The book of earth

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus : Antilope Pallas
Species : A. cervicapra
Zoological name : Antilope cervicapra
Found In Corbett , Bandhavgarh , Velavadar and Kanha National Park in India.

Physical appearance : Adult male Black Buck have black and white fur. Upper part of the body is black, while the under part and a ring around the eyes is white in colour. Even the fawns have these markings. The males are born lighter in colour, but turns darker at maturity. The females are usually hornless. Males have 24 inches long horns, which are twisted in tight spiral. They are about five feet long and weigh about 85 pounds. Males are dark brown in colour, while the young ones and females are light brown in colour. Black Bucks have the capacity to run 50 miles per hour. It is one of the fastest animal in the world.
Species : Antelope cervicapra cervicapra, Antelope cervicapra rajputanae, Antelope cervicapra centrali and Antelope cervicapra rupicapra
Presence in India : Black Buck are commonly found in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujrat, and parts of Central India. They are also easily spotted at the Corbett , Bandhavgarh, Velavadar and Kanha National Park in India.
Habitat : Black Buck live in open plains, grass lands, dry thorn and scrub lands. They live in herds of 20- 30 individuals.
Diet : Black Buck are herbivorous. They prefer eating Grasses, fruits, pods, flowers, shrubs and herbs.
Reproduction : Male Black Buck attain sexual maturity in 3 years and the female black buck in approximately 2 years. Females attain sexual maturity much faster than the females. Males hold their nose up and place their horns parallel to their back, to attract the females during the mating season. Gestation period rests for ten months. Mating season of the Black Buck rests from August to October and March to April. Females can give birth twice in the 14 months to one or two young ones at a time. Young ones remain with their mother up to the age of one year. Males remains in sexual excitement throughout the year.
Conservation status : Black Buck is an highly endangered species. Wildlife parks and zoos are breeding this beautiful species to increase its population. Black buck is one of 26 species of mammals, which have been declared endangered. Poaching and habitat destruction has seriously affected the population of the Black Bucks. It is usually haunted for its skin, flesh and also for sports. It is also haunted for meat. Black Buck also holds the cultural importance in Hinduism and Buddhism. In the 19 th and 20 th century Black Buck was the most haunted animal all over India.
Lifespan : Few Black Bucks live more than 12 years. Lifespan of the Black Buck is about 16 years.

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Subfamily : Caprinae
Genus : Hemitragus
Species: H. jemlahicus
Zoological name : Hemitragus jemlahicus
Found In : Jim Corbett National Park in India

Physical appearance : Himalayan Tahr are 3- 4.5 feet long and weigh around 36-90 kg. They are 26 – 40 inches tall. They have small head and relatively short legs. They have large eyes and small as well as pointed ears. They have triangle shaped horns, curved abruptly backwards and than inwards. In winters Tahr has dense, reddish to dark brown woolly coat with a thick undercoat. In the spring they lose much of their coat, and it becomes lighter in color.
Presence in India : Himalayan Tahr is found in the Southern parts of India.Himalayan mountains from Bhutan to Kashmir. They are also spotted in the Jim Corbett National Park .
Habitat : Himalayan Tahr prefers mountain slopes and mountain woodlands of the Himalayas
Diet : Himalayan Tahr are herbivorous. They feed on grasses , leaves, vegetation, shrubs and trees.
Reproduction : Himalayan Tahr reach the level of sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age. They usually mate during the winter season. Gestation period rests for seven months. Normal number per litter is one or two. They are weaned at about 6 months.
Conservation status : The Himalayan tahr is considered vulnerable by the IUCN (1996) in its home range of the Himalayas.
Lifespan : Himalayan Tahr can live up to the 22 years of age.

Classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Subfamily : Bovinae
Genus : Boselaphus
Species: B. tragocamelus
Zoological name : Boselaphus tragocamelus
Found In : Sariska Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore National Park and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
Physical appearance : Neelgai is 6- 7 feet long and weigh around 120 -240 kg. They are 4- 5 feet tall. They have erectile mane on the nape and back and the hair pennant in the middle of the underside of the neck. They have white spot on their cheeks, lips and throat Along the underside is a thin white stripe, which "balloons" at the rear. They have long and slender head. Males have 8 -10 inch long horns. It has relatively small horns. Their tail is 40- 45 cm long.Male coat is gray blue and female coat is yellow brown in colour.
Presence in India : Neelgai are widely found in the jungles of Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam and Haryana. They are also commonly seen in some of the National parks and wildlife Sanctuaries such as Sariska, Ranthambore, Panna and Sultanpur.
Habitat : Neelgai prefers to live in open plains, woodlands, dense jungles and grasslands.
Diet : Neelgai feeds on plants, seeds, branches, leaves, fruit, flowers, stems and buds.
Reproduction : Neelgai reach the level of sexual maturity in 18 months. They do not have any specific breeding season. The gestation period rests for 275 days. Usually twins are born at a time. Young ones weigh around 30 -35 pounds.
Conservation status : Declared by the IUCN as being at low risk of extinction.
Lifespan : Neelgai lives up to 20- 30 years of age.