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. 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).
Karikulam forest 
Crimson seeded sedge (Carex baccans), known for its bright, showy, seed heads, which grow from 6–12 inches long and 3 inches wide 
Nandus nandus (Gangetic leaffish), a fresh water Asian leafish species 
Microhyla rubra lateral, the narrow mouthed species of frog
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
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
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. 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:
- Plappally
- Kochukoikkal
- Pachakkanam
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
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:
- Karikulam
- Kanamala
- Rajampara
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.
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Fauna
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.
| 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 |
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.
| 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.
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
- ^ "Ranni Forest Division" (PDF). Kerala Forest Department.
- ^ "View Form A Part II".
- ^ "Goodrical – a paradise of wild animals". OnManorama. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Goodrical forest range in Ranni division".
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ranni.