Question

India's share in the global species diversity is about
A. 2 percent
B. 4 percent
C. 6 percent
D. 8 percent

Answer 1

Species diversity refers to the number of different species of organisms present at a given location. India belongs to one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries in the world. The Indian subcontinent occupying only 2.4% of the earth’s terrestrial land area, is home to several diverse species of organisms, and currently shares around 8% of the global species diversity.

Complete answer: The Indian subcontinent is home to several endemic species, with 96,000 species of fauna, 47,000 species of flora, and almost half the world’s aquatic plants. This is achieved due to the several biomes within the country, ranging from the Himalayas to the Thar desert. India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries with four biodiversity hotspots, which include, Western ghats, Sundaland, Indo-Burma region, and the Himalayas. India is home to 7.6% of all mammals, 12.6% of all birds, 6.2% of all reptilians, 4.4% of all amphibians, 11.7% of all fish, and 6.0% of all flowering plant species. The most astonishing aspect is that India only accounts for 2.4% of the global land area, yet holds a lion’s share of 8% of the global species biodiversity.

Thus, the correct option is D.

Additional information:
The 17 mega biodiversity countries are Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela.

Note: India has several geographic forms which play a key role in the number of diverse species it holds. Himalayan tundra, Thar desert, tropical and subtropical forest, swamps, high mountains, and grasslands are some of the key geographic locations.