Fauna of Gujarat

Gujarat, a state located in Western India, includes fauna from ecosystems such as the coast of the Arabian Sea, the semi-arid forests on the Kathiawar Peninsula, and the arid salt flats of the Rann of Kutch.

It is estimated that Gujarat is home to more than 500 species of mammals, 2,000 species of birds, and a wide range of insects, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The Asiatic lion, an endangered species of cat, is found in Gir National Park. Gujarat's coastal areas, including the Gulf of Khambhat and the Gulf of Kutch, host a nationally important range of species of fish, crustaceans, and migratory birds. Gujarat's fauna is conserved by protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks.

History
In the early 1980s, paleontologists found dinosaur egg fossil sites containing hatcheries and remains of at least 13 dinosaur species in Balasinor. One find was that of a carnivorous abelisaurid named Rajasaurus narmadensis, which lived in the Late Cretaceous period.

Mammals
In the Little Rann of Kutch, the Indian wild ass lives in arid grasslands and scrublands and is known locally as Ghudkhar. The state is also home to the Indian elephant, found in Gir National Park, Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, and other forested areas. Sloth bears inhabit the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary. The Blackbuck is a common sight in Velavadar National Park and the Little Rann of Kutch. The Indian Rhinoceros can be found in the Wild Ass Sanctuary within the Little Rann of Kutch.

Other smaller mammal species found in Gujarat include the Indian Gray Mongoose and the Desert Fox.

In the coastal regions, Humpback Dolphins and Dugongs can be found. These dolphins are often spotted in the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea.