Sheeja V.R., Babida A., Sajeena Muhamed S., Resmi S. Nair, Ashadevi R., Santhosh S.K. and Sreeja R.S.
Abstract
Wetlands are hotspots of biodiversity, harboring a remarkable variety of plant and animal species that are specially adapted to thrive in wet conditions. The unique habitats are characterized by their waterlogged conditions, which support a diverse array of plant and animal life. Beyond their aesthetic beauty, wetlands play a vital role in our environment by providing numerous ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood control, and carbon sequestration. The presence of wetlands with diverse fauna in Peringammala attracted to select it as the location for conducting the present work and it is also one of the sites included in the Western Ghats. A total of 91 wetland species were identified in the present study where 28 of them consisted in the invertebrate group and remaining sixty three to the vertebrate. The faunal diversity consists of arthropods (25 species), mollusks (3 species), fishes (23 species), amphibians (3 species), reptiles (9 species), birds (23 species) and mammals (5 species).