26:
745:
40:
707:
live on twelve of the islands. Most
Nicobarese live in villages, and grow a variety of tree, root, and vegetable crops for food, fiber, and building materials, including coconut, areca palm, papaya, banana, breadfruit, jackfruit, and yams. Pigs and chickens are kept for food, and wild fruits, roots,
288:
Only Great
Nicobar has perennial streams. The island has five perennial rivers – the Galathea, Jubilee, Amrit Kaur, Dak Aniang, and Dak Tayal – which all originate from Mount Thullier. The Galathea River is the longest, flowing southwards for about 30 km to empty into the sea at Galathea Bay
714:
The 2011 census recorded 36,842 people on the islands. Starting in the late 1960s the Indian government encouraged people from mainland India to settle on the islands, and by the late 1990s mainlanders constituted over a third of the population. The islands, together with the
Andaman Islands,
774:
in 2013. The reserve has a total area of 103,870 ha. The core area of 53,623 ha comprises
Cambell Bay and Galathea National parks. A buffer area of 34,877 includes lands adjacent to and between the two parks. There is also a transitional area of 10,070 ha, including 5,300 marine hectares.
735:
57% of the islands' land area is in protected areas. A 1997 assessment found that only 14% of the islands' forests had been removed. A 2017 assessment found that 18% of the islands' unprotected area is still covered in primary forest.
446:
Some of the northern and central islands, including Car
Nicobar, Kamorta, Katchall, and Nancowry, have extensive areas of grassland in the interior. The grasslands may be anthropogenic in origin. Typical species include the grasses
919:
Eric
Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
297:
The
Nicobar Islands have a tropical rain forest climate. Average temperatures range from 22 to 30 °C. Average annual rainfall ranges from 3,000 to 3,800 mm. Heavier rainfall coincides ith the
858:
P. C. Bandopadhyay and A. Carter. "Chapter 2: Introduction to the geography and geomorphology of the
Andaman–Nicobar Islands". Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 47, 9-18, 2 February 2017,
989:
184:
The
Nicobar Islands consist of 22 islands, of which 13 are inhabited. The islands extend about 260 km from north and south, and form three groups. The northern group is composed of
711:
Larger plantations of coconut have been established near the coast, and tapioca, sweet potato, sugarcane, and cashew are grown in the interior of the more populated islands.
478:
There are 580 species of flowering plants on the islands. Approximately 14% are endemic to the islands. The flora of the islands shares more affinities with
Sumatra and the
932:
679:
There are 43 reptile species on the islands, of which eleven are endemic. There are eleven species of amphibians, all frogs and toads, including two endemic species, the
143:
72:
895:
Manohara, T.N., Linto, E.L. & Renuka, C. Diversity and conservation of palms in Andaman & Nicobar archipelago. Biodivers Conserv 19, 3655–3666 (2010).
310:
Plant communities on the islands include mangroves and coastal forests near the shore, and evergreen and deciduous forests in the interiors of the islands.
880:
Arora K. (2018) The Nicobarese Tribes and Their Knowledge. In: Indigenous Forest Management In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Springer, Cham.
931:"Great Nicobar". Man and Biosphere Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Accessed 5 August 2021.
273:
The surface geology of the islands consists of Eocene sedimentary rocks (sandstone, shale, and siltstone) at lower elevations, with intrusions of
933:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/great-nicobar
243:
separates the Car Nicobar from the southernmost of the Andaman Islands 150 km north. Sumatra lies 189 miles south of Great Nicobar.
176:. Millions of years of isolation from the mainland has given rise to a distinct flora and fauna, including many endemic species.
644:) once inhabited the Andaman islands as well, but is now extinct there and found only on the Nicobar Islands. Four species, the
979:
767:
749:
263:
262:, of which the Nicobar and Andaman islands are part. The subduction zone creates periodic large earthquakes, including the
422:
are common along the riverbanks of Great Nicobar. The tree canopy averages 30 to 50 metres in height. The climbing bamboo
119:
984:
267:
999:
716:
154:
107:
676:), are limited to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The ecoregion constitutes the Nicobar Islands endemic bird area.
756:
102:
368:
302:
winds, which come from the southwest from May to September, and from the northeast between October and December.
994:
688:
471:
388:
331:
396:
760:
465:
424:
907:"Nicobar Islands". Endemic Bird Areas factsheet, BirdLife International (2021). Accessed 5 August 2021.
511:
501:
495:
680:
669:
605:
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There are 25 native mammal species on the islands, principally bats and rats. Large mammals include the
491:
487:
457:
439:
433:
402:
392:
372:
364:
224:
and several smaller islets. Great Nicobar is the largest (921 km (356 sq mi)), highest (
724:
519:
482:
than with the Andamans or Myanmar; only 28% of flowering plant species are shared with the Andamans.
453:
376:
653:
645:
613:
529:
449:
382:
347:
337:
55:
582:
418:
341:
240:
704:
637:
566:
60:
720:
621:
431:
Deciduous forests are found at lower elevations on Great Nicobar, and typical trees include
25:
744:
661:
550:
523:
479:
461:
193:
169:
157:
150:
964:
848:
362:
The evergreen forests on Great Nicobar, Kamorta, and Katchal are dominated by the trees
629:
507:
225:
221:
205:
201:
197:
173:
30:
973:
558:
515:
236:
217:
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352:
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278:
255:
213:
948:
821:
959:
908:
863:
259:
232:
185:
881:
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82 species of birds are native to the islands. These include eight species of
274:
251:
247:
189:
39:
719:
union territory of India. The Nicobar Islands are administered as a separate
896:
542:
408:
146:
172:. The islands are politically part of India, although physically closer to
574:
325:
921:
299:
165:
771:
601:
282:
755:
17% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include
743:
593:
412:
161:
95:
67:
859:
597:
727:
on Car Nicobar is the district's administrative headquarters.
164:. The Nicobar Islands are in the Indian Ocean, lying north of
960:
Nicobar Islands endemic bird area (Birdlife International)
216:, and several smaller islets. The southern group includes
600:
species, six kingfisher species, and six species of
703:The islands have been inhabited for centuries. The
533:are more widespread species native to the islands.
128:
118:
113:
101:
91:
83:
78:
66:
54:
49:
18:
708:tubers, and fibers are gathered from the forests.
557:). Four species are endemic to the islands – the
990:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
406:also present on Kamorta and Katchal. Species of
73:tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
359:) along the coast, both cultivated and wild.
8:
965:Nicobar Islands rain forests (DOPA Explorer)
581:) on Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar, and the
882:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00033-2_3
573:) on Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar, the
250:over 600 km in length, created by the
891:
889:
604:. Five species are endemic, including the
897:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9918-6
246:The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form an
876:
874:
872:
870:
784:
839:
837:
835:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
15:
806:
804:
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800:
798:
796:
794:
792:
790:
788:
317:seashore plants, including the trees
289:near the southern tip of the island.
7:
505:are endemic to the Nicobar Islands.
770:was designated on Great Nicobar by
313:Coastal forests feature widespread
228:, 670 m), and southernmost island.
87:1,699 km (656 sq mi)
475:, together with herbs and shrubs.
235:lies east of the islands, and the
14:
843:"Nicobar Islands rain forests".
285:are found at higher elevations.
38:
24:
768:Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
750:Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
351:. There are extensive areas of
264:1881 Nicobar Islands earthquake
188:, the northernmost island, and
144:tropical moist broadleaf forest
949:"Nicobar Islands rain forests"
822:"Nicobar Islands rain forests"
1:
860:https://doi.org/10.1144/M47.2
192:. The central group includes
268:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
140:Nicobar Islands rain forests
19:Nicobar Islands rain forests
717:Andaman and Nicobar Islands
555:Macaca fascicularis umbrosa
369:Sideroxylon longipetiolatum
155:Andaman and Nicobar Islands
108:Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1016:
757:Campbell Bay National Park
589:) throughout the islands.
44:Map of the Nicobar Islands
37:
23:
847:Accessed 5 August 2021.
731:Conservation and threats
693:Minervarya nicobariensis
642:Megapodius nicobariensis
634:Hypsipetes nicobariensis
565:) on Great Nicobar, the
472:Scleria cochinchinensis
428:climbs the tall trees.
389:Artocarpus peduncularis
332:Casuarina equisetifolia
153:, which is part of the
980:Indomalayan ecoregions
955:. World Wildlife Fund.
953:Terrestrial Ecoregions
828:. World Wildlife Fund.
826:Terrestrial Ecoregions
761:Galathea National Park
752:
466:Chrysopogon aciculatus
747:
685:Polypedates insularis
674:Sturnus erythropygius
670:white-headed starling
658:Macropygia rufipennis
606:Nicobar serpent-eagle
492:Rhopaloblaste augusta
488:Bentinckia nicobarica
458:Heteropogon contortus
403:Bentinckia nicobarica
397:Symplocos leiostachya
373:Garcinia xanthochymus
365:Calophyllum soulattri
689:Nicobar cricket-frog
563:Crocidura nicobarica
520:Korthalsia laciniosa
454:Saccharum spontaneum
425:Dinochloa andamanica
985:Ecoregions of India
654:Andaman cuckoo-dove
650:Columba palumboides
646:Andaman wood-pigeon
626:Psittacula caniceps
614:Nicobar sparrowhawk
512:Calamus andamanicus
502:Calamus nicobaricus
496:Calamus dilaceratus
450:Imperata cylindrica
383:Mangifera sylvatica
348:Clerodendrum inerme
338:Scaevola frutescens
124:Critical/endangered
120:Conservation status
1000:Endemic Bird Areas
763:on Great Nicobar.
753:
583:Nicobar flying fox
440:Terminalia bialata
434:Terminalia procera
393:Radermachera lobbi
342:Hibiscus tiliaceus
335:, with the shrubs
241:Ten Degree Channel
705:Nicobarese people
681:Nicobar tree frog
638:Nicobar scrubfowl
618:Accipiter butleri
610:Spilornis minimus
587:Pteropus faunulus
571:Tupaia nicobarica
567:Nicobar treeshrew
239:to the west. The
168:and south of the
136:
135:
61:Indomalayan realm
1007:
956:
935:
929:
923:
917:
911:
905:
899:
893:
884:
878:
865:
856:
850:
841:
830:
829:
818:
622:Nicobar parakeet
42:
28:
16:
1015:
1014:
1010:
1009:
1008:
1006:
1005:
1004:
995:Nicobar Islands
970:
969:
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906:
902:
894:
887:
879:
868:
857:
853:
842:
833:
820:
819:
786:
781:
742:
740:Protected areas
733:
715:constitute the
701:
662:Andaman boobook
579:Rattus palmarum
551:Nicobar macaque
539:
524:Licuala peltata
480:Malay Peninsula
462:Chloris barbata
377:Pisonia excelsa
308:
295:
182:
170:Andaman Islands
158:union territory
151:Nicobar Islands
103:Union territory
45:
33:
12:
11:
5:
1013:
1011:
1003:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
972:
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968:
967:
962:
957:
943:
942:External links
940:
937:
936:
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900:
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866:
851:
845:DOPA Explorer.
831:
783:
782:
780:
777:
741:
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732:
729:
700:
697:
630:Nicobar bulbul
538:
535:
508:Areca triandra
357:Cocos nucifera
307:
304:
294:
291:
277:igneous rock.
226:Mount Thullier
222:Little Nicobar
181:
178:
174:Southeast Asia
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31:Teressa Island
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666:Ninox affinis
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580:
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572:
568:
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560:
559:Nicobar shrew
556:
552:
548:
544:
536:
534:
532:
531:
530:Pinanga manii
526:
525:
521:
517:
516:Caryota mitis
513:
509:
504:
503:
498:
497:
493:
489:
483:
481:
476:
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467:
463:
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284:
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257:
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242:
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237:Bay of Bengal
234:
229:
227:
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218:Great Nicobar
215:
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59:
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53:
48:
41:
36:
32:
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22:
17:
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713:
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673:
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432:
430:
423:
417:
407:
401:
387:
381:
363:
361:
356:
353:coconut palm
346:
336:
330:
324:
320:Barringtonia
318:
315:Indo-Pacific
312:
309:
296:
287:
279:Serpentinite
272:
256:Indian Plate
245:
230:
214:Tillangchong
183:
139:
137:
114:Conservation
748:Map of the
260:Burma Plate
233:Andaman Sea
186:Car Nicobar
974:Categories
779:References
547:Sus scrofa
485:The palms
419:Terminalia
275:ultrabasic
258:under the
252:subduction
248:island arc
190:Batti Malv
543:wild boar
409:Macaranga
329:sp., and
180:Geography
147:ecoregion
129:Protected
92:Countries
79:Geography
721:district
596:, seven
575:Palm rat
326:Pandanus
266:and the
194:Nancowry
725:Malacca
668:), and
636:). The
628:), and
386:, with
300:monsoon
293:Climate
254:of the
206:Teressa
202:Kamorta
198:Katchal
166:Sumatra
149:in the
50:Ecology
772:UNESCO
699:People
687:) and
602:pigeon
549:) and
527:, and
499:, and
469:, and
416:, and
400:, and
380:, and
345:, and
283:gabbro
210:Chowra
594:heron
537:Fauna
413:Ficus
323:sp.,
306:Flora
162:India
142:is a
96:India
68:Biome
56:Realm
766:The
759:and
598:hawk
437:and
281:and
231:The
138:The
84:Area
695:).
660:),
652:),
620:),
612:),
160:of
132:57%
976::
951:.
888:^
869:^
862:.
834:^
824:.
787:^
723:.
522:,
518:,
514:,
510:,
494:,
490:,
464:,
460:,
456:,
452:,
443:.
411:,
395:,
391:,
375:,
371:,
367:,
340:,
270:.
220:,
212:,
208:,
204:,
200:,
196:,
910:.
691:(
683:(
672:(
664:(
656:(
648:(
640:(
632:(
624:(
616:(
608:(
585:(
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569:(
561:(
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