vadasserikkara range

The Vadasserikkara range lies to the eastern part of Ranni, with its headquarters at Vadasserikkara. This range covers an area of almost 268 square kilometres (103 sq mi) of the Ranni Forest Division. Kakkattar and Kallar, tributaries of the Pamba River, flow through this range. Small-scale agriculture is done in the populated regions of the Vadasserikkara range, especially on the gentle slopes. The natural forests of this range are classified into west coast tropical evergreen forests, west coast semi-evergreen forests, southern moist mixed deciduous forests, and grasslands. There are three forest stations under Vadasserikkara:

  • Chittar
  • Gurunathanmannu
  • Thannithodu

Ranni range

#WPWP
Karikulam forest

The Ranni range covers an area of 136.2 square kilometres (53 sq mi), and its headquarters is at Ranni. Evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous types of forests can be seen here. The three forest stations under this range are:

Index of flora and fauna

Flora

Many unique plants and herbs can be seen in these forest ranges. Medical plants such as Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Solanum anguivi, Desmodium gangeticum, Cissus quadrangularis, Pseudarthria viscida, Strobilanthes ciliatus, and Dysoxylum malabaricum (Vella akil) grow in the deeper parts of the forest. The eco-system of the forests here is suitable for the growth of these plants. A complete list of plants seen in Ranni division is given below.

Crimson seeded sedge (Carex baccans), known for its bright, showy, seed heads, which grow from 6–12 inches long and 3 inches wide
List of flora in Ranni division
Abutilon persicum Angiopteris evecta
Canthium dicoccum Caesalpinia bonduc
Acacia intsia Crotalaria ferruginea
Carex baccans Antidesma menasu
Acalypha malabarica Caesalpinia mimosoides
Argyreia hirsuta Crotalaria heyneana
Bauhinia phoenicea Aphanamixis polystachya
Ageratum conyzoides Calamus hookerianus
Begonia malabarica Crotalaria pallida
Carissa carandas Crotalaria walkeri
Achyranthes aspera Calanthe masuca
Aristolochia tagala Galinsoga parviflora
Acrotrema arnottiana Croton caudatus
Argyreia elliptica Crotalaria umbellata
Casearia esculenta Garuga pinnata
Ardisia pauciflora Croton malabaricus
Ardisia pauciflora Diploclisia glaucescens
Careya arborea Gleichenia linearis
Acalypha paniculata Croton reticulatus
Asparagus racemosus Diplocyclos palmatus
Cassia hirsuta Glochidion ellipticum
Actephila excelsa Cryptolepis buchananii
Asystasia Falwell Dipterocarpus bourdillonii
Cassia mimosoides Glycine javanica
Actinodaphne tadulingamii Cucumis sativus
Atylosia lineata Dracaena terniflora
Cayratia japonica Glycosmis mauritiana
Adenia hondala Cyanotis aristata
Baccaurea courtallensis Drymaria cordata
Cayratia pedata Gomphandra tetrandra
Adenostemma lavenia Cyanotis pilosa
Barleria involucrata Dumasia villosa
Centrosema pubescens Gordonia obtusa
Aeginetia pedunculata Cycas circilanis
Barringtonia acutangula Ehretia canarensis
Ceropagia candelabrum Gouania microcarpa
Aeschynanthus perrottetii Cyclea peltata
Chassalia ophioxyloides Elaeocarpus munroi
Chloranthus brachystachya Grewia orbiculata
Agrostistachys borneensis Cyperus diffusus
Belosynapsis vivipara Elaeocarpus tuberculatus
Chrysopogon fulvus Grewia umbellifera
Alstonia scholaris Cyperus distans
Bentinckia condepanna Eratostema lineolatum
Cissus quadrangularis Gynura aurantiaca
Amaranthus viridis Cyperus iria
Bidens biternata Eleusine indica
Citrus medica Gynura nitida
Amomum cannicarpum Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum
Biophytum sensitivum Embelia ribes
Clerodendrum viscosum Habenaria crinifea
Anaphalis lawii Debregeasia longifolia
Bischofia javanica Emilia sonchifolia
Clidemia hirta Hedyotis membranacea
Anaphalis subdecurrens Dendrobium herbaceum
Blumea lanceolaria Eragrostis unioloides
Coleus malabaricus Helicteres isora
Anaphalis travancorica Dendrobium ovatum
Blumea membranacea Eranthemum capense
Combretum ovalifolium Hibiscus furcatus
Anaphyllum wightii Desmodium laxum
Blumea virens Ervatamia divaricata
Commelina clavata Holigarna nigra
Andrographis paniculata Desmodium triflorum
Boehmeria glomerulifera Erythrina stricta
Commelina obliqua Hoya wightii
Andrographis wightiana Desmodium triquetrum
Bolbitis sp.(Hybrid) Erythropalum populifolium
Commelina suffruticosa Humboldtia vahliana
Aneilema montanum Dianella ensifolia
Breynia retusa Euonymus indicus
Connarus macrocarpus Hydnocarpus laurifolia
Aneilema ovalifolium Dichapetalum gelonioides
Breynia vitis-idaea Eurya Japonica
Conyza bonariensis Hydrocotyle javanica
Aneilema scaberrimum Dicraea stylosa
Bridelia scandens Dillenia pentagyna
Costus speciosus Dillenia suffruticosa

Fishes and amphibians

The natural streams and rivers in these ranges are the repository of varied fish species and amphibians. Almost 51 species of fishes and 43 species of amphibians were reported from the various streams and water bodies in the forest divisions of Ranni. They are the following.

Nandus nandus (Gangetic leaffish), a fresh water Asian leafish species
Microhyla rubra lateral, the narrow mouthed species of frog
Fishes Amphibians
Parambasis thomassi Ichtyophis tricolor
Hypselobarbus curmuca Uraeotyphlus narayani
Pseudoambassis ranga Uraeotyphlus menoni
Hypselobarbus kurali Uraeotyphlus oommeni
Nandus nandus Gegeneophis ramaswamii
Labeo rohita Sphaerotheca breviceps
Pristolepis marginata Sphaerotheca rolandae
Garra mullya Euphylyctis cf. mudigere
Etroplus maculatus Euphlyctis cf. aloysii
Travancoria jonesi Hoplobatrachus crassus
Etroplus suratensis Hoplobatrachus tigerinus
Noemacheilus denisoni Indirana semipalmata
Oreochromis mossambica Indirana brachytarsus
Noemacheilus guentheri Fejervarya keralensis
Glossogobius giuris giuris Micrixalus mallani
Noemacheilus triangularis Nyctibatrachus gavi
Awaous gutum Clinotarsus curtipes
Lepidocephalus thermalis Indosylvirana sreeni
Sicyopterus griseus Indosylvirana aurantiaca
Lepidocephaluslimbatus Indosylvirana cf. magna
Anabas testudineus Hydrophylax malabaricus
Hyporhamphus limbatus Raorchestes travancoricus
Macropodus cupanus Raorchestes beddomei
Xenentodon cancila Raorchestes ponmudi
Channa marulius Raorchestes manohari
Aplocheilus lineatus Pseudophilautus wynaadensis
Channa orientalis Polypedates pseudocruciger
Heteropnuestes fossilis Polypedates maculatus
Channa striatus Rhacophorus malabaricus
Clarias dusuuumieri Ghatixalus magnus
Mastacembelus armatus Duttaphrynus beddomei
Danio malabaricus Duttaphrynus scaber
Tetraodon travancoricus Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Pristolepis malabarica Duttaphrynus microtympanum
Megalops cyprinoides Duttaphrynus parietalis
Parambassis thomassi Uperodon taprobanicus
Anguilla bengalensis Uperodon variegatus
Haplocheius lineatus Uperodon montanus
Anguilla bicolar Uperodon triangularis
Mystus montanus Uperodon systoma
Tor khudree Microhyla cf. laterite

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Reptiles and mammals

Kerala's forests are the storehouse of many species of reptiles and mammals. Reptiles of 59 species and mammals of 34 species were reported from the forests of Ranni. The rain forests here are the habitat of the venomous King cobra. Many King cobras were caught by Vava Suresh, the snake expert and wildlife conservationist for the Angamoozhy, Chittar, and Moozhiyar regions in the Goodrical range. The mammals are also rich in number, with countless species in these forests.

A little banded goshawk commonly found all over Indian sub continent
The Trinket snake (Scientific name:Coelognathus helena), a nonvenomous constrictor species of coulbrid snake
Reptiles Birds
Melanochelys trijuga Little cormorant
Indotestudo travancorica Darter
Lissemys punctata punctata Grey heron
Rhinophis travancoricus Pond heron
Uropeltis ceylanicus Cattle egret
Python molurus Little egret
Cnemaspis gracilis Night heron
Cnemaspis ornatus Chestnut bittern
Cnemaspis beddomei Pariah kite
Lycodon tranancoricus Brahminy kite
Cnemaspis kandiana Indian shikra
Lycodon aulicus Osprey
Cyrtodactylus collegalensis Jungle bush quali
Oilgodon taeniolatus Red spurfowl
Hemidactylus brooki Grey jungle fowl
Oilogodon travancoricus Redwattled lapwing
Hemidactylus frenatus Blue rock pigeon
Amphiesma stolata Indian spotted dove
Hemidactylus leschenaulti Indian emerald dove
Amphiesma beddomei Roseringed parakeet
Hemidactylus maculatus Indian lorikeet
Amphiesma monticola Common hawk cuckoo
Calotes calotes Common Indian nightjar
Xenochrophis piscator Indian koel
Calotes elliotti Coucal/crow pheasant
Elaphe helena Indian barn owl
Calotes rouxi Grey headed bublbul
Ptyas mucosus Ruby throated bublbul
Calotes versicolor Indian alpine swift
Dendrelaphis ttristis Indian house swift
Draco dussumieri Malabar trogon
Ahaetulla nasuta Pied kingfisher
Psammophilus blanfordanus Chestnuttheaded bee-eater
Boiga trigonata Rufoustailed flycatcher
Chamaeleo zeylanicus Redbreasted flycatcher
Bungarus caeruleus Malabar greyhornbill
Mabuya macularius Small green barbet
Naja naja Crimsonthroated barbet
Mabuya carinata Indian pitta
Ophiophagus hannah Malabar crested lark
Scincella laterimaculatum Indian golden oriole
Vipera russellii Blackheaded oriole
Riopa punctata Black drongo
Echis carinatus Jungle myna
Ristella beddomii Hill myna
Hypnale hypnale Indian tree pie
Ristella guentheri Southeastern tree pie
Trimeresurus malabaricus Paddyfield warbler
Ophisops leschenaulti Jungle crow
Bungarus faciatus Malabar woodshrike
Varanus bengalensis Orange minivet
Ptyas mucosus Goldfronted chloropsis
Ramphotyphlops braminus Fairy bluebird
Typhlina bramina Redwhiskered bulbul
Typhlops acutus Whitethroated ground thrush
Geochelone travancorica Redvented bulbul
Teretrurus sanguineus Kerala rock pipit
Lissemys punctata punctata Tailorbird
Blue headed yellow wagtail Uropeltis ocellatus

Birds

There are abundant species of birds in these forests, including some that face extinction. There are 196 known species of birds reported from the Ranni division.

Malabar grey hornbill (Scientific name:Ocyceros griseus), a hornbill species commonly found in the Western ghats and southern India
Nilgiri flycather (Scientific name:Eumyias albicaudatus), a near-threatened species similar to verditer flycatcher

List of birds

Little cormorant (Phalocrocorax Niger) Greyfronted green pigeon (Trenon pampadora affinis) Darter (Anhinga rufa) Imperial green pigeon (Ducula aenea) Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) Pond heron (Ardeola grayii) Large Indian parakeet (Pisttacula eupatria) Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) Blossom headed parakeet (Pisttacula cyanocephala) Little egret (Egretta garsetta) The cuckoo (Cucclus canorus) Night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Indian banded bay cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii) Chestnut bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Indian plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus) Pariah kite (Milvus migrans) Drongo cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) Lesser coucal (Centropus toulou) Indian shikra (Accipiter badius) Grass owl (Tyto capensis) Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Bay owl (Phodilus badius. ripleyi Jungle bush quali (Perdicula asiatica) Great horned owl (Bubo bubo bengalensis) Red spurfowl (Galloperdix spadicea) Forest eagle owl (Bubo bubo nipalensis)
Grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii) Brown fish owl (Bubo bubo zeylonensis Redwattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) Short eared owl (Asio flammeus) Blue rock pigeon (Columba livia) Ceylon Frogmouth (Batrachostomus monlinger) Indian spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) Great eared nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis bourdilloni) Indian emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica) Bluewinged parnakeet (Psittacula columbodies) Roseringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) Indian jungle nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) <Indian lorikeet (Loriculus vernalis) Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) Common hawk cuckoo (Cuculus varius) Longtailed nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) Common Indian nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) Whiterumped spinetail swift (Chaetura sylvatica) Indian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) Scops owl (Otus scops) Coucal/Crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis) Malabar barred jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum subsp) Indian barn owl (Tyto alba) Spotted owlet (Athene brama) Grey headed bublbul (Pyconotus pricoephalus) Yellow browed bulbul (Hypsipetes indicus) Ruby throated bublbul (Pyconotus melanicterus) Black head babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps)
Indian alpine swift (Apus melba) Quaker babbler (Alcippe poioicephala) Indian house swift (Apus affinis) Brown flycatcher (Muscicapa latrirostris) Malabar trogon (Harpactes fasciatus subsp) Brown breasted flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui) Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis) Chestnutheaded bee-eater (Merops Leschenaulti) White bellied blue flycatcher (Muscicapa pallipes) Rufoustailed flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda) Blue throated flycatcher (Muscicapa rubeculoides) Redbreasted flycatcher (Muscicapa parva) Tickell's blue flycatche (Muscicapa tickelliae) Malabar greyhornbill (Tockus griseus) Verditer flycatcher (Muscicapa thalassina) Small green barbet (Megalaima viridis) Nilgiri flycatcher (Muscicapa albicaudata) Crimsonthroated barbet (Megalaima rubricapilla) White browed fantail flycatcher (Rhipidura aureola) Indian pitta (Pitta brachyura) Paradise flycatcher (Trepsiphone paradisi) Malabar crested lark (Galerida malabarica) Black naped flycatcher. (Hypothymis azurea) Indian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) Streaked fantail warbler (Listicola juncidis salimalii) Blackheaded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) Franklin's wren Warbler (Primia hodgsoni)
Jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus) Thickbilled warbler (Acrocephalus aedon) Hill myna (Gracula religiosa) Indian great reed warbler (Acrocephalus aedon) Indian tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) House crow (Corvus splendens) Southeastern tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda subsp) Tytler's leaf warbler (Phylloscopus tytleri) Paddyfield warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) Largebilled leaf warbler (Phylloscopus magnirostris) Jungle crow (Corvus macrohynohos) Blue chat (Erithacus svecicus) Malabar woodshirke (Tephrodornis gularis) Shama (Copsychus saularis) Orange minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) Indian robin (Saxicoloides caprata) Goldfronted chloropsis (Chloropsis auriforns) Pied ground thrush (Zoothera wardii) Fairy bluebird (Irena puella) Orange headed ground thrush (Zoothera citrina) Redwhiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) Whiteheaded babbler (Turdoides affinis) Whitethroated ground thrush (Zootera citrina cyanotus) Grey headed yellow wagtail. (Motacilla flava) Redvented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) Magpie robin (Copsychus saularis) Kerala rock pipit (Anthus similis) Malbar whistling thrush (Myiophoneus horsfieldii)
Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) Yellow backed wagtail (Motacilla flava tutea) Blue headed yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava beema) Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Indian grey tit (Parus major) Forest wagtail (Motacilla indica) Velvetfronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) Tickell's flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) Large pied wagtail (Motacilla madera spatensis) Purple rumped sunbird (Nictarinia zeylonica) Small sunbird (Nectarinia minima) Indian shag (Podiceps fuscicollis) Indian house sparrow (Passer domesticus) Large cormorabt (Podiceps carbo) Little Gerbe (Podiceps ruficollis) Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Loten's sunbird (Nictarinia lotenia) Large egret (Ardea alba) Purple sunbird (Nictarinia asiatica) Little spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostris) Yellow backed sunbird Aethopyga siparaja) Yellowthroated sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis) Little green heron (Ardeola striatus) Open bill stork (Anastomus oscitans) Smaller egert (Egretta intermedia) Travancore baya (Ploceus philippinus travancoreensis) Yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) Red munia (Estrilda amandava)
White necked stork (Ciconia episcopus) White throated Munia (Lonchura malabarica) Pintail (Anas acuta) Spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) Spot bill duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) Black head munia (Lonchura malacca) Garganey (Anas querquedula) Common rose finch (Carpodacus erythrinus) Black crested Baza (Aviceda lephotes) Bush lark (Mirafra assamica) Black winged kite (Elanus caeruleus vociferus) Crag martin (Hirundo rupestris) Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) Eastern swallow (Hirundo rustica gutturalis) Cresested hawk eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) Indian cliff swallow (Hirundo fluvicola) Dusky cragmartin (Hirundo concolor) House martin (Delichon urbica) Booted hawk eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) Brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) Black eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis perniger) Ashy drango (Dicrurus adsimilis) Grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) Short toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus gallicus) Greyheaded fishing eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) Common myna (Acridotherestristis) Racket – tailed drango (Dicrurus paradiseus) Common iora (Aegithina tiphia)
Greyheaded myna (Sturnus malabaricus) Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela melanotis) Threetoed kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus) Redheaded merllin (Falco chicquera) White breasted kingfisher. (Hakyon smyrensis) Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Blue eared kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) Indian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus objurgatus) Bluebearded bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni) Banded crake (Rallina urizonoides) Broadbilled roller (Eurystomus orientalis)W White breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) Rufous woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurns jerdonii) Pheasant tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurugus) Speckled piculet (Picumnus innominatus) Painted snipe (Rostratula bengalensis) Pigmy wood pecker (Picoides nanus) Blackwinged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) Black backed wood pecker (Crysocolaptes festivus) Heart spotted woodpecker (Hemicircus canente) Common sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) Common tern (Sterna hirundo)

Tribal settlements

The forest ranges of Ranni are inhabited by many tribal communities, mainly the Ulladan, Vettuvan and Malavedan, each having their own traditions and beliefs.

Settlements Communities
Kakkudukka Ulladan
Mannadisala Ulladan
Chollanavayal Malavedan
Kudamurutty Malappandaram
Paruva Ulladan
Ariyanjilimannu Malavedan
Manakkayam Malaoorali
Naranamthodu Vanakudi
Lahai Adiyan, Ulladan
Kurumbanmoozhy Ulladan
Attathodu Malapandaram
Velamplavu Ulladan
Kattachira Ulladan, vettuvan
Kodumudi Ulladan, vettuvan
Kumaramkunnu Malavedan, adiyan
Olikkallu Vettuvan
Pambini Ulladan
Allumkal Vettuvan
Bhayanankaramudi Kani, arayan
Chippankuzhy Kani, ulladan

See also

References

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